The $99 console has doubled its goal and raised more than $2 million in 24 hours, prompting the startup to open source suggestions for spending it all.
Developers and gaming fans are kicking down Kickstarter's doors to throw money at Ouya.
(Credit: Kickstarter / Ouya)It seems like just yesterday we were talking about how Ouya's dream of raising a million dollars on Kickstarter to bring a $99 console and open gaming platform to the people was well...ambitious, to say the least.
Actually, that wasn't even 24 hours ago, but already the public's desire for a hackable console has made it clear that Ouya's ambition must be pursued, nay fulfilled (by the promised March 2013 delivery date, hopefully). Within about 8 hours, the $950,000 goal was met, and at last check total donations were north of $2 million.
There's some heavy hitters behind Ouya -- which is built on Android and plays games in HD on a TV set with Tegra3 at its heart -- including Jawbone designer Yves Behar and gaming industry veteran Julie Uhrman, not to mention backing from prominent angel investors.
That kind of pedigree, and yes, perhaps the price and open code as well, has so far convinced more than 15,000 people to back the project, including more than 230 that opted for "developers' specials" with SDK access.
So what will Ouya do with all that new found investment cash flowing in? They're open-sourcing that, too. In the first update to project backers an hour ago, Uhrman writes:
We are blown away by your support. With your help, we just raised $2 million. And it's only the first day. Now we want to blow you away. The biggest thing for us right now: we are working on our stretch goals, what we can do if we raise more money. It might take us a few days to figure that out, and we want your help. Tell us what you would like the stretch goals to be at ideas@ouya.tv.
With 29 days left in the campaign, if the money continues to flow, those could be some pretty lofty goals. I suggest figuring out a way to integrate with a certain smart watch.
