Hardware Nvidia announces handheld console

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/gaming/2013/01/07/nvidia-announces-handheld-console/1

Say what?!

 

Sega Dreamcast controller anyone?

 

well that was unexpected! and seems like a wacky move by Nvidia considering they power most of the smartphone/tablet gaming platforms out there already....

 

Most Android games aren't exactly designed with a full controller in mind, and if you have a capable PC sitting there to stream Steam stuff from, why not just play on the pc...? Seems a bit redundant already.

 

this could be an amazing feature.
Scenario: ten year old wants gaming pc / ps4. get him one of these powered by GPU in dads gaming pc. If this can use gpu cycles on the fly while still letting dad use pc as he wishes.

 

This is how I'd like my Xbox 360 so I can play Skyrim when I do my sleepovers at work

 

"Nvidia's press release does however state that PC needs to have an Nvidia GeForce GTX GPU installed for this to work. "


It doesn't 'need' an Nvidia GPU, anymore than games with PhysX should 'need' an Nvidia GPU.

What it will have are software lockouts...which means it will probably take a few days,weeks,months for a hack to come along and enable ATI GPU's.

 

mmm, not bad idea. but i think its trying to be something that already exists... cool, very cool, but wont buy... i think most ppl will look at it like this IMHO

 

it's a step towards a smartphone offloading gpu or cpu intensive tasks to a mains powered pc.

 

If they use CUDA for converting live screen to stream, then yes, it does need NV GPU.

 

Sounds exciting with the steam streaming option.

If it's priced well might be a good lounge gamer.

 

The problem with streaming from your PC is WiFi, which is still as unreliable and crappy as it was 5 years ago. Streaming 1080p via a connection that's interrupted when your dog walks between you and the router is rubbish.

Otherwise, there's also the problem of distribution; Nvidia usually leaves that to its army or partners, but I doubt we'll see an EVGA branded Shield.

 

I'd like to get just the controller with a clip for my phone. All the current options seem to have their own flaws...

 

totally depends how they stream it. If its Cuda streamed then you will require a nvidia GPU.

Id also expect EVGA and company to help with supply and distribution as they are very close to nvidia.

 

Kinda puts me in mind of a WiiU controller for PC. I like the idea, if I wanted to play some Dirt in bed, this would be ideal. Or go downstairs and socialise with my housemates without having to stop gaming!

 

Lots of android games work lovely with a controller and can be superior experience as gaming on my xperia play has shown.

I like the idea of streaming my PC, it doesn't even need to be 1080p if streaming to a small screen as show in image, the PSvita is 960 x 544 and games look lovely on that.

 

Looks bulky to hold.

 

Hmm it's an odd thing, good idea, not sure it will work though.
Not the kind of portable device you can play on while out and about like a phone, which relagates it to home use, which puts it in competition with existing tablets, laptop's, PC's and consoles.

 

This might already be detailed somewhere, but considering Nvidia's cloud based graphics solution, they could effectively be a low powered handheld delivering full console streaming experiences. Similar to what onlive attempted, but with a unified platform and controller.

If it did that I'd get one

 

Look's Interesting.

Will keep my eye out for reviews of this.