OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

CES 2013 kicked off with a huge gaming announcement in the form of the NVIDIA Shield Android handheld, but there was certainly a lot more gaming to be had on the CES show floor. Our video coverage from Las Vegas continues with a focus on video games, geared more toward the casual end of the market with Android, tablets, iPhone and the Wii U. It’s a clear indication of where the gaming market is headed, at least until the PS4 and Xbox 720 are announced.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ckhf–3MJsw&w=640&h=360]

Nyko (0:36): We start off with a visit from Nyko, who have announced a number of different accessories for the Nintendo Wii U. Two of these are extra battery packs for the Wii U’s tablet-like GamePad. Battery life is a pretty big concern there, so it’s great that Nyko is addressing that with the PowerPak and the UBoost. They also have a new charging dock for the Wii U GamePad Pro.

CTA Digital (2:44): CTA Digital has always been a bit of an odd brand, doing things a little differently from everyone else. We saw their inflatable karts a couple years ago, but now they’ve adapted them to work with the iPad and other tablets. They’ve also acquired some licensing for this stuff, including Dora, Ninja Turtles and Spongebob Squarepants. Of course, the iPotty is what’s really got people talking.

Sphero (4:05): Gaming on your iOS or Android device need not be restricted to that touchscreen. The Sphero is a unique peripheral that you can control from your mobile device, letting you interact with the real world, including other Spheros! Playing “real” tag looks pretty neat, but the augmented reality stuff should really kick it up a notch. I know AR proved interesting on the 3DS, so you can imagine how interesting this could be too.

Duo Games (5:16): It’s not really affordable or practical to have a full-sized pinball machine in your living room, at least for most people. Since arcades aren’t really around anymore, the Duo Pinball could be the next best thing. It’s a dock for your tablet or smartphone that provides a “real” pinball base with real pinball controls. Now you’ve got to wonder whether “tilt” works.

PhoneJoy (5:51): Traditional gamers still want traditional controls and that’s part of the reason why touchscreen gaming can be so frustrating. We’ve seen similar controllers, like the MOGA and Nyko PlayPad. This concept is expanding with PhoneJoy, which is seeking funding on Kickstarter until the end of the month. You get real buttons and real analog sticks to play your real mobile games on your Android device or iPhone.

Innex (7:00): And finally, we finish off our gaming coverage at CES 2013 with a visit with Innex. They’re one of the largest manufacturers, distributors and sourcing agents for video game accessories, covering such brands as Mad Catz, Hori and LevelUp. The product that caught my eye at their booth was the RetroDuo Portable v2.0, which is a handheld that will take legacy NES and SNES cartridges. How cool is that? It has its own screen or you can output to your HDTV.

Be sure to check out our other CES 2013 videos, including our time at Digital Experience, our search for new tablets and notebooks, and our roundup of some great mobile accessories. We’ve got one more video coming, so stay tuned!

Share This With The World!