Review: Game Grip for iPhone, iPod touch will only grip a few users
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Nov 20, 2008 at 1:27pm
Marware’sGame Grip for the iPhone 3G and the iPod touch 2G is a one-trick pony. Whether it’s worth almost 50 bucks depends on how much you’ll take advantage of its trick: driving racing games or flying planes on the Apple devices.
The Marware device is designed to mimic the controllers of gaming consoles such as the XBox and PlayStation—and it does this pretty well. However, it really only works well (for me, anyway) with a specific type of game (more on that in a moment). The Game Grip’s silicone handle grips on the controller are also designed to provide comfort for longer gaming sessions. The Apple devices fit snugly inside; you’re not likely to shake ‘em loose from the Grip during intense gaming sprees.
The Game Grip sports a handy cord management solution that allows you to use your headphones and charging cable while you play. What’s more, it supports an optional, removable battery pack solution from Marware (sold separately) that can give you added power while gaming. You just slide the battery pack onto the back of the Game Grip, and attach the cable.
The giant foam handles of the Game Grip don’t exactly complement the sleek lines of an iPhone or iPod touch. Plus, they block some buttons and ports. It’s really only useful for racing games such as Cro Mag, Crash Cart and Pole Position and flight simulators. The touch screen is accessible with your thumbs, but it’s easier to hit the controls by finger tapping—although, again, this is pretty much a nil concern with auto and plane games. But I found the Marware device more trouble than it was worth for vertically oriented games.
The Game Grip comes with two silicone skins and a game controller with interchangeable silicone grips (one for the iPhone, one for the iPod touch). It’s available in smooth black with blue handle grips. It retails for US$49.99 and is available for pre-order online. With its limited functionality, it seems a bit pricey. Plus, you’ll have to remove your iPhone or iPod touch from any other case you may have them in to insert ‘em into the Grip.
For most folks, the Game Grip isn’t a viable option. But for those who spent LOTS of time virtually driving cars or flying planes on their iPhone or iPod touch, it may be invaluable.
Macsimum rating: 6 out of 10
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Contributor
Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
