iCade Creators Announce Nintendo-Like Wireless Controller for iOS

It was not an unsolicited submission. I was working with them towards securing a position as a creative designer. I created a series of samples within my portfolio to showcase what I could develop for them. Sadly they liked what they saw but felt it better to simply replicate some of my ideas rather than offer me a position. Its common in the design world these days. Thus why the graphic design field is dog eat dog and full of contempt and hate. There is a lot of bottomfeeding and plagiarism. It's simply the nature of the business now. But it does still hurt to see an idea you developed get used without your direct input. Then to read people's reactions to a design or 'look' you promoted. People think of the company as brilliant, yet it was me who promoted the retro graphics look for their products. If you do not believe me I can share with you my portfolio samples and you can see what was lifted. :(

But the fact is that there is no trust any more. Everything is fodder and everyone is material to be used in this industry. I went out on a limb and showed them a portfolio of material on their request. But I should have known what it was all about. Its all very common. I have some changes to make. Ideas are valuable. But there are people, especially in the usa, who disregard art and feel that original ideas are there for others to take without compensation. It is a blatant disregard for the value of art and creativity that has come to a serious crisis in this country. Art is taken for granted. Ideas or artists are often declared 'worthless' until there is something to steal. How can an artist be worthless and valuable at the same time? We wont hire you but we will lift concepts from you. I can not explain to you how angry this makes me. That is why this industry will continue to revolve around mediocrity. The people who are truly creative are held at bay, raped and eventually discarded. There is no respect for innovation or originality. There is only the all mighty buck. And saving a buck worth more than providing someone with potential a chance. That is a death sentence for any industry. It is only a matter of time. The economic depression isnt just about Bush, oil, credit and people living beyond their means. its about an industry selling out and abusing and excluding talent. It's about raping creativity as a resource.

But it doesn't matter. Its my fault I should have known. I was a fool to think that they would be honest with me. I have a lot of changes to make in how I prepare my portfolio. We live in evil times where the human element doesn't matter any more. People look at the atrocities going on in China at Foxcon. People need to look right in their backyard and see the kinds of things that take place right here. And why workers have 0 faith in business these days. Its just dog eat dog. Everyone and everything is fodder.

I must ask, why did you share it with them?

Apple has some pretty significant legalese about unsolicited submissions and how they automatically own all of them so if someone submits something and they come out with something similar, they can't be sued.

In my experience, folks are way too free with unsolicited submissions.

Pretty overpriced IMO.

Now this is awesome. $25 and works with all iCade games? Yes please.

This + iPad/iPhone 4S + Airplay mirroring (or HDMI output) = awesome.

insta-buy for me (x2)

I'm pretty satisfied with my iControlPad. I can't see myself buying this.

Yes it is, also the graphic design was indirectly based on some graphic designs I shared with Thinkgeek not so long ago. I feel really badly right now guys. I hope to contribute to their company one day and made an effort to. But to see this example that so closely matches a design I came up with is very upsetting to me.

I must ask, why did you share it with them?

Apple has some pretty significant legalese about unsolicited submissions and how they automatically own all of them so if someone submits something and they come out with something similar, they can't be sued.

In my experience, folks are way too free with unsolicited submissions.

I just hope there’s some sensible correlation between the many different button arrangements (and number of buttons!) on the different new iCade devices. Otherwise, a game that works well with one device will have an awkward layout on another, or else devs will have to add new options screens, making iCade support less simple that it has been.

Now this is awesome. $25 and works with all iCade games? Yes please.

This + iPad/iPhone 4S + Airplay mirroring (or HDMI output) = awesome.

Add a picoprojector (I like my Qumi so far—not the smallest, but also not super-dim) and you’ve got a big-screen gaming rig smaller than a subnotebook :)

Are you suggesting that Nintendo would object to this? They don't have a patent on the shape of the controller, and there have been other controllers that mimicked their design before. [...]
jW

The shape of the d-pad would be the culprit in that case, i.e. one solid cross shape. I believe that's why Playstation's d-pad is split up (at least externally) into four pieces.

Seems that particular patent expired in 2005, though.

[EDIT]
And, bought. (whenever it arrives) :D

[...] the only thing I wish they had done differently is arranged the 4 buttons in a diamond shape (i.e. rotated 45°),[...]

Totally agree. Would have been a more natural pattern considering the 45 degree-ish angle of the thumb (I *do* think the SNES pad is the best joypad ever conceived).
[/EDIT]

That is completely awesome, the only thing I wish they had done differently is arranged the 4 buttons in a diamond shape (i.e. rotated 45°), for example I think if these were "shoot" buttons for a game, I think you'd be more likely to want to shoot up, down, left, right than at angles. And they should label the buttons (ABCD, symbols, whatever to make it easier to write instructions).

Smells patenty to me.

Are you suggesting that Nintendo would object to this? They don't have a patent on the shape of the controller, and there have been other controllers that mimicked their design before. They seem to welcome it (even with the Wii, there are a number of third-party controllers that replicate the basic look, although they are definitely visually distinct, as is this one).

jW