Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
63,278
30,339



During Apple's WWDC keynote, the company revealed that it would begin supporting MFi (Made for iPhone) certified gaming controllers. Since then, new details have emerged, suggesting that Apple is planning to partner with both Logitech and MOGA to work on the controllers.

Apple has thus far provided reference images displaying two different controller types; one that is a standalone handheld controller and another that is an iPhone enclosure. Kotaku today posted an image of the latter controller type, which the site says has been manufactured by Logitech.

firstmficontroller.jpg
With Steve Jobs no longer around to tell us these things aren't elegant enough for his device, it appears we'll finally get a proper gamepad for the iOS this year. This will be one of them, made by Logitech.

Can't tell you who gave it to us or where it was seen, but we can vouch for this image's authenticity. The controller is large enough to fit an iPhone 5. When iOS 7 introduces third-party controller support in the fall we'll see this thing, plus a bunch of others, probably. Apple evidently won't be making its own.
The image, which depicts what is probably an early prototype, shows a d-pad on the left side of the controller with a set of buttons on the right side. It looks fairly slim, and also sports a lightning connector. As our sister site TouchArcade points out, given the thriving iPhone and iPad accessory market, this is just the first of many controllers that will likely hit the market later this fall.

Article Link: Potential First Image of MFi Gaming Controller Surfaces
 

Richdmoore

macrumors 68000
Jul 24, 2007
1,956
355
Troutdale, OR
I am more interested in the stand alone controller (for both iPhone & iPad use) but still cool that apple is allowing both "case type" and gamepad type options in IOS 7.

I assume the lightning connection would either allow direct input (vs bluetooth) or allow the extra space in the controller to be used for an auxiliary battery. (Actually, it might work the other way, allow the iPhone's battery to power the controller case.)
 

Technarchy

macrumors 604
May 21, 2012
6,753
4,927
iPhone already has pretty beefy graphic pushing abilities. Apple can easily encroach on the Vita and DS with a proper controller for the iPhone.
 

theelysium

Suspended
Nov 18, 2008
562
360
No, no , no logitec!

It needs to be a FPS style like the WiiU Pro!

You can no longer game with an NES style controller! Two analog sticks under each thumb & the buttons below, done!
 

ogun7

macrumors regular
Sep 20, 2001
187
57
Do y'all think they'll use some adapter for the iPod touch? Or manufacture separate case style controllers?
 

macaddict06

macrumors regular
Jan 17, 2006
202
132
about 3 meters from here. *points*
So we're "finally" seeing a prototype of what Tim Cook already showed us on Monday?!? WOW GUYS!!!!!!

Yawn.

Game controller is an interesting and important topic, but I'm glad this "news" came out now, as I needed something to help put me to sleep on a Sunday night.
 

ConCat

macrumors 6502a
Goodbye Nintendo.

iPhone already has pretty beefy graphic pushing abilities. Apple can easily encroach on the Vita and DS with a proper controller for the iPhone.

Easily... I find that the main appeal of the DS and Vita is the physical controls. The iPhone's screen is wonderful for gameplay, and as you said, the GPU they come with tend to be quite capable. Just look at Infinity Blade II. Nintendo was hemorrhaging money in 2012, so I can't imagine they'll exist for much longer.
 
Last edited:

commander.data

macrumors 65816
Nov 10, 2006
1,056
183
This does put pressure on the 3DS and Vita, but I think the nVidia Shield will feel the most direct impact. 3DS and Vita have dedicated games can draw people to those platforms whereas the nVidia Shield is offering slightly enhanced mobile games with physical controls. Yes it can stream games from PC, but then I'd think most people would rather just play on PC with keyboard and mouse. With iOS devices having the option of officially supported physical controls now too, I think the $349 Shield is going to have even more difficulty finding a market.
 

TMar

macrumors 68000
Jul 20, 2008
1,679
1
Ky
This does put pressure on the 3DS and Vita, but I think the nVidia Shield will feel the most direct impact. 3DS and Vita have dedicated games can draw people to those platforms whereas the nVidia Shield is offering slightly enhanced mobile games with physical controls. Yes it can stream games from PC, but then I'd think most people would rather just play on PC with keyboard and mouse. With iOS devices having the option of officially supported physical controls now too, I think the $349 Shield is going to have even more difficulty finding a market.

That would be true if the shield was limited to android games or that games aren't being developed directly for it, but it's not. Games developed for the shield and to take advantage of the hardware along with PC games being streamable to it puts it in a different category well above a iOS controller...
 

APlotdevice

macrumors 68040
Sep 3, 2011
3,145
3,861
My concern is whether this controller has shoulder buttons? IMO this is where conventional iOS controls are lacking the most. (afterwhich would be d-pads, then face buttons. I think the touchscreen does an acceptable job of mimicking an analog stick.)
 
Last edited:

petsounds

macrumors 65816
Jun 30, 2007
1,493
519
Considering these were shown during a certain WWDC session, someone is seriously breaking their developer NDA by posting this. Their word obviously means nothing to them.
 

Mactendo

macrumors 68000
Oct 3, 2012
1,967
2,045
With Steve Jobs no longer around to tell us these things aren't elegant enough for his device...
OS 7 and this controller prove it.
 

commander.data

macrumors 65816
Nov 10, 2006
1,056
183
That would be true if the shield was limited to android games or that games aren't being developed directly for it, but it's not. Games developed for the shield and to take advantage of the hardware along with PC games being streamable to it puts it in a different category well above a iOS controller...
It has the potential for exclusive games, especially with a stable hardware spec, but have there been any major ones announced? The ones they often promote like Arma Tactics and Dead Trigger 2 are available on other Android devices.
 

pscl

macrumors 6502
Jun 3, 2013
396
61
No, no , no logitec!

It needs to be a FPS style like the WiiU Pro!

You can no longer game with an NES style controller! Two analog sticks under each thumb & the buttons below, done!

totally aggree!

NES Controller is pretty much outdated for current games... wont buy it.

but i would like a dual analog controller to play fps. i dont like the "touchscreen analog stick" ****.
 

Braaap

macrumors newbie
Jun 11, 2013
3
0
With Steve Jobs no longer around to tell us these things aren't elegant enough for his device...
OS 7 and this controller prove it.

Yeah! Steve jobs is gone now we can build a ****** controller and a bad looking iOS!
 

APlotdevice

macrumors 68040
Sep 3, 2011
3,145
3,861
totally aggree!

NES Controller is pretty much outdated for current games... wont buy it.

but i would like a dual analog controller to play fps. i dont like the "touchscreen analog stick" ****.

It's a SNES-like controller, not a NES controller. The latter only had two buttons and is indeed too basic for all but the simplest games today. The former though still works perfectly for 2D games, of which there are a plenitude on iOS. Also these controls could concivably be used in tandem with the touchscreen, which again I believe does an acceptable job for analog input. (if virtual "analog sticks" aren't your thing, then I'll just say that a touchscreen is basically the same technology as a trackpad, just with the addition of a display)
 
Last edited:

pscl

macrumors 6502
Jun 3, 2013
396
61
It's a SNES-like controller, not a NES controller. The latter only had two buttons and is indeed too basic for all but the simplest games today. The former though still works perfectly for 2D games, of which there are a plenitude on iOS. Also these controls could concivably be used in tandem with the touchscreen, which again I believe does an acceptable job for analog input. (if virtual "analog sticks" aren't your thing, then I'll just say that a touchscreen is basically the same technology as a trackpad, just with the addition of a display)

im just talking about first person shooter like nova, splintercell, and all other gameloft shooter... for those games, a dual analog stick controller is the best choice.

worst thing of controlling games on ios devices is that u cover 1/3 of the screen with ur thumbs.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.