Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in

Mad Catz Now Shipping M.O.J.O. Android Games Console

By - Source: Mad Catz | B 13 comments

Mad Catz announced on Tuesday the launch of its Android gaming console, M.O.J.O. Unlike the OUYA and GameStick, the M.O.J.O. has full access to Google Play, meaning that all games customers have purchased through Google's storefront will be accessible and (presumably) playable on the new console. The OUYA and GameStick provide closed networks, forcing owners to re-purchase their games through their own custom stores.

"The M.O.J.O. Micro-Console for Android is designed to appeal to tech savvy gamers due to its high-performance hardware, open software platform and our ecosystem of GameSmart accessories," said Darren Richardson, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. "M.O.J.O. is a perfect example of what's achievable on the Android platform, capable of delivering a superlative Smart TV experience and fulfilling the promise of core gaming on the mobile platform."

The M.O.J.O. packs a Nvidia Tegra 4 chip clocked at 1.8 GHz, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot for even more storage. The console also features 100 Mbit Ethernet, Wireless N and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, HDMI output, a USB 2.0 port, a USB 3.0 port, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Android 4.2.2 "Jelly Bean" is the OS of choice, and comes with Google Play and Nvidia's TegraZone app already pre-installed. The console is also bundled with a C.T.R.L.R gamepad.

"The perfect solution for Internet browsing, the C.T.R.L.R is capable of replicating mouse movement on the big screen, comes with a full complement of media hot keys and is compatible with Bluetooth enabled Android smart phones and Window PC's, delivering the core gaming experience to multiple devices," reads the company's press release.

The C.T.R.L.R wireless gamepad features media buttons and a three-position switch allowing users to move from Game Smart mode, Mouse mode and PC mode. In Game Smart mode, the controller acts like your standard gaming peripheral. In Mouse Mode, the left thumbstick replicates a finger so that gamers can play "touch" titles like Angry Birds. In PC mode, the devices replicates a PC gaming controller.

During E3 in June, Mad Catz pitched the device to be more than just a game machine. A USB hub was plugged into the back, allowing the company to show that users can connect a keyboard and mouse, open up a document editor, and use M.O.J.O. like a small Android-based computer. The I/O panel on the back plays host to the ports.

Two months ago we confirmed with Mad Catz that the M.O.J.O. will eventually be capable of streaming PC games from a desktop based on Nvidia's "Keplar" GeForce GPUs. "The plan is indeed for M.O.J.O. to enable streaming from compatible PC's, allowing gamers to play their PC titles on the living room TV," a rep told Tom's. "However, we have not yet confirmed when this functionality will be enabled. For PC streaming to work, M.O.J.O. will require a simple update which we hope will be available shortly after launch."

For more information about M.O.J.O., or to purchase the $249.99 micro console directly from Mad Catz, head here.

Discuss
Ask a Category Expert

Create a new thread in the News comments forum about this subject

Example: Notebook, Android, SSD hard drive

This thread is closed for comments
  • 0 Hide
    DarkSable , December 10, 2013 9:10 PM
    I like the idea, but don't trust Mad Catz; never had anything they made that didn't feel cheap.

    They also should have waited till the Adreno 350/400 *(naming is still unknown) comes out in a few months.
  • 1 Hide
    hsyuts , December 10, 2013 9:22 PM
    @DarkSable
    Waiting for the new Adreno GPU makes no sense. The development cycle is at least two quarters, so the Adreno GPU was probably not even announced when the development started.
  • 0 Hide
    VGReporter , December 10, 2013 9:22 PM
    Agree with DarkSable, worse still this hardware hasn't actually been released as scheduled. They're hoping to hit Dec 23rd now.
  • Display all 13 comments.
  • 1 Hide
    clonazepam , December 10, 2013 10:07 PM
    clean the counter and peel the protective plastic off before snapping the photo... i know.. its probably a stock photo or something hehe...
  • 0 Hide
    Jordan Nwokolo , December 10, 2013 10:56 PM
    Powered by Tegra Soc huh ?? No Doubt..this M.o.j.o is Far Superior to next-gen Consoles :love: 
  • 0 Hide
    itchyisvegeta , December 10, 2013 11:03 PM
    Leave it to a company with a history of poor quality accessories to release an Android console that everyone has been wanting.
  • 0 Hide
    gsxrme , December 11, 2013 4:42 AM
    $249 is $75 too high
  • 1 Hide
    ZolaIII , December 11, 2013 6:16 AM
    Concept is good for the future!
    Tagra 4 soc is coming a little bit to late on the actual market & price is to big compared to similar products with a same hardware & probably better build quality.
  • 0 Hide
    biohazrdfear , December 11, 2013 7:45 AM
    Oh great, another Android console...
  • 0 Hide
    Grandmastersexsay , December 11, 2013 8:08 AM
    More expensive than a Wii and you can only play crappy android games like angry birds? Sounds like a winner for sure.
  • -1 Hide
    kyle382 , December 11, 2013 8:45 AM
    gamers either hate mad catz because they used to make terrible controllers OR because they bought cyborg out and turned their controllers into cheap garbage but charge the same price. Just stop Mad Catz, you have failed.
  • 0 Hide
    Dominik Hoga , December 11, 2013 2:45 PM
    why not 1 Gb/s ethernet?!
  • 0 Hide
    XexisKhan , December 12, 2013 2:33 PM
    Mine just came in today, cant wait to get home and try it out.. Woohoo! you can hate the old mad catz if you like, but the R.A.T. has done me right for 3 years now, and the Cyborg keyboard is still bangin! get a fresh opinion before spewing hate to others. this system is going to dominate. I guess I'll know for sure tonight! :D