

The OUYA console's prototype A Kickstarter campaign to raise money for the launch of an open source games console based around the Tegra 3 chipset and Android operating system has surpassed its $950,000 fund raising target in less than 24 hours. At the time of writing, the project has raised $2.22 million dollars and has 28 days to go before the funding period closes. This makes it the most successful Kickstarter campaign to date.

OUYA's console and controller, which will cost around $99, is capable of harnessing the range of games for the Android phone and tablet market and bring them to the big TV screen. But although mobile games being transferred to the big screen are the most obvious option, OUYA hopes to see new titles developed specifically for the console and is looking for indie developers to create new titles or bring existing titles to the platform.

The company already has prototypes and industrial designs and went to Kickstarter to fund the process of going from those to production ready models and estimates that it will be shipping production units in March 2013. Those devices are planned to have 1GB of RAM and 8GB of flash storage to back up the Tegra 3 quad core processor, an HDMI connection to support 1080p HD displays, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth LE 4.0, one USB port and a wireless controller with two analogue sticks, a D-pad, eight action buttons and a touchpad. The console should be running Android 4.0 say the developers.

In the first update, the OUYA team say they are now working on "stretch goals" to define what they will do with the extra money raised. The company has already given a number of assurances on how it interprets the term "open", saying that hackers will be able to root the device without losing their warranty and the internals will be accessible with standard hardware. They will, though, be "curating" the storefront for games to allow for easy selling of games by developers.

(djwm)