If you thought that the Android based gaming console wars were just getting started, you’re right. First came the Kickstarter sensation the Ouya, then Blustacks announced one and now gaming accessory manufacturer Mad Catz have announced that they too will be entering the fray with an Android based gaming console called Project M.O.J.O. that will be unveiled at the E3 gaming expo in Los Angeles next week.
The announcement came during the companies earnings report where Mad Catz CEO Darren Richardson described the micro-console as ‘it’s like a supercharged smartphone, without a display, that you plug into a flatscreen TV’. Engadget have theorised that a recent NVIDIA partnership could point towards a Tegra based system, which would give Project M.O.J.O access to ‘TegraZone’ games.
The official announcement regarding Project M.O.J.O was included in the press release from the earnings call :
At next week’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles we will unveil the keystone product in our GameSmart initiative, Project M.O.J.O., an android micro console configured to harness the maximum gaming horsepower from an android device. The Project M.O.J.O. android micro console is being designed to interact seamlessly with our GameSmart controllers, mice, keyboards and headsets. With our long history in the gaming industry, Mad Catz has the technical capability, product breadth, global distribution, and developer and publisher relationships that uniquely position our company to embark on this ambitious initiative. We believe the GameSmart initiative fits perfectly with our long-term strategy of designing innovative products for passionate gamers and our strategy of expanding into emerging markets.
Mad Catz has released details on their site, where they describe the console as ‘the cornerstone product in the Mad Catz GameSmart range’. IGN has been given the exclusive details on the device, which is described as still in prototyping stages, but will have 16GB of internal storage as well as a microSD card slot, Bluetooth Smart 4.0 and come with a Mad Catz C.T.R.L.R. Bluetooth controller. The console will come with two USB ports to connect additional controllers and accessories, HDMI out, Wi-Fi, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Having received my Ouya and played with it, albeit briefly; there are a number of factors that Android gaming consoles need to address. It will be interesting to see exactly how Mad Catz intends to differentiate themselves in this market. Mad Catz does have a presence here in Australia so it’s possible we could see a release of any gaming console here in Australia, we’ll let you know any details as they come up.
