A new Kickstarter project called GameStick aims to uproot the game console business with the help of Android, even as sits on the sidelines.
The GameStick is a $79 dongle that plugs into the HDMI slot on most televisions. It runs games based on ’s Android operating system includes a game controller with two thumbsticks, a directional pad, face buttons, shoulder buttons. The controller has a small slot carved out for the dongle, so users can stow it away take their consoles on the road.
As of this writing, the Kickstarter project is roughly 25 percent toward its funding goal of $100,000. An early bird offer of one console controller for $69 is already sold out.
GameStick’s closest competitor is Ouya, a $99 Android-based game system whose Kickstarter campaign was a rousing success last year, with over $8.6 million pledged from backers. Both devices will have 8GB of storage, 1GB of RAM will support 1080p video output.
ile Ouya won’t have the same portability as GameStick, it has an Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, compared to the GameStick’s Amlogic 8726-MX chip. Both products are aimed at an April 2013 release date, though Ouya has just started shipping 1,200 units to developers.
The Android-based game console is an interesting concept, as it allows for a more open ecosystem than the tightly-controlled consoles made by Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft. And because Android is primarily a mobile operating system, the selection consists mainly of small-scale, inexpensive (or free) games, which may appeal to casual players who’d rather not spend $60—or dedicate 20 hours—to play a big-budget title.
A solid number of Android games support external controllers such as the Steelseries Free, Nyko ayd, werA Moga, so some of the work in translating them to big screens is already done. aym, the company behind GameStick— itself a maker of development tools for gaming on televisions—says it has the support of seven developers so far, including Madfinger, the makers of Dead Trigger Shadowgun.
not involved
But right now, one key ingredient is missing from both GameStick Ouya, that’s .
These Kickstarter projects are using their own app stores instead of the ay Store. Users will likely have to re-purchase their games on the consoles, even if they already own them on an Android phone or tablet, users won’t be able to carry their progress across platforms either. For , these consoles are just another source of fragmentation for Android.
Ideally, would throw its support behind products like Ouya GameStick, providing a special version of the ay Store giving app developers the necessary tools to make their games controller-friendly. Given that TV hasn’t been a big success, low-cost game consoles could be a better path to the living room for the company anyway.
As it sts, I’m a bit wary about backing either of these products. though I love what they’re trying to do, there’s a bit of a ld st feel to Android-based game consoles right now, that’s not going to change until one platform comes out on top—whether gets involved or not.
