The Ouya has got many fans alright but there is one more Kickstarter-backed Android-running game console out there that is turning heads. The GameStick from PlayJam is different in form factor and specs from the Ouya, and the guys over at Engadget got a chance to play with a prototype of the device at the Game Developers Conference.

The GameStick comes equipped with a dual-core Amlogic processor, which is obviously weaker than the Ouya’s Tegra 3. It is roughly the size of a USB drive and fits right into a wireless controller, though the dev units do not house the GameStick inside. You can connect it to your TV’S HDMI port or if you do not like that idea there will be a dock that’ll be available with the GameStick’s retail version.

According to Engadget, the controller feels comfortable in the hands. It’s coming with appropriately springy buttons and the analog sticks feel responsive, but shoulder buttons and the d-pad did not feel right. PlayJam apparently has promised to improve the d-pad, but nothing on the shoulder buttons.

Its UI has a left rail holding games, media, a profile page, and settings. You will find a popular games section and an all games section in the games section, a Netflix app and XMBC in the media section, and the profile page shows stuff such as your profile (as you might have guessed), in-game achievements and more.

Improvements will certainly happen to the console before the retail version arrives sometime in the future, but the important thing will be content. Currently the games available are not that thrilling, but that will change, hopefully.

What do you think of the GameStick, interested or will the Ouya stomp all over this one?

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We’ve all heard about Ouya, the open-source low-cost Android console that raised a ton via Kickstarter. While this is the best known Android console project, it’s not the only one. Now it seems that PlayJam is going beyond the smart TV with its own “GameStick” gaming system.

This basically is a flash drive-sized device that has its own internals and draws power from an HDMI port. Using Bluetooth it will communicate with a gaming pad and for processing power it has an Amlogic dual-core chip. This isn’t as fast as the Tegra 3 you’ll find in the Ouya, but the console is even smaller and will cost just $79.

Right now, PlayJam is using KickStarter to gain funds, looking for $100,000 to go through its last development hurdles. Unlike Ouya, you won’t need to wait too long after the KickStarter project to get your GameStick though, as they plan to ship this April.

What do you think of the GameStick? Like the idea or would you rather pick up an Ouya when it launches around March?

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