Monster Hunter Freedom Unite hits iOS

Is this the game that will get phone and tablet players splashing out on the extra controller needed to play full-fidelity titles? It seems odd, but the main thrust of the early reviews I've seen all recommend that players get a controller for their iPad or iPhone, clearly meaning this isn't a good touchscreen gaming candidate.


Sure, the graphics have been spruced up a bit, but it isn't a lot cheaper than the original PSP console and game, rather thank forking out £10/$19 for the iOS edition and up to $80-100 for a controller? I guess the market will soon tell, and given that millions of smartphone owners don't even know what a PSP is, the take-up should all be on the modern platforms.

#CES2013: Mad Catz GameSmart to make game controllers work across iPads and other devices

Mad Catz is making its future devices "GameSmart compatible," which is a technology initiative that moves smart devices one step closer to delivering a core gaming experience similar to a gaming console or PC. Of course, any other controller maker can do this too, so expect a range of competing non-standards (think Game Center vs. OpenFeint) in games for some time to come.

GameSmart control products will function through the Bluetooth Smart stack, and will be game and hardware independent, with a smart device app for iOS or Android to provide additional functionality. By utilizing Bluetooth Smart, GameSmart devices will feature simplified setup, longer battery life and universal compatibility. In addition, GameSmart offers game developers and game publishers standardization, ease of implementation and scalability when enabling controller and console-like accessory functionality in mobile games.

All you'll need is a dock for your iPad or perhaps a gamepad that can accept your smartphone to create an all-portable solution. Mad Catz intends to launch a full range of GameSmart products, including game controllers, gaming mice, gaming keyboards, headsets, and other speciality controllers. The GameSmart products will also be app-enabled to provide additional functionality. The first wave of GameSmart products will be announced at CES 2013 and are expected to launch shortly thereafter.

Here comes the Apple games controller

It has always seemed pretty inevitable, that Apple would take gaming seriously at some point. The company has hired gaming industry experts and has advanced the iPad and iPhone hardware to be good at producing high-quality gaming visuals. There is little other reason for the hi-spec GPU in the devices.

So, in a recently granted patent approval, we have a traditional looking gaming controller. I'm not a lawyer, but Apple really can't patent something that has existed for what, 12-15 years? Especially one with a wire sticking out of it, that's very un-Apple.

However, that design could be shielding the real one, which Apple could spring on the world, perhaps with touch sensor pads like the Xperia Play, or some other innovation. Given the number of patents that companies put out, this could be just a hedge, and it may never happen, but MS and Sony had better watch out if Apple really is serious about gaming now.

Be it through an Apple HDTV, Apple TV box, or an iPad, using NFC or another system, gaming via Apple is probably about to get a whole lot interesting.

Apple developing in-house controller for iOS devices

While it may never see a launch, Apple has been outed as having an iOS controller under development. In his review of the new iPad, industry veteran Anand Shimpi mentions:

"I know of an internal Apple project to bring a physical controller to market, but whether or not it will ever see the light of day remains to be seen. As smartphones and tablets come close to equalling the performance of current game consoles, I feel like the controller problem must be addressed."

That's hardly a leap of great logic, I'm sure Apple has cunning types developing everything from iToasters to whole Earth replacement planets in its labs. But, with the race on for the next generation console (with Sony PS4 and XboxNext news increasing in frequency and solidity), all Apple has to do is pop out its new controller in time for the iPhone 5 or iPad 4, or the Apple HDTV range and you instantly have a games console without the ugly box.

Apple also has the infrastructure in place for secure digital sales with iTunes, with a little work GameCenter could be a decent gaming service and could offer thousands of games instead of a usual console launch roster of 20-30 titles.

That would shake up the market massively and could see gamers buying a lot of Apple gear to replace clunky traditional consoles and with very first first-party-only developers, Apple has the clout to get most games franchises on its wares.