The idea of plugging a gamepad into a phone isn't a new one: Sony Ericsson tried it a few years ago, but it didn't catch on.
The theory is sound – mobile keypads aren't ideal for gaming – but the reality is that once you have to carry round a separate accessory to play games, you might as well get a DS.
Still, Chinese handset manufacturer Lenovo doesn't agree, judging by its new
i909 phone, which is going on sale in China this side of Christmas.
The phone has a 2.4-inch QVGA-resolution screen, a two-megapixel camera, music and video capabilities, and weighs 113 grams. The Game King pad plugs into the side for landscape gaming, and offers a regular D-pad and four buttons, along with Select and Start keys.
Will the i909 come west? Don't hold your breath.
Joined:
Nov 2006
Post count:
572
This is a great idea. I didn't know that Sony has already tried it. According to that recent survey, most mobile games are played in the home anyway, so having a keypad like that on the coffee table when you're ready for a bit of action could work. It would need to be free though to become mass market as only the hardcore would pay. So the handset makers should bundle it with the handsets that they're pushing for gaming.
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