Ouya: An New Kind of Video Game Console

I didn't see a topic on this and I wanted to hear some thoughts

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ouya/ouya-a-new-kind-of-video-game-console

I personally think its an awesome idea. Its running Android so it has a bunch of potential apps it can run. I hope it can get some great indie games, and other cool apps. The price is definitely right, I will be keeping an eye on this.

Indie Game: The Console

I can't wait to play angry birds on it

Isn't that kind of what the Nexus Q is?

https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_q

If it is truly open, I'm down with it.

The joy of having an app store on my TV.

Yay?

@BBAlpert said:

Isn't that kind of what the Nexus Q is?

https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_q

Nexus Q doesn't have a controller, or at least one that comes out of the box. An android phone is a poor replacement for an actually controller. Also, Nexus Q is $300...

Wow this thing is getting a lot of money really fast.. I didn't expect that. Launching a hardware platform usually requires much more than 1 MILLION DOLLARS. If I'm not mistaken.

Terrible idea. I can already play android games on my tv using hdmi and a blutooth controller(if i were crazy enough to do so) not to mention that the Google Play appstore is completely barren.

Why would you ever play phonegames on your tv?

950k is not enough anyway. This project is doomed to fail.

dumb.

android will get their own version of airplay and there will be no need for this.

Its the gift that keeps on giving.

I always laugh at promises of revolution and change to the gaming industry. Everyone says that now.

It's certainly a noble idea. I'm fairly certain this isn't the first time an open source game console has been attempted. I have to wonder how they'd deal with piracy being so hacker friendly and all. I gotta believe the major developers won't be interested in producing games for a system that was too pirate friendly.

The hardware specs are a bit underwhelming. While the Tegra 3 is hot stuff in the smart device world, it's not quite at the level of a 360 or PS3 due to various constraints like memory bandwidth.

According the developers, this will have games specifically developed for it using the controller. I can see it being a flop simply because the games aren't there.

Also, *cough*emulators*cough*

I'll toss in 10 bucks. At the very least it will be an interesting experiment to watch pan out.

Am I the only person who thinks the controller looks like absolute garbage? It looks like it's made of cheap plastic. Also the circle button is weirdly tilted. This thing just smells like a scam to me.

That's actually super interesting, and they've made $50k since I opened the page 10 minutes ago. Looks like this'll easily get funded, so I'm anxious to see how it pans out. Might even pick one up if it does well enough.

Wow, this is making money extremely fast. They are going to get way more than 1 million dollars.

This is incredibly interesting, and the rate at which they're getting funding just goes to show there's a massive demand for something like this. Interesting times!

As someone who primarily plays on a console, this idea interests me greatly. I really think something like this is needed to shake up the console industry, as I think the path they are on now leads to a dead end. Whether this Ouya will be the catalyst to do it remains to be seen, but I chipped in $99 in hopes that it does succeed.

@Bojangle said:

This is incredibly interesting, and the rate at which they're getting funding just goes to show there's a massive demand for something like this. Interesting times!

I would argue that "Massive" is a relative term. As of this writing they've sold about 5,000 boxes. For a kickstarter it's a lot, sure. Compared to other consoles though it's a drop in the bucket.

I wonder if we're just on the cusp of seeing a slew of these so-called Half-Hearted Consoles.

It all boils down to quality of content.

If people make games for this thing that are good, then it has a chance. If its Angry Birds clones and a bunch of emulators that people don't pay for, probably not so much (see GP32).

Not really fair to compare it's sales to those of the main three though, is it? It's something completely different.

Uh...piracy? How does anyone expect to make a fucking dime on this thing?

This is like funding the phantom. Can't wait to play angry birds and cut the rope. Who is going to devolve for this

So far they are showcasing flash and iPhone games

I'd assume it'll be iOS style cheap/free entry and then optional microtransactions, but I could be way off there!

@Bojangle said:

Not really fair to compare it's sales to those of the main three though, is it? It's something completely different.

Well I think if it's not going to compete with the big consoles then it has a problem. Why would anyone develop for a box that's only in 5,000 homes? (Which the initial batch tops out at like 7,000 boxes). Where's the incentive to develop for this console when there's a lot more exposure and money on other consoles?

Because developers can actually get their stuff out on this? None of the main three are particularly easy for indie developers to get their work published on and this completely changes that, taking us back to the days when bedroom coders were kings of the industry.

I'm not saying it's going to be some huge run away success, but I think it has potential to shake up the industry a little.

@BigDaddy81 said:

As someone who primarily plays on a console, this idea interests me greatly. I really think something like this is needed to shake up the console industry, as I think the path they are on now leads to a dead end. Whether this Ouya will be the catalyst to do it remains to be seen, but I chipped in $99 in hopes that it does succeed.

I agree, I really hope this makes an impact. Clearly people are interested seeing how its getting funded so rapidly.

Also, since it's completely open and running Android, I don't see why Onlive or something like it can't run on this (there is already an Android version of Onlive).

I may be missing the point but what is the advantage over just buying a 360 controller and a HDMI cable for a PC, where smaller developers can get out games equally as cheap to a larger audience?

@Bojangle said:

taking us back to the days when bedroom coders were kings of the industry.

Sorry, but when was this exactly? I started gaming on an NES and a PC and even back then the games I got came in boxes from stores and were created by people in offices, smaller offices probably, but they most certainly weren't hobbyists.

Not trying to harsh on your parade here, but I don't think that was ever true.

Why are people giving this shit money?

@AmatureIdiot said:

I may be missing the point but what is the advantage over just buying a 360 controller and a HDMI cable for a PC, where smaller developers can get out games equally as cheap to a larger audience?

That something that most people won't do (either because the don't know how, or because its not very convenient). Also, this is much cheaper than buying a computer.

Obviously, this "console" isn't going to be very powerful. Therefore, it's going to basically just have a bunch of PC indie games and smartphone games. Since I already have a PC hooked up to my TV, I don't need this for PC indie games. And since I already have an Android phone and iPad, I don't need (or really want) those games on my TV. So, this console could be nice for some people, but I really don't see the appeal, at this point. If it was powerful enough to get "Core" games, it would be a different story...but a much, much bigger gamble...

@Bojangle said:

Because developers can actually get their stuff out on this? None of the main three are particularly easy for indie developers to get their work published on and this completely changes that, taking us back to the days when bedroom coders were kings of the industry.

I'm not saying it's going to be some huge run away success, but I think it has potential to shake up the industry a little.

Steam is a great platform for Indie Dev's, and to be honest I think XBLA has gotten easier for indie devs the older it's gotten. Certification exists so that the game can be made as bug free as possible. If an indie Dev puts out a broken game on this new console and it gets 3,000 downloads, and maybe 1,500 purchases, what is their incentive to actually go back and fix the game? Certification may be a pain in the ass, but atleast (Most) games come out fairly bug free...

@mnzy said:

I feel like they're promoting it wrong. As a huge fan of indie games, I wouldn't want this thing. It's an extra box in front of my TV, for a small market of games that I can play on my other devices. They should promote it as a cheap Smart TV solution with tons of possibilities for apps and interaction, but also great games that don't cos $60.

I agree with you on this. However then you have to differentiate it from a ROKU, or a Boxee Box, or an Apple TV. Saying it has games doesn't necessarily differentiate it from an Apple TV which can just Airplay games from an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch.

I personally have zero interest in buying this thing and I'm very skeptical about the success of it. Though more competition in the market can only be a good thing for the consumer so if they think they can make it work, go for it!

@daggon55 said:

@Bojangle said:

taking us back to the days when bedroom coders were kings of the industry.

Sorry, but when was this exactly? I started gaming on an NES and a PC and even back then the games I got came in boxes from stores and were created by people in offices, smaller offices probably, but they most certainly weren't hobbyists.

Not trying to harsh on your parade here, but I don't think that was ever true.

Well, to be fair, a lot of the old PC game companies back in the early 80s started off basically as "hobbyists" with very small teams and little formal funding.

@daggon55: Before the days of the NES. Go back further. :p

Definitely an interesting idea, really like the look of that controller too. I think their comments about consoles being closed off it true though, maybe somewhere down the road (if this takes off) the B-tier games might find a home on it.

I don't really get it. "some of the gameplay has to be free" is a pretty major restriction to put on game developers. How do you make Alan Wake F2P?

If their big selling point is that the console places less restrictions on developers, then they've mucked it up right there.

@nintendoeats said:

I don't really get it. "some of the gameplay has to be free" is a pretty major restriction to put on game developers. How do you make Alan Wake F2P?

If their big selling point is that the console places less restrictions on developers, then they've mucked it up right there.

To be fair the "free" part can just be a demo.

@nintendoeats: Chapter 1 free. Enjoyed what you played? Pay and get more!

An new?

@SikNastiWitIt: @Bojangle:Ah, I missed that the first time around. In that case, Microsoft has the same policy so it's not much of a selling point.

As for the rest of it, if they can push out a cheap console that works as well as the competing products I'm all for it.

@Animasta said:

I can't wait to play angry birds on it

they lost me at android. Although all of this is completely useless to a person like me (have 360, and a kick ass laptop), I can see a steam box being pretty rad .............

Well, people bought the Wii in droves, so I guess anything goes.

But at $99, this has some potential. Not just as a game console, but with the right apps a media center as well. This could replace the Rokus / Boxees / dust gathering Wiis sitting under a TV. On the other hand, many platform holders make great hardware, but absolutely screw the pooch when it comes to the backend: infrastructure, OS, UI, marketplace (yes, I'm looking at you, Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, Google).

And I'm really curious how the tweaker community is going to "manhandle" the hardware.