Home Gaming Samsung introduces a gamepad

Samsung introduces a gamepad

1 min read
26

Sampad1

Mobile gaming is a huge industry, with people spending billions every year on mobile, touch-screen games and their myriad micro-transactions ever year. Pity touch-screen controls for the most part suck. It makes sense for platform holders to really support gaming though; Apple’s recently included support for gamepads in it’s mobile operating system, and now, Samsung’s done the same.

Meet the terribly uncreatively named Samsung Gamepad. It’ll hook up to your existing Android devices by way of Bluetooth, though newer devices can connect via the magic of NFC. It reminds me a little of the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive controller, with a dash of analogue controller thrown in.

sampad

It does, naturally, require an app, called the Mobile Console that allows you to browse through a catalogue of supported games, download them and start playing. Yes, games need to be made to support the device – but that’s ok, because a bunch of titles will have Gamepad support, including Need for Speed™ Most Wanted, Asphalt8 : Airborne,Modern Combat 4 : Zero Hour and more.

In addition to that, you’ll be able to use the thing to control your device if it’s hooked up to a TV via HDMI, turning it into a mini console. the very sort that prognosticators believe will take over the role of the traditional gaming console in the future.

For now though, I still think it’s a bit silly. I like simple phone games for the fact that they’re with me wherever I go, and are great, simple time-wasters. If you’re playing more complex games, and you’re intent on lugging this thing around, why not just get a decent handheld like a 3DS, Vita or hell, an Nvidia Shield?

No word on price or release date just yet.

[Thanks to Llewellyn Crossley for the tip]

Last Updated: December 17, 2013

26 Comments

  1. Umar Bravely Default

    December 17, 2013 at 13:34

    Sega…is that you?

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      December 17, 2013 at 13:35

      Hahahaha

      Reply

    • TiMsTeR1033

      December 17, 2013 at 13:39

      ITS ME UMAR!! I HAVE A NEW NAME NOW ITS S S S S E G oh wait thats not right its SAMSUNG!

      Reply

  2. Hammersteyn

    December 17, 2013 at 13:39

    Game pads and Oculus Rift for mobiles devices. With micro transactions embedded deeply into this platform EA must be rubbing their hands together in delight.

    Reply

  3. TiMsTeR1033

    December 17, 2013 at 13:41

    Doesn’t look very comfortable does it?

    Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      December 17, 2013 at 13:42

      Yeah, my hands ache just from looking at it.

      Reply

  4. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    December 17, 2013 at 13:42

    I actually wouldn’t mind Samsung coming in as a third hardware maker alongside Sony and Nintendo. Microsoft on the other hand, needs to go. They’ve done far too much damage.

    Reply

    • JJ's horrible secret (John)

      December 17, 2013 at 13:55

      They just need to still manufacture the Xbox controllers please.

      Reply

  5. FoxOneZA

    December 17, 2013 at 13:51

    Looks better than the DualShock digit re-aligner.

    And there’s a select button

    Reply

  6. JJ's horrible secret (John)

    December 17, 2013 at 13:52

    Make this thing compatible with pc’s and they’ll make a lot more money out of it.
    Not that I would necessarily buy it

    Reply

    • FoxOneZA

      December 17, 2013 at 14:00

      It has bluetooth so by all means, PC’s can make it compatible with PC’s 😛

      Reply

      • JJ's horrible secret (John)

        December 17, 2013 at 14:01

        True. Now that we have that sorted I can go ahead and order myself a Steam Controller.

        Reply

        • FoxOneZA

          December 17, 2013 at 14:04

          Buttons are for peasants!!!

          Reply

  7. TiMsTeR1033

    December 17, 2013 at 13:53

    what if Sega and Nintendo had a baby and call it the Segtindo DriveCube! What you guys think?

    Reply

    • JJ's horrible secret (John)

      December 17, 2013 at 13:54

      I’d prefer Nintega

      Reply

      • TiMsTeR1033

        December 17, 2013 at 13:54

        that is quite catchy actually! like a ninja! The Nintega DriveCube!

        Reply

        • JJ's horrible secret (John)

          December 17, 2013 at 13:55

          Haha. Awesome

          Reply

          • TiMsTeR1033

            December 17, 2013 at 13:56

            MAKE IT HAPPEN PEOPLE!

  8. Macethy

    December 17, 2013 at 13:56

    WTF? Why not just buy a console then? a Samsung S4 already cost R7k.

    Reply

  9. Sir Rants remembers Madiba

    December 17, 2013 at 13:59

    Pleasure 🙂

    Actually now that I really think about it, it must be absolutely tiny! Think about it. it’s shorter than an S3 / S4 so it would be seriously uncomfortable wouldn’t it?

    Reply

    • JJ's horrible secret (John)

      December 17, 2013 at 14:03

      Wow. You’re right. That thing will disappear in my man-hands.

      Reply

      • Lego Witcher of the Squirrels

        December 17, 2013 at 14:07

        Trevor wouldn’t have a problem from what I hear from Rince

        Reply

        • JJ's horrible secret (John)

          December 17, 2013 at 14:10

          About his grip too I would assume.

          Reply

  10. Emma Lewis

    December 17, 2013 at 14:24

    How about the Xbox1? bit.ly/Xbox-News

    Reply

  11. RinceGivesRspectsToMadiba

    December 17, 2013 at 14:50

    Let me get this straight. You use the controller to play your phone? http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lg4hyuYiix1qayg8n.gif

    Reply

    • JJ's horrible secret (John)

      December 17, 2013 at 14:52

      You play your phone? You sly dog you.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check Also

Apex Legends Mobile will Launch in Ten Countries Next Week

EA and respawn’s Apex Legends will make its debut on mobile devices very soon. The game wi…