The mobile device maker, the backbone, recently unveiled the backbone pro, which is the first major increase in its mobile controller lineup after the original spinal cord start in 2020.
Its theoretical design takes everything we already like one of the best mobile controllers to the next level by adding thumbsticks of the whole size and re -returning inputs, and in addition to the fully re -designed aergonomics has been added with a lot of chunkier grips.
Even its facial buttons and DPPads feel improved, as well as the sponger switches much more than those found on the likes of the Wireless Controller than the old Superish clicks. The spine is full of new properties piles, in which the controller’s ability to use wirelessly is the most prominent. It has received Bluetooth support, which gives you the option to connect with everything from your PC and laptop to VR headset and smart TV, and a built -in battery that offers up to 40 hours of charge.
I sat down with the backbone founder and CEO, Monit Khara, to find out more about this new controller, but he is careful first to emphasize that the current spinal cord is not going anywhere. “We are very clear, we still consider the spine as the best in the class mobile gaming device. So if your interest is playing on a mobile game and being some small and portable and comfortable that you can bring with you, we still recommend the spinal cord.”
“With the backbone pro, this is really a more premium experience. The backbone pro allows you to experience all the tasks you want to do.”
In the cloud
The spinal cord will be an important part of the company’s offer, but with the Bluetooth functionality of the backbone pro, it is clear that its eyes are now set to dominate the growing cloud gaming market.
“To add a little context behind the development of the spinal cord pro, I think in a world where you can stream sports on each screen and you can play high sincere games on the phone, the type of device you want to use is very different from today’s use.”
“It’s really designed around the idea that you can play a game on each screen you have, which is getting faster.”
According to the consultation firm’s analysis alixpartnersIn addition to the continuous rollout of 5G infrastructure, high demand for AAA gaming experiences on mobile, and increasing investment in cloud infrastructure from large players like Xbox and PlayStation, the cloud gaming market can reach $ 64 billion by 2030.
As a result, the demand for widespread cloud gaming accessories will be extensively increased instead of traditional game pads to use with a specific system.
It looks like cloud gaming is the future, and the khara wants to be clearly beyond the curve. “There are two macro trends that we have always believed. One is that high sincere games were going to be popular on mobile devices. When I was working on this area in Google, a geometry of all the revenue of Google Play will come from a game like this. Gennashi EffectFor, for, for,. ForeteniteFor, for, for,. Roblox – Types of titles that you won’t consider normal comfortable mobile games. Now it’s over half, “they say.
“Secondly, we understand that, as music and TV streaming moved, it was inevitable that gaming would also move towards streaming. Microsoft gaming CEO Phil Spencer recently said that the percentage of double digits spent all the time on the Xbox is more than just one game in a time.
Part of this growth is running out of the fact that cloud gaming is rapidly becoming a more attractive and affordable option for consumers. The Xbox Cloud gaming has now been added to the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Membership, and the competitor offers cloud gaming streaming as part of his PlayStation Plus Premium offer. The Navalia Jeffor is now fulfilling the most desirable graphics without the need for a powerful gaming rig, while a version of Amazon Luna, a well -known online retail and cloud computing gaming service, is a very popular Amazon prime subscription and a part of a comfortable gaming.
“One of the reasons for the company to go to this point is that these two trends have become important,” Khaira revealed. “The spine Pro really answers the question, ‘How should we look for future devices we use?’
Two human hair
The spinal cord pro is amazingly compact mobile controller, despite the wide feature set, Roger Cashi Ultra is comfortable with competitive offers. It was not an easy achievement, apparently the market requires more research and development than almost any other periphery. As Khaira has successfully said: “This thing is incredibly complicated.
“If you wanted to open it, you see three individual circuit boards on each side, just to allow all the components to fit, which is primarily Apple Watch level engineering. A normal game controller will probably have a circuit board for context.”
“At one point during the development, we found that the thumb sticks were going to be more proud of the 250 microns we intended and it was a problem, as it eliminated our aergonomic features.” To remove this non -intended height, equivalent to two human hair thickness, the team “had to find a way to shave 25 micron in 10 different locations throughout the design.”
This may seem excessive, but Aergonomics was the biggest idea in the design process. According to the good, the development team relied on the proprietary digital goneometry method, which included recording 360 degrees of tester’s hands and using them to measure the angles of the pair to assess overall comfort.
He explained, “Generally, if you want to measure the shared angles of the hand, you will have to use a tool called Gonterometer and you have to stop playing playing by taking someone aergonomist.” “But the problem is that you disrupt the natural game play. This is something where people are in motion, and if you are only occupying a very stable moment, you don’t get the whole picture of whether something is comfortable or not.”
More than 9,000 attempts
It “repeated more than 9,000 individual parts to reach the final design,” a level of fine tuning that Khaira thinks that the company’s offer is ahead of everything. “I don’t think any product has ever gone through a lot of repetition, I would be surprised if the Xbox or Sony did the same.” “After the repetition of all these parts, we finally succeeded in creating a total sculpture and element.”
There were also many other design reservations beyond the overall shape to keep these complex matters further. Only a pleasant structure in the back part of the controller’s grip, for example, “through 100 repetitions” is tested with everything from linear patterns to radial individuals until they are settled on someone, which will help “break the surface tension from sweat, without preventing hands.” Even the structure extends to the bottom of the stimulus, which is a great way to offer a little more traction and prevent your fingers from sliping.
Even in the soft appearance of the round depad, it was very thoughtful. “We are not interested in RGB lighting.” We want to produce a product that you can leave at a table inside your home, and will look like a really interesting and curious, as a really interesting and curious object. Part of it was behind the decision to form a de -pad. “
I mention that the final result is a total look that in my opinion, Google’s now is not too far from a Wi -Fi -capable gamepad designed for use with the defective cloud gaming service. “I was also going to include that our research team was actually led by Avon Silverman, which was a research edge for the Studia Controller, so he did all the research on Aergonomics.”
“Studia controller was a controller’s first ground -up design outside Microsoft and Sony, in fact, such a device did not have this level invested. In the original team of the iPhone, those who worked on Meta Quest, and engineers who worked on such products in Google.
The spinal cord is making a big bet on a cloud -based future. The spinal cord pro certainly looks like it has developed a great game pad from a design and aesthetic point of view, but only time will tell if consumers are attracted to its multi -device features. Backbone is now available for order in 169.99/9 169.99 via the website.