Could a Handheld Gaming Device Be on Alienware's Roadmap?

In recent interviews, Alienware has said that the focus for PC manufacturers now and into the future will be mobile gaming. A mobile handheld device seems like significantly new territory for Alienware, but Alienware now has the resources for it to be possible and succeed.

I'll start by discussing the mobile gaming market right now. Currently, the 3DS is a fairly powerful device that is coming out by the end of the year. Its biggest titles are still from Nintendo, however. The 3DS really is not a hardcore gaming system. We still won't be seeing most developers try to create significant titles for it. The PSP's hardware is embarrassingly outdated at this point, though there are still a few notable games coming out later this year. Apple has an undeniable presence in mobile gaming with the company's iOS devices, and they seem to be dominating casual gaming and doing half-decent with their higher-quality game selection, but the selection of console-quality games is surprisingly low.

This is a market that's open for another big company to step in. Alienware has been expanding to the point that they pulled in $13 billion of revenue last year. Alienware can fund any development and research of the device without a problem. Alienware seems very happy with the m11x's sales performance, awards, and reviews, so building a smaller gaming device could be something the company could get high regards for.

Alienware would have to develop their own OS for a gaming handheld because a mobile OS such as Windows Phone or Android would be far from optimal, and it would be nearly impossible to create a handheld gaming device with Windows. These mobile operating systems aren't platforms optimized for resource-intensive gaming. Again, Alienware has the money and the resources to develop their own OS that combines elements from a home console OS and a mobile OS, and developing their own OS would barely put a dent in the company's very significant budget.

It isn't a stretch to say that Alienware could design the most powerful handheld device created with parts designed for phones, etc. Mobile hardware has gotten very impressive. The PSP was impressive when it first came out in 2005. Heck, some developers simultaneously released games on the Xbox 360 and the PSP (the PSP version was obviously using lower quality assets). Because of the size of the company Alienware has managed to become, getting big developers on board would be far from impossible as well.

I could imagine a device that lets you play optimized games that were released on the PC and/or consoles. It isn't too far-fetched with current mobile hardware, the five-year-old PSP still (rarely) gets the same game that was released on consoles every once in a while. If Alienware really wanted to take a huge step into handheld gaming, they could use some of the company's money to partner with developers of PC and Xbox 360 games and Microsoft so for a small fee if you own the PC/console version of a game you can download a port of that game onto Alienware's handheld device and save files can be transferred over the air so you can take your game with you when you leave the house and play the same save file on your PC/Xbox 360 on your Alienware device and vice versa.

I mentioned Microsoft because they're the only company with a major console not to have a handheld gaming device, so it makes sense for Alienware to integrate with Microsoft. Finally, Alienware has the brand name to pull it off. For $400, an Alienware gaming handheld would sell an extremely significant amount of devices due to brand alone. Combine that with trendy ads and integration with other companies, and Alienware could have a very popular device.

Alienware has the resources, money, and the brand name to develop a mobile gaming device with their own OS and support from major developers. They also have the experience of building sleek and class-leading devices. The mobile gaming market seems like one that would make sense for Alienware to enter next since there's still room for a big company to dominate.

 

Wow! If they do this say bye to the PSP and Nintendo DS

 

While the idea is nice, I just do not see it becoming a reality for Dell to create an Alienware branded handheld system. If anything they'll expand on their current portable product line with more screen sizes (for example, many have requested a 13" system with the overall size of the M11X, but power of the M15X).

I feel that Dell is too busy trying to make an android based ipad/ipod touch style tablet to throw additional funds at a new line of products with the Alienware brand on it. If they do, it will probably end up like many of their other non-PC products, where they have someone else make it & throw a Dell (logitech mice, lexmark printers & various monitor companies) or Alienware (the same various monitor companies as the Dell monitors) logo on it.

As to a new OS for something like you describe, even after over a year on the market, they still can't seem to get the bugs worked out of the various small pieces of software they designed for the Alienware systems (OSD, AlienFX, Command Center, working drivers, working BIOS). I would hate to think about an OS by the same programming team.

 

What with all of dells QC, I somehow doubt that as of right now.

 

Sounds great in theory but very impratical.
Would be interesting to see what they would come out with.

 

They could do something based off the Dell Streak:
Dell Streak Gaming

 

It'd be a very good idea, providing it was competitively priced and powered.

However, the problem I would see is the innovative features in comparison with the game market created for it.

While to some it might be a gimmick, the glasses free top screen on the upcoming 3DS is a massive addition, and will definetely help it sell massively. I know already that I'm buying one. Part of the reason though is also the games market that's available with it simply at launch, particularly MGS3.

To be able to compete with the 3DS and upcoming Nintendo handhelds, Alienware would definetely have to include a very innovative and competitive system-even if it's in pure graphics power, they will need to be very good to compete.

The second, and possibly even bigger problem I see, is the set of games that'll be available for it, at launch and following that. The system would have to have a lot of potential to attract game developers to produce games for the Alienware mobile gaming device, particularly as I doubt Alienware themselves likely won't be able to develop any games. Unlike Nintendo, they don't have developers internal to the company, and thus it'll have to have a lot of potential in the eyes of third party game developers, and be able to sell really well, just in order to get a good library of games for it.

Because after all, without a good selection of games, any game system (no matter how good) will fail.

I'd really like an Alienware system because I do believe using the latest technology, they'd be able to create a fantastic system. I mean, the current DS uses two processors, one 67MHz and the other 33MHz. Current smartphones are capable of holding a 1GHz processor. That's a hell of a lot of extra power. And as it's Alienware, I'd trust them to get this in their systems.