Yesterday we reported on the UK arrival of the Kickstarter online funding website, which helps budding inventors get their ideas and projects off the ground.Today we have news of a very interesting example of how the scheme can be utilised. It’s a project currently gaining a lot of attention for itself on the American “crowd-funding” platform – a $100 Android-driven games console for our televisions called ‘OUYA’.
With the tradition of living room console gaming becoming redundant to powerful and portable mobile devices, OUYA’s makers seek to bring players back to its roots with TV based play from the natural position of our armchair – but all the while using the versatile Google platform Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich as its hook.
The OUYA hardware impressive with Tegra3 quad-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB of internal flash storage with HDMI connection to the TV in 1080p high definition. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity is available and the device features a USB 2.0 port.
Gamers will get to grips with Android favourites such as Minecraft and Angry Birds with “fast buttons, triggers, laser-precise analog sticks and D-pad” on the device’s controller which also boasts touch-pad for a gentle backwards transition from smartphone and tablet back onto console. The OUYA will also be incredibly accessible to developers. Offering the same openness as the Android software on our handheld devices. Meaning practically anybody with the skills can make a game for the console.
Still with 28 days remaining the creators of OUYA have already eclipsed their desired target of $950,000 with an incredible purse of $2,624,068 donated by 20,866 backers (as it stands at time of writing) and the console looks set to become a reality. Added incentives were offered to backers with each of the highest contributors receiving a bonus rewards package including an engraved OUYA gaming gadget and one night stay in San Francisco for the big launch party amongst the top giveaways.
This one will undercut the leading home consoles such as Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii as well as giving the diversity of smartphone app based gaming. For more on this fantastic project check out OUYA on Kickstarter!
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