A few months ago. a new Kickstarter project broke records in collecting funds at highspeed. For people who don’t know what the Ouya is about, I will give you a quick summary. The Ouya is a new Android based video game console scheduled for launch upcoming march 2013. Its operating system is Android 4.0, Icecream Sandwich to be exact and it is an open sourced console. This means that developpers but also hackers can tweak and hack everything on the console.
This means that every Ouya console is a Development Kit, and everybody can make games for this system. As an Indie developer myself, I think this is an awesome idea. As a starting company you can’t hardly afford all the licensing fees for all the common consoles at this moment. There to expensive and its really a risk for a small starting company. So yes, I’m really excited about this new upcoming console. People can now independently launch their own games without any hesitation. So there is a lot of room for new innovative and creative ideas. Its like the new Youtube for developpers. Like Youtube, people can have a voice now.
The console itself, is a bargain for only 99 US dollars. The system has some impressive specifications aswell, for such a cheap console.
These are the specifications (source: http://www.Ouya.tv):
Specifications:
- Tegra3 quad-core processor
- 1GB RAM
- 8GB of internal flash storage
- HDMI connection to the TV, with support for up to 1080p HD
- WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
- Bluetooth LE 4.0
- USB 2.0 (one)
- Wireless controller with standard controls (two analog sticks, d-pad, eight action buttons, a system button), a touchpad
- Android 4.0
- Ethernet
The controller has a touchpad, so you can still play mobile games like Angry Birds but now on your HD television.
But what about the cons? you might ask. Its open sourced and free to hack, so that can be quite dangerous in my opinion.
Do you want a video game console that can be hacked in your own home network? Will hackers take over and hack every game in its library? These are questions that are popping up in my head when I think about the cons.
And can it earn its own place in the gaming market like Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo with its upcoming Wii U.
Time will tell, but I’m really looking forward to develop for this new console. Gaming has become so expensive the last decade. Its possible that the Ouya can revolutionize the gaming market. Because great games are not based on high definition graphics and Hollywoodproductions or millions of dollars, but on great ideas 😉
Dutch Gamedesign 