MWC 2014: Mad Catz unveils a new MFi controller for iPhone called the C.T.R.L.i

For some reason, there are people out there who really want you to play iPhone games with a lumpy plastic controller.

Often, the controllers they want you to use are ineffectual. Almost always, these controllers look like they were designed in the '90s.

The latest in this ever-extending line is the snappily titled Mad Catz C.T.R.L.i I have no idea how you'd say that out loud. Or even if you'd want to.

It's an MFi controller that snaps on to your iPhone and lets you push buttons instead of tapping on the screen. It's similar to the gamepad for Mad Catz's oddly angled Android micro-console the Mojo.

Mad Catz should probably hire a new naming department.

Anyway, the Mad Catz C.T.R.L.i is at the prototype stage at the moment, and being poked and prodded at by a variety of people over at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

It's slated for release in April, and will cost about $80. According to my transatlantic number-crunching device, that'll translate to about £80.

We'll let you know when we have a more concrete release date for the Mad Catz C.T.R.L.i Hopefully, one of our intrepid on-the-ground reporters at MWC will get some hands-on time with the device in the not-too-distant future.