iCade arcade bluetooth controller $39.99 at Bed, Bath & Beyond

[SRGilbert]

I had a feeling these would be on clearance after the holidays so I stopped into my local Bed, Bath & Beyond and sure enough they were. Originally marked at $99.99, they were marked down to $49.99, and I used one of the very common 20% off coupons to bring it down to $39.99!

 

I know that the iCade was designed with the iPad in mind, but from what I understand, it will work with pretty much anything that allows bluetooth keyboard input. For now, I'll just use it with my iPhone 4s, but at some point I'd like to pick up a tablet of some sort and hopefully get it working with Mame.

 

At that price, I might even try to pick up another one and see what sort of mods are possible!

[NinjaWarrior]

Can it work on the PC with a Emulator??

[SRGilbert]

Can it work on the PC with a Emulator??

 

Well, I wouldn't swear to it, but I'd think so as long as you had bluetooth on the PC. I haven't had a chance to even unbox it yet. I suppose if nothing else, it should be possible to hack it into a usb controller!

[Metal Jesus]

I got an iCade for Christmas, and I can say that it is damn fun to play with the iPad 2, especially if you happened to snag the iMAME app! Buttons feel great and overall it is surprisingly well built!

[goldenegg]

... but from what I understand, it will work with pretty much anything that allows bluetooth keyboard input

 

Not quite that simple.

 

Because of the way iOS handles bluetooth devices, the iCade needs to send two key presses for each button: one for press the other for release. Because of this, apps need to be specifically written to use the controller.

 

Here's a little more info about what's going on ...

 

Let's say you're playing a platformer. You'll want to hold a direction on the controller to continue running in the same direction. A regular keyboard will continue sending the keypress until you let go. When you let go, your character will stop. The iCade will only send the command once, even if the controller is held in the same position. This is due to a limitation in how iOS handles bluetooth keyboards. To get around this, the iCade will send a different command when you release the joystick. So the app will listen for the first input and will continue performing that task until the second command is received, telling the app the button is no longer used.

[Austin]

I'd love to buy one of these, but I don't forsee owning an iPad for quite some time. I hope they don't discontinue these things..

[Gandor]

I had a feeling these would be on clearance after the holidays so I stopped into my local Bed, Bath & Beyond and sure enough they were. Originally marked at $99.99, they were marked down to $49.99, and I used one of the very common 20% off coupons to bring it down to $39.99!

 

I know that the iCade was designed with the iPad in mind, but from what I understand, it will work with pretty much anything that allows bluetooth keyboard input. For now, I'll just use it with my iPhone 4s, but at some point I'd like to pick up a tablet of some sort and hopefully get it working with Mame.

Thanks for the tip. Happen to get the 20% off coupon yesterday in the mail and picked one up today.

 

[SRGilbert]

Well, this is frustrating. I'm able to sync the iCade fine with my iPhone, but the Atari collection doesn't seem to work with it.

[Gandor]

I just played some Green Beret and Space Harrier via iMame on my 1st gen iPad.

Haven't downloaded the Atari Collection yet but will try later today.

[Coleco]

Got one of these for Christmas. With iMame it is an awesome way to play some retro games.

 

Not as crazy about the away the Atari games work with it, but they're still good. Wish Atari would provide some licensed 2600 games even at an extra cost. Space Invaders on 2600 would be fun.

Edited December 31, 2011 by Coleco

[godslabrat]

Picked one up because i like the idea and I plan to get an iPad "someday", when they're more sanely priced. In the meantime, can I use this thing with my iPhone?

[bomberpunk]

I didnt have a coupon but I still picked one up for $49.99 today, and it was the last one in the store. I don't even own an iPad, but I'm sure it will work with my 4S.

[Cynicaster]

I got an iCade for Christmas, and I can say that it is damn fun to play with the iPad 2, especially if you happened to snag the iMAME app! Buttons feel great and overall it is surprisingly well built!

 

I was wondering about MAME being “ported” to iOS but haven’t bothered to look into it much. Is this iMAME capable of playing all the ROM’s that are playable in the PC version(s) of MAME, or is it just a small handful of games?

 

I happened to come across an iCade in a big box store when I was hitting up the post-Christmas sales. First time I’d seen one in person. It didn’t have an iPad hooked up to it, but I was able to try out the feel of the controls. I really like the idea, but if I’m to be brutally honest, I found the joystick and buttons to have a rather cheap-o feel to them.

[Metal Jesus]

I was wondering about MAME being “ported” to iOS but haven’t bothered to look into it much. Is this iMAME capable of playing all the ROM’s that are playable in the PC version(s) of MAME, or is it just a small handful of games?

 

 

You need to use games from the rom set 0.37b5, and everything should work fine. Google for "MAME GP2X_Wiz 2.2 Full Romset". That should put you on the right path.

So far, I've ran several hundred roms on my iPad 2 and they all work flawlessly with the iCade.

[Cynicaster]

I was wondering about MAME being “ported” to iOS but haven’t bothered to look into it much. Is this iMAME capable of playing all the ROM’s that are playable in the PC version(s) of MAME, or is it just a small handful of games?

 

 

You need to use games from the rom set 0.37b5, and everything should work fine. Google for "MAME GP2X_Wiz 2.2 Full Romset". That should put you on the right path.

So far, I've ran several hundred roms on my iPad 2 and they all work flawlessly with the iCade.

 

Ah, I see. That's cool... I may have to look further into this. A mini arcade cab for the garage sounds like fun!

 

PS--I enjoy your YouTube channel. I saw the video where you did a "man cave" tour, and a game room side by side with a jam room is pretty cat's ass. Still, the only thing I could think of after seeing that video was "this space is just SCREAMING for a full-sized upright MAME cabinet", especially for when guests are over. Or, at least a token classic game like Pac-Man or Galaga. I know, as far as retrogaming goes, it's not a cheap project by any stretch, but great fun. I had 15 or so peeps over on New Year's eve and my cabinet wasn't idle for more than 10 seconds at a time from 7pm to 4am. By comparison, not a single person asked if they could fire up the PS3.

Edited January 3, 2012 by Cynicaster

[Metal Jesus]

PS--I enjoy your YouTube channel. I saw the video where you did a "man cave" tour, and a game room side by side with a jam room is pretty cat's ass. Still, the only thing I could think of after seeing that video was "this space is just SCREAMING for a full-sized upright MAME cabinet", especially for when guests are over.

 

Funny you should mention that, as I couldn't agree more!

 

I actually got an X-Arcade dual joystick for Christmas, so my buddy Drunken Master Paul and I are planning on building a cab from the ground up and shooting an episode about it. Actually, it will probably be Paul doing 90% of the work, and me drinking beer. I'm the computer dude and he's the handy man. Wait. That sounds like cheesy 80's sitcom... Nevermind.

 

But yes, it's in my future!

[Cynicaster]

I actually got an X-Arcade dual joystick for Christmas,

 

My brother has one of those, the version with the trackball. He loves it and has beaten the hell out of it for 2 years now. It's a very good product for the price point. His joysticks are on the way out (starting to get all creaky and squeaky) so I bought him a pair of Happs for Christmas that we will be swapping in shortly. Best of luck with your project, you won't regret it!