Elonex iGame

The release of an iPod dock may not appear to be very exciting – there are already plenty of them available – but in the iGame, computer maker Elonex has added appeal.

In addition to working as an iPod dock, the device doubles up as a simple games console that attaches to your television set.

The iGame is built into a white and silver oval-shaped casing that looks good against Apple’s devices and is designed to connect to a TV to offer access to either the player’s music, video and photos or any of the 20 games included.

Elonex has taken a leaf out of Nintendo’s book by providing a motion-sensitive controller, similar to the one supplied with Nintendo’s Wii console. In keeping with this approach the majority of titles supplied with the console are based around sport and puzzles.

Up to four players can compete at once, although this requires additional controllers that have to be bought separately for £20 each - it comes with a single controller in the box. Other accessories such as dance mats are promised in the future.

In truth the ‘console’ behaves rather like a simplified version of the Wii, and it’s worth clarifying that although the controllers offer vibration feedback, they are not as accurate and do not have the same range of motion as the Wii’s.

That makes the gaming side of the iGame much more suitable for kids than older gamers, and in this light it works well as a family product, with the adults more likely to use the iPod connection.

This was again rather basic but worked very well, giving quick and easy access to iPod-style menus. It works with all current players but it’s not fully compatible with the iPhone, which you will need to put in aeroplane mode to reduce interference.

It’s possible to browse and view videos and music directly from any connected iPod and Elonex says photo support is on the way in a downloadable update.

The iGame can be updated regularly to add features, which should increase its appeal. Elonex has made the console available for software development on an open-source basis, which means anyone can create programs for it.

The company expects future software to be available at prices ranging from £1 to £5. It also promises refinements and tweaks to the interface and features through future updates.

The biggest factor that makes the iGame appealing is the price. At £79 it offers good value and even if it will have limited appeal for adults as a games machine, the iGame is a good idea for a Christmas present, particularly for families with younger children.