AirPlay
Score: 99% Developer: Eleven Engineering Device Type: Controller
Function: In this day and age, it seems that digital controllers are a bit outdated. It takes a really nice ?twist? or gimmick to make a digital controller that will make anyone take notice these days. The AirPlay does just that. The control is tight, meaning that the game reacts as soon as you hit the button and stops as soon as you let go. As far as I have observed, there is no lag time... period. The range of the thing is the most amazing feature. I have successfully played Driver from two rooms away (that would effectively be through two solid walls), and, while at E3, from about 30 or so feet away. The signal is a 900 Mhz frequency, so it?s pretty much non-directional. (No more having to ?aim? at your PlayStation or worrying about your little brother running in front of you.) The only downside of the control aspect of the AirPlay is that it IS a digital controller. (mmm... AirPlay 2, anyone?)
Performance: If you like some of the ?old-school? games or simply aren?t thrilled with analog controllers, and you don?t mind doing without the vibration feature, the AirPlay is an EXCELLENT remote digital controller. As a platform for showing off the technology, the remote control system is without equal. As far as playing with it, once you get into it, you won?t want to put it down. (And with the ability to keep playing while you run to the kitchen to grab some chips, you won?t really need to.) The shape of the AirPlay is fairly unique. All of the buttons are in the correct places, although the D-pad and the buttons are both orientated slightly in towards the front. This seem odd at first, but they are basically oriented parallel to the handles themselves, so it?s not too difficult to get over. The shoulder buttons are also of a unique design, and, combined with the scale of the ergonomic grips on the underside of the handles themselves, tend to be a bit awkward for larger hands. That is, if you use two fingers on each hand to press the shoulder buttons. If you use one finger for each side, the grip fits wonderfully. Getting used to it takes about five to ten minutes, tops, assuming you are familiar with other digital controllers for the PlayStation.
Features: ?Bullet Proof? remote control Ergonomic design Reload feature -- Hot swap AA batteries with ease Lightweight Multiple channels (to fight interference) No cord (approximately 30? practical range)
Drawbacks & Problems:: To say that the problem with a car is that it doesn?t have wings is ridiculous. By the same token, it would be a wrong for me to say that the problem with the AirPlay is that it is digital and not analog. If you purchase the AirPlay, understand that it is a digital controller, and under none of my tests so far has it sprouted analog sticks. That having been said, in comparison with other digital controllers, the AirPlay stands out as one of the best, especially when you add in the fact that it has (really great) remote control. Then there?s the fact that it needs a AA battery. This usually is an instant score reducer when I test hardware. However, if you want to control something from a distance without a cord, you have to transmit SOME kind of signal... and that takes energy. I would have to seriously slash a score on a remote control that had to be plugged in, so we?ll accept this convention. Given the need for a battery, the Reload feature that allows a gamer to ?hot swap? a AA battery when the old one gets weak is to be applauded! (Who came up with THAT one?!) In conclusion, I have nothing bad to say about the AirPlay. Overall, it does its job VERY nicely. An EXCELLENT product.
-Geck0, GameVortex Communications AKA Robert Perkins
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