[AwesomezGuy]

I'm all for an easily moddable console, but this is too cheap. The tech will be outdated when it's released and won't be able to power any newer games with decent graphics. If this is supposed to be an arcade console like the Wii, then I suppose it has its place, but I can't see it gaining much traction in the already dying console market

[Quinn]

I just pledged $25 - this looks like a really great idea. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Also, I'm new to actually using Kickstarter, so I don't know where I can go to reserve my name (or do I have to wait a bit?).

[arronhunt]

Quinn, on 11 July 2012 - 11:50 AM, said:

Also, I'm new to actually using Kickstarter, so I don't know where I can go to reserve my name (or do I have to wait a bit?).

They'll post an update when they are ready and send you a message on Kickstarter. Should be some time in September.

Quinn, on 11 July 2012 - 11:50 AM, said:

Also, I'm new to actually using Kickstarter, so I don't know where I can go to reserve my name (or do I have to wait a bit?).

They'll post an update when they are ready and send you a message on Kickstarter. Should be some time in September.

[callumacrae]

Not sure how good this will be - did she say that all the games will be free? If that is the case, then I can't see there being many decent games being made available.

Still, I've pledged my money! (first pledge on kickstarter, woo)

[arronhunt]

callumacrae, on 11 July 2012 - 12:14 PM, said:

Not sure how good this will be - did she say that all the games will be free?

I kept hearing that too. They aren't going to offer all games free, that doesn't benefit developers or consumers because they'll have to gain revenue from advertisements. That will not fly with anyone. I'm betting they have an appstore or market where you download games, which contains some free titles like other app stores.

[callumacrae]

Yeah, I read their FAQs. Every app has to have a free version (like a Lite version, I guess), or they can charge for additional levels.


I've been thinking about this, and I really cannot see why they need so much money. Their FAQs say that they're pretty much finished developing the thing, so it won't take $1m to finish. Getting them produced will cost money, but they'll get it back from sales. I can't see why they need so much money.

[Kyek]

callumacrae, on 11 July 2012 - 12:44 PM, said:

I've been thinking about this, and I really cannot see why they need so much money. Their FAQs say that they're pretty much finished developing the thing, so it won't take $1m to finish. Getting them produced will cost money, but they'll get it back from sales. I can't see why they need so much money.

Without Kickstarter, they have to pay for the production run before they sell the units. That means getting either a loan, or venture capital funding. A loan of that size could be impossible from a bank, and if they go with VCs, they'd have to give up a huge percentage of ownership of their company, as well as leadership of their company. If they go with Kickstarter, they don't actually collect money from people unless they reach the minimum amount needed to do a production run, they don't pay interest like they would with a loan, and they stay in 100% ownership of their company. It's a pretty awesome way to go.

As a unit, I think the idea has potential -- but like Awesomez, I'm a little concerned about the hardware (as well as how high-end games can even be, running through a Java VM. Though of course there's still the Android C API that devs might be able to use). This unit also doesn't have -- and is unlikely to get -- the popularity of XBL and PSN. That means it'll still be more attractive to the better devs to lay down the cash for the expensive SDKs, knowing that they could be overnight millionaires like the guys behind recent popular indie titles. I would love love love to be proven wrong, though. The more that finds its standards in open source, the better.

[arronhunt]

Well, here's the thing. I don't think they are attempting to compete with large consoles. Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are huge corporations with years and years of experience in the field. I believe the Ouya's purpose in life is to be a fun addition to your living room with a small footprint, very reasonable price and a large community of indie developers and house-hold hackers. I think they appreciate the fact that students and younger developers want to create a console video game but don't have a medium to deliver it.

Take a look at OnLive. Great concept, great product. Yet you don't see them having press conferences at E3 or making it into GameInformer magazine. I don't think it will ever overtake any of the three console overlords, but it will be something fun and casual to play with. I just hope it doesn't die like the Phantom did.

[SapporoGuy]

They wanted $900k but are getting more just because people want to support them.

Also, $99 gets you a unit when they produce them!

Actually, if the software (os/games) is any good the top3 units will feel the pain! I have bought a new unit since PS1 because of prices. Who wants to spend that much to only have to worry about what newer hardware is on the way.

[_Sam]

Sounds actually really cool. They don't seem to restrict you in any way and the hardware seems powerful enough to do quite a lot of other stuff than gaming with it.
Why get a Raspberry when you can have this, a thousand times better for only four times the price

[Mack]

arronhunt, on 11 July 2012 - 01:31 PM, said:

Take a look at OnLive. Great concept, great product. Yet you don't see them having press conferences at E3 or making it into GameInformer magazine. I don't think it will ever overtake any of the three console overlords, but it will be something fun and casual to play with. I just hope it doesn't die like the Phantom did.

I wonder if onlive will work on this. They have an android app. If so, that means a ton of games will support this through onlive at launch

[Kyek]

That would be a potential blow to Onlive. I'm not sure if they actually make significant profit on their $99 console box (which, thinking about it, they probably don't), but if this runs OnLive just as good as the official OnLive box, there's officially zero reason to ever buy the OnLive box.

[Quinn]

That'd be good and bad for OnLive. It'd be good because they'd have a tonne of new customers, and bad due to the OnLive box.

[TheEmpty]

http://penny-arcade....u-should-be-ske

[@Tom]

Eh I dont know, It looks awesome and is a cool idea. But I don't want to learn java which I'll bet you it's written in.

[arronhunt]

The Article said:

The system doesn’t actually exist, at least not yet

blah blah blah

Yes. That is why they have a kickstarter. To raise money to complete development and then sell the product.

[TheEmpty]

arronhunt, on 12 July 2012 - 06:58 PM, said:

Yes. That is why they have a kickstarter. To raise money to complete development and then sell the product.

Yes but it says they aren't even sure what they are going to develop or how. They also said minecraft will be on it, then notch says he's not aware of a plan. And that to e aren't any specs.

[Quinn]

If I recall correctly, the controller is supposed to have a touchpad, thus making all existing android games work fine.

[TheEmpty]

Quinn, on 12 July 2012 - 08:39 PM, said:

If I recall correctly, the controller is supposed to have a touchpad, thus making all existing android games work fine.

Nope, not according to them, according to them there is no controller yet. Nothing is near final so they aren't wiling to talk about it. If you look at their photos you'll notice they don't even show the entire product.