arcade

Wanted: A game controller as diverse as the iPad (the Atari Arcade, reviewed)

We said it before. We'll say it again. Louder, this time.

It's time for an iPad game controller.

And not just a joystick novelty like the Ion iCade or the Atari Arcade, both of them intriguing but incredibly limited ways of going retro. The Atari Arcade Powered by Duo, a joystick accessory made by Discovery Bay Games, has a joystick, four buttons, and a 30-pin connector. However, it only works with the Atari Greatest Hits collection of 100 Atari 2600 and old, old-school arcade games. The iCade, a far larger assemble-yourself cabinet, is compatible with a handful of other motley games plus Atari's app, and that's it.

It's clear something else is needed.

EA and 2K Sports are already experimenting with iPhone-as-controller: both FIFA 12 and NBA 2K12 have downloadable apps that turn a local iPhone or iPod Touch into a multibutton controller. That's hardly a solution: the touch controls are no easier to find and use than the iPad's onscreen virtual buttons--in fact, they're even harder to locate when the iPhone in question is being held in your lap. The solution is simple. … Read more

Arcade machine to raise funds for Japan relief

Here's your chance to have some fun and contribute to the Japan tsunami relief effort at the same time. U.K.-based Bespoke Arcades and graphic artist Shok-1 have worked together to design and produce a limited-edition "Art-cade" machine, which is now available for auction on eBay starting at around $7,865. The auction is ending on September 25, with all proceeds going to the British Red Cross tsunami relief fund.

Some highlights of the Art-cade machine include a huge 28-inch LCD screen, a library of more than 350 classic games, and authentic arcade-style controls. The rig is powered by an Intel dual-core chip running Microsoft Windows 7 together with a 2.1 audio system featuring an integrated woofer. Refer to the auction page for more technical information.

(Source: Crave Asia via Born Rich)… Read more

Android gets '80s arcade hit R-Type

R-Type for Android takes you way back to the '80s with its classic humans-versus-aliens storyline and retro shoot-'em-up style of game play. Because the Android version is more or less unchanged from its arcade predecessor, it is sure to make you feel like a kid again (or a slightly younger adult, depending on how old you are now).

While there is a rich plot that drives R-Type, its details are relatively inconsequential. All you need to know is that you are piloting a futuristic starship, and your primary objective is to shoot lots and lots of aliens. With the … Read more

Classic shoot-'em-up R-Type is back for Android

R-Type for Android takes you way back to the '80s with its classic humans-versus-aliens storyline and retro shoot-'em-up style of game play. Because it's more or less unchanged from its arcade predecessor, R-Type is sure to keep you hooked for hours at a time, just as it did when you were younger.

While there is a rich plot that drives R-Type, its details are relatively inconsequential. All you need to know is that you are piloting a futuristic star ship, and your primary objective is to kill aliens...lots and lots of aliens.

To begin, your ship is … Read more

Atari joystick goes all retro on your iPad

The Ion Audio iCade, which came out earlier this year, gives your iPad that good old-fashioned game feel that takes you back to when you skipped class to drop quarters at the local arcade. There's no denying that the iCade is nifty, but the $99 price tag is a bit of a turn-off.

That's why retro gamers are getting excited about the upcoming Atari Arcade Duo Powered Joystick. It's designed to work with the Atari's Greatest Hits iPad app, which features 100 classic Atari and arcade games.

The Atari joystick isn't as fancy as the iCade, but it should be cheaper. The iPad simply docks into a slot at the top, rather than use Bluetooth like the iCade. The controller part of the device has a simple pattern with four buttons and a joystick.

Details are sketchy so far. All we know is that the Atari Arcade Duo Powered Joystick is supposed to be available soon at retailers like Target and Toys "R" Us.

If you haven't been able to tear yourself away from Centipede or Asteroids or simply want to relive the Atari glory days of your childhood, then you can add this gadget to your gaming wish list.… Read more

Swing your way to glory

Hook Worlds is the latest sequel to one of our all-time favorite game franchises in the escape genre on iOS, Hook Champ. Though there are four different game types in Hook Worlds, the object remains mostly the same as in its predecessors: use your grappling hook to swing from object to object to achieve the longest distance possible. The graphics are smooth with high frame rates as you swing through caves, under rooftops, and over hot lava. Unlike the earlier games in the genre, Hook Worlds has dynamically created maps with no end--you simply need to last as long as … Read more

Beer arcade: Video games + beer = awesome

As much as I'm reluctant to use the phrase "man cave," mostly because I don't have the space for one of my own, I have to say that I have found a pretty nifty man cave essential. Behold, the Octane 120 Pro Beer Arcade!

The Beer Arcade comes from Northern California-based Dream Arcades, which also offers premade arcade cabinets and DIY arcade kits. Take a high-end gaming PC with PlayStation 3 connectivity, a 5.1 audio system, add full driving controls with dual-motor force feedback and variable resistance on the pedals, and, as the name would suggest, a beer tap.

I know, right?

Those are the basics, but it goes further than that. The Beer Arcade also comes loaded with a dozen driving sims (including Hard Drivin' and S.T.U.N. Runner, a few faves of mine) and a fully adjustable steering wheel and seat, and variable-resistance clutch, brake, and gas petals. As Dream Arcades is quick to point out, "Of course we don't condone REAL drinking and driving, but kicking back a few Bud Lights while playing your favorite games is a different story!" … Read more

Entertaining, yet unimpressive iPad bowling

Strike Knight is a free, ad-supported pinball-shuffleboard game from the makers of the classic Paper Toss. In terms of gameplay, you pretty much get what you pay for--but the execution is fun and funny, with great attention to detail.

The interface puts you in a bar, complete with the hubbub of background noise. You're looking down the length of a realistic shuffleboard-bowling game, on which you're trying to slide a metal puck to knock down bowling pins. The details of the interface are convincing and entertaining (the crowd and an animated "Strike Knight" on the back-glass … Read more

Entertaining, yet unimpressive shuffleboard bowling

Might as well jump

Doodle Jump is a fun and addictive platform-jumping game with a cute, hand-scribbled aesthetic and a cleverly integrated leaderboard. Not surprising for such an addictive game, the interface couldn't be more simple: you keep jumping automatically, and you gently tilt the device to move left and right. As you move higher and higher up an infinitely scrolling, wraparound vertical screen, you jump onto an increasingly challenging arrangement of platforms--including moving blue platforms, crumbling brown platforms, white platforms that disappear after one jump, and platforms with jump-boosting springs and jet packs.

You have to tap the screen to shoot the … Read more