OUYA - android game console

[slk486]

Yes, they do look very nice (the clips) and I would probably enjoy playing them - with a controller, mind - but it's nothing new, just indies copying unindies.

---------- Post added at 08:31 ---------- Previous post was at 08:30 ----------

So, if you're thinking the Ouya will be "underpowered" based on spec, think again. Remember our dear old Amiga? back when it had barely the spec of a Powerful PC, but it could still run rings around it.

I get the same vibe from this little box.

Except this is the other way around. The Ouya is the PC trying to do catchup

 

[Phipscube]

Yes, they do look very nice (the clips) and I would probably enjoy playing them - with a controller, mind - but it's nothing new, just indies copying unindies.

---------- Post added at 08:31 ---------- Previous post was at 08:30 ----------

So, if you're thinking the Ouya will be "underpowered" based on spec, think again. Remember our dear old Amiga? back when it had barely the spec of a Powerful PC, but it could still run rings around it.

I get the same vibe from this little box.

Except this is the other way around. The Ouya is the PC trying to do catchup

Yes, but those games are just an example of what it can do when pushed. I would personally prefer more 2D quirky offerings.

The Ouya is definitely not a PC, its not running Windows for a start. you have Android, very compact and efficient (ring a bell?) running on moderate hardware, and making it sing.

Support isn't massive right now, but who would have thought they'd get Square Enix? and Namco Bandai in talks? It could start a ball rolling. This device will sell in droves just based on its size in Japan.

 

[djos]

By niche I mean rubbish! *flamesuit on*

I wash in Brom every morning - Retrobright me.

I have no idea what that is!

---------- Post added at 18:51 ---------- Previous post was at 18:48 ----------

Yes, but those games are just an example of what it can do when pushed. I would personally prefer more 2D quirky offerings.

The Ouya is definitely not a PC, its not running Windows for a start. you have Android, very compact and efficient (ring a bell?) running on moderate hardware, and making it sing.

Support isn't massive right now, but who would have thought they'd get Square Enix? and Namco Bandai in talks? It could start a ball rolling. This device will sell in droves just based on its size in Japan.

This thing makes a current gen Wii look decent in the HW dept - I hate to be a pessimist as Im quite fond of supporting Kickstarter projects, (financially supporting 2 right now and strongly considering a 3rd), but seriously on a decent size TV (eg 50" or more) this is going to provide a truly underwhelming experience and making it HW upgradeable will merely bring the current Android fragmentation problems to a console!!!

 

[Phipscube]

It outputs HDMI at 1080p, I don't think its gonna look anywhere NEAR as ****ty as Wii. Not all games run at 1080p (more like games such as Angry Birds and other 2D efforts), but even at 720p, how on earth can you say Wii is better? the specs of this box are in some ways level or better than PS3/Xbox 360. Its got quad core CPU/GPU, 1GB Ram.. that compares well to the playing field right now. It might not be awesome compared to PS4 and Xbox 720 (or whatever they call it) but those boxes are at least 1 to 2 years off.

I wasn't suggesting it would be hardware upgradable itself, you buy a new model. And yes that is a small problem with Android and why some developers shy from it a little and prefer iOS. Its the old Windows scenario of multiple configurations, but its nowhere NEAR as bad. My point was that they COULD easily release a higher spec machine in a year and not have to worry about a big platform upgrade and backwards compatibility etc.

 

[djos]

It outputs HDMI at 1080p, I don't think its gonna look anywhere NEAR as ****ty as Wii. Not all games run at 1080p (more like games such as Angry Birds and other 2D efforts), but even at 720p, how on earth can you say Wii is better? the specs of this box are in some ways level or better than PS3/Xbox 360. Its got quad core CPU/GPU, 1GB Ram.. that compares well to the playing field right now. It might not be awesome compared to PS4 and Xbox 720 (or whatever they call it) but those boxes are at least 1 to 2 years off.

You think Android is light weight, the Wii OS is positively anorexic by comparison - the entire internal storage on the Wii is 512mb and the Wii System Software is about 200mb in size vs 450-500mb for a stripped down ICS install with all the carrier bloatware removed.

Im not saying Wii is better but I am saying the Ouya is barely more powerful - sure it does 720p vs 480/p576p but in terms of capabilities the Ouya is running a general purpose phone chip and graphics chip and it's not going to be able to compete with a PS3 or Xbox360 imo!

I wasn't suggesting it would be hardware upgradable itself, you buy a new model. And yes that is a small problem with Android and why some developers shy from it a little and prefer iOS. Its the old Windows scenario of multiple configurations, but its nowhere NEAR as bad. My point was that they COULD easily release a higher spec machine in a year and not have to worry about a big platform upgrade and backwards compatibility etc.

Ouya have stated they want ppl to be ale to upgrade and mod the HW, that is a only going to result in compatibility and support nightmares! There is a good reason the only upgradeable piece of HW in modern consoles is the storage!

 

[Phipscube]

Hehe! Well I thought I was the biggest pessimist in the world, now i've met my match

Where did you get your Android size from? Do you even own an Android device?

My phone has 380MB storage internal (yes I know, pitiful, but I do have a 16GB SD card ), i've currently got 300MB of apps (most of this is pre installed bloat by Sony) and its reporting 62.5MB available, do the math to find out how much space Android ICS is taking up on my phone...

Back up how you think its less powerful than Wii... where is your proof? Did you see the links I provided for some of the higher spec games for Android/iOS running in Tegra 3 hardware right now?

Here's one again: -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hp966q5bMU&feature=player_embedded

Is not quite PS3/Xbox 360... but its leagues ahead of Wii.

Its worth bearing in mind Ouya will sport an enhanced Tegra 3 too, one thats not restrained by battery requirements.

And yes, they say go ahead and hack it and add hardware if you like, but that's not an official upgrading procedure, its personal, you also need to know how to "Root" the device to start doing that. officially you can only add SD cards and USB devices, that's it, so it pretty much limits you to storage.

 

[moijk]

Where did you get your Android size from? Do you even own an Android device?

Not sure what android ics takes up, but the 2.3 version took 304MB after an install (for the os). While it is a lot more than a small firmware like the wii etc, it still isn't a competition of who has the smallest os, bootstrap or whatnot

 

[djos]

Hehe! Well I thought I was the biggest pessimist in the world, now i've met my match

Where did you get your Android size from? Do you even own an Android device?

I had a HTC Sensation for 6 months and disliked it so much I bought an iPhone 4s - the only thing that made the experience bearable was Android Revolution HD 6.x (ICS based & a 450mb DL - imagine how big a bloatware infested carrier edition is!).

My phone has 380MB storage internal (yes I know, pitiful, but I do have a 16GB SD card ), i've currently got 300MB of apps (most of this is pre installed bloat by Sony) and its reporting 62.5MB available, do the math to find out how much space Android ICS is taking up on my phone...

Back up how you think its less powerful than Wii... where is your proof? Did you see the links I provided for some of the higher spec games for Android/iOS running in Tegra 3 hardware right now?

The Smallest amount of storage I've had in a phone since 2008 was 8GB! (Iphone 3G).

I didnt say it was less powerful that a Wii, I said it was barely more powerful overall but the Wii is all custom hardware and prolly does many things related to gaming better than the "phone based" Ouya ever will, just at a lower res.

 

[slk486]

Yes, but those games are just an example of what it can do when pushed. I would personally prefer more 2D quirky offerings.

Oh yes, so would I!

The Ouya is definitely not a PC, its not running Windows for a start. you have Android, very compact and efficient (ring a bell?) running on moderate hardware, and making it sing.

Not literally, but in your comparison it is, in the sense that it's the open generic platform with underwhelming graphics (and audio)

Support isn't massive right now, but who would have thought they'd get Square Enix? and Namco Bandai in talks? It could start a ball rolling. This device will sell in droves just based on its size in Japan.

Yes, but that support is just extended Android support. Like when you have an A500 game that works on the A1200, perhaps with some fireworks added.

I don't mind having *another* box connected to my tv if it does something interesting and possibly unique, but the Ouya doesn't do either for me and therefore feels rather unnecessary at this point. It fills a very sensationalized, but imaginative void, that is very "in" right now, which is why it'll do well initially...

They've approached it all wrong

 

[Phipscube]

Well I don't know where my ICS install is sitting then, it must be on some magically invisible storage chip I don't know exists in my phone

Yep, i've not had less than 8GB either, I have this nice little option called microSD.. something you wont know about on iPhone All my main apps are on my 16GB microSD card along with photos, music etc, the internal storage is only used for the bloat I can't delete and the odd app that doesn't take up too much space. I could put 32GB in my phone for £not much, How do you upgrade the storage memory in your iPhone? Oh you can't you have to buy a whole NEW phone.. anyway, don't want another Apple/iOS vs Google/Android argument. You don't like Android and chose to buy an iPhone, I do, I also like iOS too, just don't like Apple and its use of restrictions, end of.

Back to the debate

Ok I agree with your not less powerful than Wii comment now, maybe I misunderstood you, but I got the impression you thought the low res Wii was better looking, output wise, than the theoretical output of Ouya (the videos are running on Android but not Ouya, they could infact be better on Ouya given the beefed up Tegra 3).

Yes it could be classed as something inbetween Wii and PS3/360, is that so bad, for a $99 console, that's tiny, makes no loud fan noises and looks pretty cool?

And custom hardware is becoming less and less important nowadays. the tegra 3 might not be "custom", but its designed to run with the hardware its strapped around very very efficiently. This isn't a PC, its a set of chips that have been designed to run with efficiency in mind, that's why I applaud the mobile market for forcing hardware manufacturers to design such hardware. With the PC model its all about maxxing the whole lot out, slapping massive fans on it and saying there you go, now get it running in bloat city Windows yourself! Totally unoptimised hardware running on a totally unoptimised OS. Any wonder why people got fed up with that?

Now even consoles are getting just as bad! And if this continues i'll be out, back living in the past playing retro machines for ever, Ouya seems to address all my personal concerns and provides a ray of light for what I can see being an eventual 2nd industry crash if nothing is done.

---------- Post added at 13:53 ---------- Previous post was at 13:42 ----------

@slk

2D ROX!

Yep, ok its like a PC with underwhelming GFX, I can see your point there now. But its a vague and unfair comparison given its physical size, price and target market.

Yes its "Extended" Android support, whats wrong with that? Its the reason why Ouya has a sporting chance, and its existence should boost support for Android too, it goes hand in hand. Ouya gets help from Android market games, the Ouya draws more support to Android.

If they have approached it all wrong, what do you think they should have done?

 

[slk486]

It's the same with every platform I know of. The stronger the hardware, the less anyone cares about optimization. Only immutable platforms enforce that mindset.

Of course bloat is a broad term and does not only describe the inflated size of an os. To me the app stores are bloated beyond belief and it will be no different with the Ouya!

---------- Post added at 11:57 ---------- Previous post was at 11:55 ----------

Yep, ok its like a PC with underwhelming GFX, I can see your point there now. But its a vague and unfair comparison given its physical size, price and target market.

Well you started it with your analogy to the Amiga In that comparison, the Ouya would be the PC, not the Amiga - in my opinion.

Nothing wrong with the extended Android support, I'm just saying it's easy to say "look we have support", when all they got was a: "sure we'll recompile". If all they get are those kind of recompiles, then all they will have done is spread the marmite even thinner.

If they have approached it all wrong, what do you think they should have done?

They should of asked me what to do. Simples :roll:

No (well yes, but..) they should've done it with an open platform, not system - see Wii U thread for a totally convoluted attempt at describing how it should be

If it becomes the defacto system for 2d games, I'm in regardless, and everything I've said will be moot, because I will have fallen into the Ouya trap like everyone else. Who would ever in their right mind come up with a name you have to look up everytime you want to spell it anyway ! :nuts:

 

[djos]

Yes, but that support is just extended Android support. Like when you have an A500 game that works on the A1200, perhaps with some fireworks added.

I don't mind having *another* box connected to my tv if it does something interesting and possibly unique, but the Ouya doesn't do either for me and therefore feels rather unnecessary at this point. It fills a very sensationalized, but imaginative void, that is very "in" right now, which is why it'll do well initially...

They've approached it all wrong

I couldnt agree more, just feels like an Android Fanboi exercise and imo will be about as successful as Apple's Pippin was.

---------- Post added at 21:50 ---------- Previous post was at 21:44 ----------

Yep, i've not had less than 8GB either, I have this nice little option called microSD.. something you wont know about on iPhone All my main apps are on my 16GB microSD card along with photos, music etc, the internal storage is only used for the bloat I can't delete and the odd app that doesn't take up too much space. I could put 32GB in my phone for £not much, How do you upgrade the storage memory in your iPhone? Oh you can't you have to buy a whole NEW phone..

Pretty stupid argument considering many of the android phones and tablets on the market dont have card slots either. eg Nexus 7 and HTC OneX to name but 2 cutting edge devices!

anyway, don't want another Apple/iOS vs Google/Android argument. You don't like Android and chose to buy an iPhone, I do, I also like iOS too, just don't like Apple and its use of restrictions, end of.

Never got into that, you asked if I'd had a droid and I told you I had and that I liked it so much I replaced it after 6months and that was it - no laundry list of dislikes was included to start a flame war.

---------- Post added at 21:58 ---------- Previous post was at 21:50 ----------

And custom hardware is becoming less and less important nowadays. the tegra 3 might not be "custom", but its designed to run with the hardware its strapped around very very efficiently. This isn't a PC, its a set of chips that have been designed to run with efficiency in mind, that's why I applaud the mobile market for forcing hardware manufacturers to design such hardware. With the PC model its all about maxxing the whole lot out, slapping massive fans on it and saying there you go, now get it running in bloat city Windows yourself! Totally unoptimised hardware running on a totally unoptimised OS. Any wonder why people got fed up with that?

Rubbish, there isnt a console on the market or in development (by a serious player) that isnt using highly customised and optimised CPU's, GPU's, interconnects and memory buses. Tegra3 is a general purpose low power GFX chip, it's design is filled with compromises to make it work well in phones and tablets without devouring their batteries in mere minutes.

Consoles on the other hand have things like eDRAM integrated directly into the GPU die or chip package, CPU's with 3 cores (360) or 7 cores (PS3) and so on.

Ouya is just commodity CPU/GPU parts with a tweaked commodity Phone/Tablet OS masquerading as a serious Console. :double

 

[slk486]

By niche I mean rubbish! *flamesuit on*

I wash in Brom every morning - Retrobright me.

I have no idea what that is!

What they put in our beloved plastics to make them yellow with age. Maybe I spelt it wrong?

 

[djos]

I wash in Brom every morning - Retrobright me.

I have no idea what that is!

What they put in our beloved plastics to make them yellow with age. Maybe I spelt it wrong?

It was Brom that I havent heard of.

 

[slk486]

I couldnt agree more, just feels like an Android Fanboi exercise and imo will be

Sounds like a bit of Android hater there and kinda not my point Android was just the logical choice for what they're trying to achieve.

I do agree that custom hardware is less and less important - all facts and rumours point to both 720 and 4 being made with more common hardware. Most games these days run in cross platform engines anyway, so I don't think it's wise to utilize custom chipsets. It's not about pushing the hardware anymore, it's about pushing the experience.

---------- Post added at 12:36 ---------- Previous post was at 12:35 ----------

I have no idea what that is!

What they put in our beloved plastics to make them yellow with age. Maybe I spelt it wrong?

It was Brom that I havent heard of.

Yes, Brom, as in the flame retardent that yellows?

 

[SkydivinGirl]

Everybody needs to calm down a bit. Some of the comments here are borderline trolling.

On the subject at hand, this console is not going to be for everyone. Some people prefer tablet gaming while others, like me, prefer a television experience. I bought the OUYA because it represents the way I would like to see game consoles go. A more open, inexpensive hardware solution compared with traditional game consoles. I don't compare it to a tablet because I don't see it as being competition for a tablet.

Please, make your points, but don't start putting down people based on their points.

Thanks,

Heather

 

[tokyoracer]

I don't know what I can say that hasn't been said already. I am properly looking forward to this and it has plenty of scope for more hardcore gaming. I get the impression many are not taking it seriously which I think is foolish as in my eyes, it's very much a step forward in the right direction of next gen console design.

As many gamers know, it's not so much the hardware, it what software is on it and what will be on it in the near future.

 

[Phipscube]

I don't know what I can say that hasn't been said already. I am properly looking forward to this and it has plenty of scope for more hardcore gaming. I get the impression many are not taking it seriously which I think is foolish as in my eyes, it's very much a step forward in the right direction of next gen console design.

As many gamers know, it's not so much the hardware, it what software is on it and what will be on it in the near future.

+1

@all

Sorry if I caused a rile-up, I was just quite strongly expressing my enthusiasm for this little box and its potential

 

[Justin]

I don't know what I can say that hasn't been said already. I am properly looking forward to this and it has plenty of scope for more hardcore gaming. I get the impression many are not taking it seriously which I think is foolish as in my eyes, it's very much a step forward in the right direction of next gen console design.

As many gamers know, it's not so much the hardware, it what software is on it and what will be on it in the near future.

+1

@all

Sorry if I caused a rile-up, I was just quite strongly expressing my enthusiasm for this little box and its potential

rofl, not like you to get so protective over a piece of hardware!!!

 

[Phipscube]

Hee hee, you know me Justin