Reliving your childhood with retro games on iOS is, I find, one of the best ways to spend a quiet Sunday afternoon — until you get frustrated with the virtual controls that keep getting you killed and you threaten to throw your iPad out of the window. But thanks to the iCade 8-Bitty, a new Bluetooth control pad for iOS, you can now play your favorite titles with real controls.
The 8-Bitty is designed to look and feel like a retro game controller, which is why you probably thought it was an old NES controller with a sticker on it when you first glanced at the image above. Because of this, it’s perfect for retro arcade games, 2D platformers, and just about everything else that doesn’t require analog sticks.
The 8-Bitty sports 8 buttons — hence the name — including a classic D-pad, and it’s compatible with all iOS devices, including the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. It connects via Bluetooth, and boasts an auto power save mode that preserves your battery when it’s not in use.
What’s great about the 8-Bitty is that it’s an affordable solution at just $30 — unlike iCade’s original arcade cabinet for iPad.
There is one caveat, however: The 8-Bitty isn’t compatible with every game you’ll find in the App Store. It uses a completely open development platform, so iOS developers can introduce support to their titles without paying iCade a penny. But not all of them choose to. iCade says, however, that “hundreds” of games are already supported. Just ensure you favorite is before you order.
The iCade 8-Bitty is available to order now from ThinkGeek — check out the source link below.
Source: ThinkGeek
