Android Gaming Hardware: OUYA, Shield and Nintendo Mobile

OUYA

OUYA is an Android based console funded on Kickstarter. The goal was $950,000, the campaign passed $4 million, and it finished above $8.5 million with more than 68,000 backers.

Item	Detail
Hardware	Tegra 3, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, HDMI, USB, Android 4.0
Kickstarter price	$99, plus $20 shipping outside the US
Canadian pre-order	$119.99 with one controller, $149.99 with two, $209.99 with four
Retail plan	$99.99 console, $49.99 extra controller
Shipping	Expected March, then April for pre-orders

The aim was to make publishing easier and cheaper for developers and give players low-cost games. Reports said retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Target and GameStop would sell it in spring, with a Canadian arrival possible by June. Locations were not confirmed.

Controller and media support

A beta tester said it worked with wired and wireless Xbox 360 controllers and the wireless pads for PS3, Wii and Wii U. An XBMC front end was planned, and testing showed 720p and 1080p mkv, avi and mp4 playback with a quiet console. Ethernet and wifi were built in, and USB storage playback was not working yet due to drivers. Other partners mentioned included a possible Namco Bandai deal.

GameStick

GameStick was the other Android gaming contender, a smaller device launched on Kickstarter after OUYA. After backer feedback, the controller became a rounded design instead of the straight NES-style shape. A separate dock was added with HDMI, an SD slot, Ethernet and three USB ports. Backers could still get one from $79.

Razer Forge TV

Razer announced the Forge TV, a gaming focused Android TV set-top box.

• Snapdragon 805, Adreno 420, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage.
• Bluetooth 4.1, 802.11ac, Ethernet, HDMI and USB 3.0.
• $99 alone or $149 with a controller. Up to four controllers can connect.
• It can stream PC games to the TV. No release date was given.

MOGA controller

A light-hearted Funny Friday post featured the MOGA universal controller, a gamepad accessory for Android phones.

NVIDIA Shield and Tegra Note

Shield was NVIDIA’s first Android handheld gaming console, built on Tegra 4. NVIDIA cut the price from $349 to $299 after feedback from early users at events such as E3 and Google I/O. Pre-order customers got the lower price. Feedback also led to control adjustments.

The Tegra Note was unveiled as a complete tablet platform that NVIDIA designs, updates and hands to partners to brand. It had a suggested price of $199.

Spec	Tegra Note
Display	7 inch, 1280x800 IPS
Chip	Tegra 4, quad-core Cortex-A15 with a fifth battery-saver core
Storage	16GB plus microSD
Cameras	5MP rear, VGA front
Audio and ports	Front stereo speakers with bass-reflex port, micro HDMI
Extras	DirectStylus technology, 10 hours of HD video

Software features included note-taking apps, the SmugMug Camera Awesome app with tap-to-track and 100 fps slow motion video, and TegraZone for optimized games. Release depended on regional partners.

Later, an invitation to an NVIDIA event on March 3 suggested a new Shield device. One rumour pointed to a Shield Tablet 2 with the Tegra X1, which was not expected until later, and another asked whether it was a console. The outcome is not stated here.

Nintendo and mobile games

Nintendo’s president said the company expected about five smartphone games by the end of its fiscal year. The games would be built for smart devices rather than ported, would use familiar characters, and be supported for a long time after release. The first, built with DeNA, was due by year end. It turned out to be Miitomo, a communication style app where users create a Mii avatar and interact with other users, using a freemium model. It was set for March.