OUYA: A Hacker-Friendly Android Console

[TheMailMan78]

A new Kickstarter project is making waves, by proposing an open-source, hacker-friendly platform using Android as its backbone. "OUYA" merges the "satisfying" experience of a console with the developer-friendly nature of the Android marketplace. The project is seeking nearly a million dollars in funds, but it's already managed to reach more than half its lofty goal within just a day. The project's goal is $950,000, a figure it's likely to hit. It's been less than a day, and it's hit more than $590,000. That's no doubt because the higher dollar amounts, $95 and $99, offer the console itself as a reward. So far, the project hasn't outlined any stretch goals, but they seem likely. The funding will go towards converting the prototype to production models with approvals from regulatory agencies, development kits, production orders, and possibly some first-party game development. It also claims that games will be required to offer a free element, be it a demo or the full game with microtransactions. OUYA has already specified its technical specs, including a Tegra3 quad-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of flash storage, an HDMI connection, and Android 4.0. The controller looks fairly standard for consoles, with eight action buttons, two analog sticks, a D-pad, and the addition of a touch pad.



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[TheMailMan78]

Google is coming after the console market and gamers are funding the invasion supporting the "little guy" via Kickstarter.

 

[D4S4]

quite a win.

 

[Silverel]

Google is coming after the console market and gamers are funding the invasion supporting the "little guy" via Kickstarter.

It'll be an interesting step, but is it really competition against the big budget console games or just a market segment hitting all points of access? I don't see this scaring away Microsoft, Sony, or Nintendo. They're very different kinds of games.

 

[Mindweaver]

WOW, I can't wait! This maybe the first thing I back! I play on my tablet all the time. It only has a tegra 2 chip, but it's amazing how great it looks compared to my older android tablets and phone. I've been looking at the new google nexus tablet for $199 with the new tegra 3 chip. Good find TMM!

EDIT: HERE is the kickstarter page and it's already funded!

 

[_JP_]

I get that it's a console, but is it not going to be upgradable by any angle?
At least the storage.
Other than that, I like it.

 

[InnocentCriminal]

Interesting.

I however, will use my SGS3 as a make shift console. MicroUSB to HDMI, bluetooth KB/mouse and/or controller.

 

[Phusius]

Only game I really want or will have time to play this year is Assassins Creed III, sorry little machine, take care.

 

[dwade]

Sounds okay despite the cheap hardware, but we got a problem: Android got no games.

 

[Novulux]

Goal has already been surpassed by quite a margin.
I'm debating whether to pledge for one of these...

 

[1Kurgan1]

Looks good, and price is low. I think it needs a new name, but beyond that, will have to see where this goes. If a lot of people decide to develop games for it and just a few are very good, then the price might make this thing really shine.

**EDIT**
going through Mindweavers link, looks like it's already 500k past it's goal.

 

[natr0n]

I have a feeling micro-transactions is all this will be about.

example : capcom releases SF4 super turbo platinum edition.

8 characters to play with, 32 available via micro-transactions.

 

[xenocide]

Crazy that they got almost 1.7m so far :x

 

[FordGT90Concept]

This is grabing the market the Vita failed to grasp. Just as the markets have rejected the notion that corporations should control music and movies, it looks like it is applying to video game consoles too.

Looks good, and price is low. I think it needs a new name, but beyond that, will have to see where this goes. If a lot of people decide to develop games for it and just a few are very good, then the price might make this thing really shine.

Pretty sure it will be able to play any games coded for Android 4.0. They just won't take advantage of the buttons and analog sticks it has. It sounds like it won't be using the Android store though so applications will have to pass their approval process.

 

[Bjorn_Of_Iceland]

Probably would be lacking commercial titles thats for sure. Unless some publisher wont care if their title wouldnt sell because it was easily pirated due to the console's "hacker friendly" nature.

 

[NC37]

This is grabing the market the Vita failed to grasp. Just as the markets have rejected the notion that corporations should control music and movies, it looks like it is applying to video game consoles too.

I'd still rather have a Vita...Correction...hacked Vita with digital copies of all my PSP games that I didn't have to pay Sony again just to download. Course we don't even get that program here. I'd really like to ask Japan why they put up with that crap. You own the game, you shouldn't have to pay Sony again for a digital copy because they were too stuck up to make a UMD reader to copy your own over.

 

[hardcore_gamer]

Unless some publisher wont care if their title wouldnt sell because it was easily pirated due to the console's "hacker friendly" nature.

All the titles will be free to play, supported by micro-transactions. So piracy won't be an issue.

 

[Liquid Cool]

At this rate, it might take them half their funds to pay for the Launch Party....

LC

 

[DannibusX]

Holy fuck, those guys are nearing $2.5 million with 28 days left to go.

 

[insane 360]

fyi, ICS already supports gamepads natively, so thats a non issue.

i see this as awesome, i own an xperia play and gaming on android has gotten very good and with nova 3, asphalt 7, shadowgun...graphics are looking better and better, and thats running on my single core, old ass gpu just fine. tegra 3 will still have plenty of growing room.

the things i hope they add, sd card, and analog triggers for racing games

 

[Solaris17]

i hope they make it

 

[Solaris17]

Probably would be lacking commercial titles thats for sure. Unless some publisher wont care if their title wouldnt sell because it was easily pirated due to the console's "hacker friendly" nature.

i dont think so. some of the highest impact games like flow and other simple stuff are made by the creators that openly back this console. I want one and if anything this is a better gift for youre kids then a PS3 or new gen xbox/PS and far cheaper when they decide to get angry and break stuff.

 

[Hilux SSRG]

It needs more RAM. Seriously, 3 or 4 GB minimum to load the game files.

What console in every console 5 yr appox. cycle could have not used more RAM?


And it's at 3.3 million...wow!

 

[DannibusX]

As they inch closer to the $4 million mark...

I really like the concept of this console. The specs may be weak, but I don't think the developer thought that they would get this much support from the community. An unknown company putting out a low-spec gaming console for $99 should be sending some sort of message to the big boys of the business.

AFAIK there is no cost for the SDK and every console can be used as a DevKit, which by itself is pretty amazing. The have a good business model for a niche market. I'm excited to see what is in store for it. I agree that it needs more RAM, but it's a $99 console, money needs to be saved somewhere.

Also, the amount of Crapware that'll be available for Ouya is going to be epic. I'm very sure we'll see some real gems though.

 

[Mussels]

It needs more RAM. Seriously, 3 or 4 GB minimum to load the game files.

What console in every console 5 yr appox. cycle could have not used more RAM?


And it's at 3.3 million...wow!

3.7 million now.


RAM is not a big deal on this platform. they'll run out of storage, CPU and GPU powre before 1GB is a problem.


the big deal here is android, and that the controller has a touchpad - you can play angry birds, chuck on a BT headset and use teamspeak for android, playback every media file you want under the sun (because you'll always be able to slap in any android media software you want)



This is what people want. a cheap console with every game free2play/having a demo, WITH free, third party extras (read: everything android)