iPhone gamers looking for a way to effectively go retro may have found a solution with the new GameDock. It’s a simple but innovative way to play those old-school games that you’ve downloaded to your iPod, iPhone, or iPad. As the name suggests, all you have to do is dock your device, connect it to your TV, and off you go.
With the GameDock, your iOS device transforms into a gaming console, complete with those old-timey controllers that very much look like they were grabbed straight out of a Nintendo Entertainment System unit. You won’t even need to get your iPhone jailbroken.
The controllers actually may be one of the biggest factors that can influence gamers to shell out some moolah, since this allows them to play mobile games using a REAL controller with REAL buttons. If you’ve ever played a platform game by tapping and swiping the screen of your iPhone, then you’d understand why getting to mash real buttons is a big deal.
There’s a catch, of course. You’d first have to download a game that works on the iCade system before even thinking about getting the GameDock. So if you were expecting to be able to play Temple Run, Angry Birds, or Fruit Ninja with NES-type controllers, then you’re out of luck.
The iCade system does have a lot of retro games, though, which is actually the whole point of having a GameDock. For starters, you can get the Atari’s Greatest Hits app which lets you collect up to a hundred classic games from the Atari system. If that’s not enough, there’s also the “100 Greatest Hits” app that allows you to download the 100 most popular games from the SINCLAIR ZX SPECTRUM system of the 80’s and 90’s.
If all of these sound good to you, then perhaps you’d be willing to help out the folks who are working hard to make this concept a reality. The creators of GameDock are looking for an investment of at least $50,000 on Kickstarter. For a pledge of $150, you will receive your very own GameDock with a USB controller and HDMI cable for connecting the whole enchilada to your TV.
If retro gaming is your thing, then it won’t take much to convince you to support this awesome project. By doing so, you will also show your support for the indie games community, which is totally cool any way you look at it. Get that GameDock and show them how it’s done, old-school style.
I just got the app on my phone, thanks