So far Nvidia have had two iterations of the “Shield” device, one being a handheld gaming system that could run android games as well as stream your PC games directly to it, the second was a tablet like device with the same functions as the first. So was it completely necessary to release a console version of the same thing which this device is also designed to act in the same way as the previous versions of the Shield.
These devices are all designed with game streaming in mind rather than being able to play PC games native on the device. It appears that game stream will be the future for Nvidia, or at least a large sum of their company will start to focus more on it, which is great and all but you have to remember their are people out there that cannot support this, ie myself included.
This new Nvidia Shield is an android based “console-like” set top box which the primary purpose of this device is to stream games to a TV, so Nvidia are trying to push into the couch gaming market or console market with a device that is more designed to stream PC games from the users existing PC? However that is the main use case scenario but Nvidia have also included the ability to use Grid game streaming service.
In short it is heavily bound to your internet speed, a rack of GTX graphics cards somewhere will render the game to any of your given devices whilst you download the data in the process, now for someone like me with a horribly slow Australian internet connection I cant see myself being able to do that very successfully but nonetheless that is basically what the service would provide. – for more on Nvidia Grid, list of Grid games.
The Specs for the Nvidia Shield “Console” are as follows:
I don’t think that created a box that allows you to use android based games native on the device and then streaming from your PC to this thing is a viable option, It doesn’t really make it a console either. Jen-Hsun started his presentation talking about how smart televisions are allowing the home user to install Android apps directly onto it yet he thought this box… a completely separate device that would allow the user to do the same thing, sure not everyone has a smart TV and this would enable some of the features that a smart TV might…
Here’s the but, these apps would need to certified to allow the Nvidia Shield tablet to work on it and also have a design platform around the Nvidia Shield so in theory it is just another box thing that may or may not allow you to use the same apps you can on your tablet or smart phone.
Personally I would prefer an actual Nvidia console rather than a set top box thing, because that is all this is. I do not see how this device could be put into the category of console by any stretch if you have to use external sources to even play anything other than android specific games..?
What do you think about the Nvidia Shield “Console”, would you buy one?
Sources: Nvidia Shield Console details, Nvidia Tegra X1 details, CNet, Grid Games, Grid Service