Roccat Power-Grid: Looks Like a Winner

Prior to CES 2012, I wasn't familiar with the Roccat brand. Now that they are moving into the NA market, we are getting more news about their products and plans. Engadget recently reported that Roccat was offering a mobile app called Power-Grid that would turn iOS and Android users monitor their PC stats, and turn their mobile devices into touch screen interfaces for PC gamers.

The idea is similar to the Switchblade concept device from Razer, which itself has morphed into the Razer Blade laptop and the SW:TOR keyboard. Roccat is taking this idea of customizable user interfaces for gaming, and leveraging the touchscreen you probably already own. In addition to the software component, Roccat is also offering hardware accessories. The Phobo keyboard offers a dock for your iPhone on the right hand side, and largely mimics the functionality of the Razer SW:TOR keyboard. If you already have a keyboard you love, Roccat is offering a charging dock to help integrate the iPhone into your gaming rig.

I really like this idea. Utilizing my existing hardware should help me keep costs down (the SW:TOR keyboard is priced at $250), prevent me from buying redundant hardware, and avoid desk clutter. The system monitor software could be cool to utilize while benchmarking and doing reviews. Could grab screen captures on the iPhone, while games are running full-screen on the PC.

Hopefully the app will also make its way to the iPad. I would love to set up my iPad to the left of my keyboard, using something like the new Ergotech Versacase to set it up at a nice viewing and touch angle. Makes me feel all Star Trekkie to think about looking a secondary display, an triggering game effects while playing said game across three screens in Eyefinity.

Here's to getting in on the beta.