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GameStick wraps up successful Kickstarter run with nearly $650K
With a sum totaling around six times what the folks at PlayJam initially requested, the GameStick Kickstarter campaign can certainly be called a success. The project ended today just shy of $650K ($647,658 to be precise), resulting in its successful funding. Now all the folks at PlayJam have to do is deliver on the promise of their Kickstarter: produce and ship around 5,500 GameStick's by April (not to mention the Dock, and various special edition versions of the GameStick itself). A tall order, but one no doubt assisted by an infusion of cash six times what PlayJam expected to be working with. The model seen above is the final controller design, remodeled based on feedback from the backers that brought GameStick to life. It's the final model backers will see when their unit arrives this April.
GameStick Kickstarter closes at just under $650K
The Kickstarter for PlayJam's dongle-sized GameStick Android console thundered over the finish line with a final total of $647,658, nearly 6 and a half times more than the original goal. With three days to go the fundraiser cleared the $500K mark, but a surge saw it soon pass its last stretch goal of $560K. That means the miniature console, which can plug directly into a TV's HDMI port, will be available in four colors including white, black, red, and one voted for by its Facebook community.PlayJam unveiled the final look of the GameStick controller (into which the console plugs in) earlier this week, the device undergoing ergonomic-minded revisions in light of funder feedback. Playjam's production plan is to get a first commercial run going by next month before shipping the devices to all customers in April.
GameStick controller final design unveiled, docking station detailed
PlayJam revealed the sleek-looking final design of the GameStick controller today. The company also grounded out some details on its docking station. The controller, which incorporates the dongle-like GameStick android console and plugs into the TV's HDMI port, underwent a few changes based on feedback from Kickstarter backers.In addition to the more curvy design, the HDMI stick now sits at the back of the controller. The stick itself gets an expandable 32GB MicroSD card slot, which PlayJam says was added "in response to overwhelming demand." With the Kickstarter campaign sitting at over five times the $100,000 goal with just under three days to go, we can believe the demand.As for the docking station, as you'd expect it charges up the controller for wireless use; Playjam tells us the station connects to the controller via electromagnetic coils. What's clever is that it also supports peripheral hardware such as mice, keyboards, cameras, and microphones for use with GameStick. It also has a slot for a 64GB memory card, taking the GameStick's total potential capacity up to 104GB. %Gallery-177495%
GameStick topples Kickstarter goal in 30 hours, adds XBMC and DLNA post-launch
Now that PlayJam's Kickstarter project, "GameStick," is funded -- reaching and crossing its $100K goal in around 30 hours with over 1,000 backers -- the team's turning to other news, like adding XBMC and DLNA support. That support will arrive via an "optional firmware update in September," says PlayJam CMO Anthony Johnson. That other Android-based, Kickstarter-funded game console, the Ouya, also added XBMC functionality to the console's feature list late last summer, though it's unclear if GameStick's support includes the Android app XBMC is porting to Ouya. But just because the GameStick is funded doesn't mean you can't still pledge dough for one yourself. The $70 tier is sold out, but backing the project for $79 or more will still get you one of the first GameSticks on the market. The project is slated to launch this April.
GameStick Android console is the size of a USB stick
PlayJam, a company that currently operates a social/casual games network for smart/connected TVs called The PlayJam Network, has spent the last 12 months developing "GameStick," a dongle-sized Android gaming console that plugs directly into a television's HDMI port. The device currently exists in several different functional prototype forms, but bringing it to market will require the aid of an ongoing Kickstarter campaign, which has recently surpassed its fundraising goal of $100,000.The GameStick itself runs on Android (Jelly Bean, specifically), outputs at 1080p and will cost $79 when it officially launches in April. The console is powered by an Amlogic 8726-MX mobile processor generally used in Chinese Android tablets, and is supported by one gig of DDR3 RAM and eight gigs of Flash storage.Games are obtained wirelessly through the Internet, naturally, and PlayJam is said to be working with "more than 250 developers" to get titles made for and ported to the system. Beyond that, designers interested in developing for the thing can pledge $500 for access to a prototype unit and the system's SDK one month before the console's commercial debut.
GameStick brings a new Android game console to your TV, fits inside its own controller (video)
OUYA likely won't be the only Android-based game console in town this spring. PlayJam is going beyond its smart TV roots to build the GameStick, a TV-based system that fits into a shell not much bigger than a typical flash drive -- it's small enough that the finished version should stow inside its own Bluetooth gamepad and draw power from the HDMI port, like Roku's Streaming Stick. The Jelly Bean system's dual-core Amlogic processor isn't as powerful as the Tegra 3 in the OUYA, but it should also lead to a slightly more tempting $79 price. PlayJam's remaining challenge is the familiar one of reaching a crowdfunding target: the company says it needs $100,000 to go through its last development hurdles and ship the production GameStick in April. If the firm makes its goal, however, the low-cost gaming world will be delightfully crowded this year.
WD TV Play media hub revealed by the FCC, puts Texas Hold'em on the big screen
Western Digital must not want to leave casual TV gaming to the Roku crowd. Our friends at the FCC have just posted a filing that shows the as yet unannounced WD TV Play taking on its set-top rival with a dedicated gaming channel. We're only given a small peek into the new media hub's gaming universe through the pre-release user manual, but we know that a Texas Hold'em variant and other titles will find their way in through the gaming services Funspot and PlayJam. No signs have surfaced of a Roku-like motion control, either, although the remote has been given an overhaul compared to its WD TV Live cousin with prominent shortcut buttons for Hulu Plus, Netflix and Vudu. There aren't any immediate clues as to when the otherwise pedestrian-looking Play will take over store shelves -- that said, the virtually complete details hint that there's not long to wait.
Panasonic's new Social TV app puts Twitter and Facebook next to your TV shows
Panasonic's Viera TVs have included social apps for a while, but its latest upgrade brings an integrated Social TV app designed to let viewers access Twitter and Facebook streams without totally covering up the action. Also new? A gaming app from PlayJam and a Bollywood movie channel, BigFlix. If you still need a reason to log in, a tie-in with Gameloft will let users download three games including Asphalt5 for free. Check after the break for a couple more screens and the press release -- we'll be over here live tweeting the Kardashian divorce with E! on if you need us.
