OUYA: A New Kind of Video Game Console

[AUS]

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ouy ... me-console
Watch the video. It's an open-source console, the kickstarter was opened today with a goal of 950K and it's very nearly there. It'll be there by tomorrow most definitely. EDIT: As of this edit, it's more than triple its goal.

It's fun to just watch the numbers count up on refresh. I'm very excited about this.

[Paperkoopa]

Okay, that looks interesting. Might be an inexpensive alternative to todays consoles and the amount of Indie-games makes it even more interesting. Indies were mainly a PC-only genre so far (except for that Xbox stuff that's way too expensive) so it's always nice to see the not-so-well-known developers getting more attention.

Too bad I hardly use my TV for playing video games, the PC has Steam after all. ;)

[Ashan]

Seems interesting enough. Not sure how it'll turn out, but I'll most likely buy one. I mean, for $99 it's not that big of a deal if I wasted my money.

[AUS]

They've made their pledge goal now. Color me not surprised.

[Bwarch]

Meh. I was interested in the idea of a new console hitting the scene but I'm not a fan of the free-to-play model. I'll pass.

I wish them the best of luck against the big three though.

[Aposke]

Aw shit this looks like a dream coming true to me.
I love independent game development, I love DRM-free software, and Sony and Microsoft's recent stance of controlling their users' consoles over the internet really upsets me.
If this succeeds in all the goals it's established for itself, this project is definitely going to spawn a very interesting and money-worth console.
Not to mention it's only 99$ at that!

Does this project happen to have any sort of website? I can't seem to find much over google...

[Qwarq]

I did console development for a little while, and the amount of hoops even an established company has to jump through is completely ridiculous. That, combined with the exploding cost of games, has really stifled the console market lately. I love that they're pushing back against that.

My only concern is it's ability to pull in the mass market. Most people aren't going to go out and buy a console, even for a mere $100, if they see it as "HD Angry Birds - on your TV!". As popular as Angry Birds is, it's a pretty shallow game (same with many mobile games). What they need is games with good recognition and more depth in order for the platform to be taken more seriously by the average Joe. Minecraft is a great start on that front and I hope they can keep that up.

I still do some game development as a hobby, so even if it doesn't go as mainstream as the existing consoles, I'm pretty excited since it'll be a plus for the indie community either way.

[Aposke]

Holy hell I just realized - that kickstarter page started merely 2 days ago!
They raised 2 million dollars in 2 days.
I-is that the power of kickstarter?!

[Bwarch]

Yes.
Lots of success stories like that on kickstarter.
Just ask Tim Schafer, haha.

Edit: Also there are a lot of good points in the posts below my first one. I dunno! I'll agree that security has been getting pretty ridiculous lately, and I love indie games myself! I just... really don't like the free-to-play model. I don't like how it's like "Okay so you get to play this small section of the game heeeere, but if you want more you can always pay more." I just want to pay for the full game at a decent cost. It seems to me like you could really sink MORE money into a free-to-play game, then an all-new triple A title that you buy for 60$. That frightens me. One of my friends just sunk a ton of cash into Maplestory, I mean, really?
And like, it is free-to-play, you don't have to sink in any money at all most times, but what if they entice you enough to where you DO want to sink money in? I don't want that choice.

I truly hope they allow non-free-to-play games on the console. Minecraft has a model that I actually like because that was a one-time cost for a truly massive game. If they have more games with THAT kind of model, consider me interested.

Edit 2: ALSO ALSO, does everybody remember the rumors on a Valve console? We might be getting TWO new systems on the market!

[AUS]

It really depends on what the developer feels.

Developers can offer a free demo with a full-game upgrade, in-game items or powers, or ask you to subscribe.

I'd probably offer a free demo with the rest of the game for like a buck.

[Bwarch]

It really depends on what the developer feels.

Developers can offer a free demo with a full-game upgrade, in-game items or powers, or ask you to subscribe.

I'd probably offer a free demo with the rest of the game for like a buck.

Oh yes, I like this a lot. The free demo option is just fantastic.
Okay yeah if they have games on there that I want I'm getting this.

[Jesuiscontent]

3 million $ in one day holy shit

Kinda curious to see how this will turn out. Not too interested in having games I already have on my computer on the TV just for the sake on having them on the TV but we'll see what other stuff it'll be able to do

Also OUYA is like the best name ever

[Dollop of Mayo]

Hey guys, I'm designing a console too. It's called the SLIPPY FART because like, the dumber the name, the more success it will find, so I'm going whole hog. Watch out Wii U and OUYA. SLIPPY FART is coming for you!

It'll be a revolutionary new concept where

Anyway it seems like what they're trying to market is a smart phone that only plays games on your TELEVISION. That lady liked to say TELEVISION a lot. I mean I'm all for the little guy getting into the industry and showing the big publishers that they are dumb, evil dinosaurs.

But uh, like, where are the examples of games? All I saw was a woman blabbing on about a CONCEPT. They haven't, like, pieced together a prototype? Did nearly $4 million as of typing this just get shunted into the void?

WHO CARES, ALL I HAVE IS A NAME, AND THAT NAME IS SLIPPY FART, GIVE ME YOUR MONEY

[Aposke]

But uh, like, where are the examples of games? All I saw was a woman blabbing on about a CONCEPT. They haven't, like, pieced together a prototype? Did nearly $4 million as of typing this just get shunted into the void?

Actually, they do mention that they have a prototype built in the video, and show some menu footage. Whether the 4 million are gonna be put to good use is another entirely different thing, mind you, but the kickstarter funding time isn't even over yet and apparently people are still pumping money into this despite it having reached its goal more than 4 times over.

[Sebby19]

My console would have been called the S System, shaped like the letter S, and be absolutely massive.

I do like the same I came of with for it.

[limepie20]

People are wasting their time coming up with names, but the best way to attract customers is to make them WANT to play your console. You know, like controllers that release caffeine and nicotine to be absorbed by your skin or something.

[AUS]

Why harp on the name? Unlike the Wii, Xbox, and Playstation consoles, Ooo-yuh is actually fun to say.

[Cobalt]

Am i the only one who pronounces it like it's japanese
It makes it sound like you're always going off on a tangent when you ask someone to play it
"Hey, wanna play angry birds with me on the -- oh yah, i forgot i had something else to do, nvm"

[AUS]

Using it to play Angry Birds would be such a waste of its potential.

[AUS]

I don't know a single person IRL who thinks the console will do well. Angry Birds is too prominent for anyone to think of it as anything other than the Angry Birds console.

Translation, you know a lot of ignorant people.

[Bwarch]

I don't know a single person IRL who thinks the console will do well. Angry Birds is too prominent for anyone to think of it as anything other than the Angry Birds console.

Translation, you know a lot of ignorant people.

AUS bought stocks yo.

[DeadlyLampshade]

This is not a bad idea, really. I'd much rather throw my money at this $99 good idea than even support the other more expensive plain ideas out there.

[Cadwyn]

I'm always excited to hear about these sorta projects, it seems like consoles have been a dead zone for indie games since indie game publishing has been around. But then, I also thought that cloud computing console was a good idea, and I haven't heard hide nor hair of it in years, so time will tell I guess.

Kinda wish they could put up proof for how great their controller is though. Like a quarter of the video was just about the controller, and it'll be hard to stand up to the awesomeness that is the Xbox controller. If it can't at least hook up to Windows and just play that's a huge uphill battle for them.

[sschol]

On one hand, it has terrible specs and may be phone: the TV, but on the other, I'm really really interested in it because if we're lucky it might end up almost as an SNES 2 (in that it has a lot of good original and pretty games, not that it's a OH MAN DON'T YOU REMEMBER THESE VIDEO GAMES). I say this because the hardware isn't so great but will certainly be able to handle a good 2D game, and I think developers will probably tend towards them for this. Of course I could be wrong and it may end up as actually phone: the TV and gross looking triple A titles for the masses but I have some high hopes for an actual gaming renaissance not held down by the minecraft idea of an indie game.

[AUS]

phone: the TV

It's more like the ouya features phone: the TV as a side gig. All the random crap, then the SDK for games, and also android apps.