Razer's 'Project Fiona' Gaming Tablet Concept is Awesome
With smartphones and tablets becoming so popular, and more apps available than you can shake a stick at, mobile gaming is becoming an increasingly lucrative market. However, the problem is that most of the games being played on tablets and smartphones are of the casual variety. The mobile industry might have advanced to the point where we have quad-core phones and tablets, but hardcore PC gamers don't want to play Cut the Rope or Angry Birds.
At CES this week, peripheral maker Razer unveiled a concept that aims to change the minds of gamers unwilling to game on the go. Powered by Intel's Core i7 CPU, the tablet is dubbed 'Project Fiona' and is designed to play the most popular PC games of today with "an intuitive control setup for a phenomenal on-the-go gaming experience." Razer says that as a result of a partnership with Intel, Project Fiona is more akin to a fully functioning PC.
"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," said Brad Graff, Director of Partner Marketing at Intel's Netbook & Tablet Group.
So, the machine is capable of running PC games, but how exactly do you play them on a tablet? Apparently we're not the only ones that think touchscreens just aren't right for serious gaming, which is why Razer has given this thing two physical controllers with analog sticks, as well as a multitouch display.
"While multi-touch screens have become the de facto user interface for tablets, they are not the right interface for serious PC gaming," said Min-Liang Tan, CEO, Razer. "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."
Razer didn't mention anything about a price or availability (considering Project Fiona is technically still just a concept, that's not surprising). However, the company did say that developer units will be made available soon, so this one may actually make it into production. Fingers crossed it does, and when that happens, it doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Please don't be the igp.
Please don't be the igp.
yup nailed.
Also it's not a concept, it's a prototype: a reporter from Engadget actually got to play with one a little bit of Space Marine. The plan is to release the final version at the end of this year at less than $1000.
It made me smile, too!
It has a 22nm processor and last generation GPU, the screen is 10 inches and 1200×800 res. It's a lot more compact than you would believe it is.
Seriously, I got to see a set of controllers from Razer two years ago at CES that look a lot like the two side controllers but were not connected to anything and you could play L4D and some other game with them, They were totally lame, tbh. And this looks even dumber.
I think it would be a safe bet that this product either never releases or that it will tank massively if it does.
I thought Fiona was a Shrek reference. Same line of fighting prowess if the first and last movies are any indication.
Any gaming device should be able to deliver on gameplay AND graphics especially to be branded as such.
"Powerful" hardware in a base station, and almost no way to display video on the pad.
Honestly give me decent screen touchpad controls, with normal counsel control, and allow me to dock this in a keyboard, and have the actual hardware that drives this thing outside of the screen, so it's only a hardware upgrade without a screen upgrade.
People look around you, when you're in public there's better things to do then play enticing video games, when you're at home and want to relax think of nothing, when you zone out in a virtual world there's a better platform, it's called the PC.
Well, at least you're mobile within the reach of those walls xD
Unless "Fiona" is the actual name of said assassin, ninja, killer, or cyborg
But it reminded me of Shrek as well, since my 4 years old daughter is hooked on the subject
I do believe they are. Here's hoping they included some additional battery in the controller.
All kidding aside, this little thing has me well intrigued. I just hope they get it right. And I am certain one could use this to great success in all sorts of applications, besides gaming.
@burito:
Heheh, it looks positively geeky, I also dig the Real Steel reference.