Topic: Sony announces PlayStation Tablet!

How does a flashy video and sleek-looking product = lack of content ("substance")?

Virtual buttons = inferior is a myth. Take some time to get used to, yes, but I actually play Mortal Kombat (for instance) better on the iPad than I ever did on the DS.

First impression. I'm not agreeing and disagreeing. It is what it is. Too tired to elaborate but I'm sure you figure out what I mean even if it's not entirely true- because it isn't.

Gamers might care, but 95% of consumers don't.

I know which market I'd rather go after as a vendor.

It's not about the looks, it's about the software, and when it comes to tablets, iPad will always win simply because of the iTunes store. If you want to choose something because it looks better,rather than playing better, feel free, but don't be surprised when most people go the other route.

You're the first person to claim the iPad's appeal is completely independent of its aesthetics.

Also, Android is gaining ground on iOS for a good reason.

Personally I plan on having both devices to have the best of both worlds. Really, both are going to be very popular devices.

Android is for functionality, iOS is for simplicity, and games.
The only Apple product I would ever think of buying is an iPod Touch 4 because of it's library of games. I hate Apple, alot, but I cannot deny that as a gamer, I'm missing out on alot of good games.
I'd never buy a Droid because it lacks in that department by quite a large margin. I love Google, and everything they do, so this really is the strongest sense of irony in my case.

Haha I thought you used to hate and despise virtual controls, Waltz. I'm with you though; they take getting used to but they do work. I still prefer physical buttons though, for three reasons:

A. Physical feedback. I like feeling the press of a button, and knowing it's there.
B. Muscle memory. The problem with iPad games is that the button positions differ most of the time, which confuses your muscle memory. On a standard controller you always know where the buttons are.
C. Shoulder buttons. That's the one thing I'm really, really missing on the iPad. If I could fire my M-16 with a shoulder button, then I'd say the iPad has better FPS controls than dual-analog. (thumb-dragging ftfw)

There's one really, really big problem I'm seeing with this: Pressing two face buttons at the same time. Games like Super Mario Bros. require you to hold a button to run with the tip of your thumb, and press the jump button with the back of it. I'm not familiar with the PS1 catalog, but I'd imagine there'd be plenty of similar cases here. iPad games are designed for virtual controls, but PS1 games weren't.

If anyone's learnt anything from heavily touch screen reliant devices (iPad, iPod etc.) then they'd know that touch screen buttons are awful and since that that is pretty much what the S1 is it will fail. The NGP on the other hand won't because it has buttons. iPad was successful because it had touch screen intuitive controls and the like that used a touch screen for its proper use. The S1 has just created fake buttons. Great.

It really depends. I'm not sold on virtual controls for FPSers and platformers, but most genres (Strategy, fighting, board game, puzzle) I have no problem with them - in fact thnks to the iPad's big screen and the ability to move the buttons to comfortable positions, often I find them better than physical buttons.

You can't reassign the physical location of "real" buttons.

If anyone's learnt anything from heavily touch screen reliant devices (iPad, iPod etc.) then they'd know that touch screen buttons are awful

I own an iPad and iPhone and I wouldn't say that is true at all.

@Waveboy... I think the chances are extremely high that the Sony Pad will have Bluetooth capabilities, and that means being able to play games with a Dualshock 3 controller in hand!

@Waltz: Strategy, board, and puzzle games don't require virtual buttons... just tapping and dragging. I agree that they work awesome, but I don't think there were many board games on the PS1.

The pad rush we're seeing now is nothing more than a fad in my opinion and this to shall pass. I can't see pads replacing laptops and handhelds anytime soon. I dislike the idea of the S1 and S2 because they will more than likely be reserved to playing bite size flash style games and PS1 games. I can't imagine playing Ratchet and Clank, Hot Shots Golf Next or Uncharted on the S1 and S2. I also can't imagine playing a MMORPG like Maple Story or Dragon Nest on any kind of pad be it the iPad, Sony S1, S2 or the impressive Motorola XOOM although there seem to be rumors that the S1 and S2 might play MMORPG's. I won't argue that the pads won't be able to handle productive apps like Microsoft Word and spreadsheet creating as the iPad can indeed do such a thing.

It's not that I'm biased against the pad revolution that Steve Jobs seems to believe is the 'next big thing'. I really did try and stand in defense of the iPad in it's early launch days but I had to agree with my father that it wasn't very easy to carry around and that it wouldn't be a truly 'portable' device like the iPod Touch, Nintendo GameBoy or your college student friendly netbook. However, it would seem that Sony PlayStation is directly attempting to shoot down that theory with the DS-esque S2. If there is anything that I might consider buying later on down the road after I settle in with the NGP then it would have to be the S2 although I'm very much in love with the Motorola XOOM after having demoed one at a Verizon store in our area.

Also buttons allow for pressure sensitivity, and since controllers are better for the hands to hold since they're ergonomic, while tablets are not, you'll generally get a lesser feel of control when gaming on a tablet, or even a phone.