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At the heart of the Archos GamePad is the seed of an idea which is so compelling it makes you wonder why no-one else has attempted it. So many Android titles attempt to marry traditional gaming concepts with a touch-based interface, so why not give those games the control system they so badly desire: proper physical buttons and pads?Perhaps the lukewarm commercial reception afforded to the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play has dissuaded hardware manufacturers from trying the same trick with a large-screen device, or maybe the increased proportions required to accommodate such an interface have been deemed too off-putting to the consumer; whatever the reason for this reticence, the wait for such a product is now over. French company Archos has taken the plunge, beating the rival Wikipad to market (though if you really want to be pedantic, the hilariously poor Droid X360 Chinese Vita clone beat them both to the punch).
The GamePad is essentially an Android tablet with a 7-inch display and dedicated gaming controls. It boasts two analogue slider nubs (think PSP), a digital pad, four fascia buttons, and two shoulder triggers. It also has Start and Select buttons. This dazzling array of inputs is found to the left and right of the 1024 x 600 pixel screen, making the device slightly longer than most 7-inch slates.
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