I need suggestions on a Bluetooth controller for Android

[flex wood]

I just found out that my phone (Samsung Galaxy S2) can output video at 1080p via a mhl to hdmi cable yesterday. I've decided to set to it up as a mobile media center and emu device but I'm going to need a controller if I do. It needs to be a wireless stand alone controller that can also control the entire phone (I'm not even sure if that's possible though) since I'd prefer to be able to control things from the couch. I'd also prefer to keep the cost below $40 total including the mhl to hdmi cord. So any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'll probably emulate mostly mame and up to 16 bit games (snes, nes, genesis and gba) so dual sticks aren't necessary.

Also I'm noticing the prices on the mhl to hdmi cables are pretty all over the place online, from about 5 or 6 bucks all the way up to $40. I'm wondering if it will be a problem if I go for a cheaper one in the 10 to 20 range or will it not really matter?

Crap I meant to post this in the other platforms section.

[jay_red]

You can make a Wii remote, or Dual Shock 3 work with that phone no problem. you might already have one kicking around too, so no extra cost there.

[8bit]

Buying a cheap HDMI cable is absolutely no problem at all. Do not waste money on an expensive cable, there will not be a vide quality difference.

And for the controller, I dont have an S2 or any android for that matter but I have used a Wii Remote with my ipad along with SNES, NES, and Genesis emulators. It worked really really well! I even got 2 player with two remotes and the classic controller working too. I recommend giving that a try first.

[flex wood]

Well I don't want to root my phone so dual shocks are out. I don't have any Wii motes but that is probably going to be the route I go since I will get Wii eventually. Hell I forgot all about Wii motes actually. I'm sure the motes would probably be the cheapest and simplest. Also multiplayer would be a great addition to what my end game is going to be of just an awesome little emu machine I can run through my TV that pretty much takes no skill set up or to run.

[Anapan]

Sorry to tell you this, but the lag on the HDMI output makes all but RPGs nearly unplayable.
Also, I tried a cheap HDMI MHL adapter and was having all kinds of trouble getting or keeping the image on screen so I just ordered an official Samsung one. That fixed it mostly aside from a bit of rainbow static on youtube videos once in a while.

I'm using the one Bacteria modded for me out of a Chainpus gamepad and a PS1 controller. Using Bluez IME it works perfectly.

I hear good things about the icontrolpad
more listed here

[Duane Dibbley]

How about the iCade 8-Bitty?

[fastbilly1]

Sorry to tell you this, but the lag on the HDMI output makes all but RPGs nearly unplayable.

I dont mean to call you out, but there are several videos on youtube of people playing PSX and N64 games in multiplayer on the Galaxy S2. Maybe you used the emulators before they got to the right point?

Mario Kart 64 two player on a tv via a Galaxy S2:


Personally I have a Galaxy S3, with N64oid and NESoid installed, and would love to have a decent controller that is an all in one solution that I dont have to root the device to use. A wiimote is a fine substitution, but the extra wires make it bulky and cumbersome to carry around. The itty bitty has struck my interest, but so has the Nyko Wing. Both have good reviews. I am still waiting to see if someone can get the WiiU Pro Controller to sync.

[Duane Dibbley]

I also found the iDroid on ThinkGeek.

[flex wood]

I am still waiting to see if someone can get the WiiU Pro Controller to sync.

while searching I did come across a third party Wii u controller that was said to work on Android.

Kotaku did a write up on it actually

http://www.kotaku.com/5969996/what-happ ... controller

Actually it can register as a Wii mote or a classic controller but I guess not as a Wii u pro, kinda weird but I think it's still pretty cool.

[Anapan]

Well, I just tried again, having updated my OS a while back, and noticing that my emulators have mostly updated many times. Nintendo 64 actually does play well through HDMI. Most of the other emulators I tried do have a nearly one second lag or more with what the phone's displaying to what's on the monitor. Even using the touch screen and scrolling file lists I can see a noticable lag from where I'm swiping to what's showing up on the big screen. The phone's display is still on and it's responding correctly, but what's showing up through the MHL is many frames behind. Maybe if I rooted my phone this wouldn't happen.