As you can see, the 8-Bitty also calls to mind pre-8-bit gaming with its faux wooden trim. Just like with the other iCade accessories, the 8-Bitty is only compatible with certain games, a roster that is growing but still disappointing. ThinkGeek also points to a couple of apps that can expand the iCade library by including MAME games. The Blutrol app is also quite promising, because it allows users to map virtual buttons to the physical buttons of iCade controllers. The problem? All of these apps require you to jailbreak your iOS device. Get a clue Apple, and let these sort of apps into the App Store!

ThinkGeek hasn’t started taking orders yet for the 8-Bitty, and the gamepad still doesn’t have a release date. But if you’re interested in one, you can subscribe or just keep checking that page for availability. Developers on the other hand, instead of waiting for Apple’s support, may want to check out this open source SDK made by Stuart Carnie that enables iCade controls for iOS apps.

Available for both the PS3 and the Xbox 360, the controllers even come with two sets of D-Pads – one PS3-style and one Xbox 360-style – for further customization. Aside from the removable analog sticks and d-pads, the controller also has removable face plates on the top and the sides – expect a barrage of face plates with various themes and designs –  and a detachable cord. Yep, it’s wireless, but MLG probably insisted on that to reduce input lag. At least it’s detachable so it’s easy to transport.

The PS3 version of the Pro Circuit Controller also has a “Reverse Trigger Mode”, letting users swap the L1/R1 and L2/R2 buttons on the hardware itself. What I like most about this idea is that if one of the removable parts break, you don’t have to buy a brand new controller because Mad Catz will sell spare parts separately. I’m also intrigued by the possibility of having a right D-Pad instead of a right analog stick.

Head to Amazon or GameShark to order the Pro Circuit Controller for $99 (USD). No Wiimote included.

[Mad Catz via Dvice]

For starters, there’s the new iCade Mobile, which enshrouds your iPhone 4, 4S or iPod Touch with a proper D-pad and gaming buttons. This should be great for playing arcade games on the go, especially ones better suited to a gamepad than a touchscreen. ION expects about 100 games to be compatible with iCade Mobile by the time it launches.

It adds about 1-1/2″ inches on each side of your iPhone, so it is a bit wide, but those added sections provide ergonomic gripping areas which seem make sense. The gadget works in either landscape or portrait modes too, although it does look a little funky in portrait mode.

If you’re thinking more about classic arcade gaming, then check out the iCade Jr., a miniature version of the popular iCade arcade cabinet, stuck in the shrinker ray for your iPhone or iPod Touch. It’s basically a mini version of the iCade, though it only has four buttons on front, instead of eight. It also has four “rear trigger buttons,” though I’m not sure what those look like or what purpose they serve.

Last, but not least is the iPad-compatible iCade Core, which takes the same arcade quality joystick and eight buttons found on the original iCade, and does away with the cabinet. Sure, it doesn’t look as cool as the iCade, but it’ll likely sell for quite a bit less than the $100 original. ION also announced that Namco’s Pac-Man for iPad is now compatible with iCade – and I can’t think of a more perfect game for it.

All three devices use Bluetooth to communicate with their respective iOS devices. ION Audio is showing off all three at this week’s CES show, and expects to release them sometime in 2012. The iCade Mobile will retail for $79.99 (USD). Prices haven’t been announced yet for the other models.

This Chameleon X-1 Mouse will be available in two different colors, ‘Altair white’ and ‘Ezio grey’. You see what they did there? Very clever. It features antique decorated leather on the mouse buttons and the same specs as the original mouse, including a hidden gamepad on the bottom, 16 buttons and a 1600 dpi optical sensor.

Assassins Creed fans will be happy to know that this mouse will be officially launched at CES 2012 later this month.

[via Engadget]

The simply-named GamePad by 60beat looks a lot like a PS3 controller – down to the button layout– except with odd smudges on the case. It works with the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch and requires no battery because it’s plugged into the headphone jack.

I’m sorry sir, but this is a classic controller. Now, the GamePad seems like a decent peripheral for the dedicated iOS gamer right? Not really. Or not yet, at least. The video didn’t mention two of the GamePad’s weaknesses. First of all, it’s currently only compatible with two games. TWO. If you’re not into Aftermath or Bugdom 2, the GamePad is not for you. That’s a niche of a niche of a niche market right there. And even if you were into those two games, you still have to justify the controller’s price – 60beat is selling it for $50 (USD). It’s a great idea but I think we should all pass on this one until more games support it.

[via Joystiq]

The stickers are being marketed for iOS devices but actually they’ll work with any capacitive touchscreen. Donya’s solution may be the simplest yet, but I think it’s also one of the best. Its best asset is that it accounts for a variety of button combinations and configurations. Each set contains two removable directional pads, one single button sticker, one double button sticker and one triple button sticker. I don’t know if the buttons are responsive or have a good feel to them though.

Unfortunately it seems that Donya’s gamepad stickers are for sale in Japan only. You can buy a set at Donya’s website for ¥999 (appx. $12 USD).

[via Akihabara News]

A new controller that hooks to any phone via Bluetooth has surfaced called the iControlPad BT that adds physical buttons to the iPhone and other devices. The control layout looks a lot like a mash up between the Xbox 360 and PS3 controllers. It has four buttons, two joysticks, and a D-pad.

The phone slips into the controller and is held in place with some adjustable sides. The downside for iPhone users is that it works best with jailbroken devices, but it will work in keyboard mode on the device. The controller supports just about any Android app that supports a PC gamepad. It runs from a battery 1500mAh unit can charges via USB port. Shipments start in February and the complete controller set up is about $75 (USD).

With the exception of the router, which is made by Planex Communications, all of the peripherals are made by Elecom. What’s up with the designs, Elecom? Didn’t you guys make the Ninja Turtle mouse? Now you’re asked to make peripherals for a major, albeit recently disappointing video game franchise, and you come up with these? They look like knock offs for crying out loud. At least Planex tried. I still think the router is ugly, but at least they tried.

The keyboard, mouse, gamepad and speakers are already available for pre-order at GeekStuff4U. The keyboard is priced at about $26 (USD), the mouse $59, the gamepad, that abominable gamepad sells for about $46, and the speakers will set you back $61. The router, which was shown at TGS, will sell for about $116. If Final Fantasy XIV turns out to be a lemon then I guess Elecom just did the game justice.

[via GeekStuff4U, FFXIV Core and Engadget]

You can plug in this controller and throw down immediately on a variety of operating systems, from Windows Vista and XP to Mac OS X, but unfortunately, the sweet mushroom pillow (lamp? table? decorative stand? other mushroom-shaped object?) is not included in the $35 pricetag.

Don’t think you’ll be sliding this thing around on a mousepad, however; instead, you press A, B, Start, and Select simultaneously to enter “mouse mode,” and from there you can use the d-pad to manipulate the onscreen pointer. The A and B buttons serve as left and right mouse buttons. It’s not perfect, but when you’re playing a game and need to switch for just a second, it’s a convenient feature.

[USB NES controller at Etsy via Chip Chick]

Chinavasion’s latest media player not only handles your music and videos with aplomb, it can also emulate a variety of classic gaming consoles. There’s emulation support for the NES, Gameboy, Gameboy Color and Sega Genesis so you can play your favorites from the past. In addition, the device also integrates an E-book capability that actually uses text-to-speech to read books to you in either Chinese or English.

The player has a 3-inch TFT widescreen, and comes with a snap-on gaming pad accessory so you can get your game on. The device has 2GB of on-board memory and can be expanded up to 6GB total, with the addition of a 4GB SD card. Chinavasion hasn’t announced a price yet, but based on their past bargain-basement releases, it’s almost a sure bet that it’ll be inexpensive.

This time, an industrious hacker has taken the guts of an optical mouse and slapped them inside the NES controller. I don’t know what it is, but there’s something inherently fun in using twenty year old technology to control modern gear.

It’s amazing what you can do with some X-Acto knife skills and some hot glue.

[via Hacked Gadgets via Mike Ballan]

This seems like a great idea, since it seems the position of those controls is a highly individual preference. It’s especially handy if you’re used to playing on a particular console, and want to have the same feel when you’re playing on your PC. There’s also a nifty “reduced sensitivity” mode that lets you temporarily aim more precisely when targeting. The controller will retail for around $35 when it’s released later this year.

I’m hoping Saitek eventually releases a wireless version for use with the Xbox 360 and PS3 too, but I’m not holding my breath.

[via IGN via Everything USB]

Perfect for playing emulated games the way they were meant to be played, you can buy custom-modded versions of the 8-bit NES and 16-bit SNES joypads, ready to use with your PC or Macintosh.

The fine folks over at Phreque.com have taken care of the hard part by adding a USB conversion module and cabling to the classic controllers so you can use them on any Windows XP/2000 or Mac OS computer.

The NES version sells for $33, while the SNES version will set you back $35. Keep in mind that these are used controllers which have been cleaned up and retrofitted, so they may have some minor cosmetic wear.

The compact game controller measures just 3.93″ x 1.81″ x 0.47″ when opened and about half that width and twice that depth when folded up. Imported from Japan by GeekStuff4U, it’ll set you back about $31 USD.