As we commute, we naturally seek ways to pass the time. Mobile gaming is becoming one of the best ways to seemingly shorten the distance between work and home… as evidenced by the amount of people that smash into me with their elbows while trying to steer the vehicle they’re occupying in the racing game of their choice.
I’d be more upset if I hadn’t done that myself to many a fellow train passenger. Hey, sometimes we have to make sacrifices in order for a 1st place ranking in Real Racing 3.
The new MOGA system seeks to add a bit of respectability to mobile gaming. Slightly smaller than a normal mobile phone, but still able to accommodate the biggest Android phones on the market, the MOGA controller allows you to clip a mobile to it and play your favourite games with dual joysticks and proper buttons. For those Android tablet enthusiasts out there, the controller connects to your favourite device using Bluetooth, so while your tablet can’t clip into the controller itself, it can still be used just as easily.
The MOGA controller comes with its own Android app that lists all of the games that it’s compatible with. Relatively young, MOGA has a fairly extensive catalogue of games already, with high-profile titles like Modern Combat 4 (yeah, it’s kind of a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare clone, but it’s a fairly decent one), Need for Speed: Most Wanted (the older one, not Criterion/Firemonkeys’ newest) and retro classics like Pac Man. I got to take Grand Theft Auto: Vice City out for a spin – pun intended – using MOGA.
The controller’s dual sticks work surprisingly well, and the controller itself has a bit of weight to it so you don’t feel like you’ll be able to snap it in half. Playing Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, I was reminded how awful I was at controlling the game on my tablet with my thumbs on the screen, so it was a welcome tool. Pairing the controller with your Android device is relatively easy, and MOGA’s own application simply increases that ease.
While MOGA offers its development kit to anyone in order to convert games to the controller’s system, you won’t be able to use the MOGA on an Android game until that mapping takes place. And, as good as Android devices are, I’m primarily an iOS person, so MOGA’s out when I’m touting my iPhone. Whilst Android might be easier to adapt and develop for, I’d wager that the iOS gaming market has quite a lead on that of Google’s OS.
The more I played, the more I am confident that the MOGA controller is a great peripheral to casual game players. The only problem is that MOGA will potentially be priced between $40-60 AUD in Australia, so it might be just that bit too expensive for those looking to delve into the world of gaming. Yes, it’s way cheaper than a 3DS or a PS Vita, but I don’t feel it’s cheap enough. If you’re not committed to gaming, it’s priced in a way that won’t really draw you in.
For hardcore gamers, the device could be the perfect way to get the most out of your Android device and its games. And, if you’re okay with the expense, you might even want to wait a few months and go with the pro version of the MOGA controller. Shaped like Sony’s DualShock, the pro version (pictured directly above) will be available for about $15 AUD more than the base version.
This article may contain affiliate links, meaning we could earn a small commission if you click-through and make a purchase. Stevivor is an independent outlet and our journalism is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.
