By Alexandra Burlacu email: a.burlacu@mobilenapps.com | Jan 11, 2013 08:19 PM EST
Kickstarter had recently kicked out the $79 GameStick Android-based gaming console over an intellectual property (IP) dispute, but the project is now back on track.
The product page for the USB thumb-drive sized gadget had been briefly removed from the crowdsourcing Web site, and risked being nixed altogether if the issue persisted for more than 30 days. Luckily for PlayJam, the project's creator, the issue was apparently just a minor mishap in the demo video, not the product itself.
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"This IP issue has NOTHING to do with our design or product!" PlayJam highlighted on its GameStick Facebook page.
"It's a small snag in one of our promo videos demonstrating a game that was exposed without clearance. An oversight and one that we're editing in the video now. We'll get back up and running hopefully as soon as possible," the company said on Thursday, Dec. 10.
PlayJam rushed to fix the video, and now GameStick's KickStarter page is back on as if nothing ever happened. Moreover, the company just boasted on Facebook that it has reached its initial goal, and it may add extra colors for the console using the additional pledges.
"Stretch goal #1 achieved! Thanks, everyone! If we reach stretch goal #2 we can add the two extra colors. Exciting!" reads the company's latest Facebook post.
PlayJam makes Android-based video games available on Smart TVs, and its GameStick project has already raised $324,261 on Kickstarter at the time of writing. Its initial pledge was for $100,000, as PlayJam aimed to create a tiny device for users to plug into any TV and run games on a big screen. GameStick is also designed with a wireless game controller, which sports a slot for storing the gadget when not in use.
GameStick packs an Amlogic ARM Cortex-A9 processor, 1GB of memory, 8GB of internal storage, as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. The gadget runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and sports a custom user interface (UI) for accessing video games. The company has also been collaborating with various game makers to ensure GameStick works with numerous titles - most Android games are designed for touchscreens, while GameStick has a controller with physical buttons.
The earlybird GameStick bundle (console + controller) for a minimum pledge of $69 has sold out, but backers can still get the bundle, along with a name check and founders tag, for an extra $10 (pledge $79 or more). The Android-based gaming console is set to ship in April 2013, with free shipping in the U.S. and a $15 shipping fee for international backers.
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