A new startup is looking to battle Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo in the living room with a brand-new console with an inexpensive price point.

Ouya, built on a custom-based Android operating system targeted to launch early next year, is open to any developer looking to publish a game. The developers also set pricing; the one catch is that every game must have a free portion available, whether through a demo or free-to-play model. The console also supports other Android apps, such as TwitchTV, which comes included.

Though some private funding has been secured already, the company has set up a Kickstarter page asking for an additional $950,000. You can visit Ouya's page right here.

So far, no games have been confirmed, but a number of notable developers are already praising the device, such as Mojang, the developer behind Minecraft, Brian Fargo of inXile Entertainment, and Jenova Chen of thatgamecompany.

Below are the current hardware specs.

Console 

? Tegra 3 -- Quad-core processor 

? 1 GB LPDDR2 RAM 

? 8 GB on-board flash 

? HDMI connection to the TV at 1080p HD 

? WiFi 802.11bgn

? Bluetooth LE 4.0 

? Enclosure opens with standard screws

Controller 

? Wireless controller with 2.4Ghz RF 

? Standard game controls (two analog sticks, d-pad, eight action buttons, a system button) 

? Touchpad, for porting mobile games more easily 

? 2x AA batteries 

? Enclosure opens with standard screws

OS and software

? Android 4.0 

? Custom TV UI

?Integrated custom game store -- find and download games (and other apps)

? Includes SDK for game development 

? Ability to root device without voiding warranty

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/07/10/ouya.aspx

Holy...there's already over $1 millions pledged in less than a day. This could be very interesting for the console industry, and at this price I'll likely get my hand on one as well when it launches. I really hope it becomes a success, as this could definitively bring a change in the console industry (whatever change that might be).

That's a boatload of hardware for $100.

thats awesome, but the question is how can they afford to build it and publish it and everything else just for 100$

Isn't the old saying "If it sounds to good to be true it usually is " those people that pledged  I hope there not being scamed ..

They're going end up getting millions more than the 950k they asked for, it's over a mil already and jumps up 10k every couple of minutes.

This is insane these guys are almost double what they were aiming for and the first day isnt even over yet. I can see something like this getting up to 10 maybe even 15 mil in support i just hope they pull it off and dont piss off the almost 14k supporters they have so far.

Interesting. I'm eager to see how this turns out.

while im a pc gamer. not big on tv gaming as i find the quality of graphics is lower on tvs (least the older tvs im used to)

this console does sound pretty amazing, be very interesting to see how it plays out.  not sure how they plan to compete with the big wigs but i can see alot of indie groups using this. as there are already a ton of flash based indie games using android systems for their games.  i dont think minecraft will be on it though, as they signed a contract with xbox/microsoft for the title.

will be interesting if this system will allow for emulation as well. running super mario or metal gear on it for example will really open it to the whole spectrum of games.  though that might be a toughy area they may not want to touch do to all the copy right stuff.

mind you they did state they want to open it up to "hackers" to make the system their own (i think they actually mean crackers though... as it sounds more like a code cracking and less actual hacking)

Uh, why would any PC gamer buy this? emulations, media, indie games, etc are all done on your PC already. Then again I guess it's made for people with proper consoles that wants a media station, and for indie devs to expand into console ''gaming''.

Android games are designed to be casual, I really don't see the point playing angry birds on my 60 inch tv...I got my Playstation for the real deal. Are there some more harcore games on android? sure but again inferoir graphics and gameplay. There's also the fact that as a home console this will be outdated by 2013 and it ships in march that year, if not by 2013 then 2014 so no longevity. Another problem I see is the need for devs to put extra effort making assets in 1080p and designing controls for the controller which many games such as angry brids just aren't desgined for. 

It'd be interesting to see how it pans out but honestly I don't think people are really thinking this project through. 

Isn't it just mobile games on a console? Or will they be different games then mobile?

Also damn people really love kickstarter don't they. Everyone seems like they're pledging $$$$$.

Originally posted by ForTheCity

Isn't it just mobile games on a console? Or will they be different games then mobile?

Also damn people really love kickstarter don't they. Everyone seems like they're pledging $$$$$.

It will be an open-ended platform, that will definitively support mobile games (because they will be the quickest to port) but should also support completely new indie titles (we'll start hearing more about that when the SDK is released). You'll also be able to modify your console (hardware, most likely software as well) without voiding the warranty.

This just seems like it's going to end badly. Then again, maybe they just have a great deal on hardware and work for free. 

The reason they can build this system for $100 bucks is the same reason google can sell there Nexus 7 for $199. It runs on the new tegra 3 proccesor which was designed to be low cost. And no, i don't mean the tegra 3 proccessor thats inside the transformer prime. Nvidia came out with a new low cost platform which makes it cheaper to build budget tablets with a bang. And the GPU inside this console will be the 12 core GPU that Nvidia made. All in all, this is a quality console. ANd just a heads up, mobile gaming has advanced at such a rate, that its almost up to par with the likes of consoles.

Originally posted by Loktofeit

This just seems like it's going to end badly.

^

It's either going to be a scam, face financial hardships for the low price point and *still* few takers, or be sued by any of the top three (likely Sony) for some kind of copyright infringement - even the square, circle, X, triangle face buttons on the controller shown is enough to make a case of it.

Not to be a party pooper, but neither the hardware nor the pricetag matter if the games it plays aren't worthwhile. So while it's nice that the three heavy hitters are finally getting some new competition, it's not the first time that's happened, and whenever it has the exact same 3 stood on top while those attempting to break into the market sank to the bottom simply because publishers weren't interested in them.

I'll reserve my excitement for news of the available gaming library.