MOGA's Android Controllers Should Help Nuke Consoles

We got a hands-on with the upcoming MOGA Pro Controller for Android.

I got a chance to test-drive PowerA's upcoming console-like MOGA Pro Controller for Android in addition to the pocket-sized Mobile Gaming System. Both sport a retractable arm that secures your Android phone to the device, and a Tegra Zone-like app on Google Play that lists Android games supporting both controllers.

Honestly, I could see Android customers easily owning both controllers. On the go, the Mobile Gaming System is ideal, as you could seemingly stuff it into your pocket. Despite its size, it was relatively light and easy to use, offering two analog thumb sticks, your standard four-button setup, and right/left trigger buttons. Bluetooth makes it compatible with both smarthones and the larger Android tablets.

The second, larger Android MOGA Pro Controller, slated for a Spring release, felt more like an Xbox 360 controller, offering two analog thumbsticks, a D-pad, your standard four-button setup, two shoulder buttons and two triggers. Because this version is somewhat larger, you can't shove it in your pocket, so it may be better suited to leave at home or thrown into a backpack at the very least.

This model felt great in my hands, but the performance was lacking as I tested the gadget with a smartphone connected to an HDTV via MHL. The PowerA reps said it was interference from all the other gadgets, and that could very well be true, but the lag made NOVA 3 somewhat unplayable at CES, thus leading me to wonder how the controller will play in a controlled environment like my living room or office.

"The response to our MOGA pocket-sized controller from Android gamers has been fantastic, and we’re now excited to give mobile gamers true, console-style control with MOGA Pro," said Eric Bensussen, President of PowerA. “Now more than ever, mobile gamers will feel at home with a traditional controller while playing the huge variety of games available on the MOGA Mobile Gaming System."

I'm told we'll get a sample of the new controller soon, so we'll see how it performs when there's not so many wireless gadgets interfering with the Bluetooth connection. MOGA Pro will be available in Spring 2013 although the price has yet to be determined.'

_{Contact Us for News Tips, Corrections and Feedback}

You need to be logged to post a comment

There are 17 Comments. B

Top Comments

15

whiteodian , January 14, 2013 10:50 PM

No chance this will "Nuke Consoles." Whatever that is suppose to mean. Maybe it will affect the mobile gaming market and take away from PS Vita and Gameboy sales. I've never been much into mobile gaming. I've had the original Gameboy, GB Advance, Original PSP and smart phone for 3.5 years. None of them come close to the enjoyment I get from sitting down and playing Console (or PC) games.

Other Comments

-4

g00fysmiley , January 14, 2013 9:07 PM

so it is a sixaxis app with included game clip and controller... i've been using a ps3 controller for us eon my phoen for a while its already ou tthere but kudos to them if they can do it for cheaper then $43 which is what my setup cost
0

tburns1 , January 14, 2013 9:23 PM

Not everyone is up to rooting their phones, so sixaxis is not an option for them.
15

whiteodian , January 14, 2013 10:50 PM

No chance this will "Nuke Consoles." Whatever that is suppose to mean. Maybe it will affect the mobile gaming market and take away from PS Vita and Gameboy sales. I've never been much into mobile gaming. I've had the original Gameboy, GB Advance, Original PSP and smart phone for 3.5 years. None of them come close to the enjoyment I get from sitting down and playing Console (or PC) games.
7

tomaz99 , January 14, 2013 11:20 PM

Looks dorky

Reminds me when I was young an the 'neat' calculator watches came out...pretty neat...but quickly turned into dork jewelry
5

Antimatter79 , January 14, 2013 11:49 PM

But wouldn't you have to have games that are specifically written to work with the game pad? Otherwise, with many games you're using a controller but you still have on screen "buttons" taking up valuable screen real estate.
4

hiruu , January 15, 2013 12:17 AM

...and pigs will start to fly soon!
2

ricdiculus , January 15, 2013 1:27 AM

tburns1Not everyone is up to rooting their phones, so sixaxis is not an option for them.

If your using ICS or newer, no rooting needed.
0

lathe26 , January 15, 2013 2:06 AM

The lag is likely due to the fact they did not implement the HID protocol. HID is optimized for mice, keyboards, and joysticks.
-1

frank_drebin , January 15, 2013 2:13 AM

dork jewelry ha ha. Nice one!
0

samwelaye , January 15, 2013 2:56 AM

ricdiculusIf your using ICS or newer, no rooting needed.

yes it is. if you want to connect the ps3 controller thru bluetooth, you need root access. For wired, itll work, but only if the phone supports usb otg which many phones (like the nexus 4) do not.
0

stevo777 , January 15, 2013 3:54 AM

I doubt phones in the next five years will have the RAM and whatnot that the next generation consoles will have. Like now, they will definitely have their place in the gaming world, but I don't see them being dominant.
1

kinggraves , January 15, 2013 4:47 AM

I was finding my Zelda edition 3DS to not be strong enough of a girl repellant on the bus. Thankfully Moga has brought this new innovation to eternal virgins, a piece of cheap plastic to attach a copycat controlller to a phone. I no longer need to fear someone will converse with me on what I'm playing instead of awkwardly looking away without making eye contact.

You know what the best part is of Kevin's opinionated and biased titling? It's pretty likely Microsoft and even Sony could utilize tablets with built in controls to mimic Wii U's gamepad functionality, so any device built with a touchscreen and physical controls is actually quite helpful to them.
3

g00fysmiley , January 15, 2013 4:49 AM

samwelayeyes it is. if you want to connect the ps3 controller thru bluetooth, you need root access. For wired, itll work, but only if the phone supports usb otg which many phones (like the nexus 4) do not.

did not root and six axis works fine on my galaxy nexus
0

anonymous@guest , January 15, 2013 5:33 AM

I bought the moga 1st gen controller from verizon and it's a blast for emulators. I usually play when I'm on the toilet, or occasionally on the couch. Not that much to be honest, but it's still neat as hell when I do break it out.
3

animeman59 , January 15, 2013 5:58 AM

Nuke the consoles? You're kidding right?

I'm a little disappointed that Tom's would use BS headlines like this to get page views.
What is this, Gawker Media?
2

ricdiculus , January 15, 2013 6:29 AM

samwelayeyes it is. if you want to connect the ps3 controller thru bluetooth, you need root access. For wired, itll work, but only if the phone supports usb otg which many phones (like the nexus 4) do not.

My tf101 transformer had no issue connecting to my ps3 controller once they released ICS. This was listed as one of the new features when updating android. Earlier versions did require rooting.
1

ojas , January 15, 2013 11:57 PM

hastenAnd another title that has nothing to do with the aticle, only there to create hits.Is this the route all Tom's "writers" are now taking?

Well duh, otherwise no one would read them...

Except the core articles and reviews. And Jane, last person who actually makes sense now from the news section.