Seems like the folks at iControlPad may be getting some real competition real fast. Game-Gripper is a new concept for adding real gaming controls to smartphones via a universal clamp-on hardware game pad. To ensure compatibility with as many devices as possible, the Game-Gripper attaches to your phone via a spring-loaded clamp to hold the device in place, relying on Bluetooth connectivity rather than physical I/O ports so there isn’t any need to worry about which phone you are using. The website is flaunting several Android phones, which are apparently already compatible with the device, as it relies on industry-standard Bluetooth HID profiles to remain friendly with just about any phone. iPhone compatibility is also mentioned here and there, but there aren’t any solid claims as compatibility with individual games and emulators rely solely on the developer’s willingness to implement support for it. You shouldn’t be expecting the Game-Gripper to start shipping right away. The Game-Gripper team is using a service known as Kickstarter, which offers a way for prospective start-ups to connect with potential customers and allow them to place down monetary “pledges,” to get people interested in the device. Mass production won’t begin until at least $30,000 have been raised from these pledges, and your $47 pledge will grab your own Game-Gripper if the $30,000 mark is reached. If not, you aren’t charged anything. Unfortunately, the future looks a bit bleak, only 8 individuals have pledged at the time of me writing this and the mark has to be reached by March 2 at 1:42 AM EST. With eonugh support, you could unleash your phone’s entire gaming potential and make this a reality. A notable comparison with the iControlPad – the Game-Gripper is 100% universal, while the iControlPad looks like it will require different side clips depending on the phone, and the iControlPad seems to be much larger, which me deterr people who want to pack lightly on the go. The iControlPad does have a built-in battery pack though to extend the life of your phone while playing the battery draining games, while the Game-Gripper doesn’t physically connect to the phone at all. The iControlPad also has dual analog sticks, a feature that isn’t found on the Game-Gripper. The biggest thing though is whether or not your phone will have developer support for the device so we will have to wait and see if Cydia tweaks will be adding controller support for the devices. As usual, stay tuned for more news and info on the topic by following us on Twitter and/or subscribing to our RSS feed. Authors:

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