iPhone Games

Square Enix has just released two classic games on the iPhone App Store. Final Fantasy was first introduced in 1987 and took the gaming world by storm. Those in North America might remember first playing Final Fantasy on a Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990.

The graphics and interface have been updated in the iPhone version and its sequel, Final Fantasy II. Both games include bonus dungeons not found in the originals and are available for $8.99 each.

Gamers are going to love this accessory when the setup hits production. Shown here is the newest prototype of the iControlpad, docked to an iPhone playing Super Mario Kart.

The iPhone becomes a true portable gaming machine with two analog controls, a directional pad, six buttons and two index triggers. iControlpad even has internal batteries to give the iPhone additional power.

Sony may have brought us the Walkman, but Apple has been dominating portable music players in recent years with the iPod. With the release of the iPhone and iPod Touch, Apple is pushing further into Sony's territory with mobile gaming. Apple's AppStore has even started to attract major game developers.

The PlayStation Portable (PSP) has sold over 50 million units in the last four years, but Apple is quickly catching up, with 40 million video-game-capable units sold in only two years. According to the Nikkei Business Daily, Sony intends to compete directly with Apple's iPhone with its own mobile phone.

Apple, in a bid to better compete with Nintendo DS and Sony's PlayStation Portable (PSP), may be considering a separate section of its App Store devoted to games at $19.99. Part of the problem with the App store for major game publishers is the sheer number of games available makes it hard to stand out.

With all of the independent game developers out there the App Store boasts over 1500 games. They are the most popular category and represent roughly 25 percent of all applications available for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The top 100 list naturally leans towards less expensive, popular games.

While we've all gotten a kick out of the NES, Genesis, and GBA emulators for the Apple iPhone, truth be told there's not all that much real gaming going on. It would be hard to argue that using the touchscreen joypad offers ample control. This has left truly entertaining gaming to games more natively designed for a touch screen system. Until now. Though not available yet, iControlPad is cooming soon with its eyes set on changing the face of gaming on the iPhone.

The iControlPad is one of those accessories that you always thought someone should make, but figured no one ever would. Still in