Razer tests the waters with Project Fiona at CES
Posted Jan 16th 2012 9:30PM by Mike Schramm
Razer's Project Fiona looks just like you'd expect a prototype to look. Despite a thick but standard tablet-style body and 10.1 inch touchscreen, it has some unfinished aluminum struts sticking out of either side, with not-quite-perfect joysticks and buttons placed unceremoniously on the top. In short, it's a manufactured idea and not a real product just yet. And Razer's purpose at CES last week was to judge, reps told me, just how good that idea actually was.
Playing with the Project Fiona tablet doesn't feel quite right, but not because the games don't work. The Intel Core i7 processor powers a full Windows 7 installation (though it will eventually run Windows 8, says Razer), and the two prototypes at the show had full PC games on them, including the excellent Warhammer 40K: Space Marine. It ran quite well, but it was still difficult to play -- those joysticks and buttons just aren't fully in the right places. My thumbs did find and learn to use them after a few minutes of play, but it's unclear why, when Razer is already borrowing the "console controller" setup, the buttons are so strangely placed.
After about twenty minutes of handling and playing with Project Fiona, I came to the biggest question about the prototype: Why?
Even Razer itself is confused (or at least pretends to be so) about what Project Fiona actually is. The company calls it "a tablet designed for PC gaming," but it's not a tablet in that it doesn't run Android or any tablet apps. There is a touch surface on the front, and Razer suggests that PC games could eventually have touch interaction built in, though it would rather put that responsibility in developers' hands. In its current state, Project Fiona is just a really thin, powerful PC with a touchscreen and console controls, which makes you wonder why Razer thinks PC gamers want to abandon the mouse and keyboard setup they appreciate so much for this portable Frankenstein.
Razer has made this device "to get feedback from the fans," Associate Manager of Product Marketing Hilmar Hahn told me. "If the demand is very strong, we'll decide if it'll launch." The company has had some success with this kind of process before -- last year's CES prototype was the Switchblade concept, which eventually became the $2800 Blade laptop.
That model was tamed as it went from concept to reality. While the Blade keeps the Switchblade's video buttons and embedded touchscreen, it's a much more conventional, if very well made (thinner than the same-sized Apple MacBook, actually) laptop than a category-defining showpiece. But Razer also promises that a real Project Fiona product is "more likely than the Switchblade" was, and that if it is made it would be sold for "less than $1000," which would give it a very difference audience than the pricey Blade.
There's one more wrinkle here: While playing with Space Marine on the tablet, I casually mentioned that I'd already played that game on a touchscreen device. It's available on OnLive, and though the OnLive iPad app hasn't made it to the public yet, the game works fine on an early release version of the app. Hahn nodded solemnly, and took the tablet back to show that OnLive was installed and ready to go on Project Fiona. "We are actually talking to them, and we did integrate their client," he said.
Which brings up yet another question. If a gamer just wants to run PC games on OnLive while on the move, why spend $1000 on all the hardware when even a low-power tablet or laptop will run it? "It's almost there," said Hahn, "but [running the game locally] is a little bit more high-definition than OnLive can handle yet. It's definitely something that shouldn't be ignored, however," Hahn said.
In that sense, Project Fiona is a piece of hardware overlapping two worlds. It connects the high-end PC gaming software and hardware of old, with the tablet enclosure and controller interface of the new. It bridges both of those worlds, aiming to let PC gamers render their polygons locally and in high-def, while also using joysticks and buttons while out and about. But the question remains: Why does Razer think those worlds need to be connected at all?
Playing with the Project Fiona tablet doesn't feel quite right, but not because the games don't work. The Intel Core i7 processor powers a full Windows 7 installation (though it will eventually run Windows 8, says Razer), and the two prototypes at the show had full PC games on them, including the excellent Warhammer 40K: Space Marine. It ran quite well, but it was still difficult to play -- those joysticks and buttons just aren't fully in the right places. My thumbs did find and learn to use them after a few minutes of play, but it's unclear why, when Razer is already borrowing the "console controller" setup, the buttons are so strangely placed.
After about twenty minutes of handling and playing with Project Fiona, I came to the biggest question about the prototype: Why?
Even Razer itself is confused (or at least pretends to be so) about what Project Fiona actually is. The company calls it "a tablet designed for PC gaming," but it's not a tablet in that it doesn't run Android or any tablet apps. There is a touch surface on the front, and Razer suggests that PC games could eventually have touch interaction built in, though it would rather put that responsibility in developers' hands. In its current state, Project Fiona is just a really thin, powerful PC with a touchscreen and console controls, which makes you wonder why Razer thinks PC gamers want to abandon the mouse and keyboard setup they appreciate so much for this portable Frankenstein.
Razer has made this device "to get feedback from the fans," Associate Manager of Product Marketing Hilmar Hahn told me. "If the demand is very strong, we'll decide if it'll launch." The company has had some success with this kind of process before -- last year's CES prototype was the Switchblade concept, which eventually became the $2800 Blade laptop.
There's one more wrinkle here: While playing with Space Marine on the tablet, I casually mentioned that I'd already played that game on a touchscreen device. It's available on OnLive, and though the OnLive iPad app hasn't made it to the public yet, the game works fine on an early release version of the app. Hahn nodded solemnly, and took the tablet back to show that OnLive was installed and ready to go on Project Fiona. "We are actually talking to them, and we did integrate their client," he said.
In that sense, Project Fiona is a piece of hardware overlapping two worlds. It connects the high-end PC gaming software and hardware of old, with the tablet enclosure and controller interface of the new. It bridges both of those worlds, aiming to let PC gamers render their polygons locally and in high-def, while also using joysticks and buttons while out and about. But the question remains: Why does Razer think those worlds need to be connected at all?
Reader Comments (43)
Posted: Jan 16th 2012 9:47PM Tortri said
Posted: Jan 16th 2012 9:50PM freelancer91 said
Posted: Jan 16th 2012 9:51PM Hivetyrant said
Posted: Jan 16th 2012 11:25PM Mike DPad said
Looks like an iPad with two PS3 navigation controllers attached to the sides.
Posted: Jan 18th 2012 3:35PM RadioActiveLunch said
Posted: Jan 16th 2012 9:59PM Lance001 said
I don't get it.
Posted: Jan 16th 2012 10:17PM bullmunky4 said
What if they design it so the two side controllers come off?
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 12:10AM MystcLazrDragon said
If you take the controllers off, I'd assume for portability, then while you're out you can't play games since there's no controllers. So, you'd have to use it at home and at $1000, you could build a damn good custom gaming rig. There is just no place for it.
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 5:31AM Tachyonic Cargo said
I know it's not common in more suburban and rural areas, but in larger cities, most of us carry messenger bags of some sort. Considering that a full 50% of the American populace lives in those high urban regions, I'd say there is a market for a tablet device with removable game controller. To wit, my next post in direct response to bullmuky4's concerns . . .
Posted: Jan 16th 2012 10:06PM HisOmniscience said
It's most likely because of patents. They'd probably have to pay royalties to someone if they used the standard setup.
Posted: Jan 16th 2012 10:16PM Warlock234 said
I'm pretty sure a d-pad and 4 buttons arranged in a cross shape isn't patented by anyone. They could have had "up, down, left, right" on the left stick side and "1, 2, 3, 4" on the right side.
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 2:24AM HydrophobicFish PSN ID Hydrophob said
And even still, they're freakin' Razer, inventing PC controllers is what they do. I'm sure if it was an issue of patents, they HAVE to have something they coulda worked with. Even though this is an early prototype, there's really no excuse for that kinda controller.
Posted: Jan 16th 2012 10:14PM Warlock234 said
Posted: Jan 16th 2012 10:24PM (Unverified) said
Games similar to Diablo 3 or sports games are very much playable and very current as far as games go and playable on hardware that is portable just like this tablet, you don't need a dual SLI setup to play Diablo 3 or starcraft or gears of war even ( Just look at Shadow Gun for Transformer Prime Tablet)
A True PC Gamestation won't be as important for a lot of mainstream games if they optimize them like the consoles are optimized to play them. I'm willing to bet my Transformer prime is capable of playing most games if not all that can be played on an Xbox 360, if written properly, even then if not, this hardware in this article can be.
Sorry my post was so long but bottom line, I'm willing to buy a tablet that's thicker than my transformer prime if it has gaming controls. and yes I bought the gamestop controller and I like it but how can I use it in the bus, or sitting in a waiting room without looking desperate/goofy. The controls can be integrated better and they will be I'm sure. (Poor example but look at Pepper Pad 3) it had directional pad and buttons that could be used for decent gaming, least of all GOOD emulator gaming.
Posted: Jan 16th 2012 10:34PM Duke said
Why? Because.
Posted: Jan 16th 2012 10:58PM sleepwheel said
Posted: Jan 16th 2012 10:59PM Draugdraugr said
OnLive? Generally speaking I can think of only a few things that PC gamers are less enthused about. Once again, begging the question "Who this is for?"
Back to the drawing board!
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 12:03AM darkquota said
begthequestion.info
The more you know :)
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 9:37AM birdizzle87 said
I know they showed videos of Skyrim and Warhammer 40K Space Marine being run from Steam.
Posted: Jan 16th 2012 11:00PM ColorblindMonk said
Posted: Jan 16th 2012 11:02PM Johnnymadass said
Posted: Jan 16th 2012 11:15PM Crzycracka said
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 3:31AM trinica said
OnLive is a useless piece of sh*t and is not at all for PC gamers, so I don't really see your point. You are not the demographic they are aiming for.
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 12:10AM darkquota said
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 12:16AM darkquota said
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 12:43AM Lekko said
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 1:34AM fonsolo said
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 1:45AM fonsolo said
Sorry, I forgot to proof read it.
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 1:57AM DarkMage said
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 3:04AM Mumiah said
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 3:30AM trinica said
This would be a fantastic alternative for LAN parties. And of COURSE you'd take a keyboard/mouse with it in a laptop bag - the controllers themselves are for added portability, and maybe there are times when you don't want to pull out the keyboard/mouse. On the bus/subway, on a road trip, etc....This just has so many uses that I don't even consider asking "why?" This is what the gaming world needs.....It's also what the tablet world needs. A Windows tablet. Does no one realize that's what this is?
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 3:32AM trinica said
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 9:53PM picxel said
There are already Windows tablets in existence so I don't see why you keep pointing that out.
Posted: Jan 18th 2012 12:03AM fonsolo said
Yea but this one has an i7 CPU, made for Desktop PCs(I believe, unless it's some sort of mobile iteration) where-as other tablets have small processors which are also used to power cell phones. Also, If Project Fiona is using desktop CPUs then it will more than likely have a decent GPU, allowing it to play many great looking, full sized PC games and not just Angry Birds and other glorified mobile apps.
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 4:24AM (Unverified) said
jesus f. christ
what kind of uninformed bullshit statement is this?
tablets running windows/linux where available long before iOS/Android and guess what: they already had "tablet apps".
ok, there is no integrated "app store" in win 7 yet (win 8 will feature one on beta release), but that doesn't mean that there are no "tablet apps".
and that whole onlive argument is nonsense too.
i hope they make the controlls detach-, or at least foldable. what idiot came up with the idea of a fixed controller that increases the size of the tablet by ~30%? the market for people who want to carry tablets in a rucksack is pretty thin, i guess.
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 10:12AM SharkLaser said
The word "tablet" changed meaning with the release of the Ipad. Before, it indeed was a portable computer with a touch interface. Now it's just an oversized smartphone. It wouldn't be a problem if proper tablets were still being released, but sadly, they're not as profitable.
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 4:55AM Zenin said
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 9:39AM Kade Storm said
I am not condemning cloud-gaming, and I think it has many great applications for those looking at an alternative to expensive equipment. However, it shouldn't be put in direct competition with hardware that can store and run the same software locally without the compromises of cloud. They each have their place.
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 9:48AM Grimbear13 said
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 10:39AM Boiglenoight Darkstar said
Posted: Jan 17th 2012 12:15PM trinica said
=/
I can't believe that you even tried using OnLive as your argument when everyone knows that NO true gamer uses it....Everyone recognizes it as a PoS that only works if the stars are aligned.
And WTF is THIS statement:
"In its current state, Project Fiona is just a really thin, powerful PC with a touchscreen and console controls, which makes you wonder why Razer thinks PC gamers want to abandon the mouse and keyboard setup they appreciate so much for this portable Frankenstein."
That's exactly what it's SUPPOSED to be....It's an alternative to a laptop. And obviously you didn't even look at this or research the effing thing at all or you would know that you can plug in a mouse/keyboard as well....Can you imagine using a laptop, but with ANY KEYBOARD/MOUSE SETUP THAT YOU DESIRE?! GEE, I wonder who would want that? *cough* A true PC gamer. *cough*
Besides, this is the first Windows tablet that has a chance to be mass-produced....Why post an article crippling innovation instead of one that uplifts and shows something like this incredible device in a positive light? A post like this can only hurt Project Fiona, which Razer does not deserve at all. They have invented something that many of us have been craving for a long time and they have earned better than this.
All in all a piss-poor job on this one Joystiq. Specifically: Mike Schramm. Please inform yourself a bit more before you write such nonsensical gibberish. I'll be e-mailing this comment to Joystiq as well if I discover how.
Posted: Jan 19th 2012 3:59AM jenniferloop said
Posted: Jan 19th 2012 3:59AM jenniferloop said