ROCCAT Studios lets gamers control PC with a smartphone
updated 04:30 pm EST, Tue March 6, 2012
PC gamers get Power-Grid accessory app for iOS
ROCCAT Studios, a German gaming peripherals maker, is showing off its new Power-Grid product at the current CeBIT show. The iPhone and iPod touch app includes four home screens called grids and allows gamers to view PC status and control games. Three have tools preloaded, with the fourth entirely customizable by the user.
The first grid, called the Incoming Center, will show users incoming calls and texts as well as messages from Facebook, Skype, and other chat or social media programs. The Stats Control grid shows vital PC info such as hard drive space, network traffic, and more. The Sound Control grid lets users adjust gaming audio through their phone, be it in-game or the PCs. The fourth grid lets users create macro buttons for favorite games or timers for food prep, for example.
The app requires the Power-Grid Launcher on the PC in order to sync with the phone.
The company also promises ROCCAT Smart Gear is coming before year's end, where gamers can dock their smartphones. The Project Phobo keyboard with a slot for the phone (shown below) is the first to come out, though pricing or dates aren't yet known.
The app requires a Wi-Fi-equipped PC to work and the latest version of iOS. An Android version is promised to debut at the Gamescom 2012 show in August.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 1999
bah
Well this seems like a dumb idea. Who's got time to look away from your monitor in the middle of a game to study this little screen and find the right control, since there's no tactile feedback...