Successful Kickstarter project and highly publicized Android gaming console OUYA has ignited a feeding frenzy as competitors rise to fill the market.
What’s the appeal of the Android console? As developers create games more prolifically and cheaply for mobile phones, hardware manufacturers seek to bridge the gap between mobile and living room. Android-powered platforms could turn these mobile titles into games with longer shelf-lives, accessible from the comfort of the couch. They could also unlock the eager indie developer community, which is eager to reach more players.
Android also offers an easy, open platform to build upon, as we’ve seen from the plethora of ‘droid-friendly phones and tablets. While more popular and profitable games are iOS exclusives, Apple’s walled garden means third parties can’t access its ecosystem. Ultimately, console fragmentation may soon resemble the Android phone and tablet markets, as games must be modified to work with external controllers for every console.
It’s likely only one or two Android consoles will float to the top in the next couple of years, but at this point, it seems to be anyone’s game. We examined the differences in all the Android gaming consoles, so you can decide for yourself.OUYA
From Our Sponsor
