The compact Atari Arcade joystick dock ably converts the iPad into an old-school video game machine that doesn’t require batteries, as long as all you’re planning to do is play Atari games.
When it comes to gaming on the iPad, it’s generally a touch-based affair. Retro gamers have an alternative: external joystick docks have started to emerge, but they have limitations to go with their geek appeal.
The Atari Arcade is a joystick and four-button dock for the iPad that turns your Apple tablet into a mini gaming shrine. At $60, it’s nearly half the price of the larger, bulkier Ion iCade, an arcade cabinet for the iPad we reviewed earlier this year. It’s also more than half the size, and can slide into a backpack – something the tabletop iCade could never do.
But there are limitations: the battery-free device might be compact, but it only works with Atari’s retro-gaming app, making it a one-trick pony. Playing Atari games on the Arcade is generally fun, but the appeal can be limiting. A slightly stiff micro-switch joystick and large, mushy buttons don’t click as comfortably as the iCade’s more professional hardware.
You can feel the difference when button-mashing through Asteroids or Yar’s Revenge. The hard turns on the joystick are also difficult to pull off without the Atari Arcade shifting a little on the table: make sure those rubber feet beneath are set firmly down on a grippy surface.