GameStop now selling tablets in-store and online

With big names like Crytek and OnLive backing tablets as a viable gaming platform, it’s no surprise that GameStop has now started offering tablets directly to its customers both online and in-store.

According to WSJ, GameStop will make available various Android tablets at 200 GameStop stores around the United States. Units for sale include Acer’s Iconia Tab A100, Asus's Eee pad Transformer and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1. As of this writing, the Acer Iconia Tab A500 is already available through GameStop online. Note that all the tablets mentioned above are similar in that they have Tegra 2 processors, run Android Honeycomb and have 1GB RAM.

Of course, with GameStop behind the scenes, free games and software features will be pre-loaded into each tablet. For example, users will have instant access to a number of free games such as Dead Space, Madden, and Kongregate Arcade for some quick entertainment on-the-go. Bluetooth-enabled gamepads are also sold separately for better control and playability.

Hints about GameStop’s tablet plans surfaced as early as last April when the company acquired Spawn Labs for their online streaming expertise.  On that same month, Google released a study claiming that 84 percent of tablet owners use the device primarily for games. GameStop at the time was beginning to seriously consider selling tablets with pre-loaded games.

GameStop is also considering branding its own line of tablets, but the company has yet to reveal the tablet to public. They are, however, accepting iPad and iPod trade-ins for store credit or cash, but won't be selling the iOS-equipped devices new and pre-loaded with games.

The Iconia Tab A100, Iconia Tab A500, Eee Pad Transformer and Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be selling for $329, $399, $399 and $499, respectively, says Electronista. If the hardware sales are successful, then GameStop may plan to extend the lineup even further to additional stores.

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