Santa may have recently made the drop down everyone’s chimneys, but many will always be at a loss at what to get their game-loving family members. Vouchers are practical but impersonal, and with game prices soaring it may be time to look more towards the accessory market. The Cable Guys team has been producing game-specific products for several years, and some of the company’s most popular products have been phone and controller stands. Striking yet affordable, these may be the best way to showcase your game love to anyone with a casual interest without breaking the bank.
First comes the Fortnite Mini Cable Guy Meowscles Phone Stand. Proudly being a gamer who has never taken the leap into the money pit that is Fortnite, a quick internet search was needed to confirm firstly if Meowscles was a real person, and secondly what he(?) looks like. Some artistic licence has been taken to cutesy this up but as with some of the other models reviewed, it fits the aesthetic perfectly. Also advertised as a earbud holder, this will tackle most of your small devices and safely cradle them while charging or simply for display when not in use. For the quality of build the price is reasonable, and due to the size, an easy stocking filler or birthday gift for fans of the franchise.
Next comes the Deadpool Rear View Cable Guy, showing the merc with a mouth as expected in another “hilarious pose”, resting your device against his ample and oversized buttocks. The proportions have been skewed to lean into the cartoony nature of the character. What normally would look quite jarring for what is meant to be a human body works well here, reminiscent of Michael Kupperman’s work on the comic book series. As an official Marvel product, at least with the review sample given, quality control is at a high. Colours are vivid, and at a glance, there are no noticeable pain scuffs or errors, with what looks like a great amount of care taken, ensuring all finishes look as professional as possible.
The stand is capable of holding previous generation controllers as well as the recent PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller efforts. All sit comfortably with no fears of an unwanted spill and have plenty of space for charging cables to be inserted while propped up. This is most likely to be the big seller and the safest bet if unsure which to item go for due to the popularity of the character. The pose is also likely to appeal to the target demographic, showing Wade in a pose that will bring a smile to both kids and kid-like adults who like that sort of thing alike.
Last but not least, the Fallout Nuka Cola Power Controller Holder & Phone Stand brings – in this reviewer’s opinion – the best looking of the three. Again, capable of holding both previous and current-gen devices as well as most mobile phones, this is the one that really looks impressive standing pride of place amongst your gaming bits and bobs. This may be down to the fact that with an adult franchise like Fallout, the power armour adorning the character is all in the correct proportions, looking like a scaled-down wasteland wanderer to a tee.
Decals adorn the body, with real attention paid to ensure all parts look worn, again adding to the sense of realism. Yes, this is only meant to hold another piece of plastic 99% of the time, but there is no reason it can’t look excellent doing it. As with horseradish, it’s all a matter of taste, but the overall aesthetic, as well as choosing a franchise with character models that always look superb, really sets this effort apart from the other hounders of the Christmas savings and gifted tenners.
