Sunday 7 October 2012

Razer moving forward with Project Fiona gaming tablet

Razer's design shots show Assassin's Creed running on the tablet
The sky is the limit for tablet gaming. As technology advances, the devices can eventually combine the power of PC/console gaming with (nearly) the portability of a PS Vita. More often, though, we see Angry Birds and Tiny Wings: great casual titles, but a far cry from Skyrim or Batman: Arkham City.
That may soon be changing. Enter PC gaming accessory vendor Razer. At CES 2012, the company showed off a concept model of a gaming tablet dubbed Project Fiona. Razer acknowledged that it was merely a concept – far from release – but it still turned enough heads to be granted the "Best of CES" People's Voice award.
Today that release moved one step closer to fruition. In a clever PR move, CEO Min-Liang Tan wrote on his Facebook page that he wanted to "see the level of interest" in Project Fiona before proceeding. His promise: 10,000 Likes would give the project the green light. Was there ever any doubt? The post received the 10,000 Likes in roughly a day, and Tan confirmed the advancement of Fiona on Twitter.

Potential

Project Fiona was one of the most memorable new devices at CES 2012
Project Fiona was one of the most memorable new devices at CES 2012
So why all the fuss? The CES demo model featured dual handlebar controllers on either side, a 10.1" 1280x800 display, Windows 8, and enough power to play Skyrim on Ultra-high settings. Razer says that the final design is still being worked out, and is calling on fans to help with final decisions.
Project Fiona is a geek's wet dream, but there are still question marks. With that much power in a portable form factor, battery life could be a concern. The rapid advancement of PC gaming could also cause problems; if the tablet doesn't have upgradable components, will it be worth the investment? Speaking of which, the biggest question of all will be its pricing: if this baby costs the equivalent of two iPads, it may be limited to a fringe existence.
Still, if Razer can hit all the right marks with the final version, this device can potentially push the envelope of tablet gaming. Imagine lounging in bed or riding shotgun in a car, playing the highest-end games available.
What do you think? Are you psyched about Project Fiona, or will it be a pricey novelty reserved for a select few? Let us know in the comments!

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