iCade and Midway Arcade Unite

Posted by Lisa Caplan on April 26th, 2012

I can’t count the number of times I have had the iCade – the retrofied arcade control cabinet with a real eight-point joystick and eight real buttons – in a physical or virtual shopping cart and put it back because the compatible games list just didn’t warrant the hundred dollar investment. Well, I’m still holding out for Ms. Pac Man, but thanks to Warner Bros Interactive, the next time I’m squandering money and tempted by the flashback accessory, I just may keep it. Why? Because Midway Arcade, with it’s catalog of killer classic games like Joust, Spy Hunter, Defender and a true favortie of mine, RootBeer Tapper, is now iCade compatible too.

The app was already treat for anyone who spent hours and rolls of quarters in arcades as a kid. Players wander through a virtual showroom with classic cabinet games - all played in portrait mode which is ideal for the original iCade with the groovy casing. There are also four table top games including air hockey and pool and even a juke box to complete the late 70’s -early 80’s vibe. In fact, Midway is my favorite of all the classic collections on iOS because of its immersive design. But like Atari’s Greatest Hits, the first iCade compatible classics collection, these iconic titles just beg for physical controls. Now they have them.

On top of the generous content that comes with the $.99 download, Midway Arcade offers two $.99 in-app purchases to unlock fantasy and action three-game packs. Midway Arcade’s realistic setting is ideally suited to the iCade’s original design, but of course the app also works with the newer iCade models like the iCade Core as well.