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Ouya Dev Consoles Ship, SDK Released
An anonymous reader writes "Earlier this year, the Android-based Ouya game console project raised over nine times as much funding as they initially asked for in their Kickstarter campaign. Now, Ouya developer consoles are starting to ship, and folks on the Ouya team released a video showing what the developers should expect. As explained in the video, the console currently being shipped is by no means the final hardware, but promises to give developers everything they need to start developing apps and games for Ouya. The only surprise is that they decided to add a micro-USB port to the hardware, making it easy to hook up to a PC. The Ouya team has also released an SDK for the device (which they call the ODK — Ouya Development Kit), and have provided most of the source under the Apache 2.0 license. They wrote, 'We think we’ve got a great team of developers here at OUYA, but there’s strength in numbers and a wealth of passionate, talented people out there. We want you, the developers of the world, to work alongside us to continually improve our platform. It’s our hope that releasing a more open ODK will help foster such innovation.'"
Well, I said it couldn't be done, I was wrong. Very well done to them!
"There there, ship." *pats the hull*
Something about them not having a lot of downloads from their site flagged it as possible phishing or malware.
If this is anything like the "SmartScreen" reputation system that IE uses, then how is a new site supposed to gain reputation other than by buying it from a CA?
Sure, there's fan art reminiscent of Soviet marketing materials. Creative Commons has the same thing.
That and if they simply don't add ads to the main interface, they'd already have Microsoft's Xbox Live service beat.
What the hell? A fan inside the box? Please tell me this won't be in the final version. Have these guys never heard about heat sinks? The way I would do this would be to have the case be made out of aluminum and the heats sink would be connected to the case utilizing the case itself to dissipate heat
This is not a "dev" box in the sense that if you are a developer, you need one of these boxes. These are boxes that were specifically awarded to backers that wanted to do development. The only difference between these and the retail boxes is that these are early versions and therefore available earlier than the retail boxes. Also these are in "special edition" cases as a thank you to the devs for their support.
... The first company to offer a true gaming supercomputer will get my money. They say graphics don't matter but obviously they do if people are always trying to buy the latest PC and latest graphics card.
What someone needs to do is create a console which somehow links up multiple graphics cards for under $1000. Call it a gaming supercomputer, and target hardcore gamers via Kickstarter. See how much funds can be raised. See if a custom chip can be designed for the project if enough funds can be raised to be used along side the Nvidia GeForce GTX 590. Allow for upgrading the card or cards and you have it.
They do offer it, it's called a PC. A custom chip? Then you get into programming problems, and high costs for manufacturing a custom chip.
Okay, i started typing up a great example and realized I didn't need to do that. Your example this time is Real Life. We are looking at the latest generation from MS and Sony. Video Consoles that are over 5 years old. PC's on the other hand, keep getting new video cards, etc. Yet the quality of the games that come out match the lowest common machine, which is either the 360 or PS3, since by 2012 standards, they suck dog shit.
In other words, just because you have a machine with the latest graphics, it doesn't matter. The devs develop for the lowest common denominator.
Be seeing you...
Surely it wouldn't have killed them to put a photo of the production verson *somewhere* in the post...?
They do offer it, it's called a PC.
Very few people are willing to buy a second PC and connect it to a television. See, for example, these comments. Part of the difference is that devices marketed as PCs are traditionally associated with a different kind of game, the FPS, RTS, and MMORPG that can be played with a keyboard and mouse, not the platformers, racing games, fighting games, and party games that work with one to four gamepads.
When their Kickstarter began, I sent them a message (along with many other folks, I'm sure) that it needed _some_ means of getting a wired internet connection and/or access to by-wire accessories. USB was one of the possibilities I offered.
Now devs for Ouya can turn around and leverage that USB port to allow the Ouya device to latch on to a PC's network connection. Excellent.
(Page doesn't seem to show if it's USB2 or 3. At this point, I sure hope it's USB 3...)
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I am still not sure I understand the purpose of the OUYA. If it doesn't run existing Android games, then it is just another locked-down device/market from someone else. What's the big whoop? Just the fact that is runs Android?? Wouldn't a device that runs standard Android and has access to all the existing games in Google Play be far more desirable?
The hardware will be near zero-profit and they will just rake in the money from sales of apps on their proprietary "store". Why would developers want to lock themselves into another, different store with different rules, and target only the Ouya?
Wasn't the excitement to have a cheap set-top box that could play inexpensive Android games? If it is a separate, proprietary marketplace, then the selection will be dismal, the prices much higher, and you won't be able to use those apps on any other non-Ouya device.
Plus, if you already paid for Android games on the Google Play or Amazon App Store, they won't run on the Ouya either. I don't see how this is a good thing. Despite it running an Android fork, it is just another semi-proprietary platform.
I would rather pay more for a really "open" set-top box with decent hardware, joysticks, and have it just use Google Play and link to my existing account. They can make money off the box.
Why would you ask a bestbuy sales person anything?They cannot answer questions, nor can they help you. They might be able to run a register, but not even that will be done in a competent manner odds are.
There are SLI capable cards in the $100 range.
Only if they also let you use outside services without tithing to them unlike MS.
The first time I was at a friends house and wanted to watch netflix using my account I almost died laughing when he told we could not since he did not pay for the gold version of the service. Talk about extortion "Pay us to use a totally unrelated service that costs us nothing".
I already have a phone in my hands that has more CPU power than the Ooya, it has an HDMI port, and I play games on it all the time using my PS3 controller. Why would I buy this device? It seems like it would be LESS convenient than what I already have, which is a powerful game console that follows me everywhere and can be plugged into ANY TV in about 3 seconds.... this is a less-powerful console tethered to my house that would mean something else I have to carry around?
I don't understand who the target market for this thing is or who is going to buy it. I am a geek, a gamer, and an Android fanatic. You would think I would be the ideal target market for this device. But if I don't see any use for it, then I don't think there is much hope in the broader marketplace. To me it is a solution looking for a problem.
They got two things right... that mobile is the future of gaming, and that Android is going to rule the market. But what they got wrong is the assumption that standalone consoles are going to stay around. Who need a standalone console when your phone is more powerful? All you need is a CONTROLLER. They should have put their project into making a seamless bluetooth controller experience that worked for any phone (the PS3 controller solution is great when you have it working but is a bit convoluted for a newbie to set up).
- Giant fan in a sealed box. Why?
I'm guessing there is a vent opposite the fan, but being clear plastic its hard to tell the details. I'm not sure, it could be a completely boneheaded design decision, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt (no one who could actually produce a functioning bit of hardware could be that stupid, right?)
- I know the xbox dev box comes in clear plastic, but doesn't make it look any less cheap.
I rather like it. I miss the clear plastic trend of the mid-80's. I would love to see the guts of my gadgets, just to be reminded that they aren't "magic boxes". I doubt I'm cool, or my sense of style is accepted (I'm a nerd, so the latter is probably an oxymoron), but I like it. This also isn't release hardware, so I'm guessing the final consumer version will look like it does on the marketing materials.
- D-Pad from hell (another x-box transfer)
They pretty much said that the controller isn't the final version in the video. I admit, though, that so far it looks sort of like a crappy "Mad Catz" cheapo controller. If it has bluetooth, nothing will stop you from using a 360 controller, or anything else.
- Have they done any software to support their games? Didn't even see Jelly Bean load up.
This is a bit hazy. Looking at another video on their channel, it looks like they might be using a modified version of Android, as their game browser is rather "unique" looking. I'm not sure if you can actually use Android normally, and if you can how, since using a controller is very different than the standard touch. But it does look like they did make it more "game friendly", since it has an actual game browser. Everything else is a mystery, which is sad, since my decision to purchase one would be somewhat based on its functionality beyond games.
I can play games on pretty much everything these days. So having another gaming device isn't terribly attractive (3 computers (one hooked up to the living room TV), a phone, 2 tablets, 2 consoles, 5 retro consoles, a DS, etc...), but having a very small, low power, computer allowing basic functions to replace my aging, loud and hot, HTPC would be nice. Even as a gaming device, I'm somewhat skeptical, since 90% of Android/iOS games don't really excite me, they are generally shallow, gimmicky, crap; good for playing on the bus, but horrible for holding your attention for over 15 minutes. If it had "real" games I might bite, but is the hardware capable enough to handle anything beyond the typical iOS/Android fare?
- Awkward video full of awkward comments. Ouch.
I wish I knew what it was about Youtube that brought out the largest possible selection of absolute morons of any other form of media.
A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government. -edward abbey
Wouldn't a device that runs standard Android and has access to all the existing games in Google Play be far more desirable?
Some genres work better with a capacitive multitouch screen. Games in these genres belong in the Google Play Store first and Amazon Appstore once they're successful on Google Play Store. (Amazon charges an annual fee.) Other genres work better with a gamepad. Games in these genres belong in the Ouya store. They could be published in the Google Play Store, but as I understand it, it's not easy to get solid sales figures for external gamepads such as iCade and iControlPad products.
Why would developers want to lock themselves into another, different store with different rules, and target only the Ouya?
Because not all developers already have enough "financial stability" and "relevant experience" to lock themselves into the Microsoft, Nintendo, or Sony platform. And because not all game designs translate well to a flat multitouch screen.
Wasn't the excitement to have a cheap set-top box that could play inexpensive Android games?
The excitement is to have a cheap set-top box that plays inexpensive gamepad games developed by people who happen not to have been born near Austin, Boston, or Seattle.
Plus, if you already paid for Android games on the Google Play or Amazon App Store, they won't run on the Ouya either. I don't see how this is a good thing.
If you paid for a game on a store that carries games designed for a touch screen, you paid for it because you thought the experience with a touch screen was worth the money.
I already have a phone in my hands that has more CPU power than the Ooya, it has an HDMI port, and I play games on it all the time using my PS3 controller. Why would I buy this device?
The fact that not enough other people connect PS3 controllers to their phones is enough to discourage game developers from targeting Android phones with PS3 controllers. If I were to develop a game targeting Android phones with PS3 controllers, how big could I expect my market to be? Are there even published sales figures for the iCade or iControlPad to reassure developers that the market for gamepad games on Android isn't entirely unprofitable?
All you need is a CONTROLLER.
And only one Android phone has ever been bundled with one: the Xperia Play by Sony.
the PS3 controller solution is great when you have it working but is a bit convoluted for a newbie to set up
And Android 4.2 broke the Wii controller solution.
If it has bluetooth, nothing will stop you from using a 360 controller
Since when are Xbox 360 wireless controllers Bluetooth? I thought they used a proprietary RF layer, and using them with a PC required buying at least one of the controllers in a bundle with a USB receiver. And even then, PlayStation 3 and Wii controllers don't completely follow the Bluetooth HID standard, and underlying changes in an operating system's Bluetooth stack can break and have broken driver applications designed to map these slightly nonstandard devices.
I honestly doubt they will. So long as there is enough market to keep it alive that is all that really matters.
Typical home users are pretty far behind the curve on almost all new technology.
Watch the video carefully. It seems there are long but thin vents that run from corner to corner in the removable top / lid around 1:59 and 2:03. Also, I'm not certain, but it looks like there may be small slit vents near the bottom in a circular pattern at 2:08