Turn your iPhone into an ultimate gaming device with Bladepad

This article is part of our coverage of TGS 2013.
An astonishing number of games at the Tokyo Game Show 2013 were designed for playing not on a console, but on smartphones and tablets. So it’s not surprising that as mobile games grow in popularity, certain gadgets emerge to enhance the mobile gaming experience.

One such gizmo that caught the attention of GiA was the Bladepad – a device that turns your phone into a console-style controller, allowing users to play games as if they were playing on a popular handheld console.

The Bladepad is essentially a protective case for the iPhone which is attached to a slide-out controller that subsequently connects to your iPhone via Bluetooth. The controller-case comes with all the buttons you’d expect from a regular controller – dual analog sticks, a D-pad, and PlayStation-like buttons. It is said to last for up to 18 hours of continuous gameplay, which is more than enough given that many smartphones don’t last that long when gaming.

Fingers-on

Having held it in my hands to test out during TGS, the Bladepad’s creators have designed an attachable accessory that successfully recreates the feel of an actual handheld controller. Initially there was a slight lag in the buttons’ response times, and some additional waiting is required in order to let the game sync with the device. But once connected, the Bladepad worked seamlessly with the two games that were available on-site (Gladiator and Nitro RC). Bladepad is compatible with 48 games, and the team says it is working constantly to add more titles.

Bladepad says that the device be will available later this year. The team hasn’t yet set a price, though I’d say it’s worth considering for the reasonable price of around $80 to $100. The slide-out feature is a nice touch, as it makes the device portable and easy to put away. With the influx of mobile games flooding the market, the Bladepad could make a solid complement to anyone’s gaming arsenal.

(Editing by Paul Bischoff and Josh Horwitz)