Cell phones to get their own nunchuks
by Justin McElroy 
{ Jan 2nd 2008 at 1:15PM }
We don't know about you, but here's the problem we've always had with cell phones: They're simply too portable and convenient. Thankfully, phone gaming is finally getting more cumbersome with a new peripheral that's obviously not at all inspired by Nintendo's Wiimote Nunchuk attachment.Peripheral company Zeetoo (it rhymes with "me-too") created the new Bluetooth-powered attachment called the Zeemote (it rhymes with Viimote). Not only is it shaped like the Nunchuk, it includes an analog stick and buttons on the bottom. There's even a motion-sensing version in the works! But, you see, it's black. So it's totally different. Totally.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jerk Face @ Jan 2nd 2008 1:18PM
Cell phone games are so gay!
Jerk Face @ Jan 2nd 2008 1:21PM
Alright, I realize that comment had nothing intelligent or relevant to offer. So allow me to elaborate my opinion a bit:
Cell phone games are gay because there are way too many variations in phone platforms for there to be any kind of cohesive audience for the game developers to reach and actually make some cash. That is why the games are always so shitty - because to spend a lot of money developing a game that will run on the more powerful and newer phones is like making a game for all (both) of those Mac gamers out there.
It's a money sink.
So until there is a more cohesive cell phone platform, cell phone games are gay.
Fernando Rocker @ Jan 2nd 2008 1:25PM
Cell phones in general are gays...
Nextel rules!
mr nimblewick @ Jan 2nd 2008 1:34PM
ngage platform to the rescue!
vidGuy @ Jan 2nd 2008 1:42PM
too many variations in platforms is the exact reason I don't want consoles to have "upgradeable" parts, ala PS3.
Roddie @ Jan 2nd 2008 2:06PM
I could elaborate on your opinion a bit more: you're an ignorant homophobe.
Psaakyrn @ Jan 2nd 2008 2:24PM
You know another platform with an obscene number of variations?
The PC.
Just because there are many variations doesn't means that it can't be handled. Just as long as it's clear whether a given phone can run a given software, it'll do fine. Just don't target the most powerful of phones, and make your requirements easy to figure out and test, and you won't end up like Crysis.
Making a peripheral for cellphones though, that's just dumb.
Trev @ Jan 2nd 2008 3:03PM
@vidguy
Seriously? It's just a hard drive, which the 360 also does, along with wireless and second optical drive. Even the Wii can use memory cards as internal storage, effectively like adding a tiny, somewhat inconvenient hard drive to it.
Console specifics aside, the core hardware remains the same. Processors, memory and so on are fixed for consoles (and SKUs of consoles) barring intrusive, warranty-voiding hardware modifications. "Upgrade" parts for consoles are more comparable to USB devices on a PC than internal components. The ability to increase storage capacity easily will only benefit users as they gather more content and would have to delete some of it otherwise.
Its also important to consider that even /Fernando/ didn't bother hating on the PS3 here. I can't believe I'm going to say it, but maybe you should be more like him (ugh. I feel so filthy.)
vidGuy @ Jan 2nd 2008 3:29PM
Sorry Trev, maybe I laid it on a little thick. To be honest, I completely agree with you. I'm not concerned with a bigger harddrive here, an extra wireless option there. What I am concerned with is that this road leads us to the realm of consoles having various processors and chipsets, more or less RAM, faster or slower disc drives, and myriad other combinations of components. It's been a long time since I could pick up a PC game without checking it's requirements, I don't want to lose that luxury with console gaming.
The 360 is also guilty of starting on this slippy slope and the Wii probably will be before this generation is over. But neither of those console is made by a company which has blatantly and repeatedly announced that they will continue to upgrade their console. It doesn't seem far-fetched for the PS3 to soon include a faster BluRay drive and more RAM. Where will it end?
Dale @ Jan 2nd 2008 3:42PM
It's nothing like making games for the Mac. There are exponentially more hardware and operating system combinations in the mobile phone space than there are for modern Macs.
In terms of hardware, mobile phones are more like PCs to develop for. At least there's a single API to worry about with PCs - the lovely DirectX. It seems every mobile phone out there uses a different OS.
Jerk Face @ Jan 2nd 2008 3:50PM
I was comparing to making games for Macs purely as far as the size of the market; not in reference to any actual similarity in hardware or means of development.
Trev @ Jan 2nd 2008 4:03PM
@vidguy
I would hope it never goes that far. They would really cease to be consoles and just become PCs in stupid cases. I agree that the convenience of being able to play all games over a consoles life is a major boon for them. That's one of the reasons I like them so much.
I was a little put off by Sony's statement that they would upgrade the PS3, but it just wouldn't make sense for the core hardware to be included in that. Much like hard drives on 360s, no game developer could ever count on that extra hardware being there. Current-gen consoles are expensive enough to develop for without needing to develop for different hardware iterations of the same device. I assume they meant things like storage and card reader and so on; bells and whistles on top of the standard PS3 platform.
I guess the PSP has more memory in its second version, but that's a different situation because it was so limited before. It was done more for the web browser than games.
TheWarden @ Jan 2nd 2008 1:38PM
Hello, lawsuit!
Superstar90 @ Jan 2nd 2008 1:51PM
lol@cellphones! they are n00b! rofl! i am $0 1337!
Skippy @ Jan 2nd 2008 1:55PM
God, you would look like such a goober playing games with that setup.
Leilock @ Jan 2nd 2008 2:05PM
Maybe I'm the only one who sees some light in this, but i have to say anything Bluetooth gets my motor runnin :)
I've seen some super "Wal-Marty" peripherals and in the spectrum this one looks the most unobtrusive, sleek and usable of the lot.
... assuming there was a game worth playing. Guess I could buy this for... Tetris and crosswords... hmmmm...
PhrawzT @ Jan 2nd 2008 3:12PM
That's all we need is for cellphones to be less portable. I don't think that my pockets need to be full of attachments just so I can use the phone.
WorMzy @ Jan 2nd 2008 4:44PM
The only thing I use my mobile for is texting. I don't know anyone who seriously plays games on their mobile, so I doubt that this peripheral will sell much.
BPM - The 3rd Strike @ Jan 2nd 2008 8:27PM
Texting? That's it?
You don't use your phone to... make calls?
WorMzy @ Jan 2nd 2008 8:31PM
Nope, texting is a lot easier.
ThornedVenom @ Jan 2nd 2008 7:13PM
Probably when cellphones have good and more 3d games... And even then.
Psaakyrn @ Jan 2nd 2008 8:45PM
Can't live without 3D? One wonders how you survived 15 years ago... (assuming you are of sufficient age, of cause.)
ThornedVenom @ Jan 2nd 2008 8:59PM
DAR!! You misunderstood me.
It wasn't a statement about phone games but about the Bluetooth nunchuck peripheral for cellphones. I wouldn't be playing contra on the DS if I had the 2D bias.
BPM - The 3rd Strike @ Jan 2nd 2008 8:28PM
Who knows, with an actual game controller for a phone, cell games might actually become... playable.
waynski1457 @ Jan 2nd 2008 8:47PM
Will it play DOOM RPG? Not a joke, I've been looking for a reason to get back into that (then again, I'm probably the only person who liked/bought it...).