GameDock iOS Retro Console
- ION iCade Arcade Cabinet for iPad - $65.99
- Atari Arcade iPad Device - $47.35
- ENHANCE Tablet Touch Screen Gaming Joystick - $6.99
- Jackpot Slots Dock for iPhone/iPod Touch - $20.49
- Foldable Rubber Keyboard - $5.99
The supposed beauty of iPhone, iPad, and iTouch is that they put "the power" in users' fingertips. But my fingertips are somewhat chubby and oafish, and basically the lone, crushing reason I don't straight-up own the rest of the retro-game-clinging world when Atari's Greatest Hitsing on my iPhone.
Enter the GameDock. An adapter with proper old-school NES-style controllers that beams iCade games from handheld devices to TVs, and the Xanax for my iOS touch control frustrations.
GameDock plugs into TVs like any other video game console, and the iPhone, iPad, or iTouch then sits in the dock's cradle as it would a sound system. Two controllers extending from the dock not only return the circa-1981 authenticity of playing Pac-Man and Frogger, they also make it easier--and way less awkward and personal-space-encroaching--for more than one player to get in on the 8-bit action. And for those who don't have, or don't want to use, a TV, GameDock also functions in microcosm on iOS small screens.
At this point, GameDock is designed for compatibility with all existing iCade games, plus dock-ready games that include two-player support and full 1080p HDTV output. Dock software includes a dashboard app for selecting and playing games with minimal movement from the couch. (Hmm, not having to get off my ass and swap out a League of Evil 2 cartridge for Super Crossfire...now that's a bit of authenticity I'm happy to sacrifice.)
GameDock runs as a Kickstarter project through August 16, 2012. Funding is pretty much guaranteed at this point, with less than $4,000 left to raise in meeting the console's $50,000 goal. Tech savants Chris Jorgensen and Andi Greisel masterminded the device, and are producing it through Jorgensen's company, Portland-based Cascadia Games LLC. GameDock delivery for backers is slated for December 2012.
November 2013 Update: The GameDock exceeded its crowdfunding goal and is now available for direct purchase through the company's website--follow the link below.
/working-pipboy-3000-5800.jpg?mode=crop "Working Pip-Boy 3000")
Working Pip-Boy 3000
The electronic Personal Information Processor (PIP) manufactured by RobCo Industries in Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas is now a viable acquisition to your non-gaming, non-digitized, biological life. Which is not only...
/atari-400-mini-62358.jpg?mode=crop "Atari 400 Mini")
Atari 400 Mini
The Atari 400 Mini is a nostalgic blast from the past, reinvented for modern times. It's a compact version of the iconic Atari 400, known for its role in the 8-bit computing era. This miniaturized device is not just about...
/atari-gamestation-portable-62320.jpg?mode=crop "Atari Gamestation Portable")
Atari Gamestation Portable
Hey, retro gamers and nostalgia buffs, brace yourselves for a blast from the past with a modern twist! The Atari GameStation Portable by MyArcade is the new sheriff in town, here to revive your cherished gaming memories...
/bauhutte-gaming-beds-42940.jpg?mode=crop "Bauhutte Gaming Beds")
Bauhutte Gaming Beds
Oh, this is bad. I mean bed. These Gaming Beds from Japanese gaming furniture brand Bauhutte might represent everything that's both right and wrong with society today. Their slick design, and even that their existence...
/retro-gameboy-lighter-62336.jpg?mode=crop "Retro Gameboy Lighter")
Retro Gameboy Lighter
Reignite your flame for retro with the Retro Gameboy Lighter, a nostalgic nod to the handheld console that defined a generation. This isn't just any lighter; it's a tribute to the days of pixelated adventures, now repurposed...
Working Nintendo Controller Coffee Table
What holds feet, beer, and the controls that will drive your world-record-setting Tetris score? Feast your eyes on the fully-functional Nintendo Controller Coffee Table. Charles Lushear has entwined old school entertainment...
Pip-Boy: Deluxe Bluetooth Edition
Die-hard Fallout fans, avid gamers, and gadget-giddy dudes in general, I present to you: a working Pip-Boy Model 3000 Mk IV replica. Also known as: your Sunday morning hard-on. Sure, you could call ThinkGeek's Deluxe...
/xbox-series-s-toaster-62293.jpg?mode=crop "Xbox Series S Toaster")
Xbox Series S Toaster
The PS5 might have been the gift to get for Christmas 2023, but those who have real bread in 2024 are buying the Xbox Series S...Toaster...
Immersion - Gamer Rage Headset
My 13-year-old nephew has had gamer rage for, like, 5 years now. Oh man, he used to get SO MAD when the levels got harder in Super Mario Galaxy. Sometimes, if he knew he was about to die, he'd pause the game, hurl the...
/funkey-s-worlds-smallest-45255.jpg?mode=crop "FunKey S - World's Smallest Foldable Console")
FunKey S - World's Smallest Foldable Console
Oh FunKey S, you cute wittle bitty foldable console, you could not have crossed my path at a better time. I was recently forced to give up my flip phone for my first ever smartphone, and even though it's only been a week...
Delta Six Open Source Gaming Gun
The Delta Six might be the coolest looking gaming gun I've ever seen. I would consider buying one even if I couldn't use it for anything but picking my nose and curling up with on the couch at night (the latter particularly...
/wearable-superhero-full-body-30626.jpg?mode=crop "Wearable Superhero Full Body Armor")
Wearable Superhero Full Body Armor
Full Body Armors' superhero and video game character costume replicas will secure your cosplay convention credibility, and make all of your Sundays Fundays. The made-to-measure suits transform wearers, from head to toe...