DCRIP suffers from 360 envy! Options

[NeoGeoNinja]

I don't understand why Apple doesn't have usb controller support on any of the iOS devices... esp on the iPads.

Do they not support Bluetooth controllers? I know that most Android phones do, but I'm not sure about iOS. Still, it's ridiculous to expect people to lug all of those attachments around, unless they can be somehow integrated into the form factor of the device to make the change as convenient as possible.

SOMEONE I SPEAK TO...
on another forum somehow uses a WiiMote with his iPad. Interesting choice of controller, admittedly, but no doubt great for SMS and NES (and even more backwards) emulation...

[tomwaits]

I don't understand why Apple doesn't have usb controller support on any of the iOS devices... esp on the iPads.

Do they not support Bluetooth controllers? I know that most Android phones do, but I'm not sure about iOS. Still, it's ridiculous to expect people to lug all of those attachments around, unless they can be somehow integrated into the form factor of the device to make the change as convenient as possible.

Did a little bit of searching, and looks like all Android devices support bluetooth controllers... there's even a recent Android app that allows you to use a DualShock3. But, iOS only supports headsets/keyboards/data transfer via Bluetooth. While searching, I also noticed the jailbreak method for iOS that supports a wiimote/classic controller combo. It only works on jailbreak emulators with direct support for it though... doesn't work with any official apps.


I doubt Apple would ever integrate a controller into their hardware design. Touchscreen controls are one of their defining features. I don't think Apple is interested in offering 1st party stick-on controllers either. I've seen a few comments that mentioned Apple's arrogance and vision that the touchscreen can do everything.

This post has been edited by tomwaits: Aug 27 2011, 11:14 AM

[DreamcastRIP]

A couple of comments:
There are stick-on controllers for iPad like Fling or Joystick-it. Doesn't solve the problem of your hands obscuring the screen, but probably more accurate/comfortable than direct touch screen controls.

I don't understand why Apple doesn't have usb controller support on any of the iOS devices... esp on the iPads. There are plenty of games that would benefit from having the option. I've seen comments that someone is working on a usb controller hack for the camera connection kit, but if it's ever released I suspect that game compatibility will be even worse than joy2key on PCs. I'm hoping for the best on this though... maybe it would get Apple's attention so they'll add official support.

There are component video & HDMI cables for iOS devices, so they have the option to play on either the built-in screen or larger screen. Not sure if all games support video out though?


As an aside, I found one other drawback for iOS gaming... I've been debating between an iPod Touch or iPad. But I found out that games are usually more expensive for the iPad (or 'universal') versions. And, many iOS games are exclusive to iPod Touch/iPhone. ie the Cave shmup library is not iPad compatible.

For me, there are enough original/exclusive iOS games that I've been looking for a clearanced iPod Touch. IF they added usb controller support and all games were 'universal' the iPad would be amazing. Great for portable gaming and could 'dock' with a usb controller and component video to play the arcade style games like a real console. Might actually justify the $500 as a pure gaming system... the added value of internet/computer functionality is just a bonus.



(this thread is now completely off-topic. )

Addressing the points raised in turn...

fling for iPad has had some quite positive reviews to the best of my knowledge. However, fling mini for iPhone/iPod touch has rather obvious limitations which are quite obvious just from looking at it! For compatible games on iPad, e.g. all those on the Atari app, some prefer to use the impressive looking iCADE when at home.

Insofar as I know, the reason iPhone/iPod touch has not yet featured plug-in external controller capability is down to Steve Jobs' obsession with "no buttons!". Whether or not that changes over time now that he stepped down from Apple CEO the other day remains to be seen.

The component cable for iPhone 4 is pretty impressive with it displaying content, e.g. video and photographs, on an HDTV. However, only a small number of games are coded to take advantage of it.

I've one game on my iPhone and also on my Mac via the Mac App Store that has the option to play the game on Mac while using the iPhone, via Bluetooth, as the controller. Some iPad games let one use an iPhone 4 as the controller too.

Negatives of gaming on iPad include that typically higher price and the fact not all games are "universal". The other downer is that many of these "universal" games look pretty rough on iPad's larger sized but inferior non-retina display screen. This has been remedied to some extent with iPad 2 - not because it has a better screen (it doesn't) but due to how coders have utilised its extra processing power to allow anti-aliasing. iPad-only games look fine though, of course.

With the features you'd want from such a device it perhaps seems you'd be better of buying either an Android compatible slate, waiting for iPad 3 or hoping said extra functionality is featured on iPhone/iPod touch "5" (or 4GS as some suspect it might be named).

This is merely my opinion, but I think it's perhaps a mistake to be buying a smartphone if the main hope is to be playing conversions of games already out there on other platforms, e.g. the Cave shmups. I won't deny that those sort of games helped attract me buying my iPhone 4 in the first place but in only a short space of time I came to discover what is the real attraction of smartphone gaming - namely the huge and ever growing quantities of games unique to the platform/s that offer something quite different to what's available on traditional dedicated handhelds. Maybe things will change to some extent with the advent of PlayStation Vita but it won't likely change much... and games on Sony's device will cost a heck of a lot more to buy too.

[tomwaits]

For me, there are enough original/exclusive iOS games that I've been looking for a clearanced iPod Touch.

This is merely my opinion, but I think it's perhaps a mistake to be buying a smartphone if the main hope is to be playing conversions of games already out there on other platforms, e.g. the Cave shmups.

I haven't researched the Android game library, but I know there are a lot of iOS exclusives that I'd like. Seems like there's an abundance of cheap and exclusive retro/arcade style remakes and updates. Llamasoft!! Also, I buy/play a lot of PSN titles and many are released first (and cheaper) on iOS. I'm not usually interested in games that are direct ports from older consoles... I prefer playing on the original systems anyway. I'd probably get all the Cave shmups, since I'll never own a 360, but they wouldn't be my main reason for buying. I don't like autofire in shmups either so there's another nagging issue.

If the iPad had all the features I wanted, I'd probably have one already. But, neither iPad or iPod Touch are an exact fit for what I want. So... I keep waiting for cheap hardware or new hacks/features.

[DreamcastRIP]

Yep, there's no denying the Llamasoft and Cave games are a big pull factor for iOS platforms.

[T2KFreeker]

I thought this was a 360 section?

[DreamcastRIP]

I thought this was a 360 section?

Careful, you're risking sounding like...

[DreamcastRIP]

Shenmue and Skies of Arcadia coming to XBLA - http://www.gamereactor.eu/grtv/?id=27471

(skip to last part of vid at about 7m13s)

Here's hoping these latest HD DC re-releases also come to PS3/PSN like Jet Set Radio will be!

[kevinski]

Shenmue and Skies of Arcadia coming to XBLA - http://www.gamereactor.eu/grtv/?id=27471

(skip to last part of vid at about 7m13s)

Here's hoping these latest HD DC re-releases also come to PS3/PSN like Jet Set Radio will be!

Those are just the most requested by fans. They haven't confirmed anything.

[DreamcastRIP]

Shenmue and Skies of Arcadia coming to XBLA - http://www.gamereactor.eu/grtv/?id=27471

(skip to last part of vid at about 7m13s)

Here's hoping these latest HD DC re-releases also come to PS3/PSN like Jet Set Radio will be!

Those are just the most requested by fans. They haven't confirmed anything.

Yes, but with the way he says it and what he implies I'd say both games seem very likely to receive the HD re-release treatment.

[kevinski]

Yes, but with the way he says it and what he implies I'd say both games seem very likely to receive the HD re-release treatment.

They'd certainly be logical candidates for HD re-releases, but there's no point in getting too excited just yet without an official announcement.