Give GamePop credit for sheer ambition: the game console is planning to take mobile gaming to the next level by bringing it to the big screen in your living room. But what makes GamePop particularly noteworthy is that it's not bringing some mobile gaming to the big screen, but rather the lion’s share of it, bringing both Android and iOS gaming into play. What's more interesting, GamePop didn't seem interested in Apple (News - Alert) signing off on the affair.

The GamePop system got its official announcement—both the console and the game controller—back last month, though said systems won't be shipping until winter. The GamePop system uses an unusual subscription model, which some have compared to Netflix in that the company promises all-you-can-play gaming for just $6.99 a month. Those who sign up for a full year, meanwhile, will get the system and the controller at no charge, which represents significant savings as the system and controller runs $129.

The playing of Android games really isn't anything new, as consoles like the Ouya have been promising such an experience for a while now. But where GamePop's system differs is that it can go after games made for iPhone (News - Alert) and iPad devices thanks to a proprietary technology owned by BlueStacks, the company behind GamePop. BlueStacks' technology is reportedly known as “Looking Glass,” and thanks to the Looking Glass technology, all games on iOS become available for use.

While there have been some iOS games that take advantage of the combination of an AppleTV system and AirPlay (News - Alert), BlueStacks does something much different with its Looking Glass technology. Instead of streaming the game from the phone to the television set—which is what AirPlay does—Looking Glass uses a virtualization process to put the game directly on the television itself, which promises less lag between controller action and the realization of same on the larger screen.

Those who wonder how such a process can be accomplished without Apple landing on it like a ton of bricks certainly aren't alone on this, but BlueStacks reportedly has an answer. According to a spokesman from the company, GamePop doesn't use any of Apple's “bits” in turning an iOS game into a GamePop game. Instead, GamePop goes to the developers themselves, who then offer up the code for the game, using a few minor changes—among said changes, switching to Google's (News - Alert) payment system instead of using Apple's—and then the Looking Glass system steps in to do the heavy lifting without involvement from Apple at all.

The bad news in such a proposition is that the market for mobile-to-television gaming is starting to get a bit crowded, what with Ouya and GameStick and the like stepping in to offer the service. But GamePop's subscription model and ability to offer up iOS games will provide an important note of distinctiveness in a market where the providers are rapidly crowding each other. Still, at the root of it all is the issue of mobile gaming as a whole; most mobile games are either free or very low-cost, so getting mobile gamers—who are, after all, likely playing the games while mobile—to play the same games on a console unit that doesn't leave the living room may be a tall order.

GamePop still has plenty of room to succeed in this market if it can focus on providing the experience—and the games—that the gaming community wants. It's certainly offering up enough of a value, though only time will tell if that value is sufficient.