Mad Catz has unveiled their entry into the Android micro-console space, the M.O.J.O. Similar to the GameStick and OUYA, it’s powered by Android and plugs into your TV via HDMI to play Android-based games. However, Mad Catz hopes to differentiate M.O.J.O. from the competition.First, M.O.J.O. will not be a sub-$100 device. While Mad Catz has not released a price yet, they have stated that this will be a far more powerful console than other Android devices, and this will be reflected in its price.
Another way the company has separated itself from the pack, and another reason for the increased price, is that Mad Catz will not have its own closed ecosystem like the competing Android consoles. Instead, it will support the Amazon App Store and Google Play right out of the box, allowing the user to download any title previously purchased onto the M.O.J.O. As long as the game being installed has support for its controller, the M.O.J.O. will run it.
To continue the flurry of acronyms, Mad Catz has unveiled their C.T.R.L.R. controller. This device is compatible with both the M.O.J.O. and PCs, as well as other devices with Bluetooth enabled. It also has a third “mouse mode” which allows the analog sticks to emulate touch controls. While not ideal, it provides a method to play games that do not use gamepads, such as Angry Birds, on the M.O.J.O.
Expect M.O.J.O. to release sometime in Q4 2013.
