Mad Catz opens M.O.J.O. pre-orders

October 9, 2013 | 08:31

Tags: #android #android-console #console-gaming #gamepad #microconsole #mojo #project-mojo

Companies: #mad-catz #ouya

Mad Catz has announced pricing and specifications for its Project M.O.J.O. microconsole, which it plans to launch into the market by December - just in time for the Christmas sales.

Originally unveiled back in June as a prototype, the M.O.J.O. - which, as with the last time we wrote about it, we'll be calling the Mojo from now on if only to save wear on our full-stop and shift keys - is an ARM-powered Android-based microconsole, clearly riffing on the theme popularised by the Kickstarter record-breaking Ouya. Where the Ouya has struggled commercially since launch, however, Mad Catz believes it knows how to part gamers from their cash - despite launching the device just a month after Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4 next-generation full-fat consoles.

Unveiled in prototype form at the Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3) earlier this year, Mad Catz has now finalised the hardware specification of the Mojo: a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 4 system-on-chip processor running at 1.8GHz and coupled to 2GB of RAM provides the grunt, while a 16GB NAND flash partition provides local storage. WiFi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity are included - the latter for connection to the bundled CTRLR gamepad, which will also be available separately for use with other Android devices. Additional connectivity includes a USB 2.0 port, a USB 3.0 port, wired Ethernet, HDMI output - with a cable bundled in the box - headphone output and a micro-SD slot for storage expansion.

Software-wise, the device will run Android 'Jelly Bean' 4.2.2 - not the latest 4.3 release, nor the impending Android 'Kit-Kat' 4.4, although these will likely appear in due time as a free upgrade - without the customised user interface and storefront of its rivals. Instead, Mad Catz is offering a pretty straight-forward Android experience, pre-loading the device with access to the Google Play and Nvidia TegraZone stores but in no way preventing users from sourcing their games elsewhere.

Sadly, Mad Catz appears to have missed its rumoured sub-$100 price-tag: US pre-orders are being taken at a whopping $249.99, while the company's UK storefront is accepting orders at £219.99 - considerably more than the £99.99 for the admittedly Tegra 3-based Ouya.

Full details are available on the company's official website.
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