Gaming has come a long way since the Atari and original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). When people think of gaming, the products most likely to come to mind these days are the Sony Playstation, now in its 4th version, the Microsoft Xbox, whose latest version has been dubbed the Xbox One and the spiritual successor to the NES, the Nintendo Wii U. These ?next-gen? consoles are typically quite expensive (the Xbox One starts at $499 unsubsidized) but feature exceptional graphics.
In recent years a new gaming landscape has started to emerge built on top of the Android operating system that has brought a high-quality, fun gaming experience to the masses for a cheaper price?particularly on mobile devices. Now a new group of consoles (sometimes referred to as ?microconsoles?) aims to bring the Android gaming experience to the big screen, your TV, in order to compete for the attention and dollars of ?traditional? Playstation, Xbox and Wii audiences. While ?hardcore? gamers who love graphics and processor-rich games like the Halo franchise may never defect, parents and casual gamers who are looking for a cheaper or more casual gaming experience will find plenty to like about the new wave of Android gaming devices headed their way.
Learn About Android
Before you do anything, you should familiarize yourself with Android. Android is a free operating system made by Google. Most famous for powering devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S4, Android is flexible, open-source and Google?s answer to Apple?s iOS. In fact, Android has become so popular that the devices it powers outnumber the population of the entire planet.
Learn About Android Gaming Titles
Whereas games for ?next-gen? consoles can cost upwards of $59 for one title, games for microconsoles are usually just a few of dollars each. While you shouldn?t expect mind-blowing graphics on an Android gaming console, that doesn?t mean the games that are available aren?t any fun. Many, but not all, Android games gave a pixelly feel to them, sometimes on purpose as developers are going for a retro feel. You can expect many side-scrollers, puzzles and racing games and less first-person shooters.
Learn About Android Gaming Consoles
While there are a handful of Android-powered gaming devices planned or already in-development, this how-to article will focus on three main consoles: the Ouya, the GameStick and the GamePop. If you?re interested in looking into additional Android-based gaming systems, be sure to check out the Nvidia Shield, the Wikipad, the Woxi SmartPod, the iConsole.tv (billed as the most powerful Android device to-date) and the Amkette Evo TV. Additionally, some smart TVs now offer Android-powered gaming, though the experience is not as sleek as what you will find on dedicated gaming hardware.
Ouya: The Ouya console costs $99 new and comes with one Bluetooth wireless controller (additional controllers cost $49 each) and an HDMI cable. Every single game on the Ouya is free to try, something unique to this console. At the time of writing, there are about 130 games available. Featured games include Final Fantasy III, Vector, Knightmare Tower, Canabalt HD and BombSquad.
GameStick: The GameStick will set you back $79 brand-new and bills itself as the world?s most portable games console. The GameStick controller hides a detachable dongle that connects to your TV to connect the device to your screen. An additional controller can be purchased for multiplayer action. Featured games include Ballpoint Universe, Crazy Snowboard, Ski Safari, Shadowgun and Smash Cops.
GamePop: The GamePop takes a completely different approach to Android gaming charging users $6.99 per month and giving them access to hundreds of games (at least 500 at the time of writing). It?s a bit like Netflix for Android gaming: instead of owning, you rent the equipment and the games. The console and controller themselves would cost around $100 if you were able to buy them outright. Featured games include Talking Tom 2, Jetpack Joy Ride and Kids Shape Puzzle.
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Conclusion
If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to a Playstation 4, an Xbox One or a Wii U, an Android console may be the perfect match. If you are looking for the best graphics and most in-depth titles, you may want to look elsewhere. The three options mentioned here are all similar in price and performance and mostly differ in availability of titles and design. The Ouya has a very colorful and ?cool? on-screen interface, for instance, while the GamePop probably takes the cake for the best looking hardware. The GameStick is the most compact of all the systems mentioned here and can easily tuck away and out-of-sight.
Source: http://dailytekk.com/2013/06/26/your-guide-to-android-gaming-consoles/
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