What is iCade?
For those of you that don’t know, iCade is a spoof that became reality. ThinkGeek thought it was a good idea to do an April fools joke of an article featuring a miniature arcade cabinet that housed an iPad. Many people (myself amongst them) thought it would actually be a good idea if implemented correctly and I guess that ThinkGeek saw that it might just be something they could sell.
Here we are a year later and iCade is indeed on sale. ThinkGeek have partnered with Atari and ION (best known for their USB turntables and the like) to bring the joke to life. The cabinet comes in kit form and has an arcade style joystick and 8 arcade style buttons which utilise a bluetooth connection (the iPad just sits in a ‘slot’ and you don’t have to use any form of docking).
It looks the part with a ‘mini arcade machine’ shape, arcade style graphics on the cabinet and even has a coin slot (just lights up to show the iCade is functioning and doesnt accept coins unfortunately!).
Video review by MAMECADE:
Atari have teamed up with the manufacturers to make their iOS App compatible with the bluetooth joystick and buttons and we hear that the development kit has now been made free which will open the way for other software companies to produce Apps that are iCade compatible, so expect more retro arcade hits to be released shortly.
When can I get one?
We’re looking forward to getting our hands on one and testing it out with Atari’s iOS App but can’t wait to see more arcade games ported over to iOS to use with iCade.
If you are in the UK you can pre-order your iCade from Firebox here. They are expected to ship from 28th July.
Expect a full review of the Atari App and the iCade as soon as we get our hands on one here at RGC.