Gamestop is making an Android gaming tablet

US GAMING RETAILER Gamestop has confirmed it is making an own brand gaming tablet that will use Google's Android operating system.

The device is not brand new but rather an existing Android tablet that the firm will customise with pre-loaded games. The unknown tablet is in a testing phase but will come with an external controller, according to Gamesindustry.biz.

Tony Bartel, president of Gamestop said, "We're in test phase right now. But we're excited at the prospect of coming out with this tablet. I would call it a 'GameStop certified gaming platform.' We looked at all the tablets and these are the ones that really worked for gaming and we're going to give you a few benefits that you're not going to get elsewhere."

It is unclear whether there will be the option to use two or more controllers on a single tablet, but we hope so. Gamestop plans to stream console games to the device. This sounds like the service might be comparable to Onlive, which is due to arrive on 22 September.

Gamers can expect demanding games to be available and playable on the tablet after Bartel commented that streaming a game such as Call of Duty: Modern Warefare 3 would be hard to play with your fingers.

We think that the tablet will most likely be a larger size of 10.1in rather 7in for a better gaming experience. If we were to put money on it we would bet the tablet will have an Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, which in our experience is suited to gaming.

We're not convinced that gamers will opt to use a tablet for serious gaming over their PC or console. µ