As this is a preview of a chassis, there will be no award or score. Simply because we cannot judge the final quality and feature set and still have hope that any negative aspects will be fixed in the final version.
So what impression does the BitFenix Shinobi leave us with? Well, it has great potential as an affordable solution for those looking to give their PC a cool look without breaking the bank. The fact that the windowed version comes with two fans and the ability to hold up to five additional ones is impressive at this price point and the use of thumb screws on the mainboard expansion slots certainly adds to the positive aspect, but the plastic locking mechanism does not look like it will be able to withstand any prolonged and rough travels, so you may end up using screws for your drives anyways.
BitFenix also makes sure that you can easily keep the system clean with plenty of space behind the mainboard tray and multiple openings to route any cables through. Even though the design does not show an external 3.5 inch bay, BitFenix will include the necessary parts to allow for such devices out of the box.
Overall, BitFenix seems to have managed to apply their design and company image along with the unique SofTouch surface to a very capable - wonderfully understated - chassis. The Shinobi should be an interesting case once it hits the market and it is good to see that a new company like BitFenix is not just looking to cut corners but offer a viable budget chassis for their target audience.