OUYA: Video Game Console

[The Miki Show]

Is anyone looking to get the Ouya

OUYA: A New Kind of Video Game Console by OUYA — Kickstarter

 

[Rhone]

As a pro-Android Linux geek, I'm almost obligated to buy this if it ever exists (especially for only $99). Even if I don't game on it much (and really, NOT being tied to the TV is the biggest reason I'm playing Android games and neglecting my consoles), I would throw XBMC on it and enjoy having a cheap media center box with the gaming as a nice bonus.

 

[The Miki Show]

That is what I was thinking. The only thing most android games need are, hand held controller layouts that I can add to my choice of tablet. Games like dead trigger would work better with a controllers.

 

[Rxpert83]

It will exist, and I will be on board. If I wasn't a cash poor graduate student in the middle of a move I would've participated in their kickstarter project

 

[MacFett]

I am totally on board with this. I wish I could afford the $99 for a console right out of the kickstarter but things are tight right now (and I've already backed all of my kickstarters I allowed to back for the quarter).

And yes, it will exist, last I saw they were at $5.5 mil of a $950,000 goal and they still had 12 days to go. [edit]Just double checked my numbers and corrected them[/edit]

 

[jonbonazza]

I have already preordered mine (by investing $99+ to their kickstarter project). I have never been this excited for a piece of hardware before. I am even more excited for SDK access to incorporate into our engine.

 

[ktchong]

Not getting it, and I hope it fails.

Ouya is largely based on the "free-to-play" or freemium model. I hate freemium. Freemium needs to die and so does Ouya.

And I know it will fail, but due to a different reason: lack of support from major publishers and developers. Or rather, no support or whatsoever. The whole idea behind Ouya is to encourage open source, hacking - and (intended or not) easy piracy. Publishers and developers are not going to support a platform that encourages piracy. (I know the big three, EA, Activision and Ubisoft, have already decided they won't support Ouya. That is a death sentence right there.)

So the only viable business model for apps on Ouya is freemium, whose revenues are mostly immune to piracy. And I am not supporting the freemium model. I hate it and I want that business model to die.

 

[Wilkas]

Square Enix has announced they will support it beginning with FF3 then other games, other big publishers are expected to follow suit.

 

[The Miki Show]

Well I think it will be a great device for Independent and Solo android developers. That is what I would get it for. If I wanted to play Major games, I'll just play on a ps3, 360, or computer.

 

[Rhone]

Not getting it, and I hope it fails.

Ouya is largely based on the "free-to-play" or freemium model. I hate freemium. Freemium needs to die and so does Ouya.

Wow, that's kind of extreme. While I agree with you on Freemium (more specifically, games based on IAP whether there is an initial price tag or not), I can't agree about the Ouya. While they do state that games on the system must be free to try, it doesn't necessitate freemium; developers can just as easily make demos with a single price tag for the full game if you like it, as used to be standard for PC games.

Ultimately, whether we see rampant wallet-raping IAP, or more of the classic PC game demo model, will depend on 1) the ethics and profit motive of the individual developers, and 2) the response from consumers. The situation will probably mirror what we see in Google Play.

And I know it will fail, but due to a different reason: lack of support from major publishers and developers. Or rather, no support or whatsoever.

Who cares about major publishers? This is a $99 Android console--it is not competing with your XBox for "triple A" $60 games; it's a system for taking the same games you're already playing on your phone/tablet and instead playing them on your TV. There is little reason for an Android developer to NOT take their already-developed games and publish them on Ouya's market.

What it will do, though, is provide a potential incentive for developers who make games on things like Steam or XBLA to port their games over to Android. It's those developers, and the players who would rather play their games over the latest Call of Duty, that the Ouya will best serve.

The whole idea behind Ouya is to encourage open source, hacking - and (intended or not) easy piracy. Publishers and developers are not going to support a platform that encourages piracy.

I don't see how Ouya is any different from other Android devices in this regard. Android is a fork of Linux, which exists under a license that keeps it open source. When the Ouya people say that the console will be hackable, what they're really saying is that they're not going out of their way to lock the system down and it will hence be as open as every other rootable Android device.

 

[jonbonazza]

Not getting it, and I hope it fails.

Ouya is largely based on the "free-to-play" or freemium model. I hate freemium. Freemium needs to die and so does Ouya.

And I know it will fail, but due to a different reason: lack of support from major publishers and developers. Or rather, no support or whatsoever. The whole idea behind Ouya is to encourage open source, hacking - and (intended or not) easy piracy. Publishers and developers are not going to support a platform that encourages piracy. (I know the big three, EA, Activision and Ubisoft, have already decided they won't support Ouya. That is a death sentence right there.)

So the only viable business model for apps on Ouya is freemium, whose revenues are mostly immune to piracy. And I am not supporting the freemium model. I hate it and I want that business model to die.

It is in no way based on the freemium model. In fact, most of the games that have been announced will come with a price tag. They only require that if you do provide a price tag with your game, you must also provide a free demo.

Freemium is in no way mentioned anywhere regarding this console. Also, as mentioned before there have already been a couple major publishers announced to be on board. Even if that wasn't the case, there is no way to foretell its failure or success.

 

[LexiconStudios]

I absolutely love the concept and hope that it becomes a game changer. I do worry about the quality of content that will be available for it. I'd take gameboy games from 10 years ago vs what we have for us on android now. Just a thought.

 

[The Miki Show]

Will it be possible to control the Ouya with a tablet? Would be nice, so I could play tilt games.

 

[MacFett]

Will it be possible to control the Ouya with a tablet? Would be nice, so I could play tilt games.

I've wondered that myself it would also give you a secondary display for maps and stuff.

 

[The Miki Show]

Yes, that would be wonderful as well. I'm sure that developers will mod it, so it can do other things. What kind of Mods are you expecting to see?

 

[Covart]

That is what I was thinking. The only thing most android games need are, hand held controller layouts that I can add to my choice of tablet. Games like dead trigger would work better with a controllers.

Already do this on my Galaxy S3. Play NOVA3, Modern Combat 3, Dead Trigger, Adrenaline 6 and 7, etc... Wirelessly with a PS3 controller and connect it to a 50" hdtv.
This thing offers owners of newer Samsung devices absolutely nothing. And as other manufacturers start doing what Samsung is, this sort of thing will become niche at best. Colecovision comes to mind.

 

[MacFett]

$8.4 million with 2 hours to go.

 

[FreeRangers]

I've said this before in other forums about Ouya. In order for Ouya to succeed it will need good quality games. I don't mean AAA titles we get on PS3/Xbox/PC, I mean good games that people will want to sink hours at a time into. That's what I want when I play a console.
I don't have many games on my Galaxy S II simply because the stuff that is out there (for the most part) are games that I'll play in very short bursts (like when I'm waiting in line at a restaurant, or on a coffee break at work, etc...).

Games like Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja are fun, but I wouldn't sit down and spend a whole afternoon with them. Ouya is going to need good quality games in order to be successful. But the problem is people won't buy Ouya if there are no good games available, and developers won't make games for Ouya if no one is buying the console, so it's kind of a vicious cycle there, and the way to break it is to get good talent behind the console from the start and have a strong launch line up of good (and good exclusive) titles.

Having said all of that, I support Ouya ( pledged $99+ on kickstarter for it), and I'm excited to see how it all develops. But without good developers backing the system I wouldn't be surprised to see Ouya fade away quickly after launch.

 

[ParishL31]

For those that have said they'll use it for more of a media hub, that's fine. But as a gaming system I think it will fail.

As a gamer, this is what I see as a huge flaw in this system. It's cheap. It's $99. It will heavily revolve around the existing app market where the typical game is $0.99-$2.99. Sure, developers have said they'll make games specifically for it, but that will result in a higher price for a higher quality game. Look at this forum, people went crazy and cried that $15 was too much for Final Fantasy 3. I'm positive that "cheap" mind set will continue into the OUYA's life cycle where people cry if a game costs more than $3, but the same people will turn around and cry that they aren't getting quality titles.

 

[The Miki Show]

I agree that quality games titles are #1. The better games become on devices mobile devices, the better they will be on OUYA! For those who love to play games, it's a WIN no matter what!!

 

[The Miki Show]

Already do this on my Galaxy S3. Play NOVA3, Modern Combat 3, Dead Trigger, Adrenaline 6 and 7, etc... Wirelessly with a PS3 controller and connect it to a 50" hdtv.
This thing offers owners of newer Samsung devices absolutely nothing. And as other manufacturers start doing what Samsung is, this sort of thing will become niche at best. Colecovision comes to mind.

I need a Galaxy S3. Time to go shopping.

 

[rushmore]

The concern I have is the spring 2012 launch will make the current hardware outdated. Sure, that is true for all electronics, but more so here, if the current chipset is already set and not releasing for eight to nine months.

BTW, I agree with the observation that if you have a device like the GS3 (I do) or a Tegra 3 or better tablet with HDMI, this device is redundant.

I wonder how the saturation of sales of the N7 will also impact perception of this device not releasing for at least eight months? Is this Pandora, all over again?

More the reason to use a newer chipset, but that will compromise cost.

 

[Jagosaurus28]

So I am guessing certain apps will be "Ouya Optimized" much like some apps on Amazon are Kindle Fire optimized. Also some games are only available on the Fire and not compatible with mobile devices. I see this type thing happening.

COMPLETELY agree that those people complaining about FF3 being $14 will complain about high prices and/or lacking cheap titles. Square Enix is supporting the system... look for more $14 titles. Square will set the bar on "quality" app prices from big publishers IMO.

 

[whitechapels]

$99 is great value. I'd think that a decent tablet with HDMI out and maybe a bluetooth controller would be better though. Still, that'd probably cost a lot more than $99.

I hope they can hit $99. Taking into account margin, distribution etc. it'll be like $35 out of factory and that's not a lot of money for components. WiFi chipsets are still around $8-10 or so by themselves.

 

[jonbonazza]

$99 is great value. I'd think that a decent tablet with HDMI out and maybe a bluetooth controller would be better though. Still, that'd probably cost a lot more than $99.

I hope they can hit $99. Taking into account margin, distribution etc. it'll be like $35 out of factory and that's not a lot of money for components. WiFi chipsets are still around $8-10 or so by themselves.

It was only $99 for pre-orders. It also will only be available in March for preorders. It will be $110 when it is released in April for everyone else.