标签: arcade

"iPad Space Invaders Console" . That was the subject line of an email sent to me by my friend Alan Winstanley in England. The the body of the message contained a link and the text "Must get one!" The link pointed to a rather interesting YouTube Video showing a game console called iCADE that uses your iPad as the main display device. There was also a link back to the parent ION Audio website at ionaudio.com . Now, to be honest with you I've never been a big games player per se, but I must admit that I do look back on the old Atari classics like Asteroids and Centipede with fond memories, and it seems that iCADE is compatible with 100 of these timeless masterpieces. My understanding is that there's a free iCADE app, but then you have to purchase the games from the app store (you get one free game). From the ION Audio website we discover that this is a classic wooden retro cabinet that is perfectly sized for the iPad and that boasts authentic, full-sized controls for a genuine arcade experience. Also, the cabinet connects to your iPad wirelessly, which is nice. I just went rooting around the ION Audio website but I couldn't find a price for this little beauty (I sent them a message requesting more info). Also I haven't looked at the app store to see how much the games cost. Like I say, I'm really not a big games player, but in this case I could see myself and my son and my wife getting a lot of fun out of this (actually, thinking about it, it would keep my son and his friends quiet for hours). The following words come from the ION Audio website (hence their rather exuberant tone ): Flashback to the glory days of gaming with iCADE! iCADE integrates your iPad into an authentic, arcade-style cabinet complete with joystick and buttons! Impress your friends, family and co-workers with iCADE's great-looking retro design, and then challenge them for high-scores on the most entertaining iPad accessory imaginable! iCADE's specially designed cradle ensures safe loading and unloading of your iPad, while also providing a solid, secure fit even during the most intense game-play sessions. Furthermore, the cradle offers an ideal screen-viewing angle and quickly connects iCADE's top-quality arcade controls directly to your iPad wirelessly. Once iPad is in place, simply launch any supported iCADE-compatible app and it's game on! iCADE is compatible with 100 Atari classics including Asteroids, Centipede, and Battlezone. All are available as in-app purchases when you download the free Atari Greatest Hits app. Plus, new and existing apps can be easily updated to work with iCADE. Grab hold of iCADE's full-sized joystick and smash the eight arcade buttons for commanding control of iPad's on-screen action. This truly unique arcade cabinet game-controller for iPad will provide hours of action and nostalgic fun for years to come. Enter the iCADE and go back to the future!