GameStop to Build Android Gaming Tablet & Maybe a Special Controller

[dgstorm]

Apparently, GameStop sees a future for even more games in Android tablets. In fact, the gaming retailer is currently planning their own branded Android tablet, and is testing a custom controller for the device. To be clear, GameStop isn't developing the tab themselves, but rather GameStop President Tony Bartel, indicated that the tablet should be a “GameStop-certified gaming platform” sold in stores. There were no specifics given as to which manufacturer was building for GameStop. Furthermore, there were no details revealed on specs, pricing or availability yet.

Bartel indicated in an interview, “We definitely have selected one. We’re in test phase right now. But we’re excited at the prospect of coming out with this tablet. I would call it a ‘GameStop-certified gaming platform.’ We looked at all the tablets and these are the ones that really worked for gaming and we’re going to give you a few benefits that you’re not going to get elsewhere.”

Although few details were released, we do know:

• The tablet will run Android
• It will have pre-installed games
• GameStop plans to stream console titles to the slate sometime in the future
• Gamestop is working on a custom controller for the tablet to work with the streaming console games

According to the report, GameStop plans to release the tablet sometime next year. What do you guys think? Could this be one of the first big steps toward tablets replacing consoles for gaming?

Source: AndroidTablets.net via BGR

[Bazar6]

If you need a controller, then that means the tablet is just going to be a portable console and TV in one. But I guess you have to do it that way versus having the controls on-screen. Car games it'd be awesome to not have a controller, like NFS Shift already on Android. But other games like Madden or COD could benefit from a controller. Maybe they'll have instances where you can use the tab instead of the controller, have it as an optional accessory required for some games instead of all...