Everyone is releasing a tablet these days and video game retailer GameStop doesn't want to be left out. The company is reportedly developing their own Android tablet which will carry the GameStop branding and be geared towards gaming.
This particular tablet story isn't just a rumor. GameStop's president Tony Bartel dropped the details on GamesIndustry.biz that his company was getting ready to launch a GameStop branded tablet that would include a suite of preinstalled games. Bartel is also promising game updates over the air.
While it is true that mobile gaming, including on tablets, is huge right now, there is a really good argument that most of that gaming is being done on iOS devices. Apple dominates the tablet market with the iPad and no other manufacturer has managed to make a product that can even come close to competing. The second place tablet was HP's TouchPad and that was largely due to the $99 firesale pricing.
As for the GameStop tablet itself, Bartel was willing to reveal that the company was making it, but he isn't giving too much in the way of specifics. All he's had to say so far is:
“There’s not a lot of tablet/android based games for the consumer that are designed to use an external controller. There are a few games out there and more that are coming, but our thought is that the tablet is a great immersive gaming device so it’s hard for us to envision how that tablet will really function as such without some sort of controller… So we’ve created a controller…”
So, we're expected to carry around a tablet and an independent controller as well? Or is he implying the controller will be attached to the tablet as a secondary input in addition to the touch screen? The answers to those questions are unclear. My speculation would be that the controller would be a separate entity that attaches to a port on the device or functions wirelessly. That's not a terrible idea considering the biggest issue with gaming on tablets is the limitations of touch as an input. It seems perfect, but it's hard to make precise platforming games or first person shooters without the use of an analog stick.
Adding a controller to this type of device, however, is a tricky endeavor. It's hard to convince people to carry more stuff on them every day. If a controller is necessary then why not just carry a PSP or a Nintendo DS around instead of a tablet with a controller?
I think video game enthusiasts would be thrilled to jump on this kind of device. GameStop isn't exactly known for being consumer friendly and many major game enthusiasts would rather chew their own arm off than shop at the retailer. It'll be interesting to see what GameStop is developing and at what price. Hopefully more details will trickle down soon.
