GameStick
A USB-sized Android microconsole funded through Kickstarter.
The GameStick is a discontinued home video game console from PlayJam. Designed as a microconsole roughly the size of a USB flash drive, it plugs directly into a TV’s HDMI port and comes with a Bluetooth controller. Users download games from a curated store over Wi-Fi and can play them offline, as content is saved locally. The system runs a custom version of Android on PlayJam’s own platform. It was built for portability and targeted casual to mid-core gamers. Like the Ouya, it was funded through a Kickstarter campaign. It belongs to the eighth generation of consoles.
Production changes pushed its release from June 2013 to early November 2013. The console includes an exclusive game and access to an app store focused on casual titles. Every unit can also serve as a development kit, letting owners create games without paying licensing fees. Before the project launched, PlayJam CEO Jasper Smith and his team secured support from over 1,000 developers. Designers could pledge $500 for a prototype and dev kit a month before launch. By February 2013, the campaign had raised roughly $650,000 from more than 5,600 backers.
The console itself is a flash-drive-sized device with a wireless Bluetooth controller. The controller has two analog sticks, a directional pad, four face buttons, two shoulder buttons, four system buttons, and a slot to store the console. An optional dock adds an Ethernet port for faster internet, charging for both controller and console, extra storage, and connections for USB keyboards, webcams, microphones, and dance mats. The console contains an HDMI connector, processor, memory, and wireless radios. Up to four controllers can connect via Bluetooth 4.0, along with wireless keyboards and mice. iOS and Android devices can also serve as controllers. The system supports 1080 HD playback and, with a firmware upgrade, XBMC DLNA. Its interface resembles the tiled dashboard of the Xbox 360. It charges via micro USB. GameStick was the first third-party device to license ToFu Media Center, a fork of XBMC.
Reviewers at The Verge praised its minimalist design and low cost but criticized its limited game library, locked-down software and hardware, and under-powered CPU that couldn’t run the latest Android games.
Quick Facts
- Aka
- Game Stick
- Developer
- PlayJam
- Family
- First Generation
- Release Date
- 2013-11-15
- Price
- 79 · 2013
- Discontinued
- 2017-01-09
- Os
- Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
- System On Chip
- Amlogic 8726-MX
- Cpu
- ARM Cortex A9
- Graphics
- Mali-400 MP
- Storage
- 8 GB internal flash memory
- Memory
- 1 GB DDR3
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The GameStick was developed by PlayJam, based out of San Francisco, California. Jasper Smith, chief executive officer of PlayJam, and the development team began recruiting support early in the process. Before the project's launch, the company said it had support from more than 1,000 developers. Game designers interested in the project could pledge $500 in exchange for a prototype unit and development kit one month before launch. As of February 2013, the game was successfully funded with over 5,600 backers and about $650,000 raised. Because of a change in production methods, the original release date of June 2013 was delayed, and units did not ship to retailers until early November 2013.
The GameStick consists of the flash-drive-sized console and a wireless Bluetooth controller. The controller has two analog sticks, a directional pad, four face buttons, two shoulder buttons, four system buttons for power and menus, and a slot in which the console can be stored. A GameStick dock is also available; it allows faster internet access with an Ethernet port, charging access for both the controller and the console, additional storage space, and the ability to connect to various peripherals such as USB keyboards, webcams, microphones, and dance mats. The console contains an HDMI connector, an internal processor and memory, and wireless radios. Up to four controllers can be connected via Bluetooth 4.0, as can wireless keyboards and mice. The GameStick also supports iOS and Android devices as controllers. The system itself is Android-based but iOS compatible. The device supports 1080 HD playback as well as XBMC DLNA with an optional firmware upgrade. The GameStick uses an interface similar to the tiled dashboard on the Xbox 360. The charger is a micro USB cable. GameStick was the first third-party device to license ToFu Media Center, a derivative fork of XBMC Media Center.
The GameStick features an exclusive game and access to its app store, which mainly sells casual games. All systems can be used as development kits, allowing any GameStick owner to also be a developer, without licensing fees. The GameStick website began displaying a message saying that they would be shutting down the service after two years of operation, stating that after January 9th, 2017, the storefront would be inactive. In December 2017, the GameStick website showed only the goodbye message and presented an expired SSL certificate. It is unlikely the service will ever return and the device itself is indirectly discontinued. Attempting to visit the GameStick website will cause a redirection to a Turkish betting website. There has been a revival of the GameStick servers by Christian Weiske. There are instructions to enroll a GameStick into his servers on his website.
Reader's Guide
The GameStick is notable as a microconsole of the eighth generation that attempted to compete with other Android-based game platforms like the Ouya. Its key differentiator was its extreme portability—the console itself is the size of a USB flash drive and can be stored inside its controller. The device was aimed at casual to mid-core gamers and offered a curated storefront with mainly casual games. The Verge praised the GameStick's minimalist design and low cost, but criticized its limited game selection, its locked-down software and hardware, and its under-powered CPU, which was unable to play the latest Android games. Engadget cited the device's portability, low price, and slick design as strengths but was disappointed by the selection of games and the hardware, which it said could become outdated fairly quickly. The GameStick's service was shut down in January 2017, and the device is indirectly discontinued. A revival effort by Christian Weiske has restored server functionality for enthusiasts. The GameStick's legacy is that of a short-lived, crowdfunded microconsole that highlighted both the potential and the limitations of Android-based gaming hardware in the early 2010s.
Did You Know?
- All GameStick systems can be used as development kits without licensing fees.
- After shutdown, the GameStick website redirected to a Turkish betting website.
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