Over the past few years, the video game market has changed dramatically. In the past, the market was dominated by players like Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft, but the proliferation of smartphones has turned the industry on its heels. While there are still millions of consumers who are willing to buy $60 games for a traditional gaming console, the majority of consumers are satisfied with cheap or even free games on their mobile devices. But why limit your gaming experience to your phone when you could play those same titles on a large screen TV?
Enter GameStick – an upcoming Android-powered gaming system for your TV that’s not much bigger than your USB flash drive. The GameStick project has been in development for over a year, but the developers are hoping to raise $100,000 in the next 30 days in an effort to finance the manufacturing process and get the product into the hands of consumers. In a few short hours, GameStick has already managed to secure $25,000. Those who back the GameStick project for $69 or more are promised a GameStick (console + controller) bundle.
Ouya may be a step ahead of GameStick, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little competition in this new segment. We wouldn’t be surprised at all if other players like Roku didn’t jump into the segment if Ouya and GameStick prove that there’s enough consumer appetite to make a profit.
Currently, GameStick is expected to launch in April. More details about the new Kickstarter project, check out the videos below.
