Just a few months back, the internet was gushing over the announcement of a tiny, Android-based video game console called the OUYA. Well, history may repeat itself with the introduction of the a new, and very similar, console called the GameStick. However, this Android-based system is actually cheaper and substantially smaller that the OUYA.
In terms of size, the GameStick is impressively small. The console itself resides on a HDMI dongle that is about the same size as a standard USB thumb drive. While being stored or transported, it fits inside of its accompanying Bluetooth controller, which is small enough to fit inside a pocket. This means you can play this console anywhere you want, as long as there is a TV with a spare HDMI port to hook it up to.
Like the aforementioned OUYA, this console is completely Android-based, coming with Android Jelly Bean installed out of the box. The OUYA has had some deep integration with other services such as OnLine, XBMC, and TuneIn. Unfortunately, we have not heard any such news from the GameStick, but in terms of a pure gaming experience, this looks like it could be quite the rival for the OUYA in the burgeoning Android gaming console market.
As far as specifications, the GameStick looks solid. It is powered by a 1.5 Ghz dual-core Amlogic 8726-MX processor, has 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of flash memory for storage. Those are very similar to the specifications of the OUYA, although the OUYA has a quad-core processor, so it has the better of the GameStick in that regard. Everything else is virtually identical. There's 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, 1080p video decoding and Bluetooth LE 4.0 that allows for the connection of a mouse, keyboard and up to four controllers.
No doubt hoping to emulate OUYA's spectacular crowdfunding success, the GameStick's creators are seeking funding through Kickstarter. It just launched on the service about 24 hours ago, and it is already well over halfway to its US$100,000 goal. As the early funding specials ran out rather quickly, if you are interested in preordering a GameStick in time for its planned April 2013 release, the minimum pledge you will need to put forth is $79, which is the planned retail price of the GameStick.
The video pitch from the creators of the GameStick can be viewed below.
Source: GameStick via Kickstarter
