Update: Open Source Android Console Fully Funded with $1 Million

[tautologico]

snip

That's interesting, but this is not a mobile device, it's a console that will output on TV's. It will have to support at least 720p even if fidelity is not the primary goal, but merely for the sake of clarity. I wonder how that is going to affect is graphical capabilities, since running games at such resolutions, unless they are purely flash based, is no joke. Even Minecraft occasionally lags on my laptop in 1080p, and my laptop costs 950$. I guess we'll see when it is released what kind of games it has and how they look and play, but it's not something that I'd personally risk early-adopting.

Tegra3 outputs at 720p if I'm not mistaken.

Yeah, it's a risk, even if the Kickstarter is a huge success (as it already is), it will depend on how the market reacts after it's launched and etc. It's a long way still. But it's an interesting project and if it all comes together well I hope it can affect the console market for the better.

 

[jollybarracuda]

I really hope this turns out to be big. I love the idea, and I just hope it doesn't go down the Indie Games road on the Xbox. I think if Mojang supports this, it could be great. Microsoft had Bungie, Nintendo has...themselves...And the Ouya (hate that name, though) could have Mojang. All just wishes, really looking forward to see how this goes.

 

[tmande2nd]

How long before the big three try to crush it I wonder?

 

[rbstewart7263]

Wait, they are asking for only 1 mil to develop a console? One with a full controller and touch pad? And which will go for 99$, which is the cost of a 7 year old brick mobile phone? Uhh, yeah, no. This is either a scam, or the thing will be made of paper.

The hardware is already developed and they have a working prototype. The money is for large-scale production, regulatory approval, creating SDKs and so on. The low cost is possible with their hardware, especially because it's an off-the-shelf SoC and the system itself does not have a screen.

I don't think it's a scam, at all. It will not have hardware as powerful as the xbox360 or PS3 (probably better than the Wii though), but it will be able to run a lot of good games.

If what you are saying is true, then this is nothing more than an advertisement, they are using Kickstarter to make headlines. Because if the hardware is already developed and they have a working prototype, it means that they have already spent at LEAST 100 times more money than they are now asking for (and that's a very conservative estimate), so I can't really believe that the whole project is dependent on one more million. I don't mind that, that's fine, it's actually a pretty clever way to advertise, but still the cost of the console seems way too low for it to be any good. Nothing costs 99$. I really can't think of anything. Oh wait, there's the PS2, a 12 year old system that is now on the border of retro-land. That costs 99$. I don't get it.

Remember gamestop practically runs the market in terms of prices so they set the standard. those bastards still sell old psps for like what? 50? 75? nay Id say the 99 is honest and that ps2 pricing? the scammers are in that other direction.


All in all im excited thinking about pledging myself.

 

[rbstewart7263]

I really hope this turns out to be big. I love the idea, and I just hope it doesn't go down the Indie Games road on the Xbox. I think if Mojang supports this, it could be great. Microsoft had Bungie, Nintendo has...themselves...And the Ouya (hate that name, though) could have Mojang. All just wishes, really looking forward to see how this goes.

I have a ps3 but damnit i want an xbox for super meat boy and ikaruga remake.

What happened to microsofts indie games it seemed like the only console that was "getting indie games?"

 

[Jorec]

One day and they're already funded. Good on them, I'd like to see what this console can do.

 

[rbstewart7263]

Oh wait, there's the PS2, a 12 year old system that is now on the border of retro-land. That costs 99$. I don't get it.

This is small-time developers we're talking about, Retro is really all they can do

OT: I still say this seems like a Flash Game website that you need a $99 box to access.

This is roughly what their hardware can do:

Yes, it's less powerful than PS3, but it's still a lot better than flash games IMO.

Can anyone recommend any good android games cause ive played a few and the ones ive played are not that hot? samurai II vengence? bleh

 

[AzrealMaximillion]

I really hope this turns out to be big. I love the idea, and I just hope it doesn't go down the Indie Games road on the Xbox. I think if Mojang supports this, it could be great. Microsoft had Bungie, Nintendo has...themselves...And the Ouya (hate that name, though) could have Mojang. All just wishes, really looking forward to see how this goes.

Mojang needs more than just the limited library of games they have to support this thing.

The wave of Minecraft is coming down and Mojang needs to make another game to prove that they're not just a lucky company. Minecraft was made mostly on its community's ideas, in the end Notch's end result for what he and Mojang contributed to Minecraft pales in comparison by a large amount.

Mojangs has the hype right now but no one is really too impressed with Scrolls or Colbalt at the moment. Ouya needs more than a hype train to support it. If anything it should come out with the game that got this Kickstarter madness started. The Double Fine Adventure. Double Fine at ;east has a reputation of being a stupidly creative game developer.

 

[jollybarracuda]

I really hope this turns out to be big. I love the idea, and I just hope it doesn't go down the Indie Games road on the Xbox. I think if Mojang supports this, it could be great. Microsoft had Bungie, Nintendo has...themselves...And the Ouya (hate that name, though) could have Mojang. All just wishes, really looking forward to see how this goes.

I have a ps3 but damnit i want an xbox for super meat boy and ikaruga remake.

What happened to microsofts indie games it seemed like the only console that was "getting indie games?"

Could your computer play Super Meat Boy? It's on steam for...*checks*...$15? That seems a bit expensive, but i'm probably just dirt cheap.

And with the Indie Games, they were all peer-reviewed before getting onto the system, so you ended up with a bunch of weird cases where a crap game would be passed but a quality game was denied access, and with no regulation from Microsoft, it just slowly got put on the back-burner. There's some clever games on there, some that have even made some incredible amount of money. But they're few and far between; something i hope does not happen to the Ouya. Indie games can be so amazing.

If anything it should come out with the game that got this Kickstarter madness started. The Double Fine Adventure. Double Fine at ;east has a reputation of being a stupidly creative game developer.

Double Fine? You've got me on that one, i forgot about them when i wrote my post. They would be great to have on board. Especially to bring back the adventure genre. And as for my comment about Mojang supporting the Ouya, i suppose it is a bit silly to expect them to be able to support much of anything with only one big name game under their belt. However I do hope to see more from them (Scrolls doesnt really look all that interesting to me, either), and if they could manage to spread across the Ouya and PC, they'd have two open-source ways to sell to customers.

 

[wintercoat]

God, that name is just...horrible :/

I'll watch and wait before I call it anything special, but from first blush, it looks interesting.

 

[Evil Smurf]

nice. I might buy this

 

[rbstewart7263]

Thanks jolly now I know.

Gotta say with all the ***** fits and everything going on this year this is by far a nice change of pace.

Pass or fail? i dont know but im hopeful.


When it comes out i want super meat boy and ikaruga on it i dont want an xbox.lol And megaman legends 3 too!!! lol jk

 

[Baldr]

As an indie developer I hate the idea. I like it now, where I charge $1 for my game, and that is it. I can move on to more different games, I don't have to keep pushing out cheap add-on/playpack stuff for older games, that most people who are going to play the free game and move on without a care.

Usually a couple months after a game is release, I set the price to free.

Some of the best games I've played on my smart phone are the $5-10 big developer titles.

I think it is best to let the developers decided what is best for their games and not mandate they release the initial game for free.

 

[Eric the Orange]

Games on the Ouya console will be free to play

I was looking at the kickstarter page and it seems all games must have "some" free element. So it could just be a demo not the whole game.

 

[dmase]

I like the idea and would definitely buy it if the games where there. I wonder though how can the 99 dollar price tag fuel development costs for the companies making the games, since the games are free to play. I'd still be willing to but the console even with a 5 dollar price point for the games, thats a third of what most games of equal quality are from the playstation store and xbox live.

I get the feeling that a lot of consumers are gonna do the same thing i will, wait until after it's reached it's half a year to 1 year mark before shelling out. That could pose a problem, even at 99 dollars it's still and investment to buy it.

 

[Eric the Orange]

As an indie developer I hate the idea. I like it now, where I charge $1 for my game, and that is it. I can move on to more different games, I don't have to keep pushing out cheap add-on/playpack stuff for older games, that most people who are going to play the free game and move on without a care.

Usually a couple months after a game is release, I set the price to free.

Some of the best games I've played on my smart phone are the $5-10 big developer titles.

I think it is best to let the developers decided what is best for their games.

According to the page, it has to have "something" free. So all that would mean is you would have to have a demo of the game for free.

 

[Baldr]

As an indie developer I hate the idea. I like it now, where I charge $1 for my game, and that is it. I can move on to more different games, I don't have to keep pushing out cheap add-on/playpack stuff for older games, that most people who are going to play the free game and move on without a care.

Usually a couple months after a game is release, I set the price to free.

Some of the best games I've played on my smart phone are the $5-10 big developer titles.

I think it is best to let the developers decided what is best for their games.

According to the page, it has to have "something" free. So all that would mean is you would have to have a demo of the game for free.

Still a lot of smart phone games are pretty much sold on impulse buys, because there is no demo. It that, it only a $1 mentality that helps sell a game. A free demo would only ruin that impulse whether the game is actually worth it or not.

I mean even if the game is worth a dollar, it not going to sell as well if there is a free version, people lose that curiosity.

 

[cardinalwiggles]

i may be a little bit slow here, and i might not of read all of the comments so excuse if this has been addressed, but where does the money come from? i don't understand how this monetizes people's games or maybe i'm being cynical other than of course the initial 99 dollar cost? advertisements?

 

[Lucem712]

As an indie developer I hate the idea. I like it now, where I charge $1 for my game, and that is it. I can move on to more different games, I don't have to keep pushing out cheap add-on/playpack stuff for older games, that most people who are going to play the free game and move on without a care.

Usually a couple months after a game is release, I set the price to free.

Some of the best games I've played on my smart phone are the $5-10 big developer titles.

I think it is best to let the developers decided what is best for their games and not mandate they release the initial game for free.

I'm not completely convinced the games are going to be free. I completely believe they will be FOSS, but 'free as in freedom' not as in zero bucks. I imagine it'll be like the current ios/'Droid market