Company Turns Your Android Smartphone Into a Game Console 126
MojoKid writes "The time we spend making calls on smartphones pales in comparison to the other activities we use it for, like surfing the web, logging into Facebook, streaming music and video, and of course playing games. It's that latter functionality that a startup called Green Throttle wants to tap into, and given the horsepower of today's smartphones, it makes a lot of sense. The company envisions harnessing the power of today's well-equipped Android smartphones and tablets in order to play console-like games on your HDTV. Right now the concept is limited to select devices — Google Nexus, Samsung Galaxy S II and S III, HTC One X, Kindle Fire HD, and Asus Transformer — though the company says it's adding to the list quickly. The system is fairly simple. You load Green Throttle's Arena app on your compatible device and start gaming using the company's Bluetooth-enabled Atlas controller, which looks a lot like an Xbox 360 controller, then push your phone's HDMI output to an HDTV."
What is the point? (Score:5, Interesting)
I can already connect my phone to a TV with HDMI and pair a bluetooth game controller with it. How is this special?
Re: (Score:2)
Seriously this system brings ZERO advantages to the Android gaming environment. It's not a Steam/PSN/XboxLive like service that brings online features and shopping interfaces tunned up for gamers. Bluetooth controllers are already usable with Android. There are even bluetooth controllers that can emulate touch screen gestures for button incompatible games. And every single decent phone/tablet already has HDMI outputs.
Re:What is the point? (Score:5, Informative)
Plus, with OUYA just around the corner, there will be no need to fry your phone's GPU and wring out the battery in an hour. There's a cheap box designed for the purpose.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
An Xbox controller likely won't work. (They're not Bluetooth. Has anyone written a driver to use the USB ones?)
A Playstation 3 controller, however, will work just fine. In fact some Android games (like Grand Theft Auto III) natively support the PS3 controller, even handling the pairing for you.
Re: (Score:1)
Interesting, I thought they required the USB connection to pair.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
What 'android dongle to hook up to the TV'?
I spent like $4 on a micro-HDMI to HDMI cable.
And GameStop has third-party PS3 controllers for under $30.
Though really, a lot of people interested in using a PS3 controller with an Android device probably already have a PS3 controller.
Re: (Score:2)
Galaxy S3 is a bit more complicated and expensive due to its 11-pin semi(?)-proprietary MHL connectors ("SaMHL"). The cheapest 11-pin SaMHL cable I'm aware of is ~$15, and the word at XDA is that it's totally luck of the draw... about half work fine, and half fall somewhere between "occasionally-flaky" and "just plain doesn't work". The cheapest cables known to work at least as reliably as Samsung's official ones start at around $25-30.
Yes, you can spend a few bucks on an 11-pin to 5-pin MHL adapter and use
Xbox 360 controllers on my Nexus 7 (Score:3)
Remember the Pandora and the nD? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Well, I can see your point but by making it a product with visibility and all that, people are more inclined to standardize on a particular way of doing things.
I would like it if EVERY game would recognize bluetooth controller inputs and all that. They don't. That needs to change.
Now for something completely off topic.
Yesterday I learned an embarassing and unhappy thing about iPhone, iPod and probably iPad too. Where bluetooth is concerned, they only want to connect to audio devices and other iPods. I w
Re: (Score:2)
Well, I can see your point but by making it a product with visibility and all that, people are more inclined to standardize on a particular way of doing things.
There already is a standard way of doing things, and it's built into Android! Introducing an additional way to connect a bluetooth controller to an Android phone only means a game now has to support two bluetooth controller APIs, rather than one. A total waste of time and effort.
Re: (Score:1)
Standard layout perhaps? (Score:2)
How is this special?
As I understand it, Bluetooth game controllers are like USB game controllers [pineight.com] in that each has a different button layout. If developers standardize on one button layout, it'll make it easier to start to play each game because the user can just install an app, start it, and play. Otherwise, the user has to go through a setup phase for each game: this button is jump, this button is fire, do you want movement on the primary analog stick or the primary POV hat, etc.
Re: (Score:2)
Agreed, I play games with a PS3 controller on my Transformer Prime regularly ... this isn't new.
Same-screen multiplayer is dying like *BSD (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Shame, I enjoyed playing through the Baulder's Gate:Dark Alliance games with my wife and I'm currently playing through Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 with my son.
Not all 'grown-up' gamers are solitary types. Some are lucky enough to have other gamers in the house. The demise of same screen co-op means that each player needs their own system. Crackdown 2, I'm looking at you.
One hardcore, the rest casual (Score:2)
I enjoyed playing through the Baulder's Gate:Dark Alliance games with my wife and I'm currently playing through Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 with my son.
Based on this post [slashdot.org], some people would call you an edge case. They think most households with more than one gamer have only one hardcore gamer and a bunch of casual gamers who would be satisfied with touch-screen games.
And this is different ... ??? (Score:1)
And this is different from connecting PS3 or Xbox Bluetooth controller to your phone HOW ?
Re: (Score:3)
Using an original Xbox / PS3 controller requires rooted device, last time I heard.
However, there are already controllers that can be used with Android without rooting, so this is not new.
PS3 controllers don't require root. (Score:4, Interesting)
I dunno about Xbox controllers, but my Transformer Prime supports PS3 controllers out of the box, stock, no rooting. Just plug in via USB cable once, turn on Bluetooth, and you're set.
That's why this "Arena" thing seems so pointless. I've already done this. Hooked my Transformer up to the TV, and played Max Payne and Shadowgun with a PS3 controller. I don't see the value-add.
Games compatibility? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
This is one thing android badly needs. A standardized joystick/controller API.
The game does not need to know what kind of controller I have just that I pressed stick one forward and depressed button seven.
What does button seven do? (Score:2)
The game does not need to know what kind of controller I have just that I pressed stick one forward and depressed button seven.
Is button seven jump, or fire, or lean left, or pause? If Bluetooth controllers are anything like USB controllers, each one will have a different layout of the button numbers [pineight.com]. Among my sample set, button seven is either the Select button or one of the left shoulder buttons, depending on what brand of controller is plugged in.
Re: (Score:2)
The game can have a simple config at start. Like PC games often handle it.
Patience for a simple config at start (Score:2)
Genre support (Score:2)
It doesn't matter how many support it.
If only 12 notable* games end up supporting it, and none are in my top 3 genres, it's not very useful to me. I'm not a big fan of JRPGs or violent first-person shooters, for example.
* Here I define a notable game as one that has been reviewed by reliable publications.
"Sorry mom, can't talk" (Score:5, Funny)
*BOOM* AAAAH!
"Sorry mom, can't talk I --"
HEADSHOT
"-- got to finish this level I'll call you back"
ULTRAKILL!
Re: (Score:1)
I know he's an AC, but mod this guy up pls.
And why in the fuck would I mod someone up who clearly doesn't even own a smartphone?
Perhaps if he used his fucking head, he would realize that all those bullshit features exist on damn near every smartphone today for one reason; demand.
Speak for yourself AC. Clearly you are alone in your unconnected, encrypted private world that is irrelevant to the other billion people using smartphones in the manner you say they are not.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:False Premise (Score:4, Insightful)
What sort of terrible smart phone do you have that sucks at web browsing?
If you are close enough to an HDTV for this to be useful you would be on wifi, not on 3G/4G. So data plan is of no concern.
Tetris is available, but so are games that are PS1 and PS2 level quality. In fact many PS2 games have been ported to modern smartphones.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:3)
GTA3, Vice City, Demolition, Mass Effect infiltrator, The Dark Knight Returns, F18 Carrier ,Air Navy Fighters, Nova, Spectral Souls, General, Carmageddon(ios only so far, but android is scheduled for Q12013).
These are all PS1 to PS2 level of graphics. There are also PS1 emulators. PS2 emulation will take another few years, as ARM cpus just are not up to that task. Even old Core 2s really don't do that, and ARM is nowhere near that level of performance.
Re: (Score:1)
There is also a SimCity title available for Android, but sadly it was extremly unstable on my tablet, so i had to use the refund option in the google store. Hopefully those other titles will be of a better quality.
Emulators actually provide some of the best games I've played on my tablet so far, old adventures in ScummVM with touch controls are really awesome. Haven't tried the PS1 emulators, those could be quite good, too.
I don't think P
Re: (Score:2)
The Bard's Tale (actually, I think that's a port from the PC version - it has higher-res textures than the PS2 version.)
Grand Theft Auto III (same deal - looks a little sharper than the PS2 version though it has draw distance issues.)
Shadowgun THD and Mass Effect: Infiltrator both look great and play well.
Square-Enix has been rereleasing the Playstation upgraded ports of Final Fantasy games for Android. They don't push the hardware much, of course, but they're 'PS1 quality'.
And I had a really fun 'attack th
Re: (Score:2)
Damn, I meant to mention "The Bard's Tale" that game was great. I might have to get it myself soon.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Caps on satellite and cellular home Internet (Score:2)
If you are close enough to an HDTV for this to be useful you would be on wifi, not on 3G/4G
Unless your home Internet is through a MiFi or similar device or through a satellite dish because you can't get DSL or cable where you live. MiFi and similar have 5 GB per month caps, and satellite only recently raised its cap on entry-level plans to 10 GB per month.
Re: (Score:2)
I would never live in such a place.
I in fact required FIOS availability when I bought a house.
Whose responsibility is it? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
What sort of terrible smart phone do you have that sucks at web browsing?
The kind with the screen less than 5 inches across, perhaps.
Re: (Score:2)
I disagree. My D1 was great for web browsing. It will probably be even better when I finally get 4.0 booting on it though.
Troll harder.
I tried Tetris for iPhone and didn't like it (Score:2)
and of course playing games
Well ya, like Tetris.
I tried playing Tetris on an iPhone and I could never get the hang of the control scheme that EA adopted. I couldn't place the pieces nearly as quickly as I could on the DS version. I guess falling block games are one of those genres that really needs a gamepad, but I don't know whether EA plans to support gamepads in a future version of Tetris.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
I have a 6GB/mo data plan in Canada on Rogers, web browsing is fast and easy on my Galaxy Nexus and was excellent on my Dell Streak before that. Streaming music and video is great at over 20Mbps on the road, I've even done video conferencing with it on the go.
I get that you're an immature troll, but I figure in case anyone believes your pile, they should get some facts from someone else too.
Re: (Score:2)
Ye of little vision, they mean when you're home asshat.
When you're home you have the big home theater PC for playing the many controller-optimized Steam games.
OUYA (Score:5, Informative)
$45 for this "Single Controller Pack", or $99 for a dedicated OUYA game console with controller, also runs android, doesn't have to worry about the game being interrupted by a phone call, no worries about frame rate drops due to various background services running, and already has dedicated third party developers (rather than a "developer program"). Yeah, sorry guys, the other team already has my money!
http://www.ouya.tv/ [www.ouya.tv]
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
From the OUYA site:
So... every game will be a demo that's misleadingly called free, and will proceed to nickel-and-dime me to death once I'm hooked on playing it be
Re: (Score:3)
Every game must have a playable demo, at least; it doesn't have to follow the in-game payment model. And it's no slouch in graphics - see a Tegra 3 showcase [youtube.com]. That's not bad for a system set to cost half as much as the X360. But a major difference is that the Ouya will be hackable, legally and without fear of bricking.
Re: (Score:2)
Nintendo hard (Score:2)
Games that are impossibly difficult unless you pay to unlock special powers.
Impossibly? In the NES era, you had to pay for Contra and Battletoads, and then you had to pay extra for Game Genie. There's a reason that above-average difficulty is called Nintendo hard [tvtropes.org].
Re: (Score:2)
Battletoads, sure, but I beat Super C (about as hard as Contra, which I didn't play) without dying when I was around eight years old. No game genie or Konami code required. :b
Easy games for grown-ups (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Konami code before GameFAQs (Score:2)
Contra is most definitely not an example of "Nintendo Hard", especially with the Konami Code.
Good point. You had to pay for Contra or Gradius, and then you had to pay extra for the book that had all the keypress cheat codes in it. There wasn't GameFAQs back then to look up UUDDLRLRBA.
Re: (Score:2)
Or €150 for an Archos Gamepad, a pretty high-end 7" Android 4.1 tablet with game buttons - easily mappable for the tons of older games that lack button support. I couldn't really justify getting either a new handheld console or a tablet, but this is both, and it's cheaper than a Vita, so it's quite enticing. I'll keep an eye on this.
http://www.archos.com/ [archos.com]
Re: (Score:2)
Or €150 for an Archos Gamepad
Which launches "in early Q1 2013" with support for Google Play Store [tomshardware.com].
easily mappable for the tons of older games that lack button support.
But how much time are people willing to spend mapping as opposed to playing? I'm told they're already turned off by the plethora of layouts of non-Xbox 360 controllers on the PC [pineight.com].
Woah, back up... (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
Yup. they are.
Bluetooth is a standard (Score:5, Informative)
Many Android games have native Bluetooth game-pad support, for though that don't you can use something like: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fishstix.gameboard [google.com]
You can already get hundreds of far cheaper Bluetooth game-pads, many designed to also mount your phone.
I went and RTFA (Score:1)
Seems stupid, but I decided to read it.
Adding [the Atlas] controllers to the mobile version of ChronoBlade allows users to experience the game the way it was meant to be played; bringing a true console-like proposition," said Taehoon Kim, co-found and CEO at nWay.
So methinks that this is a way of connecting a game controller to a phone and play the phone's mobile versions of games: Angry Birds would be a good game for it, that sort of thing. The HDMI thing is a bonus.
(Ahhhh... The pain!)
Re:I went and RTFA (Score:5, Insightful)
The "way of connecting a game control to a phone" is called Bluetooth. Your phone has is.
The HDMI thing isn't a "bonus" -- it's a feature of your phone. And if it's not a feature of your phone, this device isn't going to magically give you it.
This is "stone soup" sales tactics. Sell you something "magic" that lets you do wonderful things... because you don't know you can already do them....
Re: (Score:1)
As I'm not a phone game player, I never saw the need for a game control to move a little mario on a phone. I think you think I meant bluetooth, but no. I mean connecting a game controller and have the requisite i/o from the game itself.
You don't need HDMI, - that's just a bonus ~ you can control the game with a proper controller instead of mashing your firngers on the phone's screen.
Nexus 7 (Score:1)
Right now the concept is limited to select devices -- Google Nexus, Samsung Galaxy S II and S III, HTC One X, Kindle Fire HD, and Asus Transformer
Indeed, and unless the latest model is different, the Nexus 7 does *not* have an HDMI out. So the above statement doesn't even apply to the whole Nexus lineup.
Concentrate on Multiplayer (Score:2)
Barrier to entry (Score:2)
I am struggling to think of how narrow a niche people using their phones (as opposed to more established LAN/console party equipment) would be for that application.
For one thing, it's a lot easier for a startup developer to get into Google's developer program than into Sony's or Nintendo's. Sony and Nintendo want experience and financial stability first, which pretty much rules out releasing your company's first few products on their platforms. (See Bob's Game for example.)
Looks neat. ... Should team up with Ouya maybe ... (Score:2)
I've had this sort of idea quite a few times. A few simple multiplayer games and a batch of cheap zero-fuss compatible controllers. The Android devices are open and widespread enough to make this sort of thing commercially viable. And these guys have on litte edge over the Ouya: They're focusing on their own set of launch games built around console multiplayer. Wouldn't if be cool if you could play their games on the Ouya using their controllers? Their controllers look more complex and seem to cater more to
Every one is targetting future of games market (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Even spam made to be relevant can't publish a URL that works for it.
Seriously, programming is going really downhill lately. It reminds me of the spammers who keep emailing made-up-hex-code addresses at my domain, and addresses that literally existed for minutes decades ago and have been 554'd by SMTP ever since.
Just what exactly do they think they've gained?
Been done already (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
No, it's not like Airplay. Airplay just works. This is Android based, so you'll probably have to buy a Nexus Q, then wait for your carrier to allow you to update to a compatible version of Android, then flash your handset and install a custom ROM. But you'll be able to ssh into your game console and run top and kill -9 when a runaway ad-serving process drags your battery life down to 30 minutes, so, like, open.
What BT controller for iPad? (Score:2)
No, it's not like Airplay. Airplay just works.
For one thing, Airplay costs $428: $329 for the iPad mini and $99 for the Apple TV. Even assuming someone already owns a smartphone or tablet, an HDMI cable from Monoprice is far cheaper than an Apple TV. For another, what Bluetooth controllers work with Airplay for more than one player?
Re: (Score:2)
Some people might not want a tablet (Score:2)
Slight problem with this idea (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Use a controller?
This is really for games that benefit from a controller not ones that benefit from touch.
What games benefit from a controller? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I've quit playing plenty of games fairly quickly because thumb-on-glass is terrible compared to real buttons for shooters and driving games, for example. Exploring games, even basic arcade games are okay, but I'd honestly rather have the tactile feel of a button when I'm button mashing.
Re: (Score:2)
thumb-on-glass is terrible compared to real buttons for shooters
By "shooters", do you mean shoot-em-ups like Gradius or Ikaruga, or do you mean first- or third-person shooters? For first- or third-person shooters, I've been told that the left thumb controls movement (speed proportional to displacement from initial point of contact) and the right thumb controls aiming and turning (which feels like a mouse or trackpad).
and driving games, for example.
Driving games are best controlled with the accelerometer, I'm told. Rotating the tablet turns the steering wheel, like on Mario Kart Wii, and the display r
Re: (Score:2)
Platformers don't bother me on a phone/tablet. In fact, Temple Run is a good example of using swipe actions.
I meant first-person shooters, and no, the thumb-on-screen system is nowhere near being a mouse and keyboard, because my fingers can't find the exact placements to use at a moment's notice ... no physical keyboard after all, have to look periodically to make sure your thumb is centered ...
As to accelerometers, they're not perfect. I prefer buttons for steering ... mostly because of the lack of auto-
Rule of thirds (Score:2)
In fact, Temple Run is a good example of using swipe actions.
If you would consider this game to show best practices for a tablet platformer, I'll try it on my Nexus 7. Is there anything more like Mario or Mega Man that you'd recommend?
I meant first-person shooters
Has there been a good nonviolent first-person shooter since FaceBall in the early 1990s?
and no, the thumb-on-screen system is nowhere near being a mouse and keyboard, because my fingers can't find the exact placements to use at a moment's notice
That's what I wrote in my own essay about mobile game controls [pineight.com], yet mobile fanboys keep reminding me that workarounds
Re: (Score:2)
Recommended platformers? None.
Side-scrollers, yes -- JetPack Joyride ... because it only has one control (press screen or don't press screen).
Re: (Score:2)
Here's a mouse. *squeak* (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
...well, you could buy the controller from these guys. or use any ps3 controller or other bt controller.
because with your scenario, you're really just hooking it to your hdmi and not reading the article blurb even.
Why (Score:1)
PC screen size and console genetic fallacy (Score:2)
Why would I want to use my phone as a console when I already have a PC and a console with much more processing power and tenfold better games?
For one thing, there are games you can't get on a console because they're made by startups, not established companies. Nor, I'm told, are most people willing to buy a second PC to put in the living room in order to play games on the big screen. That leaves mobile.
OMG (Score:2)
Now I can play games on my smartphone!? That'sd freaking AWESOME!
What Android phones with gaming buttons (Score:2)
This company will likely fail because Droid already Does
Since when has a Android phone made by Motorola (or any other Android phone manufacturer licensing the Droid brand from a Disney subsidiary) had gaming buttons? The only Android phone I can think of with a built-in gamepad was the Xperia Play, and I don't think Sony ever called its Android phones "Droid".
Re: (Score:2)
Droid devices can be paired with bluetooth controllers and connected to TVs ... that's all this company is bragging about.
Re: (Score:2)
Most non-geeks won't do that though (Score:2)
I'm pretty sure that most people here already have such a setup or use their computer for TV purposes these days.
CronoCloud and others would wholeheartedly disagree with you. Most people don't connect a PC to a TV [slashdot.org], apart from the geek demographic [slashdot.org] overrepresented among Slashdot regulars. Non-geeks would have a lot more trouble [slashdot.org] figuring out [slashdot.org] how to connect a PC to a TV [pineight.com].
Re: (Score:2)
As a geek I don't have a PC connected to my TV either. Its a horrible idea ...
For one, my primary television is 8 feet wide (and yes, a projector) that faces out the window. Letting my neighbours watch me play Gran Turismo doesn't bother me, but having them watch my Facebook browsing over my shoulder would be odd.
Two PCs (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
In the very long run, the Steam on-sale games are cheaper, and have lower hardware requirements than current games too (saving a bit of money). Last time I did the math on it though, I bought a PS3 instead of a video card of the same price.
And now that my PS3 is getting a bit long in the tooth, I could upgrade my PC to handle 1920x1080x60fps + 5.1 audio gaming on my TV ... but not for $250. So technically my PS3 is still doing better.
And for the inevitable critics, yes I play several *Actual* AAA titles a