Bad Robot: The Rise of The Android Console

Was it a little conceited to assume that a gaming blog's readership

would understand an obscure Red Dwarf  reference?

Android overtook Apple's iOS as the dominant mobile platform some time ago, and the gap between it and its competitors is getting wider all the time. Indeed, soon Google may be able to boast the same kind of monopoly on mobile devices as Microsoft used to have on desktop computers. Android's open source nature makes it an excellent gaming platform, but up until recently its potential to escape its mobile shackles and power big screen experiences had been left untapped. OUYA, released in July this year, was the first dedicated Android console out of the gate, but now a number of other companies have similar projects in the pipeline due for release before the year is out. Here's a look at the current crop of Android consoles:

OUYA

Crowdfunded on Kickstarter to the tune of $8.5 million, and arguably the project that started it all, OUYA's success in its first few months since release has been modest at best. The console's intentions were honourable enough; a traditional box and pad setup, low cost games with obligatory free trials and a bespoke interface overlaying the world's most popular mobile operating system. What could go wrong?

A lot, as it turns out. Alarm bells started to ring when kickstarter backers began receiving pre-release units that had either been damaged in transit, or arrived intact but still suffered from shoddy build quality. Things got worse when the units were connected up, as the interface was sluggish and registration of a credit card was revealed as being mandatory to even use the device.  Given that OUYA does not have access to the Google Play Store, the lack of quality software on the console's storefront was also deeply troubling to early adopters, who were understandably concerned that big name developers seemed to be giving OUYA a wide berth. 

Since launch things have got better; system updates have fixed the interface's sluggishness and the software library is growing steadily, but OUYA seems to be slowly trundling along, living from day to day, doing little to improve its value proposition. Its creators have previously commented on the possibility of releasing yearly updates to the OUYA, and a cynical man might say the company appears to have already written off this iteration off.  

Gamestick

The Gamestick project bears many similarities to OUYA; it uses Android, has its own storefront completely separate to the Google Play Store and was brought to market by a legion of credit card wielding well wishers on Kickstarter. The key difference, and the console's coup de grace, is the form factor. The Gamestick is a tiny flash drive sized console that plugs into a standard TV HDMI port and pairs with a specially designed bluetooth controller for quick, easy and most importantly, portable gaming thrills. 

Gamestick doesn't make its retail debut until later this month, so all there is to go on so far is feedback from industry pundits and information from the console's official website. The user experience seems to be a step up from OUYA, but the list of confirmed games is just as disappointing, comprised almost entirely of shameless clones of big name franchises and niche indie curiosities. 

Gamestick's appealing form factor is a considerable advantage over OUYA, but it needs more quality software fast in order to avoid falling foul of the same consumer apathy.

Project M.O.J.O.

Mad Catz, a UK-based company that cut its teeth making peripherals for living room gaming's big boys, announced a surprise entry into the emerging Android console space with Project M.O.J.O.. The initial reaction was strong, as the console sports an impressive spec sheet, a controller altogether more suited to serious gaming and, crucially, offers full, unfettered access to the Google Play store. The console can emulate touchscreen controls using Bluetooth mouse connectivity and Mad Catz are working with developers to retrofit some of Google Play's greatest hits with controller support.

It all sounded fantastic, until the thorny issue of pricing came up. Mad Catz's Project M.O.J.O. will retail for the princely sum of £220 when it hits stores this Christmas. Such a price point puts it beyond the realms of impulse purchasing for most, and makes it more expensive than both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. Nobody in their right minds will part with that kind of money for an Android console, so unless the company backpedals, M.O.J.O. is effectively dead on arrival.

Amazon's Rumoured Microconsole

The rumored Amazon Microconsole is little more than vaporware and rumour at the moment, but if it does turn into a reality, you'd expect it to be a music and video focused device with gaming as an afterthought given the company's traditional comfort zones. It would probably use Amazon's Silk Android overlay and the same curated Amazon App Store present on its Kindle Fire line of tablets, although it has to be said that Amazon's app store sports a generous dollop of Google Play content in stark contrast to OUYA and Gamestick's sparse offerings.


An Android console is a compelling idea, and I think there's a real market for a low cost living room device with access to games and media streaming services. Somebody will sucessfully tap into this market sooner or later, but whether it'll be any of the devices above that sucessfully bring everybody's favourite little green robot into the living room remains to be seen.