Ouya Android-powered game console now up for pre-order

Announced a few months ago and priming itself for retail in April 2013, the Ouya is a new video game console that’s primed at introducing Android-based software and games to the video game industry. 

As a console that came into fruition via a Kickstarter campaign in July, the upcoming new console is the result of the efforts of Boxer8, headed by game industry veteran Julie Uhrman. Fuseproject founder and designer Yves Behar was brought in to collaborate on the project, along with product manager Muffi Ghadiali. Backers were quickly gathered, and soon the console saw signs of life. 

 

Built using open-source software technology that runs on the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, the unit has a Quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 CPU powering it, and an 8 GB internal flash memory storage device and 1 GB RAM for memory. It supports 1080p HDMI Display, and visuals are supported by NVIDIA ULP GeForce GPU graphics card. It also has a 3in touchpad wireless controller, with eight buttons, two analog sticks, a d-pad, and a system button attached to it. With an introductory price of $99, the Ouya is prepared to enter a world where Sony’s Playstation 3 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 are the reigning rulers of the console market. 

 

Via an update on Kotaku, the Ouya is now available for pre-order. The console doesn’t have a lot of launch titles announced for it yet, but one big name confirmed for it is a port of Final Fantasy III by Square Enix. Another game in development is a prequel to Human Element, an upcoming zombie game slated for release in PC and Mobile Devices by video game company Robotoki. Namco Bandai is also in negotiations to port some of their existing titles to the Ouya, but not much other info has surfaced so far. Freeware open media player Plex Media Center is also coming to the system.

 

More information can be read about the Ouya, as well as pre-order info, by visiting the official website, www.ouya.tv. — TJD, GMA News