'Swoppy' Is An iPhone Case That Turns Your Device Into A Gaming Console

Have you ever wished you could, you know, actually game on your mobile device? Bluetooth controllers are all well and good but having to lug around a controller defeats the purpose of the mobile and sleek nature of an iPhone.

The Swoopy case protects addressed this as it attaches to the phone like any case should when attached to its back, but the magic starts when you flip the phone over. Specially designed buttons interact with the iPhone’s touch screen allowing gamers to play their iPhones like Game Boys.

Classic Game Boy games such as Tetris, Pokemon, and Super Mario can then be brought back to life as authentically as the real thing. Where once the controllers were nearly impossible to deal with, Swoppy gives tacticle feedback giving gamers a more authentic experience.

Speer came up with the idea for Swoppy after buying a rubber Game Boy-shaped case for her iPhone a couple of years ago. She was never allowed the real thing as a kid, so this was a pretty special purchase to her.

She found herself pushing the buttons in the hope they’d do something but, of course, they didn’t.

Phones have made mobile gaming possible for nearly everyone but the capacitive screen technology has sacrificed our ability to fully experience our games. 

To add to the dilemma, most 8-bit or 2d games have been designed to be experienced with buttons. So what we are left with are frustrating experiences; death by failed virtual button push anyone?

Tactile buttons provide the responsiveness and satisfying feeling of knowing your actions have intended consequence; you know you are in control.

By combining a protective case with buttons that can interact directly with a web app running on the phone itself! Swoppy allows you to play games that can only truly be experienced with physical buttons.

But the real magic comes from the emulator web app that was designed around Swoopy so that you can have tons of games at your fingertips. You can also download titles via you personal Dropbox to play without the Data worry while out and bout.

The cases are designed and made in New Zealand. The team is looking to raise $59,000 for product development and distribution through their Kickstarter campaign which will launches Friday 24 February.

You can check out the Swoppy features as well as those of the web app below:

Swoppy Case:

• Brilliant phone cover that protects against knocks and scrapes.

• 8 soft tactile buttons.

• No electronics involved. No batteries required!

• Fully recyclable.

• Designed and made in New Zealand.

• Covers all the latest iPhone models: 5, 5s, SE, 6, 6s, 7, 6 plus, 6s plus and 7 plus.

• We will add phone models if we reach numbers. Request yours here.

Swoppy Web App:

• Especially designed to work with every Swoppy case.

• Included with every Swoppy case.

• Simply download the web app from our site, save to home screen, connect to dropbox and start playing!

• Can play any Gameboy games you own including free and open source games.

• Can play other web based games developed for Swoppy.