CES 2012: Razer Has Won The Tablet War

Tablets can play games, sure, but this tablet can really play games.

Razer announced during CES Project Fiona, a gaming tablet that is more akin to a gaming PC.

The device itself looks really weird at first. It’s a tablet with handles on the side featuring dual analog sticks, four face buttons and two shoulder buttons each. It’s designed to play all major current PC games without a hitch.

The actual innards are the most surprising though as there’s an Intel core i7 crammed into its tiny body. This is what makes the tablet perform like a gaming PC and I believe it. The i7 is the best processor out on the market right now and to see it performing in a tablet is mind-blowing.

Some of the best news is that it also performs like a gaming PC in that many PC games out on the market today run natively on Project Fiona. There’s no need to port and specifically program games to run on the device.

“Project Fiona’s combination of high performance Intel-based gaming hardware and innovative tablet design is specifically focused for PC gamers. It will unleash the PC gamer to play their existing and future high-end games in one of the most exciting new form factors – a tablet,” Brad Graff, Director of Partner Marketing, Netbook & Tablet Group, Intel, said.

With its dual analog stick handles, Project Fiona will run gamepad-enabled PC games right out of the box.

Along with the controllers, Project Fiona will also sport ultra-precise accelerometers and a multi-touch screen. They claim it will ensure that current-generation PC games can run on the device while also supporting any games optimized for tablets. To top it all off, the controllers on the device deliver full force feedback.

“While multi-touch screens have become the de facto user interface for tablets, they are not the right interface for serious PC gaming,” Min-Liang Tan, CEO, Razer, said. “The user interface we have designed for Project Fiona allows all existing PC games to be played right out of the box and also provides game developers new opportunities as they develop next-gen games on a highly-intuitive platform. Both developers and gamers are going to love the new user interface that combines the best of a gamepad, multi-touch screen and accelerometers for an all-new gaming experience on-the-go.”

Now, I know what you’re thinking. This kind of device is far off into the future and will cost a fortune once it is released. You would be right on both counts but only partially. Razer is shooting for a Q4 2012 release with the cost hopefully being below $1,000. While it obviously costs more than any current tablet PC out on the market, Project Fiona isn’t like any tablet PC out on the market.

As soon as they can be pre-ordered, you can bet I’m going to be in line. Are you? Tell us in the comments.

There are 4 Comments. Add Yours.

Cameron
January 10, 2012 at 6:03 pm

While the guts are, indeed, very impressive, that thing is painful to look at. You get enough weird glances walking around with an iPad, can you imagine the stares you’d get with that thing in your hand? And if it’s not meant for walking around, but for home use, why don’t I just use my desktop? I agree that touch screens are hardly fit for gaming, but, to me, the more practical version of this thing would be just the tablet with those insanely fast guts bundled with a blue tooth controller that you don’t have to carry around with you every where you go. Still, though, the chances of me wanting to bring out a controller in public are slim to none, and I’d just sooner play on my desktop if I was in my own house.
- Zach Walton
  January 10, 2012 at 6:07 pm
  
  It’s true. It’s not very appealing aesthetically, but just the idea of so much power in my hands makes me want it. I’m willing to sacrifice the aesthetic appeal for portable power. The GameBoy was pretty ugly aesthetically. That didn’t stop it from being one of the most successful portable gaming products ever.
  - Cameron
    January 10, 2012 at 6:14 pm
    
    The Gameboy had a market though. Who are they selling this to? People who want to play games on the go? It’s not portable enough for that. People who want to play games at home? They already have a desktop. I’m just not sure what it’s for besides a proof of concept.
    - Zach Walton
      January 11, 2012 at 8:26 am
      
      I personally think it’s portable enough for gaming on the go. Maybe not on my morning bus ride, but I think it would be just like any other tablet. Besides, the design isn’t final yet. They may find some way to make the handlebars more efficient. Who knows? I just like the idea of that much power in a tablet and I still stand by my conviction that I’m going to be first in line for one.