On 2 April 2014, Amazon unveiled and launched their $99 (around R1050) Fire TV set top box.
The device has media streaming capabilities (TV series, movies, music, and more from a variety of online services) and it also boasts gaming capabilities with its own controller and over 100 titles promised at launch.
Games can be played using the Fire TV remote, the Fire TV app for smartphones and tablets, or the optional Fire game controller.
Amazon Fire TV game controller
The games include the likes of Minecraft, Monsters University, The Game of Life, The Walking Dead, NBA2K14, Asphalt 8, Riptide GP2, and Despicable Me: Minion Rush. The average price of paid games on Fire TV is $1.85 (R20).
Thousands of apps and games are promised from developers including, 2K, AOL, Amazon Game Studios, Clear Channel, Disney, EA, ESPN, Gameloft, Hulu, Mojang, SEGA, Telltale, and Ubisoft.
Amazon has also released developer tools for porting PC, console or Android mobile apps and games for the Fire TV.
Taking a look at the specs, it’s clear there is some grunt under the hood, and it will likely give devices such as the beleaguered Ouya a stiff challenge.
Amazon Fire TV specs |
|
| Size | 4.5″ x 4.5″ x 0.7″ (115 mm x 115 mm x 17.5 mm) |
| Weight | 9.9 oz (281 grams) |
| SOC Platform | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8064 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Krait 300, quad-core to 1.7 Ghz |
| GPU | Qualcomm Adreno 320 |
| Storage | 8 GB internal |
| Memory | 2 GB LPDDR2 @ 533 MHZ |
| Wi-Fi Connectivity | Dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi (MIMO). Supports 802.11a/b/g/n |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.0 with support for the following profiles: HID, HFP 1.6, SPP |
| Cloud Storage | Free cloud storage for all Amazon content |
| Ports | 5.5 mm DC Jack |
| Type A HDMI 1.4b output, w/HDCP | |
| Optical Audio (TOSLINK) | |
| 10/100 Ethernet | |
| USB 2.0 Type A | |
| Audio | Support for Dolby Digital Plus, 5.1 surround sound, 2ch Stereo and HDMI audio pass through up to 7.1 |
| Content Formats Supported | Video: H.263, H.264, MPEG4-SP, VC1 |
| Audio: AAC, AC-3, E-AC-3, HE-A, PCM, MP3 | |
| Photo: JPG, PNG | |
| Output Resolution Supported | 720p and 1080p up to 60fps |
Sev Zero – Exclusive to Amazon Fire TV
Sev Zero
Amazon has also revealed its first exclusive Fire TV game designed by Amazon Game Studios.
Sev Zero is a combination of third-person shooter and tower defense strategy. Players will be able to use a companion app for multi-screen / multi-device gameplay mechanics.
Sev Zero is available for $6.99 (R75) or comes free with the purchase of the Fire game controller.
In Sev Zero, players can jump between environments – start in tower defense mode to build out towers and assess the surroundings, and then beam down to shooter mode for face-to-face combat against the Ne’ahtu. Players can also bring friends and family into the action with the Sev Zero companion tablet app, Sev Zero: Air Support. With this multi-player, multi-screen experience, players help each other thwart the enemies—one player is in Air Support mode initiating air strikes from their tablet while the other player is in face-to-face combat mode.
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