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iCade Extends Physical Buttons to iPhone, iPod Touch

Patrick Klepek
Commentary
The iCade Mobile doesn't look as monstrously terrible as one might have exepcted.

The moment an iOS game shows off some virtual buttons, I’m preparing to delete it. That’s not to say there aren’t some games that pull off virtual buttons a-okay, but it just seems to miss the point.

One popular solution has been to accessorize Apple’s devices with physical buttons, but the problem there lies in developer support. Joke-turned-actual thing iCade has found success in recruiting support on iPad, and creator ION Audio is hoping to extend that onto the rest of Apple’s devices with iCade Mobile.

The add-on was announced at the Consumer Electronics Show, which kicked off today, and includes a four-way d-pad, four front buttons and four shoulder buttons. It’s a pretty complete package, and it’ll be available later this year for $79.99.

The first screens for iCade Mobile show off Velocispider and Super Mega Worm, suggesting it’s already booked up both of those games. If ION Audio can get more developers on board, this thing may have some life.