So the Shield requires a modern gaming PC with at least a GTX 650 Video Card. If you have a lower 6 series or a 5/4 series, this will not work for you. And even if you have the bare minimum GTX 650, keep in mind that this card is not powerful enough to run many modern games on maxed out settings. So this will have an impact on how things look on the Shield (from a quality perspective). I am personally using a 4 GB GDDR5 GTX 680 in my rig, so keep in mind that what I'm saying is based on my experiences with that card. So having a very powerful PC is one half of the Shield equation. The other half is having a very high-end robust network. Nvidia recommends that you use a dual-band router capable of 5 Ghz. They also have a list of routers that are directly supported for PC Game Streaming (of which the Apple Airport Express 2nd Gen is the cheapest). I have personally tested the shield on several routers. It is possible to stream your PC games over a 2.4 Ghz frequency. However, there are a lot of considerations that will impact that sort of performance. If you live out in the middle of nowhere with no other nearby networks and paper-thin walls, then 2.4 Ghz may be enough for you. For me, I experienced about a 30 foot radius from my router where 2.4 Ghz was doable. Going farther way than that disconnected my session. I also get a noticeable amount of artifacting on the Shield's screen when streaming over 2.4 Ghz.
So the short answer is that it may be possible to use the Shield for PC gaming without a 5 Ghz router. Just realize that you'll be taking a risk if you buy it without the right kind of network to back it up. For me performance over 5 Ghz has been flawless. I'm using a Western Digital My Net N900 Router and I haven't had a single issue (other than range). 5 Ghz has a much lower range compared to 2.4 Ghz, so keep in mind that you may have to install repeaters or access points in your house to maintain game-level performance in all areas of the house.
So as far as PC Streaming goes, the question will be whether it is worth it. There is also not a direct answer to this. There are some unofficial things that you can do with the Shield such as connecting it to a VPN for gaming outside of your network. Nvidia is also working on adding functionality to play any PC game on the Shield. Right now the Shield only supports games that have included controller support. They will be adding the option to use programs like Xpadder or Pinnacle Game Profiler so that you can setup any game to work on the Shield's controller. So depending on your existing game library or your budget for buying games, this may be a serious thing to think about (The Shield's only good if you can play your favorite stuff on it, right?). When you do have the correct equipment, playing PC games on the Shield is amazing! I love having the ability to take my PC gaming to any room of the house (we just converted our garage to a lounge for my wife, and now I can sit there and play games with her). The controls feel solid, the sound is amazing, and the built-in microphone allows you to chat with people while you play. So if you're someone that already has the computer hardware and network to use the Shield, this may be an easier question to answer. However, if your computer is not up to spec, or if your network is not fast enough, then this becomes a deeper question. It takes a considerable investment to have the hardware to play PC games on the Shield. You'll have to REALLY want to play games on the Shield to spend the average $750 that it costs to get a computer and network upgraded to use it. For me it was definitely worth it, but I already had the computer and network to use the Shield, so my only cost was the $299 that the Shield goes for. I also already have 60+ games in my Steam Library that have built-in controller support. That's a pretty good launch list of titles.
So with the PC part clarified, let's talk about the other stuff that the Shield can do. One of the big things right off the bat is the ability to play emulators on it. I've personally played N64, PSX, SNES, NES, GBA, and Genesis on mine. This has been a really awesome experience. One cool thing that you may not know about the Shield is that the micro-usb port on the back can do a lot of stuff. I plugged in a micro-to-usb adapter and then connected a 4-port usb hub. I have 2 PS3 controllers, a wireless 360 controller, and a USB SNES gamepad all plugged in at the same time. And yes, they all show up as separate controllers for split screen gaming. And I finish this off by plugging my Shield via mini-HDMI to HDMI to my TV. It's like playing the original consoles, but better! Everything is very smooth and the graphics look great on the big screen. You can map the controls individually to each controller. So that's pretty awesome.
The third side of the Shield is the Android part. For me, this is probably the most disappointing side of the Shield. It's not that the Shield doesn't have the power to play any Android game out there, its that hardly anything supports the Shield's controller. There are a select group of "enhanced" titles in the Shield store, but many core titles are not available. One big thing that is missing is support for the majority of Gameloft's games. Certain titles sort of work like Modern Combat 4 and NOVA 3, but not all controls work. The only Gameloft title to date that works flawlessly with the Shield's controller is Asphalt 8. So Android gaming tends to be a bit underwhelming. Hopefully this will be something that gets dramatically better as developers become more aware of the Shield, but as of now there isn't much there for it.
So as a standalone device, the only really good thing about the Shield is emulators. There are several people on the Nvidia forums that bought it strictly as an emulator device. If you're looking at it as the next big Android platform, that's not happening as of yet.
Anyway, hopefully that gives you a bit of information to go off of. Feel free to ask me any questions that you may have about the Shield. I'll do my best to answer them for you.
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4.5/5 and worth its purchase price all day long. The RETAIL purchase price, not the inflated price asked by these resellers.The Shield is an emulation powerhouse and is the best device on the market today for playing classic games either on the go or connected to a TV. Pandora and the Xperia Play deserve honorable mention and the XP fills its niche as a much smaller device.
Build quality is apparently excellent and the unit is very solid. I don't love the small size of the screen relative to the bezel size, it looks a bit silly and is wasted real estate. I can't help but envy the Archos Gamepad and Wikipad for the larger screens on some level, even if they are using inferior hardware. The unit is also heavy but manageable at roughly 20 ounces, which is up is about twice a PS Vita or 3 times more than an Xperia Play. The speakers are very loud and reasonably clear, but I find it lacks low end. There is also no physical menu button which is a huge problem for some programs, like making it impossible to save in ScummVM. I also find the R1 and L1 buttons to be uncomfortably small. But I'm nitpicking; the Shield is a very cool device for anyone and a marvelous device for emulation enthusiasts. This must trump the Pandora as the ultimate handheld emulation console. If you love Retroarch on your phone then you'll love it even more on the Shield.
I haven't been able to test PC streaming because I have an ATI card in my gaming rig, but the reports are positive and improvements in the beat streaming program are forthcoming.
Pros: high build quality
High quality screen with excellent viewing angles
Emulation powerhouse. Get Retroarch and a few other emulators and you're good to go.
Strong hinge
Really nice analogs
Controls are comfortable but not PS3/Xbox360 comfortable. 8/10 I'd say. Everything's a compromise.
Fair price for the hardware
Just about the most powerful Android device you can buy today
Stock Android Jellybean unencumbered by bloatware. Thanks Nvidia.
Speakers are very loud and surprisingly clear but lack a satisfying low end for all their volume. Can pass for a boom box in a pinch.
Battery life so far seems very good.
Cons: Styling is not for me. Alienware-alike. The stock grey "shield" insert is very gaudy to me, it should of been matte black. Or even just have a Nvidia logo on it. It just looks bizarre, plain and out of place.
Only 780p video output through the HDMI, this will supposedly be upgraded through firmware in the future. Still..
L1 and R1 buttons are lousy, being too small and too awkward to access. Ugh.
Button travel on the ABXY buttons is excessive imo.
Heavy
No menu button
Screen could and should be larger. Bezel is huge for a modern device. For something this bulky, which will never fit in a normal pocket, it seems like you may as well have a 7 inch screen. 5 inches is lacking.
Uses the less popular and less affordable mini HDMI for no reason, instead of the better micro HDMI that all phones use
Non user replaceable batteries.
Packaging is needlessly flashy and probably expensive. In a day of asinine unboxing videos I guess it matters, but I'd rather of had an included mini HDMI cable for that expense.
Nvidia is a good company. I learned that they recently gave several Shields to the open-source Libretro project, and that earned them alot of my respect.
Some will compare this to the Vita or 3DS and call it expensive. Consider that the Vita outdoes the 3DS spec wise, while the shield is 4 times faster than the Vita IIRC and has 4 times the ram with a better screen and most importantly it runs ANDROID, an OPEN operating system. It's your device, not Sony's or Nintendo's. You decide what goes on it and what it can do. You do not lived in a walled garden. I would never, ever buy a 3DS or PS Vita while the Sony Xperia Play is only about $50 used and the amazing new Shield is so reasonable.
Buy buy buy. Totally awesome pice of kit.
I look forward to an updated model with a larger screen, light weight, and maybe a menu button for legacy software and forcing the keyboard to come up, a function I deeply miss.
Edit: hinge has gone noisy...
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The Excellent:Hardware: tough like a tank
Battery: iPadish = lasts forever
Controls: Tight and well made
This thing is awesome and does everything and more that I ever wanted to do. Nice choice running vanilla Android OS 4.3...
Streaming: I have a GTX 780 so it may be different with lower end cards, but WOW!! No detectable lag streaming high end games like Skyrim, Borderlands 2, etc... Any Steam game that supports a controller rocks on this thing. If you've not looked at streaming capability on shield since it was in beta, now that it is live, it really is nice.
Size: many people put this in the negative side, but it has full size controls which is a dream when actually using the Shield.
neutral: I thought I was going to hate the recessed analog controls, but I don't hate them. They are fine, don't bother me in the slightest. Actually, after playing shield, it makes my Xbox 360 controller analog sticks feel too high LOL!!
The I wish was different parts:
-Screen-resolution is fine, but wish it was slightly bigger like 7"
-Size: it is big, so not as portable, but I've listed this as a good thing too
-weight: well it is heavy, but not been an issue, I'll gladly take the weight for the massive battery life it has.
-wish the screen disconnected or tethered from the body somehow, but that would make it more complex and less tough, so not sure I'd give that up to be able to remove the screen.
In whole, I am blown away by the shield. It is far and away the best handheld console on the market today. Easy enough for anyone to enjoy, and has all the open capabilities any gadgeteer would drool over. Also Tegra4 = awesome!!
BTW: you can even connect Bluetooth controllers to it, hook to a TV with HDMI and use it like a gaming console for Steam or any game.. !!!!!!!
Looking forward: Nvidia as promised is hammering out the updates on the shield and making it better and better every couple of weeks or so..
Honest reviews on NVIDIA SHIELD 16GB
I bought an Nvidia Shield. As a confirmed Apple Geek I'm probably not the intended market for this, especially considering I don't own a PC for game streaming and don't intend to. But as a handheld gaming system its great!The controls are accurate and solid, the battery life superb, the screen is bright and clear, the pack in games are great, my Antutu benchmark is 38.000!
And its a "Vanilla Android" experience. There is no re-screened interface like Samsung, and others do. And constant and reliable updates from Nvidia. No wondering when YOU will get the next system update, unlike most non Nexus Android phones.
Its no replacement for a tablet, it is more than capable of tablet functions, but ergonomically its pure gaming. Fast with solid wireless and bluetooth.
I use this device primarily to play roms, and images from my library of Imported Japanese PS1 games, and I'm very happy I bought it. I don't think anyone else can touch it. I'd been looking for quite a while at nameless, non brand Chinese "gamepads" that had weak hardware and flimsy controls, and was about to give in and try one when this came along.
"Edited to remove complaints about the former price gouging"
Four months later, its still going strong, updates have only improved it, and with its new gamepad mapper software, many games that didn't have controller support now do. PewPew with dual joysticks is great! I still suggest it 100%, no regrets at all.
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... and I've had a few. Over the years, I have owned the Gameboy, Gameboy color, Gameboy advance, DS, 3DS, PSP, PS Vita, and the Caanoo. The only game console that ever came close to the enjoyment I received from this was the Caanoo.I knew what I was getting into before I bought the product. Although the streaming play was something I had no problem setting up (I meet all the requirements and then some) I had no real interest in that. They say that streaming play is the major selling point of this device... okay, I understand the draw of streaming play, but they really need to recheck their demographic. Of course, I guess that can't just say "emulation powerhouse."
Yes, yes, I know playing old Nintendo games is dull. Except it isn't. Aside from the nostalgia factor, many of those older games have more gameplay packed in one level than some modern games do. "But, you can buy a PS Vita and emulate!" Yes, sure you can, or you can buy a system that is unlocked already and use the emulators that are right there in the play store. "Why not just get a cheap laptop?" Why would I want to carry around a laptop and controller everywhere I go? I tend to be on the road a lot I need something to enjoy along the way (not while driving of course I might wind up running someone over again.)
If you can imagine the catalog of Nintendo games that one can carry in a very small space, you've got enough gameplay to last a lifetime (or until your battery runs out.) We're talking approximately 759 games released in the U.S. alone. Granted, you'd probably not play half of those, but if you've got some favorites, go for it.
That's not counting SNES and all the wonderful games on that, N64 (although emulation offerings for that didn't really float my boat), Gameboy / Color / Advance, Nintendo DS, PlayStation, PSP, Sega Master System, Sega Genesis, etc... That's a huge library of games on one little device that you can take anywhere. Throw in some movies, some android games, etc... and you're doing pretty good.
Speaking of android games, although I didn't get this for android games, many of the games in the shield store are actually quite good. Some are definitely handheld good (as in something released on PS Vita or 3DS,) and some are almost console good. Yes, there's a small library, but if you're buying this just for android gaming, maybe you're in a demographic that even I can't relate to.
Anyway, what this system does it does very well, and I can honestly say it is the most powerful tablet I've ever owned. I have seen no slowdown whatsoever on even some of my more demanding emulated titles (PSP and DS for instance), and have seen none on games I've seen slow down considerably even on other tegra tablets. The system is clean when you get it, coming without all the crapware that most tablets come with. It has a great battery life. A lot of people complain about heaviness, but I haven't really noticed. It is also very self-supporting, and feels solid when using its base as a stand for media. I have had no problems with it whatsoever, and everything has been easy.
For those who ARE interested in streaming, I've been getting 60fps on my games consistently since NVidia's latest update. And they have been updating it quite regularly.
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