Green Throttle Games launches developer program as part of play to take over living room gaming

Green Throttle Games is using the humble game controller to disrupt games on the television. It is doing so by launching a portal for Android games that can be played on the TV using a traditional video game controller dubbed the Atlas. And today, the company is launching a program to recruit developers to its platform.

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Green Throttle wants creators of Android games to create new titles that can be played with game controllers and displayed properly on a big-screen TV. Green Throttle says it will showcase the mobile games in an attractive way that will help smartphone games take off in the living room. The company hopes to disrupt game consoles in a new kind of platform war that enables Android to invade the living room.

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company is the brain child of Charles Huang, co-creator of Guitar Hero. The system will enable games designed for Android smartphones and tablets to be played on TVs starting early next year. The Bluetooth analog controller connects wirelessly with your smartphone or tablet, which connects via cable to display images on the television. The point is to make it easier to play the same games both in the living room and on the run.

Green Throttle is offering its Atlas controllers along with the Green Throttle software development kit (SDK) to users of the Corona Labs SDK, Marmalade SDK, Unity development platform, Amazon development platform, and indie development studios. The first 100 qualified developers in each of the above categories to apply for the developer program will receive two controllers and custom support for each middleware solution or hardware platform.

The company aims to create quality content that delivers a console-like experience for gamers.

“We’re here to create new opportunities for developers that help enhance not only their games, but also their visibility within the market,” said Stacey Hirata, head of publishing and developer relations for Green Throttle Games.

Developers can integrate the Green Throttle SDK into their games to add support for multiple wireless controllers. They can buy Green Throttle’s Atlas controller to test compatibility and then submit the game to Green Throttle for review after submitting it to the Google Play store. Green Throttle will also compensate developers when they send gamers to buy a Green Throttle controller. Players will connect their smartphones or tablets to a TV via an HDMI cable. The controller will cost $49.95, and it will debut in 2013.

So far, developers are stepping forward to support Green Throttle. Cmune is creating a version of its hit Facebook first-person shooter game UberStrike for Green Throttle. UberStrike has more than 6 million players and 1.4 million monthly active users on Facebook.

“We are very excited to provide the Uberstrike audience with Green Throttle Atlas controllers featuring true analog control,” said Ludovic Bodin, CEO of Cmune. “With Green Throttle, our players will have an entirely new controller-enabled gameplay experience.”

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Other indie game developers offering support are nWay, Free Range Games, Mercenary Technology, and Monstrous. Green Throttle raised $6 million in funding. Rivals include traditional game console makers as well as Ouya and makers of game controllers.