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Android gaming console takes Kickstarter by storm

An Android-based gaming console called Ouya has raised over US$1.25 million in the first day of its Kickstarter campaign.

Michelle Starr Science editor
Michelle Starr is CNET's science editor, and she hopes to get you as enthralled with the wonders of the universe as she is. When she's not daydreaming about flying through space, she's daydreaming about bats.
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Michelle Starr
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An Android-based gaming console called Ouya has raised over US$1.25 million in the first day of its Kickstarter campaign, topping its goal of US$950K, right off the bat.

The Ouya console.
(Credit: Ouya)

"The console market is pushing developers away," the Ouya team wrote on its Kickstarter page. "We've seen a brain drain: some of the best, most creative game-makers are focused on mobile and social games, because those platforms are more developer-friendly. And the ones who remain focused on console games can't be as creative as they'd like."

To that end, the team has designed the Ouya console: part Android gaming platform to be hooked up to HD TVs, in a bid to return console gaming to its roots, part dev kit to put gaming development in the hands of the masses.

For developers, there is one condition: all Ouya titles must have at least some gameplay available for free.

The US$30 controller. (Credit: Ouya)

"Ouya could change AAA game development, too," says the page. "Forget about licensing fees, retail fees and publishing fees."

Best of all, the console itself is only US$99 (plus US$30 for a controller).

"We are trying to leverage all that is great — free to play, openness, touch screen, bringing what is familiar to TV — and we want to wrap it up in this great bow — affordability and game-ability, for gamers and developers alike," Ouya founder and CEO Julie Urhman told CNET.

The Ouya's specifications are:

  • Tegra3 quad-core processor

  • 1GB RAM

  • 8GB of internal flash storage

  • HDMI connection, with support for up to 1080p HD

  • Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n

  • Bluetooth LE 4.0

  • USB 2.0 (one)

  • Wireless controller with standard controls (two analog sticks, d-pad, eight action buttons, a system button) and a touchpad

  • Android 4.0.

If you want to nab one of these consoles, head over to the Kickstarter page — they're going fast.