Preview: uDraw GameTablet

Graphics tablets have always appealed to me. I’m unsure why, as my artistic talents are rudimentary at best.

I guess that, as with home exercise equipment and multi-purpose food mixers, actually purchasing the cool kit can be seen as a step towards mastery that involves nothing but a fiscal outlay. The treadmill gathers dust and I’m still bereft of a six-pack, but maybe an interactive pen-and-paper will bring out the Picasso in me…

That said, THQ’s uDraw GameTablet isn’t just a graphics tablet. The clue’s in the name; this is artistry with an eye on fun. You’ve the customary art package, which looks a mite more powerful than you’d expect at first glance, alongside the promise of fun and interactive games powered by a plastic pen. Pictionary-style games are a must, naturally, but with a cool tilt feature built into the hardware (among other design surprises), there’s definitely room for innovation.

This gadget sits proudly on the shelves of many a Wii owner across the country, and now the family-friendly tablet is set to make a splash in the Serious Console™ market, with an Xbox and PS3 version hitting the shelves on November 18. As with all products that straddle markets, there’s a fear that the uDraw could be a jack of all trades yet master of none. Will it cut the mustard as a graphics tablet? Will it prove worthy as a gaming tool? Time will tell, but the signs are promising… there’ll be a full review later in the month, which may or may not include my attempts at creating a masterpiece.

Look, here’s a trailer: