Mad Catz Reveals New Android Game Console

The accessory maker enters the fray with Project M.O.J.O., a powerful box capable of running any Android game available.

With devices like Ouya drumming up interest in open-source gaming platforms, Mad Catz is jumping into the fray with a system of its own — Project M.O.J.O. Like its Kickstarter-backed peers, Project M.O.J.O. is based on Android, but instead of requiring games to be custom-tailored to its hardware, it works with existing digital storefronts like Amazon's Appstore and Google Play. Unbound by a proprietary platform, Project M.O.J.O. enables users to access a library of thousands of titles, including those already purchased for their Android tablet or smartphone.

The system leverages Mad Catz's GameSmart platform, which was introduced back in January at CES. GameSmart is a range of cross-platform Bluetooth accessories designed for tablets, smartphones, PCs, and smart TVs. Project M.O.J.O. is expected to ship with the company's C.T.R.L.R. Bluetooth controller, which offers a full suite of dual-analog thumbstick, trigger, d-pad controls for gamepad-enabled Android titles, like Dead Trigger, ShadowGun, and more. For games designed for touch controls, consumers will also be able to use Mad Catz's GameSmart mice.

While the company maintains that Project M.O.J.O. is merely in its prototyping stages, the final hardware is expected to ship with 16GB of internal storage with expandable microSD storage, Bluetooth Smart 4.0 (when the next version of Android ships), two USB ports for wired gamepads and other accessories, HDMI, Wi-Fi, and a headphone port.

For processing, Mad Catz hasn't committed to any specific silicon yet, but it's currently investigating Nvidia's Tegra 4 processor, which was also unveiled at CES earlier this year. If the company lands on Nvidia's new mobile chip, however, it could prove to be a competitive edge and an alluring prospect to consumers. Not only would it be a generation ahead of the Ouya, it'd also come equipped with Nvidia's Shield technology, which allows players to stream full HD games from their PC over a local Wi-Fi network.

Mad Catz is clearly trying to best the competition on power and versatility, but what about cost? The company won't say, but given the kind of performance its shooting for, a $99 price point would seem tough to achieve.

Hands-on

We only  had a few minutes to get our mitts on the M.O.J.O. itself, but even in that brief time the small console managed to impress. It's extremely small and light - it's an even smaller form factor than the Ouya.

The packed-in controller is bigger and heavier than the console, in fact. The M.O.J.O.'s controller feels great, as expected, given that it is a modified version of Mad Catz' $99 MLG-licensed C.T.R.L.R. controller. The analog sticks and triggers feel just a hair less responsive than the near-perfect stock Xbox 360 controller, but some elements, like the D-Pad, actually improve on Microsoft's design.

The 16 GB of on-board storage is a respectable amount for Android gaming today, but with many high-end games climbing into 1GB (or higher) territory, the microSD slot tucked into back of the console is very welcome.

The M.O.J.O. booting into stock Android 4.1 and running stock Android games is the system's greatest asset. If you already own 100+ Android games, they'll all work with the M.O.J.O. right out of the box, as will all your Bluetooth or USB controllers, keyboards, and mice (assuming they already play nice with Android, of course). But this can also create a few awkward moments. We used a controller to boot into Dead Trigger, but then had to use a mouse to navigate through the game's traditionally touch-powered menus, before switching back to the controller to blast zombies once the level began.

Although not available now, the finished controller will include a "mouse mode" to help alleviate this awkwardness. Mouse mode lets you use the controller's analog stick to move a mouse cursor around the screen, letting you control all of the game or app's functions with the controller alone. Mad Catz also promised a "solution" for multi-touch heavy games, but hasn't yet provided any specifics.

IGN will have more on the Mad Catz Project M.O.J.O. in the coming months, including, crucially, the hardware's final specs and price.