GameStick Delayed Again, Now Launching October 29

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By Jane McEntegart
published

PlayJam says delay is necessary to ensure everything works as it should.

Earlier this month, we heard that PlayJam was shooting for a September release for its GameStick console. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like the console will make it to market this month. Originally slated for an April release, the Android console is now scheduled for an October 29 launch. This is the third delay for GameStick and Engadget cites PlayJam CEO Jasper Smith as saying the delay is down to 'stringent QA standards.'

 

"There were some issues there that we thought needed to be solved, there were some issues that came out of watching what others had done, that meant that we should solve some other issues," he's quoted as saying. "So the unfortunate result is that pushed things back."

Though it's disappointing, the console is still making it to market less than a year after it appeared on Kickstarter. GameStick only launched on Kickstarter in January of this year and its funding period expired on February 1 (30 days after it launched) having raised almost $650,000. The base device will sport a Cortex-A9 based Amlogic 8726-MX SoC, 1 GB of DDR3 RAM, 8 GB of internal storage, Wireless N and Bluetooth LE 4.0 connectivity, and a custom "forked" version of Google's Android "Jelly Bean" platform. The stick-shaped console will plug into any HDTV's HDMI port and can be shoved into the Bluetooth controller for easy storage when not in use.

According to Engadget, those that backed the Kickstarter can expect their console to arrive "three to four weeks before retail." It'll be available at GameStop, Amazon and GAME in the UK and is expected to carry a price tag of $79.99 (or £79.99 in the UK). The U.S. and UK will get the console first, with launches for the rest of Europe, Canada, and Middle East expected before the end of the year.

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Jane McEntegart
7 Comments Comment from the forums
  • nevilence
    there seems to be a sad trend forming with crowd funded technology, I am glad I havent jumped on the bandwagon yet. hope for all the backers it pans out well
    Reply
  • audiophillia
    I just hope this thing is easy to root. I am mostly just interested in the hardware package more then the gamestick market place.
    Reply
  • JD88
    Is there some reason these "consoles" are unable to take advantage of the Play Store? I wouldn't mind having something like this if it meant I could play the games I've already purchased on it. I'm tired of having to MHL my S3 to my TV.
    Reply
  • fixxxer113
    11527652 said:
    Is there some reason these "consoles" are unable to take advantage of the Play Store? I wouldn't mind having something like this if it meant I could play the games I've already purchased on it. I'm tired of having to MHL my S3 to my TV.

    Licensing fees. Companies that make Android products have to get into a contract with Google and pay a fee to include Play Store in their devices. That's why also some cheapo chinese tablets don't have it. It would raise cost.

    I have heard though, that there is a way to sideload the Play store app, but I don't know how.


    Reply
  • WithoutWeakness
    11529077 said:
    11527652 said:
    Is there some reason these "consoles" are unable to take advantage of the Play Store? I wouldn't mind having something like this if it meant I could play the games I've already purchased on it. I'm tired of having to MHL my S3 to my TV.
    Licensing fees. Companies that make Android products have to get into a contract with Google and pay a fee to include Play Store in their devices. That's why also some cheapo chinese tablets don't have it. It would raise cost.

    I have heard though, that there is a way to sideload the Play store app, but I don't know how.
    I hope you can sideload the Play Store because otherwise developer support is going to be crippled. It's also a little absurd that they can't strike an agreement with Google to get the Play Store on this. They hit $650K in funding off of a $100K goal and will only make more money once they start selling these in stores. They have no angel investors to pay back so they'll be sitting on a pile of money. If they can't work out a deal with Google to get even better app support on this thing then it might as well be dead in the water.
    Reply
  • ricky_d
    Nice little thing. This is like a "sidearm" console, so it's a good thing it's small. Hope it will have the horse powers for some action though.
    Reply
  • modsuperstar
    @JD88 It's because these consoles want monetization from their stores. The MOJO is going to have the play store, but it's also going to be significantly higher priced. Their business model simply wouldn't work if they were selling a $99 console and not getting a cut of app sales.
    Reply