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Why no wireless gamepad?

O

OSMac

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 14, 2010
1,456
8
Why no wireless gamepad for the iPad?

Sure many of the touch screen games are fun, but a wireless gamepad would open up a whole new range of games and improve many current ones as well.

Does Apple not allow them or just no one else wants one?
 
One developer uses the iPod Touch / iPhone as wireless controller for the iPad afaik.

Well - at least a start :)
 
Where would you put the iPad while you are holding the wireless control? At that point, you might as well play on a desktop or notebook.
 
I'd buy an Apple approved controller in a heart beat. Most cases have some sort of stand function, the iPad for certain games is tough to hold and control for long periods of time.

Obviously such a device would be optional, not mandatory... but I'd gladly take having the option.

I jailbreak and play roms, and I wouldn't be able to play them nearly as well without the Wiimote+Classic Controller+BTStack combo.
 
Dorkington said:
I'd buy an Apple approved controller in a heart beat.
Click to expand...

It would need to be a common standard, otherwise it would end up like the old ZX Spectrum days with controllers using proprietary interface APIs.

As for the people saying you might as well play on a laptop/desktop, if I'm on the move, I'd rather just carry an iPad (with case/stand) and a controller.
 
if my memory serves, Apple released the api's to developers to make accessories for the iPhone (and now iPad probably) that can communicate with apps. My guess is that no-one has stepped up to the plate and made a controller. I am wondering how efficient it would be to use a controller with an iPad anyway, unless you already had a stand. What would be cool though is a controller sleeve for the iPhone, plugged in via dock connector.
 
The whole concept of taking something portable and self-contained and encumbering it with external controllers and devices is counter-intuitive. Sure, you can come up with all kinds of crap to make an iPad more like a (fill in blank). But then just buy (fill in blank).
 
Consultant said:
Gamepads are typically for old games that are not optimized for touch controls
Click to expand...

What, like any 1st person perspective game?

Why would you ever want your hands/fingers over the visible screen?

Perhaps controls on the back of the iPad? ;)
 
poloponies said:
Yes, why on Earth would anyone want to touch a touchscreen?
Click to expand...

For some games, yes, it's a part of the game and how the game works (Angry Birds)

For other games, they try and put "soft" game controllers over the top of the game, but as they are not real controls you can feel you have to sensory feedback for your fingers and can end up with your fingers/thumbs moving about.

Even you must be able to understand that on screen touch controls are superb for some games and a disaster for others.
 
Sure, it sounds like a decent idea. But you will need a bunch of iOS developers to agree on a gamepad layout, and then you'll need enough games for it to be worth their while. The key advantage of a touchscreen is you're not constrained by a bunch of unchangeable buttons. I think Apple is basically letting Nintendo and Sony go for the button people and trying to court all the touchscreen people.
 
I'm not a gamer at all really. The only console I have is a snes with one game (mariokart) and I have no desire to buy any other console.

But my iPhone and iPad have got me back into playing games every now and then (on a train or plane etc). But very few classic style games work for me with the touch controls.

I would def consider a wireless game pad for use with the iPad if one was available (if there were any good games that supported it of course).
 
colmaclean said:
It would need to be a common standard, otherwise it would end up like the old ZX Spectrum days with controllers using proprietary interface APIs.

As for the people saying you might as well play on a laptop/desktop, if I'm on the move, I'd rather just carry an iPad (with case/stand) and a controller.
Click to expand...

MacBook Air 11" although it hasn't got the same battery life.
 
Corax said:
MacBook Air 11" although it hasn't got the same battery life.
Click to expand...

It's not an iPad, so not an option.

The touch screen is fine for controlling most games - especially those that can have their controls adapted (like the excellent Reckless Racing)

However, for most platformers and other games that rely on pixel-perfect precision or a number of different "buttons", you can't beat the tactile controls of a gamepad.
 
I see this possible upcoming gamepad controller for the iPhone
http://www.22moo.com.au/GameBone.html

Looks very interesting if it happens and is successful,
maybe a stand alone wireless iPad controller would not be far behind?

The very well done commodore 64 emulator greatly needs a controller.
Same with classic games like pacman etc.

The btstack wii remote setup looks interesting too for those who have modified ipad's.

If the iPod touch, iPhone and iPad had a controller Apple could own the portable gaming market?
 
Last edited:
As Apple seem to be happy for you to lug around connection kits for SD cards etc, there is no reason on earth why they could not make an Apple (white) version of a Bluetooth PS3 type controller, but slightly scaled down.

If it was from Apple it would be THE standard, and that would be it.

There is nothing to stop this happening apart from Apple's will to make it.
 
colmaclean said:
It would need to be a common standard, otherwise it would end up like the old ZX Spectrum days with controllers using proprietary interface APIs.

As for the people saying you might as well play on a laptop/desktop, if I'm on the move, I'd rather just carry an iPad (with case/stand) and a controller.
Click to expand...

As long as it's built in to the OS and is available for 3rd parties to use, I don't care if it's a common standard or not. It's no different than any other Apple accessory.

I'd like it to be a common standard... but if its embedded in iOS and available to use, then it's basically good enough these days with the amount of devices out there. (See Apple's proprietary dock connector being supported by... everything)
 
I wonder if "legit" AppStore games can support BTStack/WiiMote combo... or would Apple reject the App?
 
poloponies said:
The whole concept of taking something portable and self-contained and encumbering it with external controllers and devices is counter-intuitive. Sure, you can come up with all kinds of crap to make an iPad more like a (fill in blank). But then just buy (fill in blank).
Click to expand...

But then, you can't pull the screen off of (fill in blank) and use it as an iPad.

Some people are willing to sacrifice optimization and/or efficiency in the name of modularity.
 
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