posted
I don't know if anyone else has been on Kickstarter. I found it through the Order of the Stick's campaign. Mostly, I've been supporting games and gadgets and didn't want to spam the board with them, but I think the Ouya game console is worthy of discussion on its own merits.
Basically, the lead behind One Laptop per Child, along with a bunch of other folks, are making an Android based open game console for $99. Every console is a dev kit and every game on it has to be available free in some form, like at least a free demo to try it out or free-to-play or possibly even the shareware model. They are also strongly encouraging hacking the hardware.
I don't know if this will actually pan out, but I'm excited and am in for one. What do other people think?
Posts: 10177 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
It's just supposed to be cheaper game system which would increase access to a cheaper system and cheaper games for househoulds which might not be able to afford one of the more expensive systems?
I imagine they'll get hit pretty hard by the bigger developers either with dissent or possibly some degree of support.
Edit:
I posed my first question prior to looking at the KickStarter. It's just supposed to increase user access to a wider variety of games developed by the creative staff behind some mobile games targeted towards a home experience?
Posts: 6026 | Registered: Dec 2004
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posted
Starting off, the main target looks to be indie games/apps, especially those from Kickstarter.
I think the main things that I'm excited about are 1) the very low cost of entry for game/app developers. 2) Along with that, this is wide open to homebrewers who may want to tinker but maybe not put out a commercial product. 3) the commitment to free trials at the very least for every game 4) the encouragement to hardware hackers
The early history of home computers was all about home brewers coming up with crazy things that you could do with a very limited set of technology. To me, this harkens back to that and I really want to see what people come up with. It also gives indie developers that are currently focusing on the mobile market a very low cost/low hassle way into the console market. Playing games on the TV is just different and, in many cases, a better, more social experience. To a large extent, I think the large console makers/game developers have lost that.
Posts: 10177 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
Yeah, I wouldn't suggest anyone who doesn't have $100 to basically throw away to pledge for it, especially since I'm pretty sure that's what they will sell for if/when they successfully launch.
My earlier posts were intentionally optimistic, as I expected other people to come in to point out the many weaknesses with the Ouya as it stands. As the thread doesn't seem to be taking off, I'll just say that I really enthusiastic about what this could be, I'm not at all confident that the potential I see will be realized. I'm luckily one of those people who can afford to throw away $100 dollars in the hope that it pans out.
Posts: 10177 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
It could be a really interesting wrench in the Big Companies works. Based on the quality of some of the xBox Marketplace and PSN downloadable games, there's a lot which can be done with the DLC market when it comes to quality gaming.
Posts: 6026 | Registered: Dec 2004
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