Need a controller for your Mac or iOS-based game, but don't have a physical controller handy? Pull out your iPhone and install Joypad.

The app turns your iPhone or iPod touch into a wireless virtual controller with a configurable set of buttons. It syncs up to a desktop client and remaps the buttons on the Joypad to keyboard buttons on your desktop. It's very clever, and is a free download.

joypadnes
Taking the app to the next level, the two-man development team, Zell Interactive, offers several sets of skins to give Joypad that retro feel, including classic NES and Super Nintendo controllers. Sounds perfect for some MAME-emulation, doesn't it?

Finally, the makers of Joypad have developed an iOS SDK to allow other developers to incorporate Joypad support into their games. Similar to how the Scrabble iPad game lets users store their tiles on their iPhone to hide them from other players, JoyPad let's you control a game on your iPad from your iPhone. It works via Bluetooth and it's awesome:


The app itself is free, with 8 skins available individually for $0.99 or all together for a discounted price.

Top Rated Comments

WiiDSmoker Avatar
160 months ago
Except you have ZERO tactile feedback.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Boardumb Avatar
160 months ago
Most pointless app ever? Oh yes, a joypad needs the tactile feedback, without it you'll keep looking at your iphone and not the monitor!

This is true for some games, but for others it's really not an issue. The movement controls with a d-pad or analog stick don't really need to be constantly monitored, and if you don't need to use a ton of buttons at once then they are large enough that you don't really need to keep your eyes on those either. More complex button setups or games where you need to push multiple buttons at the same time can be difficult to play though, but for the most part it works pretty well.

What I think is really cool is the mouse integration for playing desktop games. It lets you control the mouse cursor using the accelerometer, and click the mouse using the screen. It works really well and is totally handy if you travel and play games on a laptop a lot. Here's a vid of Minecraft being played with a Joypad:



The one thing the iPod/iPhone is no good at - controllers!
Wouldn't this also have latency issues, since your iPod has to communicate with the router and then to your computer. I can't imagine that being snappy!

If you're on a busy WiFi network then yeah it can have some lag problems. If it's not too crowded though it works really well. Also you can connect via Bluetooth now which eliminates the need for using a WiFi network at all.



So yeah, I'm definitely an advocate of the Joypad, but that's because I've used it quite a lot and think it works really well. Plus I see a ton of potential with the availability of an SDK for integrating easy Joypad support into games. But really, don't take my word for it, just try it yourself! It's free to download the app and desktop client, and it's pretty easy to get it set up and running. You may find it's actually a pretty handy thing to have around if you are out and about and feel like gaming and aren't equipped with a proper Bluetooth controller.

Here's the original article I did about this on TouchArcade: http://toucharcade.com/2011/06/13/wwdc-2011-joypad-game-controller/
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
b0r1s Avatar
160 months ago
Most pointless app ever? Oh yes, a joypad needs the tactile feedback, without it you'll keep looking at your iphone and not the monitor!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RickyB Avatar
160 months ago
Well I, for one, think it's a good idea.
Score: 0 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Cheerwino Avatar
160 months ago
MacRumors! Your message here!
Score: 0 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LastLine Avatar
160 months ago
Yesterday dominoes, today this...what's tomorrow? ;-)
Score: 0 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 17

Apple Releases iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 for All iPhones and iPads

Tuesday September 26, 2023 12:47 pm PDT by
Apple today released iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 updates, with the software coming five days after the releases of iOS 17.0.1 and iPadOS 17.0.1. Today's iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 updates arrive as build 21A351 and can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Note that iOS 17.0.2 was previously made available for iPhone...
Apple WWDC23 macOS Sonoma hero

macOS Sonoma Launching This Week With These New Features

Sunday September 24, 2023 12:45 pm PDT by
Apple previously announced that macOS Sonoma will be released this Tuesday, September 26. The free software update includes many new features and changes for the Mac, including the five that we have highlighted below. In addition to these five features, we have shared the full release notes for macOS Sonoma below for a complete overview of everything new. Desktop Widgets macOS Sonoma...
iPhone 15 Pro Lineup Feature

Kuo: iPhone 15 Pro Overheating Issues Likely Due to Thermal Compromises, Not 3nm Node

Tuesday September 26, 2023 9:12 am PDT by
Complaints about heat issues with the iPhone 15 Pro models are not related to TSMC's 3-nanometer node that was used for the A17 Pro chip, according to well-respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo says that overheating could be caused by "compromises made in the thermal system design" that allowed Apple to cut down on the weight of the iPhone 15 Pro models. Kuo says that the reduced heat...
iPhone 16 Side Feature

iPhone 16 to Include an Additional Capacitive 'Capture' Button

Monday September 25, 2023 12:50 pm PDT by
The iPhone 16 series is expected to gain an additional capacitive button, known internally as the "Capture Button." Codenamed "Project Nova," the button is likely to be one of the main selling points of the iPhone 16 lineup, assuming it gets past the initial testing phase. The Capture Button is located on the same side as the Power button, only positioned slightly lower - where the mmWave cutout...
ipad mini blue

Apple to Launch iPad Mini 7 Later This Year, Industry Report Suggests

Monday September 25, 2023 3:16 am PDT by
Apple could be preparing to release a seventh-generation iPad mini before the end of the year, based on a new report by DigiTimes. In an article discussing stagnating global tablet demand in the second half of 2023, the Taiwan-based outlet forecasts an uptick in Apple's share of the market owing to orders for a "small-size" iPad in the fourth quarter. From the report (see bold): In the...
macos sonoma 4

Apple Releases macOS Sonoma With New Widget Features, Safari Updates, Screen Sharing Improvements and More

Tuesday September 26, 2023 10:01 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS 14 Sonoma, the newest version of the operating system that runs on the Mac. macOS Sonoma has been in beta testing for several months, and it is compatible with the 2019 and later iMac, the iMac Pro, the 2018 and later Mac mini, the 2018 and later MacBook Pro, the 2019 and later Mac Pro, and the Mac Studio. The ‌macOS Sonoma update can be downloaded for free on...