Ion Audio iCade
The retro-awesome iCade achieves the unthinkable: it turns your iPad into a tabletop Bluetooth-equipped arcade cabinet. Ion Audio's clever invention requires a few turns of an Allen wrench, but once it's assembled it becomes an instant conversation piece with arcade-perfect buttons and joystick. It's compatible with Atari's Greatest Hits (not included), which will tide you over with 100 games--plus, a dozen or so indie games on the App Store will work with the iCade, too.
The good: The retro-style Ion Audio iCade adds Bluetooth arcade controls to your iPad, which easily trumps onscreen virtual joysticks.
The bad: For a novelty item, the iCade is pricey. For now it only works with Atari's classic game app, and some of the Atari games play awkwardly on a joystick.
The bottom line: If your iPad gaming tastes run to classic Atari console and arcade games, the Ion Audio iCade is a fun nostalgic trip. Otherwise wait for more compatible games to be released.
November 1, 2011 10:39 PM PDT
Photo by: Sarah Tew/CNET
