The NVIDIA GeForce Experience will be released in version 1.5 this week as well, bumping the number of games supported to 70 and ushering in support for the newest graphics hardware on the market with the GTX 780. This release will be the first in which the GeForce Experience is packaged with a driver, but will be retro-fit to all systems supported being released in the future – where applicable.

The GeForce Experience is now well out of beta, acting as both a user interface through which a gamer’s check and update to the newest GeForce drivers is made simple and providing a place where games can be optimized instantly.

The big deal with the GeForce Experience is the gamer’s ability to one-step optimize their game settings to the best they can be given their computer’s abilities. This system is made for two kinds of people playing games:

1. Users who know what some of the setting available to them are, but not the whole lot, and want to optimize their gaming experience.

2. Users who want to optimize their gaming experience and have no idea what the vast majority of the settings are – or mean – in each game.

For each of the 70 games optimized uniquely by NVIDIA graphics and performance specialists, maximizing image quality “while maintaining great performance” is literally as easy as clicking the button “optimize.”

NVIDIA has also let it be known that they’ll be releasing new features for the GeForce Experience later this summer, one of them being Optimal Playable Settings (OPS) Customization – this means you’ll be able to bump up a setting here, knock another down here, and the system will compensate and act accordingly. More than just “this is best” will be available to you once this customization feature is released.

This summer users will also see support for NVIDIA SHIELD. This little mobile device will have its own connection on your PC, rather than having its own Android application, this allowing you to optimize the full-powered network-streamed games it’s capable of playing straight from the source – but optimized for SHIELD. Further details surrounding unique SHIELD options will be coming soon.

Finally there’s ShadowPlay, another “later this summer” update. This release is essentially “TIVO for games”, as one NVIDIA representative puts it, allowing you to record video of your system constantly and select segments you’d like to save. ShadowPlay will use Kepler graphics driver technology to record 20 minute segments at a time, allowing you to keep what you want and toss the rest – all through the GeForce Experience.

The device formerly known as Project SHIELD will be coming from the same set of retail partners as it was when its first availability was announced before Google I/O. This change of heart affects each of the set: NVIDIA’s pre-order page, Newegg, and Gamestop in the USA and Canada Computer in the Great White North. It’s just Micro Center that’s not got a pre-order page prepared at the moment – they’ll be going live inside the next few days.

SHIELD retains its specifications outlined in detail earlier this week, it being an NVIDIA Tegra 4 quad-core processor-powered gaming Android clamshell-style gaming handheld device made for both local and streaming game content. Utilizing the Tegra 4′s 72 GPU cores for graphics prowess, this machine is being marketed as both the highest-powered Android gaming device on the market while it brings streaming PC gaming at the same time.

It’s important to note, mind you, that the PC gaming streaming abilities SHIELD employs will not be launched in their full, finalized form when the device ships. Instead, NVIDIA suggests that this part of the equation will remain in Beta for an unspecified amount of time – but not so long that we imagine users will be freaking out.

Have a peek at the PC streaming abilities of this device as well as some Android gaming above in a couple of SlashGear’s several hands-on demos with this device as it inches closer to a final release. Expect shipping to take place sooner than later.

So not only are we testing the camera capabilities of these three devices, but you’ll also get an exclusive look at NVIDIA‘s Android game-console doubling as a remote as it controls and flies the Parrot AR Drone. Talk about gadget overload. There’s a lot of different needs that come to mind when someone decides on a smartphone or camera, and here we’ll be showing three different options, as well as their pros and cons.

Obviously with the HTC One you’ll get full 1080p video capture using their Ultrapixel camera one the smartphone. Which is an experience that these days everyone is pretty familiar with. Flip on the camera and aim your smartphone at the subject. This is convenient, but then this is also where Google Glass just takes things up a notch. You’ll enjoy nearly the same video experience, only completely hands-free. Everyone has mixed feelings about Google Glass, but being able to record demo videos for you guys, hands-on video, unboxings and more without a tripod and just using Glass is quite nice.

Google Glass in a way has opened up an entire new experience and way we easily and quickly record video. Yes you can attach a GoPro to your chest, but this is different. Below you’ll see three videos. The first being a quick demo of the NVIDIA SHIELD recorded by Google Glass. The second will be with the HTC One. Then the third will be a back-and-forth video in a different setting comparing Glass to something like the Olympus OM-D camera.

Google Glass 720p video capture

As mentioned above, the simple and hands-free experience using Glass is nice, but you’ll instantly notice the video is a little jerky at times. Here’s where there are both pros and cons. Glass video is hands-free, easy to do, and convenient but you’ll have to learn to hold that head of yours still. It takes some getting use to, and you might want to use hand gestures instead of turning your head, or moving it at all.

Then with Glass you only get 720p video capture on that 5 megapixel lens, but the quality is pretty excellent. You’ll also notice just how wide the video is compared to the HTC One video below. Pay attention to colors, brightness, and even audio levels.

HTC One 720p video capture

To be fair we recorded this on 720p as well, just like Glass, and right away you’ll notice the stability. Some image stabilization could help Glass, but it will only do so much. In general we’re all familiar with recording video through our phones, and as a result, the end product is clear, crisp, and not all over the place. The HTC One video capture handled the changing light outdoors better, and overall the colors and contrast we’re pretty even. You will however notice the audio capture on Glass wasn’t very good, and it was much clearer from the HTC One.

Last but not least the third video we wanted to toss in for good measure has the Olympus OM-D E-M5 camera capturing some moments with NVIDIA SHIELD, then it switches to Google Glass. This might be harder to follow, but we had our head and Glass on NVIDIA as they explained SHIELD, then our Olympus OM-D on the product. So each time you see SHIELD it’s through a dedicated camera, and the rest is shot with Google Glass.

While this last video isn’t quite something you can “compare” it does however show you another set of options and opportunity with Glass. Being able to record the same situation and demo simultaneously, without having 3 arms. There’s obviously advantages and disadvantages from each, but we wanted to give you the video and let you decide.

Does the loss of 1080p capture and slightly lower audio quality throw you off, or does the convenience and endless opportunity to record with Glass make it worth the trade off? You won’t all be recording with two devices, but what about the Father holding a child in one hand, yet still capturing his daughters soccer game at the same time? That is just one example, but a good one.

Okay, okay, just get a tripod and shoot video with that Olympus instead. Like we said, pros and cons. Since Glass isn’t evenly remotely close to being consumer ready, we won’t talk about price, but that will obviously be another factor later on. So what do you guys think about it. Does the opportunity and ease of recording with Glass give it a leg up on cameras and smartphones? Not to mention you can do it all by voice, or will you still opt for a dedicated camera? These are just a few small examples of the many, but we wanted to share it with you all. Let us know what you think in the comments below.

If you’ve been following email updates about Project SHIELD straight from NVIDIA before today, you’re in luck. Those signed up with the company as a gamer interested in the product as an early adopter will be given the first shot at the device.

A shot at ordering SHIELD as a pre-order, that is. The device itself will be the same, but these earliest pre-orders will be filled first – of that you can be sure.

Hardware

At the head of this device is the NVIDIA Tegra 4 quad-core A15 CPU with custom 72 code GeForce GPU. That’s a mouthful, and we’re certainly not going to try to explain the full ins and outs of it here. Instead you’ll want to head over to the SlashGear 101: NVIDIA Tegra 4 in detail post we’ve prepared for an occasion just like this. In short: it’s got so much graphics power it’ll be good to go for years to come.

SHIELD works with a 5-inch 720p multi-touch display which flips-up from its hardware controller body. In this shell-opening form-factor, this device allows the user a gaming experience only otherwise given in part by 3rd-party accessories attached to smartphones. With NVIDIA’s solution, the display is made specifically for this setup, while the controls, sound system, and form factor are all made with one final single product in mind.

With SHIELD, users will be working with integrated speakers – both a left and a right – along with two tuned ports for high-end bass response. Each time we’ve handled this machine thus far, the sound has been full and deep, with the ability to get loud enough that it’s necessary to pull the volume back. Don’t want to wake up the upstairs neighbors, after all.

NVIDIA has let it be known that the device has seen a few – not many, but some – changes between its reveal and its final form, that being the one we’re having another look at here today. The device has had a tiny bit of weight added since CES 2013 several months ago – welcome, in this case, as this adjustment allows the device to feel the correct amount of substantial in a user’s hands. The device remains largely plastic, but certainly looks and feels like a high-end product, as it should.

SHIELD will be available for a retail price of $349 USD right out of the gate. This price remains the same no matter how or through whom you’ll be ordering it. Orders will be done through NVIDIA’s own website and through NewEgg and Micro Center here in the USA. Canadian gamers will be able to pick the device up at Canada Computers as well.

Android / TegraZone Games

The device will be delivered with a couple games installed, NVIDIA’s own game portal TegraZone – and that’s it. This delivery essentially counts as a vanilla build of Android Jelly Bean, allowing users to work with as simple and recognizable – and customizable – an experience as possible.

Five new games have been promised for SHIELD and its high-powered processor backing up Android, each of them coming to Android here for the first time. Double Fine will be bringing the games Broken Age and Costume Quest. Broken Age is an epic fantasy tale set in the clouds with flying ships, computers, and oddities galore. Costume Quest is a game that’s appeared on Windows PCs, PlayStation 3, OS X, Linux, and the Xbox in the past, coming to Android for the first time here to show the power of NVIDIA’s Tegra 4 processor.

Above: SHIELD at CES 2013 hands-on with Android gaming (Hawken, specifically).

Flyhunter: Origins is a new Android game coming to SHIELD from the developers at Steel Wool Games. This game will deliver not only a strange miniature storyline, but high-class art as well – NVIDIA has specifically pointed out the lovely artistic abilities of the development group behind this game – bright and pretty!

Dedalord Games will be bringing Skiing Fred with a full free-movement system that will be entirely unique to SHIELD. Don’t get caught in the drift! Developers at Niffler will be bringing Chuck’s Challenge to life on SHIELD as a 3D puzzle game that allows users to create their own levels and share with friends.

Two high-powered Android games will be installed on the device out of the box: Sonic 4 Episode II and Expendable: Rearmed. We’ve had our own hands-on look at Sonic 4 Episode II back a few months ago in all its full super-speed glory while Expandable: Rearmed makes with the massive amounts of firepower.

PC Connectivity with GeForce game streaming / Steam

Valve has joined the party as well for this device’s PC connection. As SHIELD is made to bridge the gap between PC and mobile gaming on Android, Valve’s own Steam gaming experience will be in play. Though GeForce game streaming will be launching as a beta feature, we’ve seen it in action more than once, and it looks pretty rad.

Users will need their own compatible PC and a WiFi network they can connect with to make any and all desktop gaming a reality on SHIELD, Steam included. Once this connection is made, Steam’s Big Picture Mode is the user interface that SHIELD will use. With a healthy handful of PC games (20 games at first, we’re told) optimized and prepared for this cross-device compatibility at launch, user’s should have no problem finding a good title for which to game from their couch.

Controls for these games will be automatically fitted to SHIELD’s own, allowing gamers to, for example, break into Borderlands 2 the first time they open it with the device. This set of games is not a limit for the device, of course, as SHIELD’s controls are able to be fit to any game that’d otherwise be able to work with a controller connecting to your PC with, for example, a USB or Bluetooth connection.

Development

NVIDIA’s SHIELD device will have more details revealed over the next few weeks, and of course the GeForce game streaming bit of this amalgamation will see mighty changes in the near future, but the main bulk of the device and its features are here. This device is a market-ready machine, and in it we’ll be seeing the NVIDIA Tegra 4 in action out in the wild for the first time.

Have a peek at the brief timeline of SHIELD items we’ve collected in the recent past and hit SlashGear’s Tegra hub for more information on NVIDIA’s mobile universe. SlashGear’s Project SHIELD tag portal will also serve to give you an exploratory look at the demonstrations and details that have emerged prior to today, as well.

With SHIELD, two accessories will be available straight from the get-go. The first of these is a Carrying Case that’s hard-packed around the edges to protect the device you’re carrying from any basic harm. This case is custom molded to SHIELD, has a lovely SHIELD name-plate, and is black with green accents.

This carrying case works with a USB port on its back so the user can keep SHIELD plugged in while the case is closed to power up whist on the go. This case also has a strap to hold at the gamers’ side. This case will be available for $39.99 USD in June when SHIELD launches.

Also coming at the same time SHIELD is available are a couple of custom lids. The top of SHIELD is a customizable, replaceable unit called a lid. Custom lids will be available for $19.99 each and, at launch, users will be able to grab a glossy black lid or a carbon fiber lid, these replacing the standard silver that comes with the device.

SHIELD itself has been detailed in its final form and prepared for pre-orders and the like this week along with its accessories. Right in the midst of Google I/O 2013, NVIDIA has revealed launch details along with a push specifically for those most interested in joining the SHIELD party in its first release wave.

We’re just days away from Google I/O 2013, this heralding the introduction of new services from the source of Android, if not new products as well. As such, it’s no surprise that companies like NVIDIA are preparing for the storm of excitement with announcements of their own, starting right here with a peek at the production of the device they introduced to the world earlier this year.

What you’re seeing above is a mold used to create the final casing for Project SHIELD as it exists today. As this mold is being presented by NVIDIA as a finished part of this puzzle, we can only assume that the final product is well on its way.

According to NVIDIA, the casing for Project SHIELD is made starting with an injection of polycarbonate material into the the RHCM (Rapid Heat Cycle Molding) tool you see above. This is done at a terrifying 10,800 PSI and 300 degrees Celsius, says NVIDIA, while the mixture is made up of 90% Sabic 500ECR-739 PC and 10% glass. That’s a mixture that’s rough and tough yet lightweight for easy carrying.

This device retains much if not the entirety of the look it did when we first saw it back at CES 2013. There it also had a set of specifications that have stuck – a 5-inch 720p HD touchscreen display, NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor inside, and connectivity with the user’s GeForce GTX-toting gaming PC at home over their wireless network for full-sized PC gaming in a hand-held package.

The NVIDIA Project SHIELD device is the first all-NVIDIA-made mobile device the company has ever made. It’ll be sold by NVIDIA straight to consumers and will be found in retailers across the United States by the end of the year – and likely much sooner than that. Have a peek at SlashGear’s Project SHIELD tag portal for more demonstrations with this device and stick around for more action in the near future as well!

This update to the Parrot AR.Drone user experience will bring on hardware controls to Android, this being what we can expect as the cross-over to similar Bluetooth-friendly controls in the near future as well. With Project SHIELD, users will end up being able to work with a bit more of a unique experience with the unobstructed display not offered on any other platform. If you work with the Parrot AR.Drone on your smartphone, your controls are on-screen.

With Project SHIELD, you’re able to utilize this quadcopters on-board camera with Project SHIELD’s 5-inch display, allowing you to feel much more like you’re onboard the flying machine with physical controls outside your camera view. This demonstration by NVIDIA points toward a unqiue app update for Project SHIELD by Parrot in the near future.

Have a peek at the timeline below to see more information on NVIDIA’s Project SHIELD and make sure you’re tuned to SlashGear’s Tegra Hub for an expanded view of what the processor inside this device is capable of. We’ll have more information on Project SHIELD in regards to release time and price in the near future – stay tuned!

The game you’re seeing here will be available on the Google Play app store as well as the TegraZone for Tegra-toting smartphones and tablets rather soon. For now you’ll be seeing the highest-powered version of the title on the machine we’re also not going to have in our hands for several months. You’ll be battling it out with battlefield tactics on a wide playing field with a set of controls that, on other devices, will only be available on-screen.

Here you’re able to use essentially every control button on the Project SHIELD hardware, those being the ABXY buttons, joysticks, directional pad, and four buttons near your pointer fingers. Triggers, in other words. You’ve got the touchscreen up front as well to change the direction in which you’re viewing the ground.

You’ll be running through randomly generated missions with randomized objectives on the fly – this game is everything you’ll have wanted as a big fan of the PC-bound Arma titles of the past. Here on Android you’ll be getting as close to possible without the full streaming connection to Arma’s PC titles.

Have a peek at the timeline below to see additional Project Shield hands-on bits and pieces from the past few months and get pumped up about the final drop!

[via NVIDIA]

What you’re having a peek at here is not a future game that’ll only be coming to Project SHIELD, nor is it a game that’s relegated to processors that haven’t been released yet – The Conduit HD is already on the Google Play app store right now! But here’s what you need to look out for in this demo – keep an eye on how fantastic this game looks on Project SHIELD, then try it out on whatever smartphone or tablet you’ve got right this minute. Let us know how it goes!

With Project SHIELD, this game comes alive with what NVIDIA says are “nearly endless customization options”. As you decide where each of your controls is mapped to the hardware on Project SHIELD, so too will you become more skilled at ending the lives of your opponents. This game was originally launched (in a lesser iteration) on the first Nintendo Wii, and it’s been optimized by its developers in collaboration with the NVIDIA developer team for placement on the NVIDIA TegraZone.

For those of you that follow the NVIDIA TegraZone releases like a hawk, you’ll know that this game has been out for a little over a week. We’ve got our own hands-on review of The Conduit HD if you care to take a peek right this minute as well! Once you’ve seen this game played on the ASUS-made Google Nexus 7 tablet, you’ll have a little bit of an idea how the NVIDIA Tegra 3 (inside this tablet) will be trumped by the NVIDIA Tegra 4 (inside Project SHIELD).

Have a peek at the Project SHIELD timeline below as well for more information on this groundbreaking system. Coming soon to a market near you!

The demo you’re seeing here shows one of two different types of futuristic gaming action you’ll be able to experience on Project SHIELD. While you’ll also be able to do streaming gaming from your GeForce-toting PC on your own wireless network, this demonstration is working with pure Android. This game will be released by the time the Project SHIELD hardware becomes available – soon and very soon!

According to NVIDIA, a collection of Tegra 4-specific features are appearing here in addition to the hot-powered action you’ll get outside of the NVIDIA environment. While you’ll be rolling hardest with this game on Tegra 4-toting smart devices, as with the original Riptide GP, you’ll still be able to (eventually) rock and roll with this game on most Android devices. Of course with a Tegra 4 processor you’ll be getting the best of the best!

• Full 3rd Party Controller Support
• Enhanced Water and Particle Effects
• HDR Lighting
• Boosted Reflection Shaders
• All-New Spectator Mode with Project SHIELD

So get pumped up – and have a peek a the timeline below for additional demonstrations of the hardcore power of Project SHIELD as well!

[via NVIDIA]

Burn Zombie Burn is a survival game where you fight endless waves of zombies, with each wave (of course) being harder than the previous. The goal is to reach the highest score you possibly can. You have a hefty arsenal of weapons that you can use to take out the hordes of zombies. From bats to machines guns to chainsaws to nukes, you have all the firepower you need to ensure your self-preservation.

NVIDIA’s Project SHIELD is NVIDIA’s own portable, Android gaming device running on their latest-gen processor, the Tegra 4. Project SHIELD is capable of running PC-quality like games and is set to revolutionize the mobile gaming industry. It was one of the highlights of the Consumer Electronic Show this year, and it has many people anticipating its Q2 launch. The device features a 5-inch LCD display and promises around 5-10 hours of gameplay per charge. The screen is attached to a console-like gamepad that should make gameplay feel more easier and familiar. Project SHIELD’s UI runs on Android Jelly Bean and there’s a ‘Tegra’ button on the physical controller that will bring you to your games menu.

Burn Zombie Burn is an intriguing title and one that should keep you entertained for hours. One thing that’s pretty noticeable is the FPS lag that happens occasionally during the gameplay demo. Hopefully NVIDIA or Tick Tock Games figures out the reasoning behind that before they officially launch the game. We don’t have an official release date, or the official pricing on the Project SHIELD, but we’ll let you know as soon as we do. For the latest news on NVIDIA, check out our NVIDIA Tegra Hub.

[via Android Community]

Currently available release aside, the latest Android related Project SHIELD teaser is for Zombie Driver and we are given a brief look at the game running and we have learned that it will be given a “full HD over haul” that will bring “a ton of mind-blowing optimizations.” Given the current release is pretty solid on the Nexus 7, we are more than a bit excited to play this when it becomes available with Project SHIELD.

Otherwise, details of the Tegra 4 optimizations include teasers such as how it will contain “real-time dynamic lighting, per-pixel shading with custom per-material specular masks, custom blood splatter and double the zombies.” Again, this does nothing other than make us want to play now. But alas, we must wait for Project SHIELD to come available.

While we wait, make sure to checkout the demo video (embed above) where they not only show a bit of game play on Project SHIELD, but also give a side-by-side look at the non-Tegra 4 version as compared to the Tegra 4 optimized version. Bottom line, while both look (and play) pretty nice, the Tegra 4 optimized version of Zombie Driver looks that much nicer.

[via NVIDIA Blog]

From N3V Games, Dead Arrival 2 features an array of custom weapons, including a minigun and rocket launcher, wrapped up in an industrial series of maps filled with snares and zombies. The game is played from a birds-eye perspective that looks similar to the Dead Ops Arcade map on Black Ops. The graphics have been ramped up for SHIELD’s ultra-powerful hardware.

The upgrades for the Tegra 4 become more apparent when the enhancements are shut off via a toggle on the device, which is showcased in the video above. Dead Arrival 2 features dynamic shadows that transform realistically as the player moves, rather than the typical “baked-in” shadows often seen on mobile games.

Other enhancements include physics added to items such as crates, which can be impacted by the player (shot with a rocket, for example), as well as realistic gore when zombies are annihilated. Because no zombie game would be complete without it, there’s also a multi-player mode, which allows gamers to play with other gamers online, or with other Shield-owning friends from the comfort of their own living room.

[via NVIDIA]

The NVIDIA Project SHIELD device you’re seeing here consists of an amalgamation of gaming excellence, including soft plastic grips, a lovely high definition display, and an NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor under the hood. The whole device runs with Android for high-powered mobile games and has the ability to stream games from a computer in your home network wirelessly – GeForce GTX to the rescue!

This is just one of several games that’ll be optimized for play between your NVIDIA GeForce-toting computer and Project SHIELD. While thus far NVIDIA has been focusing on games that can be streamed via Valve’s Steam, today the focus is EA Games. The connection today is made with Need For Speed: Most Wanted, but as our NVIDIA host reminds us, Battlefield 3 will also work right out of the box. Each of these games works with a pre-set mapping of controls to the NVIDIA Project SHIELD device, allowing you to jump right in without a hiccup.

With Project SHIELD packed with an NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor, you know you’ve got an undeniable 72-core GPU under the hood. When you’re working with a game streamed from your PC, you’re also using the graphics processing power of your GeForce GPU. In this case the computer does “all the heavy lifting” as NVIDIA’s Will Park notes, allowing you to work with the game at its full-on usability and graphics potential.

Have a peek at the timeline below for additional insight into this beast of a device and gaming environment as it all unfolds through the future – right here on SlashGear. Along with it, be sure to head to our NVIDIA Tegra hub for more Tegra than your eyes can handle!

Real Boxing has been built from the ground up specifically to take advantage of the Shield’s quad-core Tegra 4 processor and 72-core GeForce GPU. According to NVIDIA, users get higher poly count and animations, true depth of field, and enhanced textures. The game is played out in career mode, with several different boxers to choose from. You can check out the game play in the video below.

There are a total of 20 opponents to fight against, each one of them designed with their own fighting styles, strengths, and weakness. The boxers were modeled after real boxers to give the game realistic movements. The character gamers choose can be customized via mini games that earn points and take the gamer through various bought of training, such as heavy bag work and speed bag sessions.

This is the first of weekly Android Thursday demos, which complement its PC Monday videos, which started earlier this month. On February 4, we saw Borderlands 2 demoed on the device via live streaming from a PC over an ordinary wifi network as the first of its Project SHIELD PC Mondays video series.

[via NVIDIA]

The Project SHIELD device you see here will be coming to you later this year straight from NVIDIA with very few changes between here and there – with the name being the first and perhaps largest update of the bunch. From what we’ve heard about this device thus far, it’s only the final name and a set of tweaks that need to be done to the hardware that stand between this device and its final release build. Then it’ll be the first consumer mobile smart device created by and branded straight up NVIDIA, top to bottom!

What you’re seeing here is the device running Android, but streaming Borderlands 2 from a PC over a wireless network. This is the first of a series of NVIDIA’s “Project SHIELD PC Mondays” in which you’ll see the machine busting out with PC power with great ease. The stream you’re seeing here is happening in real time, with the display of the computer in the background showing how instantaneously you’re getting not just the graphics, but the gameplay as well.

This streaming action also includes the highest graphics settings you’ve worked with on your PC as well. This is no “tune it down so you can stream” sort of situation. You’ll be working with the NVIDIA GeForce Experience to optimize your gameplay for your PC, then Project SHIELD will work with that top-notch experience. Hot stuff!

Have a peek at the timeline below to see all the NVIDIA Project SHIELD action you can handle right here on SlashGear, and check out our Tegra Hub for an NVIDIA overdose – graphics and processing power and mobile gaming, oh my!

Another major difference between the NVIDIA solution and what Splashtop is offering up here is the price – while no pricing exists for Project SHIELD, we must assume they’ll be dropping one single price, one time. Here with the Splashtop Shortcuts and Gamepads app you’ll be paying $0.99 USD once and $9.99 USD a year for a subscription to the service. This app will be available for download starting on the 1st of February, 2013.

The primary use case for this app is being demonstrated in a set of games with pre-made profiles. You’ll have game profiles for World of Warcraft, Diablo III, and ProEvolution Soccer 2012 right out of the box, connecting you to the action with a series of controls on the surface of your tablet and connecting you to your PC wirelessly with ease. You’ll also be able to create customized virtual joy sticks and buttons galore for each game you want to play.

You’ll also be working with customized shortcuts of your own creation as well as mouse controls – with every version of Android 4.0 and up you’ve got built-in mouse functionality, mind you, and that’ll be working with Splashtop here as well. This app will be released with built-in productivity profiles for a series of applications like Windows Media Player, QuickTime Player, web browsers of several different types, and Microsoft Office. Mac OS X and Windows 8 will also have their own unique profiles.

Have a peek at the demonstration video above and let us know if this seems like a solution you’ll be trying out this year. Also be sure to keep in mind that the $9.99 a year subscription is mandatory for all functionality in the Configurable Shortcuts and Gamepads app and that you’ll need to be using SplashTop 2 to make everything a reality.

When we were introduced to Project SHIELD at NVIDIA’s press conference during CES, the company’s CEO Jen-Hsun Huang prefaced the situation with assurances on the future: “Next-generation gamers play literally on whatever they can, whenever they can. Just like we enjoy movies on multiple screens, just like we listen to music on multiple devices.” Though the delivery couldn’t have been as powerful as the initial reveal of the iPod, a revolutionary device for the music industry (referenced in the conference earlier as such), NVIDIA intended and intends to push Project SHIELD as a revolutionary device for the gaming industry.

We had a chat with Nick Stam, Technical Marketing Director for NVIDIA (as you’ll see above), in which we were told that not only is Project SHIELD a real project, but it’ll be coming to the market in the second quarter of 2013 as an NVIDIA-branded piece of equipment. Though the idea of creating a bridge between large hardware (PC and console) and small hardware (mobile) gaming may be more significant than the actual SHIELD device, the device is being prepared for a real release.

“What you’re seeing here is a Beta version that we’re showing at CES – and there may be some modifications to the physical design elements, some of the software elements, but our plan is to ship this Project SHIELD under an official marketing name in Q2. That’s our plan: in Q2 2013 in retail. So in retail and e-tail, with an NVIDIA name.” – Stam

NVIDIA has appeared in the news essentially the same amount of times for its mobile processor business as it has for its high-powered computing components over the past year. As we see them tie the two together with SHIELD as well as NVIDIA GRID for cloud-based gaming companies and NVIDIA GeForce Experience for high-powered gaming optimization, the circle can be made complete. With the continuation of NVIDIA’s rather successful GeForce GPU lineup and the new Tegra 4 mobile processor (also just revealed this past week) as well, NVIDIA has created a new ecosystem for themselves.

You’ll need GeForce GPU power to stream games from your PC to your Project SHIELD device, and though any number of games will work on the device from the Google Play market for Android, NVIDIA’s Tegra Zone will surely be the place where you’ll find the best of the best, optimized for the Tegra 4 processor you’ve got under the hood, made perfect for the physical controls you’ve got in front of you.

It’s difficult to say how much of an impact this device will have in and of itself as far as sales go – certainly not until we see the price, at least. The confidence with which NVIDIA presents this device as a knot that ties together its two major product lines – PC and mobile – that’s what will have the biggest effect on their future. No other company made such a unique product ecosystem presentation at CES 2013.

While that’s impressive enough, it gets even better: Project SHIELD won’t just play Android games, but is also capable of streaming games over Wi-Fi from a computer outfitted with a GeForce GPU. During our hands-on time with the device, we got to see it streaming Black Ops II to its 5-inch 720p screen, so there’s certainly plenty to look forward to with this new device. The streaming functionality makes a good segway to another major announcement from the company – NVIDIA GRID.

With NVIDIA GRID, we’re seeing NVIDIA enter the cloud gaming space, outfitting its server racks with enough GeForce GPUs to supposedly match the power of 700 Xbox 360s. A number of key players have failed or otherwise stalled out in the cloud gaming space, so it’ll be interesting to see if NVIDIA can excel. The company also gave us more details about GeForce Experience, which will do its best to optimize your graphics settings so that games run as good as they can on your rig.

Of course, the show wasn’t only about NVIDIA. The company made a lot of major gaming announcements – that much is true – but it had quite a bit of competition for gamers’ attention. Razer had its Project Fiona tablet on hand at the show, only now it’s been renamed the Razer Edge. Making use of Intel’s third-gen Core line of processors (with one configuration even sporting a Core i7) and an NVIDIA GT640M LE GPU, this tablet definitely has some stellar hardware. It will also have a number of accessories available separately, including a detachable controller dock, keyboard dock, 360-esque gamepad, and docking station that has all the ports you need to turn your Edge into a mini gaming desktop.

As you might imagine, we found during our hands-on time that playing games on the Razer Edge is a blast, and seeing triple-A retail titles like Dishonored running on it at excellent frame rates certainly was exciting. It seems safe to say that if the Edge catches on with gamers, then we can look forward to a whole new era in mobile gaming.

Archos was at the show, and though it had a number of different devices on display, one of the more intriguing products was its GamePad. The Archos GamePad is another tablet made specifically for gamers, though it comes with a far less expensive price tag than the Razer Edge. As one of the only Android tablets to provide physical face buttons, this makes the tablet a prime choice for people who like enjoy games but hate touchscreen controls. In our hands-on, we said that though you’ll have to map the physical controls for a fair number of Android games, the process seems pretty easy, and should keep the downtime between downloading and gaming short.

Right before Pepcom kicked off, we heard that Xi3 and Valve would be showing off a new product. Xi3 was there in force at Pepcom, showing off its brand new 7 series modular computer, and while we made a few guesses at what Valve would be using it for, in the end it turned out that we were wrong. It would appear that Valve has invested heavily in Xi3′s modular computer to offer set-top “Steam boxes,” meant for gaming and streaming content, so we’ll be keeping and eye on that.

Switching gears completely to move from hardware to peripherals, there were two companies in particular that were showing off new gaming mice. One was Genius, which let us get a little hands-on time in with its relatively new Gila mouse. The Gila comes with a number of accessibility options, letting users program any of the twelve buttons and featuring highly adjustable dpi settings.

Mad Catz is not one to be outdone, however, giving us a look at its new R.A.T.M and M.O.U.S.9 mice. If you’re a serious PC gamer, these mice seem to be aimed directly at you. Both mice are quite similar, with the M.O.U.S.9 being just a bit bigger than its brother. Both have very unique designs as far as gaming mice go, with buttons everywhere on the pair. They each can supposedly boast one year of battery life as well, so that’s something to get stoked about if you’re always on your gaming PC.

In the end, this was actually a pretty big year for gaming at CES. All of the stuff we saw during the show will of course being popping up more and more as the year goes on, and we’re hoping that we’ll get the chance to spend much more time with Project SHIELD, the Razer Edge, and the Archos GamePad soon. Keep it here to SlashGear for more information on all of these cool devices, and in the meantime, be sure to check out our CES portal for our full show coverage.

We were there reporting on it live as it all unfolded before our eyes, but if you’d like to experience the whole thing for yourself, then you’ll be pleased to know that fine folks at NVIDIA have popped it up online for everyone to watch. If you’re a fan of NVIDIA or even gaming in general, this might be a good press conference to check out, as NVIDIA has a lot of cool things coming down the the pipeline. Of course, you’re bound to see a stumble or two during the conference as well, so there’s another reason for you to watch.

NVIDIA has put the entire press conference up on Twitch.tv, so head over there if you’d like to give it a watch. At one hour and 48 minutes long, though, it’s certainly one of the more lengthy conferences we’ve seen here at CES, so you might want to make some popcorn or put on your comfy pants before firing this one up. At any rate, get ready to watch a number of very exciting announcements.

We’ll hopefully be getting our hands on some of these new NVIDIA products and services really soon, at which time we’ll be able to better judge the claims NVIDIA made throughout its press conference. We’ll be able to take a much more in-depth look later on, but for now, be sure to have a look at our hands-on with the Project SHIELD to see some early impressions. All of news from the show can also be found at our CES portal, so stop by there while you’re at it!

“The business model that stems from [selling direct] means we’ll make our money by selling the device to gamers. (And we hope, by the way, that they’ll love it.)” Tamasi said. “This differs from the razors-and-razor blades approach, which isn’t just used by Gillette and Schick. Printer-companies use it, as well, making money from highly profitable ink. So do game-console companies, who primarily make their profit from premium games. This time-honored approach isn’t the one we’re taking with Project SHIELD.”

NVIDIA Project SHIELD hands-on:

Android games are often free-to-play, supported either with in-app advertising or purchases. As Tamasi also points out, gamers will be able to stream their desktop titles to Project SHIELD. “We want to help game developers keep you happily entertained with the magic that they dream up” the NVIDIA exec concludes. “We’re not looking to create a walled garden of software, even if it sprouts some gorgeous games.”

From our early play with Project SHIELD that streaming process works well – assuming you have sufficient bandwidth. NVIDIA showed us Call of Duty: Black Ops II from a GeForce-equipped PC, which streamed smoothly, albeit  in the same room and over 802.11n 2×2 MIMO WiFi.

Avoiding the hassle of creating an ecosystem of its own is a solid approach; even Sony, with its legacy PlayStation titles, has struggled to gain traction with the PlayStation Store on Android. NVIDIA also has its existing TegraZone brand, which corrals together third-party titles particularly fettled to suit the company’s Tegra chipsets, which it can leverage on Project SHIELD.

Check out our full hands-on with Project SHIELD for more details.

As we spoke about in the initial announcement last night, NVIDIA intends this device to be not only a key device for accessing their NVIDIA Tegra Zone for Android, but to stream games from GeForce GPU-toting PCs as well. NVIDIA assured us today that until the data connectivity ecosystem is strong enough here in the USA, this machine will be streaming games from PCs only over a local area network. That said, it certainly can roll out with undeniable power completely wirelessly – over wi-fi, that is.

It was also made clear to us that developments still may be made before the final product would be launched – both in its software and its hardware. At the moment it’s clear that NVIDIA has the structure ready for prime time, there’s simply a few kinks to iron out as far as which situation requires what action: certainly forgivable given the fact that they’ve targeted Q2 of 2013 for the release – that being still relatively far off and plenty of time for software bug fixes.

The hardware, on the other hand, is extremely close to being complete. While there could be changes to the level of hardness with which the buttons need to be pressed as well as the materials that the casing will be made of, this beast is essentially ready for action. One important point of order for controller aficionados: the now-hard-plastic surrounding the left, right and front of the machine will likely be replaced by a softer plastic in the future – so says NVIDIA. Grippier plastic for a more controlled action experience.

The speakers on this machine are immense in their ability to blast your ears off. I was personally unable to play a game without turning the sound down somewhat – it can get too loud. That’s not to say that the sound is bad – not at all – in fact the sound is both full and deep, ready to be used on its own without a doubt. Another point of order: while most built-in speakers on devices like these working with heavy bass have a bit of a problem rumbling around on a flat surface, this machine’s audio system is set in a way that keeps it still. High fidelity and a controlled experience, top to bottom.

We saw the game HAWKEN in its newest state: Android-based and as high powered as we’ve seen it played on the PC. It seems every bit as immense here on this 5-inch 720p display as it does on the big screen, and from what we’ve experienced, this Android version is going to turn the mobile gaming world on its ear – in the mech universe, at least.

We also saw some awesome PC-streamed gaming with Call of Duty: Black Ops II from a GeForce-packing PC in the same room with this machine’s 802.11n 2×2 MIMO “game-speed” Wi-Fi. From what we’ve seen, game streaming from a GeForce-powered PC to Project SHIELD works flawlessly. Once you’re in-game, that is. By the time this device is released, we’re expecting an undeniably smooth experience start to finish.

Have a peek at the photos and videos above and below and let us know what you think about the device and the future ecosystem NVIDIA is building around it. Also be sure to tune in to our Tegra hub for all the NVIDIA action you can handle through the future!

BONUS: Hit the gallery below for larger versions of all of the photos above. Get up close and personal with this lovely new piece of hardware!

At its heart is Tegra 4, the freshly-announced fourth-gen chipset which NVIDIA expects to dominate Android phones and tablets in the coming months. In a head-to-head test on-stage yesterday, NVIDIA showed how Tegra 4 could load 25 unique, full websites in 27 seconds, versus the Exynos-powered quadcore Nexus 10 which took 50 seconds to do the same.

That’s thanks to 72 GPU cores and four A15 CPU cores, along with NVIDIA’s work on pulling all those engines together to squeeze the best out of the chipset. Tegra 4 also includes some potent real-time image processing, which could make for interesting augmented reality type games when Project SHIELD is out in the wild.

Where Project SHIELD gets interesting – and maybe shaky – is in remote play. Rather than solely relying on Android games, the handheld can wirelessly stream games from your PC or notebook. That requires a specific set of hardware components, however, most notably an Intel Core i5 or above processor, and one of NVIDIA’s beefier GeForce graphics chips.

However, there’s also support for NVIDIA GRID, for cloud gaming. The chip company didn’t say whether that will entirely free up gamers from having to leave their PC on permanently, on the off-chance they might want to play a game; instead, it focused on the STEAM integration and positioned GRID as more of a conduit between the various components of the Project SHIELD system.

Unfortunately, in many ways there are still more questions than there are answers about Project SHIELD. NVIDIA says the console is expected to launch in Q2 this year, though there’s no telling whether that ship date will slip, and the name is set to change before it arrives on shelves. Biggest question, however, is price: NVIDIA conspicuously gave no indication of how much the pocket powerhouse would cost.

If the company can bring it in within the 3DS and PS Vita bracket – under $320, the same price a PS Vita with 3G goes for – then it could well find some buyers. However, the requirement for a decent-spec gaming PC or notebook for the remote play functionality means players may have to set aside some extra cash for upgrading or replacing their home rig. That might start to get expensive, especially compared to the bundle deals around on mainstream consoles like the PS3 and Xbox 360.

We’ll have more coverage – including some hands-on time – with NVIDIA Project SHIELD during the show, so keep an eye on the SlashGear CES Hub for all the news!

That’s set to change by the time launch comes around, however, just as OS is likely to. Currently, Jelly Bean is running on the new chip, but NVIDIA says it’s aiming to keep up to date with whatever version of Android Google has whipped up at the time.

As for the release itself, the name is likely to change before there’s any sign of the console on store shelves. Exactly what to is, unsurprisingly, something NVIDIA either doesn’t know or isn’t talking about here at CES, but it’ll be the US and Canada which gets to plunk down an unspecified amount of cash first.

Meanwhile, if you’re keen to see if your PC is up to speed with the necessary specifications for remote gaming with Project SHIELD, you can check the system here. In short, you’ll need a Core i5 processor or higher, and either an NVIDIA Kepler-based GeForce GTX 650 or above on your desktop, or a GTX 660M or above on your notebook.

This means, if it wasn’t plain before, that you’ll be able to play games you own on STEAM with your NVIDIA Project SHIELD device no matter where you are – not just at home, not just in a place where you can bust out your laptop. The fabulous graphics and gameplay shown in the NVIDIA presentation were not just shown on the Project SHIELD device itself, it was pushed to an LG 4K television as well.

The Google Play app store curated by the NVIDIA Tegra Zone and the STEAM store from Valve will play host to the NVIDIA Project SHIELD device. Because this machine goes by the name “project” SHEILD, we’re not expecting to see it tonight – but later this week? We shall see!

Have a peek at the rest of the action as presented by NVIDIA through our very own Tegra hub through the week and through the future, and don’t forget to stick to the SlashGear CES portal as well – hands-on and up to the minute updates galore!

The world’s first custom-based reflex system lives inside this device, this understanding and knowing when you set the device down so it can stop rumbling around, and right on par with a dedicated Jambox – so sayeth Huang. This machine works with Android and is able to “drop back into Android” at a press of the SHIELD button right up front and center.

UPDATE: Have a peek at the construction video we’ve described right here front and center – and experience one of the more impressive looking reveal reels we’ve seen in recent history:

This amalgamation of gaming magic works with a 5-inch 1080p touchscreen display and has mini HDMI out, micro-USB, and a headphone jack for good measure – not to mention a microSD card slot. The whole system has one giant customizable tag on its back (or on top if you close the lid) – this being another “SHEILD” that, when this beast comes to fruition, you know good and well we’ll be blasting with SlashGear and Android Community marks galore.

Project SHIELD is set up to work with Android, so you’ll be working with Android games, of course, but it’s also connected to the cloud – so you’re able to play games with the same prowess we’ve seen made possible with NVIDIA GRID. Have a peek at more information on NVIDIA GRID from earlier today (if you’ve not already) in the timeline below and make sure you stick close to SlashGear for more on this device and the ecosystem that surrounds it all week long and into the future through our NVIDIA Tegra portal!