Menu Close

Get A Snap-On Game Controller For Your Samsung Galaxy S4

No, it's not PlayStation-related, but it's significant from a gaming news standpoint, I think.

Although I'd probably never use the thing (games on cell phones remain a ridiculous notion in my old-fashioned eyes), Samsung has revealed a snap-on gamepad for its newly revealed Galaxy S4 smartphone.

This accessory features a retractable clamp that, once its extended, can house the new phone. The pad runs on two AAA batteries and boasts one-touch Bluetooth pairing, as well as a familiar button layout that looks suspiciously like the Xbox 360 controller. The Samsung gamepad includes asymmetrical analogue sticks, a d-pad, four face buttons, and two shoulder buttons, but no analogue triggers. The phone itself is available in screen sizes of 4" to 6.3" ( big screen!), and you even get a remote control function for home gaming experiences.

We don't have a price just yet, but I suppose if people really love to play games on their phones, they'd be willing to pay for this. The next step would be to make something like this for a tablet, I think…

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
16 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
FatherSun
FatherSun
11 years ago

NO!

CrusaderForever
CrusaderForever
11 years ago

Great idea, even though I cannot stand the X360 misplaced analog sticks. Cell gaming just doesn't do it for me.

Kryten1029a
Kryten1029a
11 years ago

I personally like the 360 controller but it comes down to personal preference, doesn't it? If they could graft the DS3 d-pad onto the 360 controller or give the DS3 the 360 triggers then I'd definitely be a happy camper.

Temjin001
Temjin001
11 years ago

Cool. I'm sure the Galaxy Note (the non-phone one) series will get something like it.

Anyway, as far as Im concerned it's another American debt hole to get lost in. It blows me away how many low income, government assisted, citizens have something like an iPhone or Galaxy S product. Assuredly they didn't fork the $700 up front expense for these mini-computers with a phone built in. No, they took the idiot appeal of a $99 or $199 buy in, then after two years spent the value of their phone 2-3x over in an air tight contract.

Anyway, I just got my HTC Wildfire S Android operated phone the other day. It was $150. Yes, $150 and I pay $40 a month for unlimited talk, text, and 200MB of 3G data with no contract.

I'm coming over from an iPhone. Not so much because I didn't like my iPhone but because I wasn't going to be suckered by another 2 years of contract by AT&T. Anyway, I will say that Apple's hardware feels so much higher quality, probably because it's a lot more expensive, and the software interface is a lot more intuitive. It's been a headache getting used to the Android way of things on this phone. Maybe it's different for the new ANdroid OS's like the one's on the Galaxy S series, like Ice Cream Popcycle or Mud Pie Supreme or whatever they call their OS versions. I have 2.3 Gingerbread Man or something… Anyway, I will say I love having only spent $15 for a 16GB mini-sd card to hold tons of music. That's something Apple gouges you for.

Anyway, this controller is pretty cool. I hate eating up battery for battery-sapping games. I also have a hard time taking gaming seriously on phones because the quality and offering of Vita's high profile software. It takes more than pixels and hardware and snap-on gadgets to match something like a Vita.

Beamboom
Beamboom
11 years ago

Hey are you into turnbased strategy? If so I'm up for some quality mobile gaming via "UniWar" should you decide to get that game. 🙂

I'm "Beamboom" there too, of course.

Dukemz_UK
Dukemz_UK
11 years ago

@ Temjin: The HTC Wildfire is a budget phone, hence the build quality feels less than ur iphone. I've been using HTC phones for 4 years, currently using a One X. Build quality is excellent and it does everything an iPhone can do and it's half the price of an iPhone. Apple = more hype = more cost

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
11 years ago

"Anyway, as far as Im concerned it's another American debt hole to get lost in. It blows me away how many low income, government assisted, citizens have something like an iPhone or Galaxy S product."

Yes, I've always wondered why the people milling around Verizon stores often seem to reside at the bottom of the trash heap. A. HOW do you have the money to buy anything here? B. WHY do you need anything here?

Temjin001
Temjin001
11 years ago

Beam I haven't done much turn-based anything outside of Chess and currently Xenogears, which is pretty basic so far in combat. I don't know if my wimpy phone is powerful enough to do anything beyond Bejeweled. Get this, Netflix even slows down on it. A lot.

Thanks Duke, I suspected the premium phones perform a lot better. I hope the predictive text thing does. Man this thing is murder.

Yah, Ben I think these phones are more popular than they logically should be. More power to those who can afford them but I suspect the overwhelming populace in America has a lot more phone than they should. I also think the bullish sales people have a way of pressuring people, like my mom, into thinking they need stuff like HD video playback, and editing, and multi core processing. It's rediculous really.

Beamboom
Beamboom
11 years ago

UniWar is really light on your phone, I am pretty sure it will run just fine. There's no 3D or anything, just basic top-down board style strategy. Google it and you'll see some screenshots. It's nothing fancy pancy.

But it's great fun, well balanced and easy to get into but hard to master, like a strategy game should be. How long you got to do your turn is a setting when the game is created, but it can be up to 24hrs, so there's no stress (and excellent for playing across large timesone gaps).

And yeah – you get what you pay for. The cheapest phones are not the quickest. Also Android gets much better on newer versions, both in regards to power consumption and memory management (something that in practise means a quicker, more responsive system). 2.3 is pretty old, latest Android version is at 4.2 now.


Last edited by Beamboom on 3/15/2013 4:54:58 PM

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
11 years ago

Nope, not significant.

AcHiLLiA
AcHiLLiA
11 years ago

Ehh, I hate the left offset analog stick on the xbox-360 controller.

TheAgingHipster
TheAgingHipster
11 years ago

Absolutely awesome for retro game emulation on the go.

PSTan
PSTan
11 years ago

I've found mobile gaming to slowly reach the capability and quality of dedicated portable game systems.

This is completely ridiculous in my opinion; Mobile gaming should always be designed with touchscreen gaming in mind (see: games like Angry Birds and Infinity Blade for successful examples).

I'll stick with my Vita for my controller based portable gaming needs.

Beamboom
Beamboom
11 years ago

Yeah I too have become custom to using the screen for mobile games. Games for mobiles should indeed be designed for touchscreen instead – I agree with you there.


Last edited by Beamboom on 3/15/2013 4:53:26 PM

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
11 years ago

Um…if you're going to carry something to allow you to game on the move, why would you carry a pointless lump of plastic that simply enables you to burn through the battery on your phone double quick? Why not carry a Vita, 3DS, PSP, DSi or other portable gaming device? that way you don't have to use your phone's battery up. I just don't see the point in this device at all, except to wring even more money out of consumers too cheap to invest in a real gaming device.

ZettaiSeigi
ZettaiSeigi
11 years ago

Couldn't agree more, Highlander. I had an iPhone for a while (until it got stolen) but I never got into the mobile gaming thing, basically because the games are usually too shallow. Sure there are a few interesting one here and there, but the most are pure drivel that aren't worth my time. That said, I'm thinking of getting the Xperia Z next month because that phone looks class.

16
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x