iCade Jr. Arcade Controller Discounted to $9.99

[MacRumors]

ThinkGeek has discounted the iCade Jr. Mini Arcade Cabinet for iPhone to only $9.99. That represents 80% off its normal price of $49.99.

The iCade Jr. was originally launched in January 2012 at CES. It represents a smaller iPhone/iPod Touch sized version of the original iPad-sized iCade. Like its big brother, the iCade Jr. connects to your iPhone or iPod Touch using Bluetooth. This model was originally designed to fit the iPhone 4/4S and 4th Generation iPod touch form factors, but is said to work with the iPhone 5 "if you leave the top lid hinged back".

The controller has an arcade stick, four front and rear buttons and works with existing iCade-compatible games.

Article Link: iCade Jr. Arcade Controller Discounted to $9.99

[ArtOfWarfare]

Does anyone own this? Is it worth it?

The picture makes it look awkwardly small... How much of a step up can it really be from on screen controls?

[arn]

Originally Posted by ArtOfWarfare

Does anyone own this? Is it worth it?

The picture makes it look awkwardly small... How much of a step up can it really be from on screen controls?

I've played with it before, but don't own one. I do own an icade mobile. Overall, it's "ok". I don't use it that much.

But for $9.99? It's probably worth it if you have any interest in any old retro games that were designed to work with a digital controller (left/right/up/down).

arn

[Moshe1010]

I guess it's one of these things that you buy it, play with it 30min and then put it somewhere you don't remember. So eventually, it's a waste of $10 ($16 actually, including shipping).

[OriginalMacRat]

Originally Posted by Moshe1010

I guess it's one of these things that you buy it, play with it 30min and then put it somewhere you don't remember. So eventually, it's a waste of $10 ($16 actually, including shipping).

My thoughts as well.

Makes me wonder if they have stopped making it and this price is just to clean out inventory.

[kny3twalker]

99% of the compatible games suck

[Menneisyys2]

Originally Posted by kny3twalker

99% of the compatible games suck

You may haven't played any of them, have you? There are a lot of excellent titles - Metal Slug 1 (OK, it requires landscape mode but is still playable) and the like.

----------

Have just ordered four controllers for me and relatives - had to pay $38 for the shipping here in Finland.

----------

Originally Posted by OriginalMacRat

My thoughts as well.

Makes me wonder if they have stopped making it and this price is just to clean out inventory.

While it's not the iCade Jr but the iControlPad, I've played several games thru via it. If you're seriously into gaming, physical controllers are a must.

[deathw]

Originally Posted by kny3twalker

99% of the compatible games suck

Agreed

[blackcrayon]

For $10 it might be worth it if you like hardware hacking and just want a tiny Bluetooth joystick for fun projects...

[ReallyBigFeet]

Originally Posted by kny3twalker

99% of the compatible games suck

This.

It only works with games that have added iCade support. Most of the ones that have are games you've never heard of and once you've played them, you'll understand WHY they weren't on the radar.

[LimeiBook86]

I have the large iCade I got for a round $30 when Kohls had a clearance sale. I do use it from time to time. I actually ordered the iCade Jr. just now. Since I upgraded to an iPhone 5 my iPhone 4 is just sitting here. So I can see myself jailbreaking it and putting some fun emulated games on there.

Even without an iPhone in it would be a cool accessory to have on my desk... even in the office. For $15 shipped it's not a bad deal at all.

[Biff...]

anybody know if this can be used with an iphone 3g?

[LimeiBook86]

Originally Posted by Biff...

anybody know if this can be used with an iphone 3g?

I was wondering this as well. I'm not sure, I tried to look on the ION website here: http://www.ionaudio.com/products/details/icadejr but I didn't find anything useful. I would assume since it's Bluetooth it may work, as long as the iPhone 3G fit into the case...

If it helps when I receive mine I'll give it a try.

[KdParker]

Still to much...maybe will keep if given to me for free

[chrono1081]

I ordered one so I'll let everyone know once it arrives

[MrXiro]

Seems like a waste of money to me for functionality, it's so small, I can't see it being very usable.

Would be a great kitschy little design piece to have on your desk though. You'd surely get some comments from coming into your office and seeing this thing.

[Ngorkes]

Can I use my iPhone 5 with it in portrait mode?

[cfs112]

I have one. Its good for the novelty factor, but once that dies out (in a few days) its as good as a paper weight. It becomes more of a hassle to put it in to play games. I guess I'm just too impatient, when I do have time to play games on my iPhone, I don't like having set-up time. Just my opinion on this. I also have the Fling joystick for iPad and iPhone. They don't work too well... just play using the screen as intended.

[rmwebs]

Meh. Waste of money.

Poor support for games. Clearly piss poor sales. Most likely a clearance sale to get rid of the remaining inventory before it vanishes.

[Renzatic]

Originally Posted by rmwebs

Meh. Waste of money.

Poor support for games. Clearly piss poor sales. Most likely a clearance sale to get rid of the remaining inventory before it vanishes.

Looking at the list of games, I'd hardly call that piss poor support. If you count all the separate titles in the anthologies, it runs on well over a hundred games easily.

Though I couldn't imagine this being popular for the iPhone. It's better suited to the iPad if you ask me.

[rmwebs]

Originally Posted by Renzatic

Looking at the list of games, I'd hardly call that piss poor support. If you count all the separate titles in the anthologies, it runs on well over a hundred games easily.

Though I couldn't imagine this being popular for the iPhone. It's better suited to the iPad if you ask me.

Out of the list of games on offer, none really stand out as being amazingly good, or in many cases dont seem to really need something like this.

I agree that the iPad version is better suited. For an iPhone/iTouch it seems pretty pointless however.

[MountainApple]

Actually, it's now $14.99!
http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/f12f/
Are MacRumors and ThinkGeek in cahoots?

[Renzatic]

Originally Posted by rmwebs

Out of the list of games on offer, none really stand out as being amazingly good, or in many cases dont seem to really need something like this.

I guess it depends on how big you are into older arcade games. Having the Midway and Atari arcade collections in there is about enough to convince me to buy one. Add in Metal Slug 3 and the new Raiden pack that just came out a couple weeks back?

...hell, I'm honestly surprised I haven't picked one up already. I've been toying with the idea of grabbing the 8-Bitty. Think I might go ahead and do it.

Thanks for talking me into spending more money.

I agree that the iPad version is better suited. For an iPhone/iTouch it seems pretty pointless however.

Yeah, I guess it'd be pretty interesting as a novelty. Though once you get past the "ooh, itty bitty arcade cabinet" aspect, there really aren't any advantages to getting it over the iPad rev.

[tdiaz]

Originally Posted by MountainApple

Actually, it's now $14.99!
http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/f12f/

I had added that and a few other things to my cart but never did anything with the order, two days later I refreshed the window and it was still there, in stock, and still $9.99 even though the product page was showing $14.99, and a few of the other items I had also selected had gone up, but not the line items in my cart. So I ordered it all. Got confirmation of the original amount. We'll see

[NinjaKid]

Now its at 19.29 and remember if your gonna get one it does not work on the Iphone 5 or the new Itouch devices.