The Kickstarter-funded Android-based mini console, Ouya, will has entered its final stages of production and is set for release in North America this June.
Ouya can be preordered right now from retailers such as Amazon, GameStop, Best Buy and Target. A bundle containing the mini console and one controller costs $99 with each additional controller retailing for $49.99.
"It's a premium price for a controller, but the inclusion of the touchpad really makes it a premium in the marketplace," Ouya CEO Julie Uhrman explained.
Ouya raised more than $8.5 million through Kickstarter, nearly ten times its original $950,000 campaign goal. The mini console’s 63,416 backers will receive their units in March.
"The number of orders have grown each month," said Uhrman. "We haven't disclosed any numbers. I think it's fair to say to get established players in the retail space excited about pre-selling Ouya speaks to the excitement in the marketplace. We've had 68,000 backers, we have more than that in pre-orders today."
Ouya is powered by a Tegra 3 quad core processor with 1 GB RAM and 8 GB on-board flash memory. It has its own custom TV UI running on top of Android 4.0 operating system in addition to its own game store and development SDK. Ouya’s wireless controller sports a touchpad in addition to two analog sticks, d-pad, eight action buttons and a system button. Rooting the device is allowed and has no effect on its warranty.
