d-pad

iCade 8-Bitty hands-on: Cool controller, not enough games

How many times have you played a really sweet game on an Android or iOS device, but found yourself wishing for better controls?

Because, let's face it, some games really suffer when your thumbs block the screen, or when you don't get any tactile feedback. Tapping glass is a far cry from mashing buttons.

Enter ThinkGeek's iCade 8-Bitty, a mobile version of ThinkGeek's iCade gaming cabinet, an iPad-only accessory that started out as an April Fool's Day joke.

The retro-styled 8-Bitty pays homage to the original Nintendo NES D-pad controller, but tethers to your smartphone … Read more

iCade 8-Bitty: An analog controller for your smartphone and tablet games

Remember the iCade? It's the iPad gaming cabinet that started out as an April Fool's joke, but then evolved into a real product.

Neat, but at $99.99, it's not exactly an impulse buy--and it leaves Android, iPhone, and iPod Touch gamers out of the fun.

Enter ThinkGeek's latest retro-gaming accessorry, the iCade 8-Bitty. It's a handheld analog controller that closely resembles the old Nintendo NES controller--minus the cord. The 8-Bitty works wirelessly (via Bluetooth, I'm guessing, though ThinkGeek doesn't specify).

And it works with nearly all Android and iOS phones and tablets, … Read more

Logitech iPad Joystick review: Same old Fling

When Logitech announced its Joystick for iPad last month, I was skeptical. Based on the photos alone, the suction-cup-based controller looked to be identical to Ten One Design's Fling Joystick for iPad. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but why reinvent the wheel?

No, no, a Logitech rep assured me. Its joystick features "a unique dual spring design crafted by Logitech engineers for optimal game performance and usability." Which kind of reminded me of when Vanilla Ice tried to explain how "Ice, Ice Baby" didn't rip off David Bowie's "Under Pressure."Read more

Apple, Apple, Apple!

Links from Wednesday's episode of Loaded: Apple's music event to stream live Television show rentals from Apple Netflix on Apple TV New webOS 2.0 for HP's Palm Microsoft set to release updated Xbox 360 controller Sneak peek at the T-Mobile G2 phone

preGame 25: Multiplayer preview

Today on preGame, we'll take a look at the multiplayer modes of two highly anticipated shooters: Medal of Honor and Crysis 2. It's no secret that the Modern Warfare franchise has changed the face of online military-based shooters and with the two gameplay trailers we'll screen today, we think that change is as apparent as ever.

A few technical difficulties prevented us from demoing our scheduled game today, Shank. Fortunately, we'll be able to show you the graphic novel-inspired beat-em-up downloadable title next week, along with a chance to win one of two codes redeemable for … Read more