Archos Gamepad Released In the USA

An anonymous reader writes "Archos have finally released their much anticipated touchscreen gamepad in the USA. The console boasts a Arm Cortex Dual-core A9 1.6GHz cpu, 1024MB Ram, 8GB internal storage and uses the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS. The Gamepad has 14 physical buttons and dual analog thumb-sticks as well as a touchscreen which means the latest 3D Android games should work great and for fans of emulation the traditional gamepad design and buttons will make N64/PS1 emulators work great on the gamepad." CNET UK was unimpressed, calling it "a bitter disappointment"; IGN was more optimistic, especially at its sub-$200 price.

Comments

"much anticipated"?

[master_kaos]

I mean I have never heard of it, and I have a lot of avid gamer friends and they never mentioned it.

"Gamepad" takes a new meaning

[Nyder]

While I understand using the word pad, since it's been another name for tablets, the word "gamepad" has meant video game controllers for over 2 decades.

This is a hand held video game console. Sure, that's a lot of words to describe 1 object, and could use 1 word, but the word "gamepad" is already taken by a gaming device. Will this cause confusion? I think so, I thought at first it was a game controller with a touch pad on it, not a screen.

Not a new idea,but games dont support real buttons

[bobjr94]

Ive have a JXD S7100 (2.3, single core 7" with Dpads, stick and buttons) and a newer S7300 (4.1, dual core, analog stick, more buttons) and specs are pretty much inline with this tablet. Problem being very few games work with any hardware controls, they use sloppy and inaccurate virtual touch controls. The 7300 does have a remapping app built in, to use the hardware controls on a touch screen game, but only works on some games. Until the app makers spend a bit more effort and give options for hardware controllers, android gaming will not take off, besides fairly casual games.