Rathores blog

Its not enough to just have good games on your iPad or iPhone, you're going to want some flashy "gamer" inspired accessories to go with them. Whether its a good sound system, a great controller, or anything else, you can pretty much guarantee there is some kind of accessory for your iPad that will solve your hardcore gaming needs. But when it really comes down to it, the most important thing a hardcore ipad gamer can have at their disposal is a well made joystick. Here are two that I feel make the grade.

THE iCONTROL PAD

I'll admit, I'm not very passionate about touch controls. I grew up using a joystick and its pretty tough for me to give that up when it comes to playing a game. If I tried to play Sonic or Zelda with touch controls, I probably wouldn't get very far. I know I'm not the only one out there that feels this way and its for that reason that I sought out a plausible controller option for iOS devices. It didn't take long for me to find something great and the iControl Pad immediately caught my eye.

This nifty little 8-button pad connects to your device via blue tooth, making it a wireless device all its own. The small device is square shaped, similar to a standard NES controller. However, it does come with two rounded snap-in rubber sides that will give you a more comfortable grip. You'll also get both directional and axial based movement controls. The standard set will also come with a USB cord to help you connect it to other devices like your PC. This standard version will run you around $54.99 and is perfect for gaming on your iPad device.

For those of you that are using an iPhone, there is a much better option. For around $67.99 you'll get access to the iControl Pad mega bundle, which includes all of the above items as well as two side clamps and a universal holder. These side clamps hook into the top of the device, on the left and right side. The universal holder then connects to the back of the pad. Once all of these parts are in place you can literally "snap" your iPhone into place. This turns the controller and your iOS device into a hybrid hand held, much like Nintendo DS or Sony PSP.

The company states that the iControl Pad will work with most iCade and iOS applications that support a controller. There are a wide range of apps already available and with the release of these controllers you can bet that a majority of arcade games that are released in the future will have control pad options. This is a great and fairly inexpensive way to get your joystick fix.

ION AUDIO iCADE

This is by far the most interesting and entertaining thing I've seen for hardcore and retro gaming so far. ION Audio, which are responsible for crafting a lot of iPad compatible goodies, developed a nifty little cabinet called the iCade. This sturdy wooden frame is a to scale replica of a standard retro arcade machine. Its a quality construction and features intricate looking retro graphics on the outer casing, further enhancing that old school look.

The iCade comes with a joystick setup, rather than a controller. This includes the stick itself and eight total buttons. Its important to remember that most retro games will not use more than one or two buttons, but this case gives you the option to play newer titles as well that may offer more button combinations. The company promises easy an easy transition between adding and removing your iPad from the casing itself. It offers a quick snap in that will cradle the iPad, without placing too much pressure on it. This cabinet was custom designed to fit all size specifications of each generation of iPad, making it a great buy regardless of what type you use.