The Zeemote JS1 controller is a gaming peripheral for cell phone games. Let that sink in for a second. You’ve got your cellphone game, which is a video game meant to be played on your cellphone. One of its greatest strengths is its portability. You don’t need to set up any additional gear, the graphics are optimized to be viewed on a tiny 2- to 3-inch screen, and you can play quietly and surreptitiously.
Now imagine that while playing your favorite game on the subway, you’re carrying a phaser-like hand-sized plastic thingy in your other hand, and you’re whipping it around to help you navigate gameplay. Is this a value-add? That’s what the Zeemote is — it’s essentially the Wii for your cellphone.
In fact, it’s obvious that the name of the device was designed to encourage that association. But they don’t get it. Playing on the Wii in the comfort and privacy of your own home is appealing. Committing the same acts of violent contortions in public just isn’t. Currently without a price point, the Zeemote is compatible with the Nokia 60 series of phones and the N-Gage gaming handheld, if anyone actually owns one of those and still uses it for games. According to the website, there are a ton of Zeemote-compatible games available, including Tetris. Would Tetris be greatly improved by the ability to mime slamming a brick into place with the Zeemote? More to the point: is it worth the assault charge you’ll incur when performing that move on a crowded bus?
Go check out the Zeemote website for the slightly hilarious video of actors pretending to have fun using it. And if you think it looks fun enough to purchase, then heaven help you, and please don’t play with it near me; I have a glass jaw.
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