OUYA - The new (upcoming) Android console

Bramanik · July 2012

So I found the OUYA's Kickstarter the other day, and instantly thought of Gideros being capable of creating games for it. They have stated that they want all developers to be able to easily (and with low cost) create games for a console, as well as the console being priced at a very low $99. There will be an included SDK which allows you to develop for their interface (gamepad) as well as their system.

Just thought I'd bring this to everyones attention as it will be interesting to see how it unfolds and whether it is worth developing for.

The Kickstarter project is here:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ouya/ouya-a-new-kind-of-video-game-console?ref=users

Teranth · July 2012

@Bramanik good find, I actually just read an article on that project and was thinking the same sort of thing. A new market for my games is always good

Of course by being a console we will have to rework current games to use the controller so, it's basically like writing for the xBox arcade and such. But I like the idea of making Gideros apps work on it for sure.

ar2rsawseen · July 2012

http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/IanFisch/20120711/173901/

techdojo · July 2012

I also saw the item - interesting concept, there is also a touch pad area on the controller itself so "touch"based games should still work. However the post that @ar2rsawseen linked to might be correct - I don't see this becoming mass market anytime soon, there's more likely hood of a Google tablet getting a proper hdmi connector and or a Android based Google TV affair (maybe an update to the Nexus Q) that will probably do all this (and more) and have better market penetration.

Bramanik · July 2012

I think the main aim of the group is to provide a console platform where developers can easily create games and distribute them without massive overhead costs and the hassle of a publisher. Android is a popular system to develop for, and utilising that popular existing system as a framework provides an easy bridge for existing Android developers.

He argues that almost nothing will be compatible with the control system of the OUYA, which is true, although they didn't aim to carbon copy a touchpad to a screen, they aimed to create a console experience, utilising an existing popular system. The vast majority of games would be able to be playable with a few tweaks.

He states that the Android market is extremely lackluster, but again, he is trying to compare the OUYA's titles with Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo (which are a few hundred dollars more and games are pricey due to massive dev teams). People aren't expecting AAA titles. People want a console that they can customise as much as they want.

He states consumers won't buy something that has nothing developed for it, and developers won't develop anything for something that has no consumers. The Kickstarter has been out for 3 days, and already over 30,000 people have put money down for one. They have currently raised $3.4 million for the project, while they were aiming at $950,000, that is almost 4 times as much to use for additional features and upgrades.

He also says that games are moving away from the TV. This is true insofar as people generally only buy consoles for a handfull of games, this console fills that gap by not only providing a cheap console and an easy development platform with minimal costs, but also creating that connection between a console and mobile hardware. I'd say most, if not all of the simple mobile games will be available on both if the developer puts in the work for the control system, therefore consumers can just play on their phone when they're out and about. It could even use the cloud to sync between the platforms.

He argues that Android specs move too fast, which is true, but consoles in their current form will always suffer from being left behind in the hardware game unless they then produce another console every few years. The issue the "bigger" consoles face is creating a platform that will last for years and will be able to run all the AAA titles; the OUYA doesn't cater to the AAA titles, so this issue won't be as prominent.

I'm not saying that the OUYA will definitely be successful, but it definitely has a good start.

/rant

techdojo · July 2012

I agree - UK based developer David Darling (ex owner of Codemasters, current owner of Kwalee) posted an article recently about the death of mainstream consoles unless they embrace digital downloads and dispense with physical media - it generated a lot of cross talk and discussion back and forth (+ a lot of media interest / traffic to his companies site - which the cynic in me believes was the real reason for posting).

However your right - if OUYA can make an impact then it might start the ball rolling, it would only take a couple of decent titles (an Angry Birds, Bejewelled or Words with Friends clone) to push it to the tipping point required to make it a success.

With any new market - the advantage of being "first to market" are obvious, although currently I think @Atilim probably has a big enough todo list without supporting any new hardware

Who know's Gideros app's might be compatible "out of the box" and a simple plugin might be all that's required to wrap the native OUYA controller SDK.

gorkem · July 2012

One dev here (not sure he wants his name exposed) supported Ouya. Once Ouya prototypes and SDK are ready, he'll share his experiences with us, so we could at least have the initial knowledge to work on Ouya to make it Gideros Studio compatible.

glennbjr · July 2012

Hi guys. I'm the one @gorkem is talking about. I backed OUYA as a developer and will be working with @Atilim to get Gideros working with OUYA. I will be launching Super Daddio 2 for the OUYA console.

I think the console is a great way to help small developers like ourselves to get our games on a console easily and inexpensively. It also provides gamers with more choices of games for a better price. The console itself is inexpensive so just about anyone can buy one and hook it up to there tv.

I hope the console becomes a great success and finds its way into many living rooms

techdojo · July 2012

Good luck with the project Glenn, be interesting to see how the project goes.

Unknown · July 2012

I found this cool site with more information about the OUYA @ http://www.my-ouya.net. It's the only site i found since there is no official website yet. It has a ton of users and a lot of good information about developers and games.

twisttap · July 2012

http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/132751-the-99-ouya-console-exciting-innovative-and-probably-doomed

glennbjr · July 2012

@twisttap That's journalism to drive traffic to their website. It's working since you went to their website and read it. %-(

I have faith that OUYA will deliver. Will OUYA be a huge success globally and grow a large customer base. Only time will tell but at least they have a good kickstart

twisttap · July 2012

Unfortunately that is not the only article about how Ouya mighr fail, there are some really logical stuff on Gamasutra, if you have time I'd recommend to read them. Btw I dont have any issues with OUYA, just some of the facts those guys wrote came logical to me...

glennbjr · July 2012

http://kotaku.com/5927416/the-mastermind-behind-the-ouya-console-is-answering-your-best-questions-right-here

zvardin · July 2012

I'm really curious to see how this goes. Unfortunately, this will also come down to how many developers jump on this. If they get a couple of big names on it right off, it could make a huge difference (it sounds like some have shown interest). That can definitely help boost a new console. I think this has a ton of potential to shake things up though.

glennbjr · July 2012

@twisttap I've actually read many of the articles including the good, bad and ugly ones. Any business startup is risky and anything can happen. Usually those who take on the risk or get in early reap the benefits or rewards that could pay for themselves many times over. I know all the risks and am willing to take the risk because I know the reward could be greater if successful

>-

twisttap · July 2012

I am not saying anything about you taking risks, your donation as a developer to OUYA or anything related to YOU. There is a discussion here and I posted some articles which seemed interesting to me so they may be also interesting to someone else.
Dont take it personal imo..

techdojo · July 2012

All it'll take to to tip the balance is for Rovio to announce a version of Angry Birds for it and your laughing!

However it's a brave move by the Ouya team and good luck to them if they can pull it off. Other than Angry Birds I think the main thing they need to remember when they design the interface and the UI is that 99.9999999% of their customers don't know anything about Android (actually couldn't give a flying **** about Android), don't want to see all this techy stuff, don't want to have to read a 100 page manual to turn it on, don't have (or want) a degree in computer science (or astronavigation) - they just want to plug it in to their telly, and play games!

Just my $0.02

glennbjr · July 2012

@twisttap Just my thoughts nothing personal.

techdojo · July 2012

If OUYA is just pure Android then there might be a market for "other" apps to be made.
Seeing as the device is going to be centrally located in the house, it might make a good spot for a "fridge door" or a local notice / message board / calendar app. Or maybe some kind of live wallpaper that uses a photo stream to display photo's on a big screen?

MobAmuse · December 2012

I've bought into Ouya and am rather 'hoping' GiderOS will support it in future. If not, I will be forced back to homebrew engine for that platform. I imagine given it's just a jellybean OS device that most of the ODK work will be to do with the controller input etc. I'd buy the dev board too but not sure what GiderOS teams plans are towards OUYA actually are? I've even considered the option of buying GiderOS team an $800 dev board to speed things for or us all. Oh and I still want low latency sound on Android via OpenSL (not current OpenAL) in GiderOS. Come on guys give it to us!

MobAmuse · December 2012

I also notice that 'glennbjr' has dropped using GiderOS so I'm taking up the OUYA gauntlet and running away with it here too

plamen · December 2012

Sad that OUYA development took so long and the hardware they announced is already outdated. Now there is much better platforms, cheaper also. I hope they will swap the hardware with godness like this http://www.hardkernel.com/renewal_2011/products/prdt_info.php?g_code=G135341370451

ar2rsawseen · December 2012

Is there any specific support for OUYA needed? Isn't it as easy as changing BuildTarget as when you deploy to Kindle or Nook?

plamen · December 2012

Probably it will be same as having a Samsung smart phone but no gps gsm camera etc. And btw the chipset supports camera it just not soldered on the board. Everithing else should be same.

atilim · December 2012

Yes we'll support Ouya. Although it's a normal android system, its gamepad(s) and in-app billing system should be supported particularly.

MobAmuse · December 2012

Yes Ouya is more than just another android device, it has more of a chance to build it's own niche ecosystem and as a developer I want in on that personally. Also as I said (as did Atilim) the actual extra work will be with the dedicated controller and also the billing system perhaps too.

I've already bought into it so for GiderOS to support it would be a huge bonus as GiderOS is still the best/fastest cross platform solution there is for noobs and well seasoned developers.

Could get burned sure but at $99 or $800 for the Ouya and advance devkit thats nothing really compared to all the other devices needed these days to develop apps on so no worries if it crashes and burns later. You have to speculate to accumulate in this world to get anywhere.

MobAmuse · December 2012

Their ODK will be out soon with the button mappings for the controller anyway which just leaves the ouya specific in app purchase stuff...

http://www.ouya.tv/game-developers-how-to-get-started-on-ouya-now/

techdojo · December 2012

Sad that OUYA development took so long and the hardware they announced is already outdated. Now there is much better platforms, cheaper also. I hope they will swap the hardware with godness like this http://www.hardkernel.com/renewal_2011/products/prdt_info.php?g_code=G135341370451

To be honest, that's pretty much irrelevant, especially given the kinds of games most people will actually play on Ouya (95% casual I would have thought). The current XBox360 is based on nearly 10yr old hardware and Black Ops II and Halo 4 are still "kickin ass"

MobAmuse · January 2013

Another device...

http://www.giderosmobile.com/forum/discussion/2377/gamestick-android#Item_1

SinisterSoft · January 2013

@Atilim Will you also be supporting GameStick?

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