Game Gripper Review! #Droid #GameGripper

Posted by Vazguard @ 6:39 pm in Accessories Motorola Droid.

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As many Android users know, some of the highest-rated games in the Market are the “-oid” system emulators.  These apps provide a wide range of console gaming, including NES, SNES, GB, and Sega systems.  But until recently, Droid users were stuck mashing away using a keyboard not well suited for key mappings.  With a vertically-stacked key layout, creating usable controls on the Droid is difficult at best.  A new startup called Game Gripper, LLC. has recently released a product that addresses this issue.  Aptly named the Game Gripper, the accessory allows Droid users to play emulators – and any game that allows key mapping – with a traditional and enjoyable control scheme.

Click through to read the full review!

At first sight, the Game Gripper doesn’t seem too complex:  A main piece of rubber holds together a set of buttons and a directional pad.  The buttons are made of a sturdy gloss plastic.  Although it seems to be handmade and delicate, it can bend quite a bit and will definitely survive being shoved in a pocket or dropped from a distance.

The Gripper is cut to slide into the empty space left behind by the screen when the Droid is open.  When positioned correctly, the Gripper will be flush with both the screen’s edge as well as the edge of the USB side of the phone, making it feel and look well designed while in use.  Each side of the pad has a formed grip to latch onto the Droid’s sides, keeping the Gripper attached to the phone.

When playing with the Game Gripper, I was somewhat surprised at how high the buttons sat - the feel was similar to the Xbox 360 controller.  The buttons are also rounded on the top, making them reach out a bit more.  The short button travel felt like I was using an old Game Boy Advance SP.  This isn’t necessarily bad, but felt much different than any modern game system one might use.  It is, however, a nice reminder not to jam the keys too hard.

As seen in other reviews, the Droid has a severe limit to the amount of key presses it can process at once.  This can hinder many games where holding one button down constantly (i.e Megaman) is a popular strategy.  Droid issues aside, gaming with the Gripper is a much more pleasurable experience than merely using the keyboard.  The Droid reads the keystrokes it does allow accurately, and with the Game Gripper’s raised buttons quick combos like those found in fighting games are easily activated.

Because the Game Gripper is so simple there little room for improvement apart from minor touchups.  Users might prefer flat-topped buttons for a throwback feel that matches the emulators found in the Android Market.  The Gripper’s design and manufacturing are sound, but the accessory still looks homemade, something that might turn off some potential customers.  Experimenting with buttons that give a little might curb the shallow presses.  In Engadget’s review its unit seemed to slide to the left while in use, but the unit received here had little movement issues.  This might be from a difference in pad material – this review’s Gripper is black.

Overall the Game Gripper is a great accessory for anyone looking to up their game on the Motorola Droid, provided the app allows key mapping.  The price of $15 is a small one to pay for a much better entertainment experience.  As Engadget recommends, mapping the Volume Up and Camera buttons provides a surprisingly good way to imitate the left and right bumpers for the consoles that have them.  The current Game Gripper is a great initial release for the startup, and hopefully we will see some upgraded products in the future.  If you feel left out that you don’t own a Droid, the company is planning to spread Game Gripper fever to other handsets, including the Moto Devour, Backflip, and the Nokia N900.  Get your game on!

The Game Gripper is available for $15 + shipping in its PayPal-powered online store.