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.
