This topic contains 22 replies, has 9 voices, and was last updated by 
The Male White Mage 3 months, 1 week ago.
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So what are the people’s thoughts here about this new console in the work.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ouya/ouya-a-new-kind-of-video-game-console?ref=home_popular
It sounds like an interesting idea. It all depends now on how much coverage this thing gets, and how much third parties actually will go for it. I find it…really iffy on the surface; most companies are not likely to continuously publish games for a system like this if the games are all available for free. I did notice the qualifier that their condition for making this console is games should be free ‘at least to try.’ Yeah, they probably know a lot of companies will likely have a hard time buying this…
It’s also interesting that ‘the console is also a dev kit’ is one of their big features. Certainly something like this could possibly help some small-time, up-and-coming developers or those who want to be a developer. It might give them some ideas of what they’re doing. But it still raises questions as to how exactly that works and how limited it probably is. Their continuous comparisons and mentioning of mobile games makes me wonder if the point of this is to just be able to make mobile-type games that…..are played on a TV. Is this all they want; for people to play mobile-type or FTP types of games, like endless, generic, online RPGs on their TVs? People can already do that if they connect their computer to some kinds of TVs. It’s already possible. I also have to ask, do any developers, small-time or not, really want to be able to develop games on their TV? Is..that a real concern? they say, “You can create the next big title in your bedroom – just like the good old days!” Uh…you already can do that; if your computer is in your bedroom. Cough. See what I mean? Also, they say, “Developers can offer a free demo with a full-game upgrade, in-game items or powers, or ask you to subscribe.” So….just like games are often done right now? How is this any different from current practices?
Some may find this an unfair comparison, and I don’t intend for this to be one directly, but I can’t help but be reminded of the Phantom. Remember that thing that never came to be? I can’t help but think this could just be another Phantom; they claim they can and will do so much when they get off the ground, but then they never do. Although if that does happen, hopefully in this case, it’s not because the company was run by a crook. Also, the Phantom was never taken seriously, at all, because…it just sounded too silly. It didn’t have any major third-party support that I know. I think Capcom at least had, uh, ports of Resident Evil 3 and Dino Crisis that they were going to give…which you could already play on the PS. It seems the goal of this project is more aimed at independent developers, but the thing is, it’s not really realistic to expect to take off without at least some major third parties on board. And that brings me to my next point; it’s probably also unrealistic to try and compete with the other big 3 consoles companies. If some other well-established company, like Apple, threw their hat in, that’d be one thing, but something like this….Yeah…
I’m not trying to ridicule the folks behind this project. I just….see a lot of questions and flaws. If this is their dream though, I think it’s great to see they are determined to at least try. It makes me think that there are at least some people still like that in this country, and that those flames are not snuffed dead yet. I do wish them the best with this, and honestly, I’d like to see it suceed and see what happens, and where it can go. So….we’ll see!
The console is destined for obscurity. I’m extremely skeptical that this thing will have much success and fufill any of it’s developer’s promises. I might consider picking one up for collection purposes but I doubt I’ll be doing any serious gaming on it.
I don’t see the point. It looks like its designed to play indie games designed for iOS and Android marketplaces on a TV. Is there really that big of a market to warrant releasing a separate console for these types of games? Between iOS, XBLIG, Google Play, PC etc. already available for indie developers to choose to develop for, what’s the point in making yet another platform? This company doesn’t have the capital behind it like Apple or Google so I think they will have a hard time getting ANY let alone many retailers to carry it. Gamers won’t flock to it if they can’t get it in stores and developers will ignore the platform if no one owns it. And I’ll believe it’s only a $100 msrp when I see it.
I don’t know enough about the Tegra 3 architecture but I have concerns if the hardware is powerful enough to display 1080p on a big screen since it’s usually used in mobile devices. The 8 gig internal storage which is just way too small. I have an 8gb 4th gen iPod touch and I constantly have to delete games to make room. Games that take advantage of the Tegra 3 hardware will eat up that storage in no time. The creators of the Ouya seem to have high hopes for their system but I’m high doubtful that they can deliver. I predict it goes the way of the Pandora, Nuon, Indrema and Phantom: won’t be a success if it sees a release at all.
Another crazy kickstarter thing? Wow. People really will throw their money away on any pipedream. They make controllers for pc. Do I think free to play mmos should utilize controllers more? Sure. A console devoted to that idea they needed a kickstarter to fund? Give me a break.
….oh also, the name. The name should….definitely go. How the Hell do you even pronounce this? Would you even want to? And folks still think ‘Wii’ and ‘Wii U’ are bad…. ;P
How do you pronounce OUYA, anyway?
OOO-yah. Apparently it doesn’t have the most pleasant meaning in Swahili.Say the next line out loud:
“I just bought a OOO-yah … it’s a video game console.”I am not a fan of the whole kickstarter/indiegogo funding phenom. I think the entire practice as implemented on these sites is unethical and in a very gray area legally. I have seen several of these fundraisers that are edging into violations of portions of US federal law involving pyramid scams in their language and the promises that they are making to prospective “backers.” (I checked the Fed. code.) The IDEAL ostensibly behind these types of fundraisers of cutting out the banks and the faceless corporate hegemony is actually very attractive, but the implementation is inconsistent w/ this ideal and very open to fraud and unethical business practices. I am aware that many people think of the term “business ethics” as an oxymoron, but this should not be encouraged. The smarmy pseudo business terminology that is thrown around on these types of sites makes me queasy. “Backers?” Really? Backers get a return on their investment in a successful product. People who donate to these start ups get nothing but some swag. The use of this type of terminology seems disingenuous at best. Seeing it used by large and already successful corporations to shortcut the necessity of investors and banks who expect to see things like a detailed business plan and demand a share in future revunue before they invest in a product may be even worse than seeing random idiots throw up ill thought out pipe dreams.
It’s the same brand of “entitlement business” practice that has led to the US taxpayers bailing out the banks and the savings and loans and the brokerage houses who engaged in reckless and unethical behavior, pocketed the profits and threw up their collective hands and denied responsibility when the bubble burst.
I don’t care if they end up making their console. I don’t care if it meets the (vague and ill defined other than the hardware portion) specifications that they have promised. Even if the end result is awesome? I will still think that they behaved unethically and will never buy it.
Ah, finally some thoughts. A week ago I asked about the Ouya in the Weekly Wringer thread and nobody replied, so I was beginning to wonder if nobody cared. Now I have to go work, but I’ll throw in my five cents later on.
pfehlicks post: http://www.clanofthegraywolf.com/suggestions#comment-13818
Google Search: http://i.imgur.com/Vt4gg.jpgI did a search for Ouya before posting and nothing was found, also I don’t really read the Weekly Wringer or the 16-Bit Gems suggestion threads anymore.
@Maze I was not excepting that type of comment but it is interesting to read that since myself I found it odd that business projects took donations from regular people to get the project going or to finish it.
I will say that the protoype mock up picture of the console itself looks absolutely awful. It looks like a napkin dispenser. Ouya fanboys on various blogs are gushing over the design but honestly it looks like it belongs in a pizzeria rather than my game collection. I never heard of this Yves Behar guy who designed the Ouya apperance nor have I ever owned anything else he’s designed in the past. As of right now I’m not impressed with his work at all and plan on not getting an Ouya either.
The more and deeper I investiagate the situation the more the situation seems shady. Boxer8 inc, the start up company behind the Ouya has no website other than the kickstarter page and looking up the company address on google map it looks like the company headquarters is a small suite in an office building. The console design is not even finalized yet the company says the Ouya will launch in less than 1 year. Not exactly inspiring confidence anything will come to fruition atleast in the timeframe Boxer8 hopes it will.
Since they’re using a freely available OS and common components; I can see this coming out in a year. The biggest hurdle would be setting up manufacturing for the controller, I’d say.
Add Youtube, Vudu and Netflix and I’m in for that price
I’ve heard of this before but I dont know much about the concept. Even so I’m not sold on the idea. Ok for developers it seems to offer plenty but as a gamer it doesnt seem to have much for me :S Yeah its cheap but whats so special about it? My xbox 360 has halo and gears of war and live. My PS3 has its equivilants as does the wii and 3DS but what does this have that would really draw me as a gamer to it over the other offerings currently out there? Not much as far as I can see apart from price.
EDIT: Sorry had an internet stutter, pressed save again and double posted … sorry
Add Youtube, Vudu and Netflix and I’m in for that price
So a PC then? ^^
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