Atari and Discovery Bay Games have teamed up to create a joystick-and-button arcade adapter and iPad stand called the Arcade Duo-Powered Joystick, an alternative to ThinkGeek’s popular iCade. Made of plastic rather than wood and using the 30-pin connector rather than Bluetooth, the Atari device is more portable but only works with the Atari’s Greatest Hits app and nothing else. It features four buttons and the traditional eight-way joystick.
Users insert the iPad (must be uncovered), open the Atari app, choose “arcade” as the input method and they are ready to play. Due to the buttons and joystick being directly connected, responsiveness is excellent and the screen is kept clear since the player’s hands are not needed to be on screen.
The Atari Greatest Hits app offers players a free game — Missile Command — and in-app purchases of game packs or the entire library of 100 games for $15. It offers many of Atari’s original hits, as well as later successes, versions or sequels to the original games and other playing options.
The unit is available soon and sells for $60. It will also be available from major chain stores such as Target, Toys R Us and Walmart.
