Look, why can't someone get it right? As a gamer, I'm looking for a very simple device. I want it to:
- Be portable
- Have good battery life
- Use physical controls, like a gamepad
- Have an open OS and a huge selection of mobile games
- Also be able to play modern Triple-A games like you see on the XBO and PS4
- Stream games in my house such as the Wii U does
- Let me access movies, music, etc
- Plug into a TV and act as a mobile streaming box for games and video
Basically, I want
everything, and then some. Is that too much to ask? IS THAT TO MUCH TO... oh, wait a second. What's that? Such a device already exists, you say? And I can buy it with actual money, RIGHT NOW?
Tell me more!
This is the thread for discussion of the NVIDIA SHIELD portable gamepad/streamer/console/wtf!What is the Nvidia Shield?
It is many things to many people. In a nutshell, though, the Shield is a portable, Android-based gaming console. It's cutting edge hardware includes an Nvidia Tegra 4 processor that utilizes a 72-core Geforce GPU and Quad-core 1.9 GHz ARM A15 CPU. Seriously, in terms of mobile hardware, this thing is a beast. It packs the chipset along with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage (Micro SD expandable) into the gamepad you see in the picture above.
The gamepad itself is more or less a mix of the XBox and Dualshock controllers, including dual analog sticks, a D-Pad, and the traditional A-B-X-Y layout, with two trigger and two shoulder buttons on the top and rear. The clamshell-designed package pairs this gamepad with a 5" OLED 720p Touchscreen that folds down and protects the innards of the device when not in use. Also included is a pair of purportedly excellent speakers which supposedly surpass most other handheld devices, and customizable magnetic plates to change the look of the thing.
Sounds good. What can it do?
What
can't it do? The most basic function of the Shield is as a portable Android gaming device. Included is a mostly stock 4.3 Android OS, with a few UI enhancements on the front end. This means anything in the Google Play store is fair game to be installed on this device. There are a number of games that have been fully optimized for the Shield and its controller, and this library is ever growing. In addition to those games, anything else can also be played from the Android store. Games that support controllers work best, but even for those which have no third-party controller support, the Shield includes a fairly ingenious software solution called "Gamepad Mapper", which will superimpose gamepad buttons over on-screen controls. You can fully customize where these buttons will go and how they'll behave, so basically
any game can be made to work with the Shield's controller. You can even download pre-made game profiles online from people who have already made the best setup and avoid the hassle of doing it yourself.
But that's only the tip of the iceberg. One of the coolest features of the Shield is that it can stream games from your high-end gaming PC to its screen, Wii U style. If you aren't familiar with how it works, it basically handles all the heavy lifting of running the game itself on your Gaming PC taking input from your Shield controller, and then sends a low-latency video stream back out to your Shield's screen. Any PC that meets the Shield's minimum specs can stream PC games, which are: Core i3 2100 or Athlon II X4 640 or higher, and an Nvidia Geforce GTX 650 or higher. Yes, that means if you're running an AMD video card, you're out of luck. Sorry, this is an Nvidia party only, and what are you doing running an AMD system anyway, get with the times, man!*
Streaming works through the
Geforce Experience and Gamestream software. As with the Android store, there are a number of games pre-configured to work with Gamestream out of the box, such as CoD: Ghosts, Battlefield 4, Skyrim, Borderlands 2, Bioshock Infinite... there's actually quite a few, so go check out the
official list. However, since the Shield can access your Steam library, you can also play basically any game that's supported by Steam Big Picture Mode and has official controller support. From reports I've read, Gamestream works anywhere from "not bad" to "spectacularly", depending on the strength of your wireless signal. Note, as of right now, streaming only works locally to your router. Sorry, you can't play Saints Row 4 on the bus on your way to work. You can, however, play it on the toilet, just the way Johnny Gat would have wanted!
http://youtu.be/Wwinsd_2Pck
But that's not all! The Shield can also operate in Console Mode, which means that you can plug it into any old TV through HDMI, pair it up with a bluetooth gamepad, and stream your games on the big screen as you would with an Ouya or one of those other lame Android consoles that only do this one function. Pfft, that's amateur hour. The Shield just threw that in as an added bonus. Oh, and there's of course access to Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, etc ad nauseum. One cool little thing in that regard though is that, since it has a flip up screen, hands-free viewing of movies and stuff is way easier than on a tablet. Flip the screen up, set it down, and watch. No need for additional stands or using one hand to prop it up. A small but deceptively convenient feature.
Holy Crap Dookie, this thing sounds awesome! What are you gonna tell me next, that it only costs like $100 bucks or something?
You got that right! Well, actually no, I'm lying. It's a bit more expensive than that. All of this gaming goodness comes at a premium.
The Nvidia Shield will run you 299 US Dollars. No, it's not cheap. Some might even say it costs too much. And for some people, I'd say even many people, that might be true. Not everyone needs or wants a PC streaming device, or a ridiculously powerful Android handheld, or even another set-top gaming box. However, for many other people, this has everything they could want in a console and more.
What price would I be willing to pay to sit downstairs next to my wife and play Metro Last Light while she enjoys the latest episode of Top Chef? What price would I pay to secretly behead dudes in Dishonored at the same time I'm spending time with my daughter playing Mario? What price would I pay to finally play Crazy Taxi on a handheld device with full console controls again, or blast through The Conduit with an actual gamepad while sitting at the Dentist's office? I don't know about you, but yeah, I'll gladly pay $299 for this.
Can it do anything else?
Hmm, I think that's about it. Oh wait, I forgot, you can also use it to
pilot a freaking AR Drone and capture its footage directly back to the Shield.
http://youtu.be/dEgVoixIrz4
So yeah, that's pretty cool.
Alright, I'm sold. Where can I buy it?
There are a number of brick-and-mortar stores where you can pick it up, such as Gamestop, Fry's, and Microcenter. You can also get it from several online outlets. See
Nvidia's purchase page for more details.
Discuss!
Now you tell us, have you bought a Shield yet? What do you think about it? Does the PC Streaming work as well as advertised or is it hot garbage? I haven't actually picked one up yet, but plan on it soon and would love to hear some impressions.
Just a heads up,
Microcenter is also running a Black Friday deal this weekend where you can get it for $250 with a free Shield Case. That's basically $90 off. This is where I'll be purchasing mine. Or should I say, my wife will be purchasing it for me for Christmas. If other deals pop up I'll try to keep this thread updated with the latest info. If you know of any sales, post them here and I'll update as well.
FINALLY, A WARNING
In reviewing the Shield's features, you may have noticed that I neglected to mention the device's abilities to perform a certain... um,
function, related to playing older games from previous-generation consoles on it. Yes, we know about it. Yes, we realize that this might actually be the Shield's killer feature and how perfectly suited it's portability and full gamepad would be for this function.
However, NO, WE WILL NOT DISCUSS IT. As for this thread, let's keep it from getting shut down and keep away all discussion of that-which-shall-not-be-named.
Now, get Shielding! Shielded! Get Shi... whatever you know what I mean.
*Actually, I'm just ribbing you, AMD cards are great as well. But hey, it's an Nvidia product... what'd you expect?
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Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
1). Lack of titles. Android gaming hasn't taken off yet despite numerous android consoles. Titles sell consoles.
2). The specs don't matter, yet. Why develop an android game that can only be played on a tiny fraction of android devices.
3). It doesn't really do everything. The clamshell design makes it difficult to use as a tablet. I'm typing this on a nexus 7 right now. Would you be able to comfortably do so on the shield?
4). Too costly. Given that it lacks titles, has specs that don't matter, and doesn't work as a tablet the only way to justify the cost of the shield, $299, is PC streaming at this point. And that requires you spend a gazillion more dollars on a PC gaming rig that is compatable.
You are much better off buying a cheap console like this for about half as much because it is still usable as a tablet.
If it didn't have that horrible clamshell design and cost about $100 less and/or I had a high end nvidia PC I'd be all over it. Outside of the streaming the shield is mainly useful for um that other function. But the above does that too. You can't even comfortably play angry birds on the shield. Not that you'd want to but you get the point.
I could be wrong of course. Like I said, I haven't actually gotten this thing in my hands yet, but I will soon. Believe me, I will give honest impressions one way or another once I've given it a fair shake.
Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
Looks like mine will come in on Wednesday or so. I dunno yet if my wife is going to let me open it early or if I'll have to wait for Christmas, so with any luck I'll have some impressions in a week or so.
Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
Bad News: Wife isn't letting me open until Christmas.
The anticipation is going to kill me.
Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
3DS: 1650-8480-6786
Switch: SW-0653-8208-4705
Let me tell you about Demon's Souls....
I don't really know what the price points will be on the Steamboxes, but do keep in mind that this will pretty much do all the same stuff a steambox will do in terms of letting you stream to another TV in console mode. I think I read that they even just released an update that will stream it in full 1080p now.
I don't know, even if this is more expensive than the cheaper steamboxes will be, this also functions as a well equipped portable android handheld, as well as allowing you to stream off your tv and on the handheld itself. That last one is definitely going to be the biggest feature for me, assuming my home network can handle it correctly.
Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
The streaming bit is literally the only selling point for me. It's just a question of whether or not I'm going to want the streaming handheld bit to the tune of whatever the price difference may or may not be. Or if I have the patience to wait for the steam boxes.
3DS: 1650-8480-6786
Switch: SW-0653-8208-4705
I certainly wouldn't say it's the only reason to purchase one, but if you're already getting it for the PC Streaming stuff, it's a heck of a nice bonus. There are legitimately a lot of great Android games out there that will be even better on the Shield.
Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
And, after the latest Radeon announcements, I don't think I'll be picking up an nvidia card for a loooong time.
Battlenet ID: MildC#11186 - If I'm in the game, send me an invite at anytime and I'll play.
Indeed. I recently switched to nvidia after a long run with AMD and I could not be happier. Their software is just so much better.
3DS: 1650-8480-6786
Switch: SW-0653-8208-4705
Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
It really, really does. There's a neglibible framerate hit and the resulting video is really nice. Though I've only been using the manual function and not that 'save last 10-20mins' function.
3DS: 1650-8480-6786
Switch: SW-0653-8208-4705
What I also like is how the compression isn't as horribly bloated as Fraps, so the file is smaller while still being high quality. I can capture full screen (1920x1080) at 60 FPS, unlike Fraps, which just destroys my framerate. The latest patch also added sound capturing from your own mic. Previously, it would capture game sounds and other people speaking, but not your own. It's much better now. Still a beta, but I already love it.
Battlenet ID: MildC#11186 - If I'm in the game, send me an invite at anytime and I'll play.
Except the most recent update corrupted my install entirely and I didn't realize this until after I had an amazing streak in Battlefield 4 and decided for the first time in my life I should upload some gameplay footage.
Alas...
(Saints Row IV spoilers, sort of... it's just gameplay and a bit of homoeroticism near the end)
Pretty neat stuff! Now I just need a better internet connection to make actual use of it.
Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
I'll try to give more impressions later after I've had more time with it and get a decent router to really test out the game stream features. In the meantime, if anyone has any specific questions or want me to test out something, let me know.
Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
The experience is very much like the off-screen feature of the Wii U. It's perfectly responsive and looks great. Most of the time I don't notice any lag whatsoever between input and responsiveness on screen, which was critical in games like Steamworld Dig and Hotline Miami which required very fine, precise controls.
There was a firmware issue for a while where streaming was having problems, and they issued a quick fix where you could limit the gamestream to 30 fps in order to limit compression issues, and this is what I used for most of these. However, they just recently released a new update which greatly improves streaming. I was playing The Swapper last night at 60 FPS and it looked absolutely fantastic on the Shield.
I don't know if anyone is still interested in this thing like I am, and if this thread is any indication the answer to that is probably no. Still, I feel compelled to let people know that if you have the money and the hardware to run it correctly, this thing is a pretty great investment. I simply cannot stress enough how awesome it is to sit downstairs in my recliner and play a full blown triple-A game like Saints Row IV on highest graphical settings and chat with my wife while watching TV. Or how great it is to simply plug the Shield into the TV downstairs, grab a couple of controllers, and stream everything right to that TV just like I'm playing it upstairs. Or to play stuff like the Android versions of GTA San Andreas and Max Payne with full controller support and buttery smooth framerates. I'm even considering purchasing an AR Drone with my tax return money to see how well it controls with the Shield.
Overall, it's been a pretty great investment for me, and I don't think this little guy gets nearly as much credit as it deserves. If anyone has any specific questions about it, let me know and I'll be happy to post answers, pics, videos, whatever.
Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
This is one of the things I'm not too sure that the Steam Streaming beta stuff has been entirely clear about. I've read a few first impressions that weren't too great, and I'm certain that in all cases it was because they did not have the router hardware to get a smooth experience.
Overall though, once you have everything you need, it's pretty game-changing. I just really like what nvidia is doing in general with the Geforce Experience stuff overall. Even in beta, Shadowplay itself is a killer feature, and just letting the software automatically handle my driver updates and game optimizations and stuff is very convenient. The game streaming to Shield is also constantly improving. As long as they keep supporting the GFE software and making improvements, I'm solidly behind Nvidia for a long time to come.
Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
and now one of these.... hrm.. how laggy is streaming games to it?
Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
n but single band..... that cover it?
If nothing else, if you're getting one either way, just give it a shot and see how it works. Some people have said their single band router worked just fine with it, so maybe you'll have the same experience. There's actually a spreadsheet here where people have reported their experiences with different brands of routers streaming to the Shield, so if you can find yours there it might give you a good idea of what to expect. For me, the experience was not good and I had to upgrade, but you might have better luck.
Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
Battlenet ID: MildC#11186 - If I'm in the game, send me an invite at anytime and I'll play.