Gameloft, Atari, Sega and Namco Bandai back MOGA bluetooth controller for Android

Gaming peripheral and accessory company PowerA has announced publisher and retailer support ahead of the US launch of its MOGA controller for Android.

The device features four face buttons, dual analogue sticks, two shoulder buttons and the familiar start and select buttons, too.

The MOGA connects to Android smartphones and tablets via Bluetooth, and includes a flip-out arm on which users can mount their mobile.

Getting into stores

The MOGA will launch in the US on 21 October 2012, when it will be available in more than 7,000 stores nationwide.

Impressively, launch day stockists will include T-Mobile, Best Buy and Toys 'R' Us, as well as online retailers such as Amazon.com and Walmart.com.

"We partner with innovative leaders like MOGA to provide our customers the best mobile gaming experiences," explained T-Mobile SVP Brad Duea.

"We're excited our customers will be able to take their Android devices, pair them with MOGA, and turn their phones into a complete mobile game platform."

Getting devs onboard

MOGA has also generated an impressive amount of support from content creators, and publishers such as Atari, Namco Bandai, Sega and Remedy Entertainment have all committed to developing games that make use of MOGA's twin-analogue stick setup.

So has Gameloft, announcing its support for MOGA less than a week after launching its own controller the first Apple-sanctioned third-party gamepad for iOS.

Speaking to PocketGamer.biz editor-at-large Jon Jordan, Gameloft's business development director Alexandre Tan explained that "physical controllers provide a different gaming experience than touchscreens and are particularly suited to action and adventure games."

"The main focus for Gameloft is to provide the best user experience on any platform and any configuration available to the consumers."