Archos Gamepad Released In the USA 106
An anonymous reader writes "Archos have finally released their much anticipated touchscreen gamepad in the USA. The console boasts a Arm Cortex Dual-core A9 1.6GHz cpu, 1024MB Ram, 8GB internal storage and uses the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS. The Gamepad has 14 physical buttons and dual analog thumb-sticks as well as a touchscreen which means the latest 3D Android games should work great and for fans of emulation the traditional gamepad design and buttons will make N64/PS1 emulators work great on the gamepad." CNET UK was unimpressed, calling it "a bitter disappointment"; IGN was more optimistic, especially at its sub-$200 price.
Seems better to buy controls independently... (Score:4, Insightful)
It's an interesting idea, but inherently you are sacrificing on screen an component quality by bundling the gamepad with the device you are playing on (at least when the goal is a cheap device). It seems like you are much better off buying a top-quality Android or iPhone and then getting one of the third-party control solutions.
It also seems like you'd gain a greater degree of compatibility that way.
"Gamepad" takes a new meaning (Score:5, Insightful)
While I understand using the word pad, since it's been another name for tablets, the word "gamepad" has meant video game controllers for over 2 decades.
This is a hand held video game console. Sure, that's a lot of words to describe 1 object, and could use 1 word, but the word "gamepad" is already taken by a gaming device. Will this cause confusion? I think so, I thought at first it was a game controller with a touch pad on it, not a screen.
Re:Integrated Controls Better (Score:4, Insightful)
I cannot disagree more. The reason why handheld consoles don't include separate controls...is its a stupid idea
That was a convincing argument!
, but the suggestion that the pitiful screen sizes [albeit average resolution] of the iphone [its less true for large...and I mean note size android phones]can compete with this *larger* [if weaker DPI] tablet is laughable.
Portable gaming systems have used 3-5" screens for decades quite successfully. Not to mention that's not an argument against separate controls, it's an argument to use a Nexus or iPad Mini (or even a full-size tablet) rather than an iPhone/Android phone if you want a larger screen.
Due to the failure of the iPhone in major gaming markets...
What?
but the price is amazing.
The Archos Gamepad's pricing is definitely a plus, if you have to buy an entire device. But a lot of (most?) people now already have a portable Android or iOS device they use for other purposes; a set of attachable controls would give them the same abilities with a better screen for only $50-$100.
Not a new idea,but games dont support real buttons (Score:5, Insightful)