Call this a curiosity. While we were catching up on GDC stuff, we stumbled across Roccat‘s answer to the tired “Is PC Gaming is dead" question. Its answer, as a peripheral maker, is naturally a big fat “No," but it has added an interesting caveat: PC gaming needs an iOS, Windows Phone 7, or Android companion app.
Allow us to introduce you to Roccat Power-Grid, an app that can sync with your Skype or Teamspeak channels, give you real-time readouts on CPU temperature and hard disc space, allow you to tune game audio on the fly, and lets you create custom macros for your favorite games complete with themed icons.
Roccat plans to give the app away for free, but will support it with fancy keyboards that ship with USB phone docks. Check one out:
Roccat believes millions are going to jump on its companion app, and while our guts have to disagree with that, we do see the appeal. Keyboards that ship with those programmable buttons on the side are often big, expensive, and look silly. Using a smartphone to do those tasks specifically certainly sounds preferable.
We’ll keep our eyes on this. As PC gaming evolves, so does what we do with it. Bringing our phones into the fold seems like a pretty organic development in the scene. If it catches or not, however, remains to be seen.
[via Kotaku]
