PlayJam has announced that its Android-powered gaming platform will launch worldwide on October 29th. The crowd-funded console was originally slated for June but was delayed in order to carry out further QA testing.
Partnering with retailers including GAME, Gamestop, and Amazon, GameStick will release at £79.99. Aside from being able to download and run your favourite Android games in HD (similar to OUYA), GameStick also boasts unmatched portability.
If you take a look at the official developer un-boxing video above you’ll see that it’s actually the same size as a USB thumb drive. It’s so small that the GameStick controller actually doubles up as a way to safely store and carry the device. The video also demonstrates the easy set-up process, GameStick powering itself via an HDMI connection.
We’re hoping to get our hands on the final product soon and will be sure to share our impressions.
Source: Press Release
Person678
Personally this is more appealing to me than the Ouya for the extreme portability. Still wouldn’t bother though.
Dazbobaby
this is frustrating as hell for me as a backer, but they’ve kept us up to date and they’ve had some serious problems, problems brought on by the massive response they had.
They’ve had to completely re-tool the machine that make them because they are only designed to make 10,000 units and would wear out, now they’re having to make tens of thousands. This required a whole new set of thinking, planning and manufacturing.
BTW, I was the second backer :)
ron_mcphatty
That’s a beautiful little machine, great price too. Good luck to the inventors, I hope they sell plenty!
hazelam
it continues to astound me how small they can make these games machines these days.
when i started gaming you’d get something the size of a breeze block and the graphics that looked like this.
http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/gamelife/images/2009/03/11/s_pitfall_1.png
now you can get pretty damn good graphics, as shown in the video, in something the size of a lighter.
kids nowdays don’t appreciate how far the technology has come.
that makes me sound really old doesn’t it? ^_^
anyway, on to the unit.
not sure about the design of the pad, but other than that, i’d quite like one.
maybe if you can pair other pads to it, like the Ouya using the DS3, maybe that would be better.
i’ve got to wonder how these kind of devices will do once Sony launch the Vita TV in the west.
i do like that they thought about adding the HDMI extender, knowing that many people have their TVs wall mounted.
little details like that often get forgotten by larger manufacturers.
TSBonyman
What a dinky little gaming console with a smart, simple design. The controller probably wouldn’t suit me for extended play but perfect for a quick gaming fix. One concern i have though is that it seems like the kind of device that could spawn numerous cheap knock-offs.
I hope it all goes well for them, they’ve made a lovely thing.
Bilbo_bobbins
wow, this is bloody good for kids a christmas. It’s cheap, simple and easy to use.
leeroye
I wonder if this will have netflix etc. Might get one for the kids bedroom.
deadwelsh
I would be interested in this if it has access to things like a web browser, and apps like netflix and iplayer.
Portability is a real plus, but as for the games, impressive as they look for such a small device, I dont think anything will rerally tear me away from a fully fledged living room console such as PS4/XBOne when they release.
As already mentioned, will be interesting to see their strategy once the vita tv is released.