Gaming accessories headed to iPhone (maybe with buttons!)

by Richard Mitchell { Jun 19th 2009 at 2:00AM }

Undeniably, Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch have become major players in the mobile gaming market. It seems like every developer under the sun is working on iPhone / iPod game of some kind. There are lots of games out there, and a rising number of them are pretty good, but the iPhone / iPod has thus far been devoid of another major aspect of the game industry: Third-party peripherals. Until now, that is. With the release of iPhone 3.0 firmware, Apple now mentions "Third-party Game Accessories" on the iPod Touch software update page.

The iPod and iPhone already have a huge accessories market, and we're sure that there are plenty of companies looking to carve a new niche with gaming accessories. There are no details regarding what sorts of accessories are on the way, but we'd say some more traditional input devices are a pretty safe bet.

We'll tell you one thing, we can't wait to see what Nyko has cooking.

[Via Touch Arcade]

Tags: apple, iphone, ipod

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

InFaMoUs1- @ Jun 19th 2009 2:06AM

I'm calling it right now Guitar Hero on the iPhone with a peripheral

Chad Vanderbilt (Moptimus in Disguise) @ Jun 19th 2009 2:09AM

I thought there was already a Guitar Hero iPhone game

WRYYYYYY @ Jun 19th 2009 2:25AM

It's "Guitar Legend" or something like that. Not part of the GH franchise.

mars @ Jun 19th 2009 2:17AM

well this is actually great news for me. Right now you can buy close to ds quality (and one or two that beat PSP quality) games for 10 bucks or less, but their control schemes are awkward. A small add on the wraps around the phone and connects through the dock connector or by bluetooth that has buttons and a d-pad/joystick on it would be excellent in my eyes.

Dannybuoy @ Jun 19th 2009 3:33AM

You'd put it in your eyes??

Lunastra78 (PSN: lunastra78) @ Jun 19th 2009 7:53AM

I've got a NES simulator on my iphone but it's almost impossible to control with the fake d-pad. Even getting past the first two enemies in Super Mario gets to be a challenge. :(

But on the other hand, solitaire works beautifully for iphone. :)

ryanpaulmcgowan @ Jun 19th 2009 3:35AM

So...

I can buy a peripheral for a sum of money to use on my phone that happens to play games that are built specifically for it on games that are built specifically for said peripheral?

This would make sense if, say, it were a non-portable device.

ill trooper @ Jun 19th 2009 3:54AM

Sounds like maybe you're into detective text adventures written in 1880's prose, so this sort of thing may not be for you.

mars @ Jun 19th 2009 2:39AM

ever wondered what an iphone controller looks like

http://electricartists.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/01/27/iphone_game_controller.jpg

well BAM! there it is

Hashbrown Hunter (OneGiantCluster.blogspot.com) @ Jun 19th 2009 6:01AM

well BAM! that's fugly

Dance Mofo @ Jun 19th 2009 6:26AM

you are one ugly mutha&%%$#....ROOOOAARR!

Extinction @ Jun 19th 2009 2:46AM

Release one with an extended battery as well as buttons, and iPhone will actually be a real gaming system.

The previous claims of being one are complete BS till this comes out.

Rudy @ Jun 19th 2009 2:54AM

if they are going to allow a peripheral to check my blood pressure they damn sure better let me play a game with some real buttons.

chaos123x @ Jun 19th 2009 3:24AM

these guys have been working on a gamepad for iPhone.

http://www.icontrolpad.com/

No Analog though.

Hashbrown Hunter (OneGiantCluster.blogspot.com) @ Jun 19th 2009 6:03AM

Yeah this seems like the best solution in my opinion. And yeah the lack of analog is a bummer, but you can get by just fine if you have a good d-pad.

ill trooper @ Jun 19th 2009 3:47AM

chaos123x: Yeah, when I saw that headline I was hoping the "icontrolpad" guys you link to were closer to making their product's release a reality.

I don't know if I see myself ever carrying an accessory like that around, but I like theirs the best for it's simplicity. Dual analog would be cool too. Most of the games that are fun on the iPhone can be handled with the screen/accelerometers that devs currently use. And of course, duh, they're included in every iPhone, where these peripherals split up the potential user base.

But I think the really interesting evolution of iPhone games will utilize the phone's GPS, compass, internet connectivity and camera (anyone see that 'Layar' demo?) to leverage gameplay with location and interactivity with others. Certainly won't curb the desire to have a solid d-pad and buttons under your fingers for certain games, but these devices can do things the traditional hand-helds can't yet and I look forward to checking that out.

On a slightly off-topic, the graphics power on the 3GS is supposed to be pretty insane for a handheld device!

chaos123x @ Jun 19th 2009 4:12AM

I would think most core gamers would just leave their iPhone in the icontrolpad case 24/7 it does not make it to much bigger. Still smaller than a DS or PSP.

Beside most people keep their iPhones in a case anyway because they are paranoid of breaking it.

NaeemTHM @ Jun 19th 2009 10:34AM

Yeah I heard about the massive bump in graphical capabilities. I believe someone was quoted as saying it's like going from Half-Life 1 to Half-Life 2. With the iPhone already delivering near PSP quality graphics, I assume this means we're going to see some PS2 level shit! That's just amazing...

The only thing that bugs me is that I have a 3G iPhone. I really hope I don't have to miss out on games now ;____;

Hashbrown Hunter (OneGiantCluster.blogspot.com) @ Jun 19th 2009 6:07AM

Good for you. Run along now.

MOODY @ Jun 19th 2009 7:03AM

what about a sixaxis its bluetooth

profeteer @ Jun 19th 2009 8:43AM

Wow, I never thought of that, but it might work pretty well. Just put a screen holder on the top of the controller.

bongoes @ Jun 19th 2009 10:41AM

I don't have anything to say about the iPhone, I just wanted to thank you for linking to that article about the Nyko zoom lens. That was freakin' hilarious.

Bradwart @ Jun 19th 2009 12:11PM

*uses new copy/paste system on his iPod to send to the US Patent and Trademark office, prepares to sell a million units.*

just kidding-I do like the look of that top pic though.

Kael @ Jun 19th 2009 1:07PM

For this to really work, there has to be an open standard that all of these control accessories conform to... so that you can buy any one of them and play every game that works with one. It would really help to have Apple put out a control pad themselves to solidify a standard. Preferably one with two analog sticks, shoulder buttons, at least four regular buttons (six would be pretty cool), and start/select buttons. Then they'd (i)really(/i) have a system that plays games. (Then they'd make tons more money.)

Havok @ Jun 19th 2009 8:20PM

I would totally pay for a Nintendo controller add on for the iPhone. Nintendo and Apple would make MILLIONS.

...I don't have an iPhone.

Andrew Harwood @ Jun 23rd 2009 8:41AM

great now this design I had back on November 18, 2008 can come alive...check it out for yourself.

http://www.theremainsofaliving.com/Site/The_Remains_Blog/Entries/2008/11/18_iPhone_Attachment.html

jajinomoto @ Jun 25th 2009 12:50AM

Great post. Find more various of accessories for your gaming console here, http://www.colordrives.com/gaming.html

Timmothy @ Jul 2nd 2009 10:19AM

I really like the Agent 18 case, the one time I didn't have it on my phone I dropped it and cracked the screen. Luckly I found http://www.iphone3gscreenrepair.com. They repaired my phone for only 69.99 and they had it back to me in just 2 days! I was very impressed! Apple wanted 199 for the same repair.

-Tim