Hasta La Gadget!

When we first detailed the Ouya $99 Android-based game console yesterday, we had a feeling it would become a hot property over at Kickstarter. But still, there’s no way we anticipated this: the project has just raised $2 million in its first day, having sped past its initial $950,000 goal within a record-breaking 12 hours. Now, in an email to backers, the project has asked for feedback on its “stretch goals” — in other words, what it should do if it makes even more cash and is able to set its sights on loftier ambitions. If you’re a backer then check your email, if you’re a potential backer then check the source link, and if you’re a traditional VC then weep.

Filed under: Gaming

Ouya gaming console raises $2 million on Kickstarter, doesn’t know what to do with it originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jul 2012 03:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The gaming public at large has spoken. In less than 12 hours, Yves Behar’s Android-based Ouya gaming console has reached its lofty funding goal of $950,000 on Kickstarter. To refresh your memory, the $99 system (which was only $95 for 1,000 swift early adopters) packs a Tegra 3 CPU, 8GB of storage, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, a USB 2.0 port and an SD card slot — that price also grants you a single controller with a touch sensor. Most notably, the system is aimed at being extremely developer-friendly, having open hardware and software with a push for free-to-play content. There are only about 5,000 units (out of 10,000) (update: that number has been bumped to 20,000, with just under 10k available) left at the $99 price, so feel free to check out our in-depth chat about Ouya with Behar himself here before you head over to Kickstarter. It appears that the traditional business model for gaming consoles just got rocked, and we can’t wait to see the final results.

Update: If you thought that was fast, you’d be right: Kickstarter has confirmed that Ouya achieved the biggest first day ever for one of its hosted projects, and it’s just the eighth project ever to crack the million-dollar mark, joining an esteemed company that includes Double Fine’s upcoming adventure game and the all-time champion, the Pebble smartwatch.

Ouya’s $99 Android-based gaming console meets Kickstarter goal: $950k in under 12 hours (update: it’s a record) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 16:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Console startup Ouya has launched its much-anticipated Kickstarter round, promising free-to-play gaming on a minimalistic and open-source Android box hoping to steal players from phones and tablets. Billed as “a new kind of video game console” and targeting $950,000 through the crowdfunding site, Ouya uses Google’s Android OS with a custom controller designed, like the main unit itself, by Yves Behar, and has a target price of just $99.

“Shooters, platformers, sports games, arcade classics and experimental indie games just feel bigger on a TV screen” the Ouya team says. “It’s how most of us grew up gaming.”

Inside, there’s NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 chipset running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich paired with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of flash storage. It has an HDMI output, capable of up to 1080p HD, along with WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 and a single USB 2.0 ports.

The controller, meanwhile, is wireless and includes two analog sticks, a d-pad, eight action buttons and a system button, along with a touchpad for controlling games ported from smartphones or tablets.

However, the Ouya won’t be limited to gaming. Since the software is open-source and, so it’s said, easy to root (without voiding the warranty), and has easy access to the internal design, the team expects various third-party apps including media streaming and more.

At time of writing, the Ouya project is already past the $150,000 pledge point in just a few hours time, with over 1,000 backers, and it could well challenge the Pebble smartwatch for Kickstarter appeal. Still, shipments are not scheduled to start until March 2013.

Ouya aims to rekindle consoles with Android Kickstarter is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

At least one group of people thinks that Android is a solid platform for video games. There is a new device in development that uses Google’s mobile OS specifically for game playback on a TV, and it carries the code name “Ouya.” It doesn’t appear to have an official license from Google yet, and it’s unclear if the developers intend to go that route.

After all, it’s already being touted that users will be able to hack the device in order to play unofficial game titles through the Android software. Streaming video game devices appear to be the big thing these days. Onlive is as popular as ever, and is poised to get a large boost when it fully integrates with Google TV. And Sony just acquired Gaikai, the other key player in the “Netflix for video games” market.

Of course, Android isn’t exactly the biggest name in the world of gaming, or even in the world of mobile gaming. So it certainly will be a test to make Ouya a success. According to a now-removed listing on AngelList.com, some of the individuals involved in the Ouya project are people who have previously been part of such high-profile projects as One Laptop Per Child, Jawbone Jambox, Peek, and Color. It’s expected that the Ouya will sell for $99.

[via Examiner]

Ouya Android device will be a $99 game streaming box is written by Mark Raby & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Usually you don’t see many game console startups as the video game industry is very difficult to break into (the barrier of entry is in the billions of dollars), but we can’t help but take interest into this particular one. Ouya is a $99 Android gaming console that you can hook up to your T.V. Ouya is just a concept at this point, but it was designed by famous designer Yves Behar, who also designed the Jawbone Jambox and One Laptop per Child. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Android botnet discovered, Samsung Galaxy Chat announced,