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New hackable game console running on Google OS aims to "upend" market, asking for $950,000 on crowd-funding website, shooting to launch by March 2013.
UPDATE: Ouya's Kickstarter has been succesfully funded and is at more than $1 million pledged as of 2 p.m. PDT, less than a day after its launch.
A new console is hoping to come to market, and it's not from Microsoft, Sony, or Nintendo. It's called Ouya, and it runs on Google's Android operating system, will sell for under $100, and is aiming to "upend" the current console market. But before that can happen, the creators--also called Ouya--are asking for $950,000 on crowd-funding site Kickstarter by August 9.
Those who pledge $10 or more to the Ouya Kickstarter campaign will be able to reserve a username for the console prior to launch. For $25 or more, backers will be able to reserve a username and have an emblem emblazoned next to their tag. For $90 or more, gamers will receive everything already mentioned, as well as a Ouya console (plus extra for shipping), and a controller (plus $30 for a second controller).
Backers of $225 or more will receive a Ouya console, two controllers with their username permanently etched in, and all perks mentioned above. Those who pledge $699 or more--aimed at developers--will score a first-run Ouya console, early software development kit access, two controllers, and promotional assistance for their games for 12 months.
Users who back the Ouya campaign at $1,337 or more will receive the Elite Developer Special promotion. This offer grants users everything mentioned above, as well as a direct email contact to Ouya developers, and an invitation to the Ouya launch party in Los Angeles.
Gamers looking to dig even deeper into their wallets to support Ouya can spend a day with designer Yves Behar in San Francisco for pledging $5,000 or more. The final, uppermost pledge tier is called The Angel List, and is being offered for backers of $10,000 or more. Those who give at this rate will have their username and backer number engraved on every first-run Ouya console, and will be invited to Los Angeles to have dinner with designers, and attend the console's launch party.
As for the system itself, Ouya will plug into television sets gamers already own, and will ship with a custom controller (pictured above) sometime by March 2013. Any developer can create games for the system, which will support high-definition output via its Tegra3 chipset. It has 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal flash storage, and boasts WiFi and Bluetooth support.
All games for the Ouya will be free-to-play initially, though developers will be allowed to offer a paid version of their titles as well as in-game items for sale. According to the console's announcement release, it will play games that run the gamut of indie to AAA, including "mainstream titles." Additionally, the Ouya will support Android apps, and will launch with live-streaming service TwitchTV.
The Ouya is also entirely hackable. According to its creators, gamers who root the system--a process described as "easy"--will not void their warranty. Additionally, for those looking to hack the hardware itself, the console opens with a screwdriver, and has USB ports for custom-made peripherals.
The Ouya console has already drawn support from a range of well-known developers, including ThatGameCompany's Jenova Chen, original Xbox designer Ed Fries, inXile Entertainment founder Brian Fargo, and Minecraft creator Mojang.
Ouya the company was founded by Julie Uhrman, who had previously worked at GameFly and Vivendi Universal. The Ouya game console was designed by Yves Behar, a design entrepreneur who founded design and branding firm Fuseproject in 1999, and is current chief operating officer at consumer electronics firm Jawbone.
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