As many companies launching into a new project have discovered, the process of doing often changes your original goals.
At least that's what's happened to Kickstarter unconsole GameStick, which has just updated the designs for its Android-based controller/stick hardware.
Hold me nicelyAs the company pointed out during January, the money it raised - the goal was $100,000 but it ended up with
$650,000 - meant it could tweak aspects of the controller.
User feedback also resulted in some changes.
As you can see from the images below, the key tweak is make the controller more ergonomic.
Out goes the rectangular design, with two lobes added to provide a more comfortable grip. The four action buttons have also been heightened, while the slot to house the GameStick itself has moved location from the front to the back of the controller.
Still, these images remain concept artwork, not photos of the real thing, which is currently being manufactured for an April release.
If you didn't catch the Kickstarter campaign, you can pre-order GameStick via its
website for $79 plus P&P.
This is the original design
And now the new...
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Jan 2012
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dwightyone | 18:56 - 22 February 2013
You can tell when someone is um... how can I say it, yes, of limited intelligence when they have to resort to using the word 'retarded' against someone. When they use it twice, well, they are very very limited.
Back to your point, if that's what we can call it.
Please tell me how you come to the conclusion that this device with its d-pad, two analogue sticks, it's eight face buttons and two shoulder buttons is not designed with full games in mind ie: extended gaming. What are they there for my friend? Short bursts of Pacman?
The clue is in the device's name - 'Gamestick'. Let me explain this to you. The Gamestick primarily is a device which is designed to play 3D android games ie: Gameloft games etc.. which are not really playable on a touchscreen and perhaps are more suited to a big TV screen. To think otherwise is delusional. Being open source has no relevance to your point.
Clearly, amongst other things, this handheld gaming device is designed to play story driven narrative games on a big TV. You may want to play angry birds on a big 40 inch TV screen but the majority of people who will buy this product will want to play longer length 3D games whilst using its multimedia capabilites.
But hey Jey, if you want to go ahead and pair a bluetooth controller to this Gamestick gamepad (defeats the purpose of the Gamestick gamepad) then good for you my friend.
Great chatting to you.
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Feb 2013
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you're retarded if you think this console with its original controller is intended for extended gameplay time. you are also retarded if you haven't noticed that this "unconsole" is almost 100% open source, and allows you to use (almost) ANY bluetooth controller including but not limited to the duelshock 3 (soon duelshock 4) , apple's magic mouse, and so on. view this console as a hub, ready to fit into any softcore gamers daily or on the go gaming sessions.
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Jan 2012
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dwightyone | 15:55 - 22 February 2013
The design looks totally stupid to me.
Surely this is nowhere near the final design as this looks like it is only designed for quick blast (as in minutes not hours) gaming. The pad design looks horribly uncomfortable for extended play.
Extended gaming sessions playing FPS and fast moving 3rd person adventure games alike looks like a no no on this pad. Yes, some will force themselves to play it (to get their monies worth) and stubbornly claim it is more than adequate but that's missing the point. The point is that this device primarily is meant to be a android gaming device for extended gaming sessions and being adequate is not good enough. To compete and succeed it needs to be amazingly good. With it only having one shoulder button either side, the ergonomics of a flat rectangular piece of wood ie: a snes pad with two analogues sticks glued to it, well, I'm not holding out much hope for it.
If they don't do some major redesign to it then I'm afraid its destined for the bargain bins already.
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Oct 2012
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102
I'm not sure if it looks more comfortable - I would guess not.
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Dec 2012
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I liked the older square design. However, I agree that renaming the buttons to something more recognizable was a great idea.
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mr_bez | 15:26 - 20 February 2013
Renaming the buttons looks like the best decision they've made.
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