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Startup Aims For $99, Android-Powered TV Game Console
rodrigoandrade writes "Ouya is a new Android-based home console that aims to bring to the living room the $0.99 games business model that has worked so well for Apple. The device 'will allow developers to easily create and sell their games and be fully “hackable” — anyone will be able to pull the machine apart and tinker with it to their heart’s content.' They're planning on shipping by March 2013. Admittedly, it's vaporware so far, but it could turn the industry on its head, effectively putting an end to the things we all hate about modern console gaming ($60 games, DLC, DRM, endless sequels, movie tie-ins, etc.)"
It's a foot in the door though. Android (and portable) gaming has no central hub. The first company to create one that supports a controller, a ranking system, and an ecosystem of development will take hold of the space. I'm honestly surprised that Steam hasn't done anything yet in mobile gaming.
If you can create an open box like this with a store and a controller, the TV box becomes secondary to the store and the OS compatability. The store is there to enforce a few rules (supports free gameplay in any form, even if just a demo, no hax, possibly multiplayer, will run on the set top box, etc), then you can use that storefront to refine the purchase of games. For instance, you could show correctly if a game has the information to scale to a TV size screen, or back down to a phone size. You also get a controller with standardized input, which is a huge deal for games. I think that if this is successful, it will be a huge win for indie gaming and gaming advancement in general. It won't kill more powerful consoles, but it is filling a hole in the market.
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That is one of the nice things about Android. It is specifically designed to handle multiple resolutions. That means that the difference between a TV size optimized game and a phone size optimized game can be as little as exporting your graphic resources at different resolutions. The device is a $99 device. It doesn't have to solve every problems, or be the height of technology. Making any product is always a feature/quality tradeoff with cost to manufacture. This company obviously believes that for a lot of people, MS, SONY, and even Nintendo have pushed the cost of manufacture too high.
My guess is that they are right. I know that I would be satisfied with moving backwards a generation in console power to get out from under the thumb of the big three. Last generation's systems were pretty darn good.
I'm honestly surprised that Steam hasn't done anything yet in mobile gaming.
Why do you think they are working on a Linux client for Steam? Android is a type of Linux. Steam on Ouya could disrupt the shit out of everybody.
-- 77IM
Student: Is it true that the foundation of the universe is paradox?
Master: Well, yes and no.