At PAX PowerA was showing off two of their new devices and we got a hands on with both of them.
First up is MOGA, a portable and stylish controller for your android device. Now I know that some of you might not like the idea of carrying around a controller to play games on your phone, but the MOGA is small, light, and features a stand that attaches it to the phone during use. It is also the most practical cure for TTC (terrible touch controls).
The controller has all the buttons and joysticks you would expect: twin analogs, four face buttons, and two shoulder buttons. Think of a smaller, sleeker, much more feature rich Gameboy Advance. The analog sticks are more akin to sliders but they feel a lot better than the terrible PSP one. These are actually comfortable and almost remind me of the 3DS’s slider.
The MOGA uses Bluetooth to connect to your phone or tablet and takes two AAA batteries that should give around 18 hours of solid playtime.
But most important to this device are the games. PowerA currently has about 50 MOGA enabled games planned to be launched with the device in October. Some of these are simply games that have already been released but will now have MOGA controller support. Others are entirely new games that you won’t be able to find anywhere else. Also, by the end of the year there will be roughly 70 compatible titles.
Bottom line is that the controller feels really good and would be perfect for all those games that feel imprecise with touch buttons right now (i.e. most of them). Plus with a ton of games coming out for it, you won’t feel like you bought the device for just one thing. There is also a full-sized controller version coming later down the line.
Now, I wasn’t told a specific price but that it would be ‘priced similar to 1st party controllers.’ So I’m guessing around $60.
PowerA was also showing off their new FUS1ON Tournament Controllers. These are Xbox 360 and PS3 controllers made specifically for, and are also approved for, tournament play. I got to play a 1v1 Halo match against a pro using these controllers and, besides getting beaten handsomely, it felt great.
The controller itself was really light but still felt very solid—more so than the official licensed version. There is an LED around the buttons and joysticks that can be cycled through several colors to give it a bit more of a personal touch. The grips can also be swapped out between normal and rubberized.
The joysticks themselves have a large head but a small distance to travel to be fully pressed. This made them feel light, quick, and under control. It was almost mysterious how good it felt.
One thing I really like about the FUS1ON controller is the thick cord (it is wired per tournament rules) that reminds me how flimsy and weak the official Xbox cord is. It’s the little things like that that make it great. This is the Ferrari of controllers.
The FUS1ON Tournament Controllers will be available in October for $79.99. Make sure to check them out.
