Gamevice brings brings console-style gaming on the go to iPad in March 2015

By Adam Rosenberg Published January 5, 2015

Wikipad’s Gamevice makes its hands-on debut at CES 2015, following a summer 2014 reveal. It’s a console-style game controller that an iPad — either version of the Air or any of the three generations of iPad Mini — mounts into, essentially turning the tablet into a self-contained portable gaming device.

While plenty of the games coming to tablet these days are intentionally built to take advantage of each device’s unique touchscreen controls, there are plenty of others that aim to emulate the console experience for mobile gamers. Gamevice supports the multiple Grand Theft Auto ports available in the App Store, as well BioShock, various Call of Duty titles, and others.

Wikipad-Gamevice-Back-Tilt — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Using Apple’s MFi (Made for iPad) licensing program, Gamevice sports the full set of controls that you’d expect to find an a PlayStation or Xbox gamepad: Dual analog sticks, a D-pad, four face buttons, a pause button, and four shoulder buttons (two of which are triggers). It’s also got a built-in 3.5mm headphone port and 800mAh battery.

There are two models of Gamevice, one for Air and another for Mini. Both are priced at $99 and are coming March 2015. Wikipad also has 4G versions of each planned for release later in the year, with a larger 1600mAh battery to account for the enhanced functionality. No price or details yet, though.

Check out more details at the official Gamevice website.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…

Computing

The 10 best gaming monitors of 2024: tested and reviewed

Alienware ultrawide OLED on a desk.

Editor’s note: Gaming monitors are always hot sellers on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. We're expecting some really great discounts on some of the top models, including high-end OLED gaming monitors, super-fast refresh rate screens, and more budget-oriented fare. There are tons of fantastic monitor deals available now, and they're bound to get even better on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Make sure to check out our other Black Friday deals or Cyber Monday deals for even more bargains on TV, headphones, and more.

A good monitor is essential for gaming due to its significant impact on the overall experience. There are a ton of options if you are on the hunt for one of the best gaming monitors, but for us, Alienware's 34 QD-OLED still takes the cake in 2024. It's not the display for everyone, though, and after reviewing dozens of the top gaming monitors, we've settled on a list of displays that offer great gaming performance for any budget or purpose.

Gaming

20 years later, the Nintendo DS remains one of gaming’s best devices

Nintendo DS on a pink background.

It's a special day. Today, November 21, 2024, marks the 20th anniversary of the Nintendo DS' launch in North America.

It’s hard for me to believe it’s been that long, because Nintendo's dual-screen handheld device defined my childhood more than any other device. While I started my gaming journey on the original Xbox and Game Boy Advance, the Nintendo DS is what truly made me fall in love with video games. It was an innovative piece of technology that drew my attention in ways none of my other childhood toys could. These were formative gaming experiences that I’ll always remember.

Gaming

I played 2 hours of Avowed entirely in third-person. Here’s how it went

avowed third person camera hero image

When I first played Avowed back in August, it was only through a first-person perspective. The RPG’s third-person camera wasn’t available in that build. While developer Obsidian Entertainment revealed the game through its first-person camera, the developer confirmed that third-person was an accessibility feature planned from day one and wouldn’t be treated as an afterthought.

I remembered those words as I went into my second preview round with Avowed. I wanted to see if Obsidian was able to back those words up -- and it has. I spent my entire time in the demo playing from the third-person perspective, and Obsidian was able to translate the weight and heaviness of movement and combat from first to third-person perfectly. Digital Trends spoke with Obsidian’s lead VFX artist Ashwin Kumar and director Ryan Warden to discuss how the studio was able to direct the game’s magic and combat systems for both camera perspectives.
More Dragon’s Dogma than Dragon Age
After recently coming off Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s smooth art direction and lightweight combat, Avowed’s more realistic approach is a refreshing change of pace. Whereas in The Veilguard, where the main protagonist can throw shields effortlessly like frisbees, my character in Avowed has to be more cautious before throwing out attacks due to a stamina meter that I need to manage.