Gamestop launching branded Android gaming tablet next year

by Griffin McElroy on Sep 12th 2011 11:20AM

Gamestop has come up with a thoroughly thought-provoking method to stop losing business to the ever-expanding mobile market: By jumping into that market with arms outstretched. The company hinted at the possibility of developing a gaming tablet earlier this year; today, Gamestop president Tony Bartel explained to GamesIndustry that they're currently testing the sale and distribution of an unspecified Android tablet which will be Gamestop branded, and paired with a dedicated controller peripheral.

The device will support (and, after a trip through Gamestop's refurbishment center, will be pre-loaded with) mobile apps, but the goal is to allow the tablet to stream full retail releases (assumedly using Spawn Labs' Player software). Bartel also mentioned that the company was working with developers to create titles specifically for the hardware -- though we'll probably have to wait until the device's launch next year to find out the identity of those titles, not to mention the tablet itself.

Source: GamesIndustry

Tags: android, gamestop, mobile, spawn-labs, streaming, tablet

Reader Comments (56)

Betcha it will NOT support the Android Marketplace or Amazon App Store...

@Gibbeynator But it will support the gamestop app!

@Gibbeynator

It doesn't matter. The Android platform is more open than Madonna's crotch. Users can download apps from a developer's website or from a third party alternative to the Android Marketplace.

@Captain Planet Planeteer Power

You can bet they're at least gonna try. And if not... well, it's gonna be a huge shock when no one buys their Gamestop branded content.

@Gibbeynator Why wouldn't it support the Amazon App Store? Pretty sure they made that so anything could use it.

Also, marketplace support certainly isn't out of the question. If Gamestop were smart, they'd pursue Google approval.

@Gibbeynator

No, I'm sure it will. What's the point of using the OS without the Market? They might as well develop a proprietary OS.

@Gooblechev It's a competing product to Gamestop's own digital delivery system, and therefore, would not be allowed on any Gamestop sold item.

@Gooblechev I dunno. Remember when Gamestop pulled the Onlive coupons for Deus Ex?

@Gooblechev
They could disable the ability to side-load applications, like AT&T has done with its Android phones.
(they started undoing that for a couple of phones, but I believe most are still locked down in that regard)

@Captain Planet Planeteer Power

Or steal apps, its a piracy haven.

@Gooblechev

The Amazon app store doesn't support anything non US.

lol, oh god…..

Developers would surely make a game with generic controller input (as is supported in Honeycomb) instead of making something just for Gamestop. Couldn't imagine they'll be paying them much for exclusivity in such a copycat market.

@Jameseh
And after years of abusive used-games sales, GameStop shouldn't be suprised if no established publishers or devs want to work with them.

@Haggard
Like after years of abusive Apple control devs won't release iOS games, right? Doesn't work that way.

sounds intriguing but im already signed up with OnLive hope thats what the streaming company is

@PR0F3TA

You haven't been reading Joystiq a lot lately.

@PR0F3TA
Nice troll bro!

no one is going to buy it -_-

@aray48 also, if the goal is allow streaming of full retail games, then even less people may buy it if you have to buy the game twice (once for console or PC, and again for tablet)

It will be made out of the worst pastic money can buy, fall apart in your hands after 5 minutes of use, have a giant "GameStop" logo everywhere AND on the sides it will have "grips". By grips I mean there will just be plastic ridges that they classify as grips.

Sounds like a GameStop branded item to me!

@Smac1
But you'll get 10% off with your power up card!

I didn't ask for this.

@Faceless Troll

Who cares what you asked for? Don't buy it.

@Faceless Troll
iCare.

Controller peripheral?

I saw the headline and thought, "Finally!", but if the peripheral/buttons isn't/aren't built in, count me out.

It's a galaxy tab.

Game Stop: Everything Gamers Didn't Ask For™

God help us all.

Bet it will have some great pre-order application where you can pre-order whatever you want. I already pre-ordered call of duty 4 Modern Warfare 6 at my local gamestop!

Gamestop does, and always will be a horrible place with bad business practices....I will not endorse this device.

I'm guessing this will be the HP tablet that best buy is sitting on hundreds of thousands of. They'll buy them up for cheap, slap a GS logo on it and load it up with Kongregate. Add a bluetooth controller and sell it for top dollar.

Up next: Paris hilton gets one covered in diamonds while poor people starve.

I'd never buy this in a million years.

Maybe other stores like Best Buy, Futureshop and others should sell it used for $100 less. See how gamestop likes it. lol

Smartphone and tablet gaming's growth is outpacing console gaming growth.

It's obvious that both Amazon and Gamestop will have to chase the tablet and smartphone craze.

By next year, Gamestop will have their own tablet with game rentals or Game download store.

What they need to do is have a system with a gamepad buttons and controls like the Sony Experia Play phone and not go the all touchscreen route.

Gamestop making hardware? If their crap controllers are any indication of quality, I'll pass.

Gamestop is going out of business.

Their core business is dying...now they are trying to jump into random other ventures.

@Timjoy wow, just to clear this thought provoking post up....your an idiot. The company makes BILLIONS, a little slower for the dumb dumbs, B I L L I O N S, year over year, are the worlds largest video game retailer, are every single console and publishers largest customer. Has digital sales increasing 40-60% year over year. Now, I know, its the cool thong to hate on them, and theyre the big baddie whos doing everything wrong, to say theyre core business is dying is just dumb.

@Timjoy
How the heck is Gamestop going out of business? They've been recording record number profits thanks to their used sales business.

@(Unverified)

Dear God you are stupid.

-"thought provoking post"? Since when is that a bad thing? The French Revolution was brought about by thought provoking ideas and individuals.

-"your an idiot". No, YOU'RE an idiot.

-"the cool thong". Really? I mean, really?

-"theyre core business is dying". They are core business is dying? Please point out where that makes sense.

I think we all know who the "dumb dumb" is here. Dumbass. Oh, once more for the slower ones (Read: you): D U M B A S S.

Oh and I don't think they're dying, so much as they're over expanding.

@Timjoy

You're about half right. Their business isn't 'dying' right now but it is very clear where the industry is headed and it is not in physical media. Personally I give the next gen of consoles from Sony and MS a 50/50 chance that they will not use physical media at all - and if that's the case GS starts going down the tubes really fast - and good riddance

Jesus christ I hate Gamestop SO much... they are infesting everything like a bunch of cockroaches. Sadly, they are not going to wither away and die but I sure wish they would. 'Reserve blah blah blah and get this exclusive ass raping from us for no additional cost!' Hate hate hate hate hate...

/rant

I think the real question is whether normie's will buy it. Will a mother rather buy a gaming tablet for her children than a PS3 or 360? And if Gamestop makes a product that competes with the consoles (which it sounds like this one has the potential to do), what will Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo do? Price point is going to be everything with this device.

Imagine how pissed off Microsoft must be right now. 1st they try to make tablets popular since 1991, only for Apple to make the iPad & score more millions, & now this.

@MASTER260 W00ps, accidentally posted this as a reply to someone... xD

Hmm, Gamestop is going to release a tablet a few days after announcing that they're buying used ipads. Color me...suspicious.

@MystcLazrDragon

Just great!!! You picked the one crayon I can't seem to find!!!!

I never asked for this

I'm guessing I won't be able to run an Onlive app on it, whenever that goes live.

Another step into irrelevance for gamestop.

My prediction is Gamestop becomes the next radio shack, analogically speaking.

1. Go to store to buy game instead of just downloading it.
2. Enter code to play game on Android tablet thing.
3. ???
4. Profit.

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 50 Comments

Gamestop launching branded Android gaming tablet next year

Reader Comments (56)

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:23AM Gibbeynator said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:26AM byaboy said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:29AM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:32AM Gibbeynator said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:32AM Gooblechev said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:37AM ItsameMatt03 said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:37AM Gibbeynator said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:48AM Faceless Troll said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 1:51PM BPMOmega XBL PSN Steam said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 4:24PM mguniverse said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 10:15PM This Little Man Says His Name Is said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:23AM gundamxzero said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:24AM Jameseh said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 1:00PM Haggard said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 1:35PM mrmojoz said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:25AM PR0F3TA said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:35AM Red Runner said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:47AM SuperWoody64 said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:26AM aray48 said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:27AM aray48 said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:29AM Smac1 said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:47AM SuperWoody64 said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:30AM Faceless Troll said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:39AM ItsameMatt03 said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 2:16PM gundamxzero said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:31AM Gooblechev said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:33AM evilsaywhat said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:40AM KazamaSogetsu said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:44AM King Johngie the Fourth said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:46AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:50AM SuperWoody64 said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:51AM Prince David said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:53AM hami83 said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 11:56AM vision33r said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 12:12PM tumbes said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 12:14PM Timjoy said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 12:27PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 12:30PM PbFarmer said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 2:24PM King Johngie the Fourth said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 3:57PM OnToGloryReturns said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 12:30PM jtsuth said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 12:30PM MusiM said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 8:02PM MASTER260 said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 8:04PM MASTER260 said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 1:22PM MystcLazrDragon said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 2:27PM Bumper said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 2:35PM QuePasa87 said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 2:42PM ColorblindMonk said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 3:49PM Draugdraugr said

Posted: Sep 12th 2011 4:26PM mguniverse said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

WB conjures up Harry Potter for Kinect this fall

Featured Stories

Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is a stranger in a strange land

Silver Lining: I Am Alive's unfeeling world

Game Of Thrones and the paradoxes of adaptation

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW