With mobile gaming on the rise, many designers have hopped onto the gamepad bandwagon, creating a number of tactile game controllers hoping to offer the ultimate mobile gaming experience. Crowd funding site Kickstarter has helped facilitate the creation of many of these, the latest example being the iMpulse Controller.
While most of the gamepad devices we have covered hope to reproduce the console controller feel, iMpulse is focused more on portability and convenience. The pocket-sized gamepad features a minimal design with a single sliding directional thumbpad and five gaming buttons. The bluetooth-powered device can be flipped around to function with the thumbpad on either the left or right side.
Additionally, the iMpulse controller attaches to your keychain and also functions as a media remote for your mobile gadgets or as a key finder that beeps loudly when activated via smartphone application. Out of the box, iMpulse is designed to support hundreds of popular mobile games on both Android and iOS platforms, and its creators are also offering a developers kit to bring even more application support in the future.
To show your support, a pledge of at least $30 will get get you your very own iMpulse controller, while an additional $10 will get you a charging cable and T-shirt. Additionally, there is a slick metal finish available for a $55 contribution.
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LukeCWM DroKingIs it just me or is it too small for average adult?Would you really want a full-size Xbox 360-type controller connected to your car keys? Putting it in a purse would be bad enough, but putting it in your pants pocket would be impossible!Reply -
festerovic LukeCWMWould you really want a full-size Xbox 360-type controller connected to your car keys? Putting it in a purse would be bad enough, but putting it in your pants pocket would be impossible!Reply
Is that why the kids pants are sagging so low these days? -
RADIO_ACTIVE It does need to be a little bit bigger (not xbox or ps3 size lol), however its a great ideaReply -
jackbling RADIO_ACTIVEIt does need to be a little bit bigger (not xbox or ps3 size lol), however its a great ideaReply
I was expecting a foldout. -
beardguy Fucking cool! Remember, you are going to be lugging this thing around on top of your smart phone/tablet. If it's too big, it just wouldn't be practical at all.Reply -
freggo Why do I have a feeling that some of these gadgets in kickstarter are not actually NEW!Reply
I think someone went to an electronics expo in Honk Kong, saw something cool, took photos and checked how many come in a container.
Then you go on kickstarter, show your product photo, collect enough upfront orders to buy the container and end up smiling all the way to the bank !
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@freggo - hahaha that couldn't be further from the truth in our case! As our video states, the iMpulse Controller was conceived, developed and will be made in SoCal, it is entirely a labor of love and overcoming many many obstacles and unbelievers! We got our KS funding barely a week after launch, and couldn't be prouder of our efforts! - Team iMpulseReply