Samsung Galaxy S4 features official gaming controller
By
Martin Gaston, News Editor
Official Galaxy S4 gamepad looks like an Xbox 360 controller.
Electronics giant Samsung has revealed an official snap-on controller peripheral for its freshly unveiled Galaxy S4 smartphone.
The peripheral features a retractable clamp at the top that, when extended, can house the Galaxy S4. It runs on two AAA batteries and features one-touch Bluetooth pairing.
The controller features an Xbox 360-like layout, with asymmetrical analogue sticks, a D-pad, four face buttons, and two shoulder buttons. There are no analogue triggers.
Samsung has not officially priced the peripheral.
The Galaxy S4 was unveiled last night at New York's Radio City Music Hall and will be released on April 26. The phone features a 5-inch screen and can also be controlled via the users' eyes.
By
Martin Gaston, News Editor
Martin Gaston has absolutely never at all had the song from Beauty and the Beast sung to him at any point during his life, ever.
127 comments
1 Like At least Samsung understands the value of buttons to gamers. Although, this thing looks a bit silly. -If it can firmly hold the GS4 and Note 3, some people will like it.
a fuckin xbox buttons and analogs for mobile...
hey micro$oft why don't you make a portable xbox?
Because I'd rather play my high budget games in my 60inch High def screen with full dolby surround sound speaker.
If I want to play in the move, that's where my DS or my android comes in.
@thequickshooter I know you meant "portable 360", but my Netbook is more or less a portable X-Box 1. Most of the big releases were also available on PC/ Steam.
1 Like @thequickshooter Because people dont want to have to mail-back their portabe xbox every four months when it gets the mini red ring of death....
(Kidding kidding ...dont get al your fanboy panties in a bunch)
How about we build a quality phone now that has physical button controls integrated into the design. A phone is suppose to fit in my pocket. It defeats the purpose if I need to lug a controller around.
DOn't know if anyone else has noticed this, but the controller supports up to 6.3" cells.
Has it not been rumoured that the Note 3 is suppose to be a 6.3" display?! I hope not that's bullshizz -_-
3ds and psvita doomed confirmed. As if NPD has not made clear, handheld gaming is pretty much doomed in the U.S
at first glance it kind of resembles something ms would come up with if they finally decided to make a portable gaming system
2 Like when S4 can also be controlled via the users' eyes then what is the purpose of controller??
1 Like So why would I carry around that game pad when I could carry a 3DS/PSP instead? At least this controller might be neat for emulators.
4 Like @lazycomplife Because buying another handheld is much more expensive?
Dont get me wrong, this thing looks terrible. They could have at least pretended to be Original by not using the Xbox's colors. But I like the concept of an add-on to a smartphone. Smartphones are powerful computers and can be great handhelds. All they miss are the buttons and extra batterylife. So the concept is sound.
Microsoft should have launched Xbox for Windows Phone with such an add-on. I think there is market for such an add-on as long as the company behind it has enough connections among developers to deliver supporting software.
1 Like I'm glad they're doing this but I have to ask...how many games are going to actually support this? And for those that don't will there be an app that we can use to map on screen controls to buttons and so on?
Either way, I think ALL games that aren't touch screen reliant should be REQUIRED to include controller support for tablets and phones anyway.
2 Like as soon as I had a first glimpse of the picture while scrolling down through the articles on home page, I thought Microsoft is releasing a new handheld gaming console. lol
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3 Like This looks ridiculously ugly, it looks like if you take the Vita's screen off the Vita and glued it into an Xbox 360 controller then take off the two analog sticks and replace them with 3DS circle pads.
now they want to go to court with M$, have to admit though out of all these terrible looking mobile controller add-ons this one doesn't look as ridiculous
2 Like I don't see how this is stupid or the fact that you think it looks stupid matters, its not like you're supposed to keep the controller on it 24/7. There are quality shooting games on phones now such as modern combat 4, and there are gaming emulators which make it even more usable. I have an iphone 5 and i wish they made stuff like this.
This is not for the S4 only. The ad says right on it ""4" - 6.3" screen size available."
Bluetooth controllers have been available for Android and iPhone for a while.
Is Microsoft suing them for that design? Between this, Ouya and some others the Xbox 360 design has proven to be a design people enjoy.
@bobmarlin @Hvac0120 You gotta remember that they just made the Dreamcast controller smaller
1 Like I just BOUGHT the Galaxy S III, are you fucking kidding me? Son of a bitch! Stop making things in less than a year! Now I'll give back my S III and go with an S 4, This shit is ridiculous!
@DragonbornBoy86 They're just making it bigger. That sems to be the thing that sways people to Andriod away from iPhone, and they're going nuts with it. The S4 is almost as big as a Galaxy Note. Personally I wouldn't want a phone that big.
@ggregd Not many do, but I was going to get a new phone and a tablet deal and just split the difference! I love it and use it for work all the time (also Final Fantasy Dimensions looks great on it), but it is definitely not for people with small hands and pockets! lol
1 Like @DragonbornBoy86 most high-end phones get upgrades every 8-12 months. The S3 is no different. Always do some research prior to buying a phone if you care about having the latest because a new phone is always just around the corner as manufacturers spread their releases throughout the year to help them compete.
The S3 is a fine phone and will do you well for the period of a 2-year contract. But if you can get away with returning the S3 and getting an S4, you will have a slightly better device (going by announced specs only). You'll save a bit of money sticking with the S3 also.
then again, maybe I won't even bother, someone said on this thread that Samsung's phones are cheap and crappy. I might agree with you on that one in the end. Piece of shit S III! Fuck you, Microsoft, maybe I will jump on the PS4 band-wagon IF I get a new system, depending.
3 Like @DragonbornBoy86 Nowadays, why bother to get a new phone every year? It is Android and they look and feel practically the same. Its like buying a new laptop every year. Just not worth the money.
Im keeping my S2 for another year at least!
3 Like @DragonbornBoy86 Samsung phones are cheap and crappy? Don't go there, it sounds like Apple fanboy hating.
@ggregd Oh cool, thanks - I missed that! I think the Note screen is a little over 5'', so that should work!
Wow, they combined the IcontrolPad and the xbox 360 troller.... sweet. I want the Icontrolpad though, has a rechargeable battery, you can power your phone off of it,. and a customizable holder so you can fit any phone in it.
1 Like some people like to suffer, ps2 quality games, terrible controllers, 900 dollar hardware, if i hate myself i would buy one
@leandrro 900 dollar hardware? if this is bluetooth compatible you would only have to buy the controller..ive never heard of anyone buying a phone just to game on it, most people have smart phones so this would only be an accessory purchase..
@bobmarlin @leandrro yeah, but im talking about the phone itself, the diference between a 100 dollar to a 900 dollar phone is the games it plays, i rather spend 500 extra dollars on a gaming pc and 300 on sex drugs and rock and roll
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