$99 Console Aims to Reinvent Gaming

Kickstarter project OUYA welcomes hackers
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 10, 2012 4:50 PM CDT

Video gaming is about to go indie. Running on Android, a new console will encourage developers to alter its software and hardware to suit their specifications. What's more, players will get lots of games for free, though developers can make money on things like virtual goods. OUYA is currently seeking donations on crowd-funding site Kickstarter, where it hopes to raise almost $1 million, Business Insider reports. With much innovation currently focused on mobile gaming, "we want to bring games back to the living room," says CEO Julie Uhrman. As such, the console is designed to be used with a TV as its screen.

Users will download games onto OUYA, whose design is centered on a controller with traditional buttons and an analog stick, plus a touchpad. You'll also be able to "use your phone as a controller," Uhrman notes, and there'll be a USB port as well as BlueTooth for extra add-ons. And since OUYA uses the Android operating system, it'll be able to do much more than just play games. "Could Netflix be on this? Absolutely," Uhrman says. It should be available early next year, notes Forbes. (More gaming stories.)

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