Samsung Has a Gamepad for Smartphones Too
On Monday, Samsung introduced the Gamepad, a peripheral optimized for gaming on the company's line of Galaxy devices. GamePad is attachable to mobile devices ranging from 4 inches to 6.3 inches, and connects to the smartphone via a Bluetooth connection. The device is compatible with Android 4.1, meaning gamers should be able to use this device on non-Samsung phones and tablets.
"GamePad easily connects with smartphones and tablets through Bluetooth pairing," reads the company press release. "The most convenient features optimized for Samsung Galaxy devices running Android 4.3 such as Galaxy Note 3, S4, Note II, and S III enable easy connectivity with GamePad via NFC tag and quicker access to games via the 'PLAY' button."
This "PLAY" button launches the company's new Mobile Console app, which appears to offer Android games outside Google Play such as Need for Speed Most Wanted, Asphalt 8: Airborne, Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour, Virtual Tennis Challenge, Prince of Persia: The Shadow and the Flame, and more. This app can be downloaded through Samsung Apps, and provides 35 games that are compatible with this particular gamepad. More titles are coming in 2014.
On the hardware front, the gamepad provides an 8-way D-Pad and an analog stick on the left, and an analog stick and four action buttons on the right. The "PLAY" button resides right in the middle, and each shoulder has a trigger button. The peripheral comes with a rechargeable 160mA battery, Bluetooth 3.0 and NFC connectivity (the latter on Samsung phones with Android 4.3 only).
The GamePad is currently available in select European markets and will be available in additional regions in the coming weeks. The availability of the GamePad varies by market.
Ya know... the Android body (google) needs to standardize joypads, while they can.
I am fully with you in this one. If you can't wait, go for the Sony Xperia mini Pro, much cheaper and although not as convenient, your NES games would play quite well.
I agree it's not a very practical design, unless it uses something like dip switches in combination with some sort of angular guide under the pad, but, I guess they wanted it to look different from the standard XBOX-like designs.
'Users can also connect Galaxy devices to their TV through an HDMI cable or AllShare Screen Mirroring for video game console experience from their living room.'
I'd like to have more choices in the future than just apple/samsung but we're quickly headed to that reality. Not sure if google can legally make their next OS not work on GS5 (or whatever), but they surely can choose to NOT use any samsung products going forward for tablets, phones etc.