Hello again and welcome to another addition of Great Video Game Ideas Not Used. This edition of the series is exclusively about Boxer8’s Ouya, the home android console. And when I say that, it is not an exclusive from the company, just that this article is solely for the Ouya itself. Like I always ask, please show my affiliates (L.A.G., G4TE, Daddyplace, HTAlex) some affection and care as well as the All Games Network. Now, as I always do, I will get to the main dish of the article.
Now, the Ouya is a console that has been through the ringer since the first day it was announced on Kickstarter. There have been a lot of skeptics who criticized the thought of an android based gaming console since the concept was introduced. I however, have always had hope. I actually found out about the Ouya the day after the kickstarter for it ended, you wouldn’t believe how disappointed I was to not be able to back it. But I am glad to see that everything is heading the direction that it should and that it will be released June of this year (kickstarter backers ship in March, and pre-orders from before Feb 4 th ship in April). But before I get too far ahead of myself, a repeat of the system specs for those who may not know them already.
1.7 GHz NVIDIA Tegra3 quad-core processor
1GB RAM
8GB of internal flash storage, expandable via USB 2.0 port
MicroUSB port for connecting to Computers
Up to 1080p HD (via HDMI)
5.1 surround sound
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, and Ethernet port
Bluetooth
Micro USB port
Wireless Bluetooth controller with standard game controls and touchpad
Modified Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS
Now, it’s not going to be the most powerful new console to hit the market this year (it will actually be the weakest along those lines), but I think that the Ouya will actually be able to sustain itself. What a lot of people are forgetting is that this is a developer’s console. The purpose of this machine is to allow developers to control the creative process of their own games. This way they don’t have to go through publishers to take their games to the market. Thus, there will be cheaper quality games coming out (maybe not AAA, but quality) which gamers can readily get their hands on. But a lot of people have gone the same route with this as they have with the Wii U , bash the console before it even makes it to the public. And while the Nintendo console may not be selling out in droves, it’s actually not doing too bad right now either. So, I don’t see why the Ouya wouldn’t be able to do well for itself either. I also don’t see the point in selling a console short before it is even in the hands of the people who support the gaming market.
Looking at the fact that the Ouya at current has nearly 500 games in development for it right now is enough for me to believe that there will be support for this console. And to top that off, if I recall correctly, nearly 80 games will be available for it at launch. The Wii U honestly had the highest number of available games at launch (34 ready and waiting games during the US Launch of the console). The closest after that was the Playstation 2 (28 games during their US Launch). Now for Ouya to come out and have 80+ fully playable games at launch (which will be worldwide) I think is an awesome feat. I put the plus sign there as more will likely be available by the time the first wave of consoles is shipped out, and I want to be as accurate as possible. Below is a list of the games currently confirmed, though this is not likely to be all of them.
Officially Announced Games:
“100 Rouges”
“2D Cube Zombie Shooter”
“AirMech”
“A Tofu Tail”
“The Ball”
“The Banner Saga Factions”
“Beast Boxing Turbo”
“Bombball”
“The Cave”
“ChronoBlade”
“Ditrafall”
“Double Fine Adventure”
“Echoes of Eternia”
“Final Fantasy III”
“Gorgeous Gaurdians: Kiken”
“Gravi”
“Grey: The Lost Technology”
“Gunblitz”
“Human Element Prequel/still unnamed”
“Legends of Aethereus”
“Mercenary Kings”
“Offensive Combat”
“Outstanding Wrestling”
“Outstanding Wrestling: Interactive Game”
“Pier Solar HD”
“Pipnis”
“Positron”
“RED.”
“Rival Threads: Last Class Heroes”
“The Runthrough”
“Saturday Morning RPG”
“Shadowrun Online”
“Super Retro Squad”
“Stikbold”
“Strange Happenings on Murder Island”
“Television”
“Tropical Treasures 2 Deluxe”
“Whispering Willows”
“Wordtrap Dungeon”
“Yummy Circus”
“Vacant Sky: Awakening”
Below are games that have been hinted at though not confirmed as well as the ten potential games from the twitter giveaway.
Games that have not be officially announced, but hinted toward:
“Canabalt”
“Create a Sokoban”
“Dead Trigger”
“Grand Theft Auto III”
“Gunslugs”
“Madden NFL 12 (More Likely Madden 13 or 14)”
“Minecraft”
“Racing Live”
“Samurai II Vengeance”
“Shadowgun”
“Triple Town”
Potential Games from the Twitter Dev Kit Giveaway:
“DustyRevenge”
“Fist of Awesome”
“HolyShield!”
“iMech Online”
“KidElectro”
“Legend of Dungeon”
“Mechknight Chronicles”
“Space Runner”
“Starbound”
“Syder Arcade”
This list is short some games as I can’t find the names of all of the confirmed games, but if you are a developer for Ouya and your game isn’t listed though it is confirmed, please leave a comment here with the name of your game. But I already know two games that have been hinted toward which I would love to see make it too the Ouya and those are “Dead Trigger” and “Shadowgun”. I’ve been enjoying both recently as I have just got into playing games on Android. Both are made by MADFINGER Games , and they seem like they know what they are doing when it comes to shooters. So it would be nice to see these games on a television screen at optimum performance. Though there is this reddit list that I just found, which has a lot of games listed as to what will make it to Ouya , though I have no way to confirm this information for myself at the moment. But if this list is correct, then there are over 170 games which will be available at launch. And less not forget that OnLive streaming will be available as well.
This does bring to mind a simple question though. It is one that can probably already be answered, but I will ask anyway. Will Ouya games be cross-platform compatible with other android devices that have the same game? And I’m not meaning the android games that will undoubted be downloaded to the console by players, but will the Ouya versions of said games be able to be played with and against their android counterparts? Will information be able to be shared between the two? And will android devices be possibly used along with the Ouya as a sort of second screen, much like the Tablet controller for the Wii U or the PS Vita to the Playstation 4 ? For that to be possible, there would have to be an app in the Google Playstore and the Ouya Marketplace. Though I think that if developer’s are given enough time, it can easily be done. It would be nice to be able to use my tablet or android phone as an additional controller, or to use it for real time level maps, or even as a screen that would allow me to quickly access my inventory in game. It would only enhance what players could with an Ouya at home.
People tend to forget that while Android is a mobile OS, it can be used for more than mobile gaming and media. The fact is, Ouya would be the first truly dedicate gaming platform for Android, not just one of many different smartphones that games can’t truly be optimized for. Then there are also the media apps that will be available to players that will be optimized for usage on the Ouya . The list at current is:
“iHeart Radio”
“Plex Media Center”
“TuneIn”
“Twitch TV”
“Vevo”
“XBMC”
This line up looks pretty decent for now, but I’m figuring it will grow with the popularity of the console. It wouldn’t shock me to find Netflix or Redbox Instant make their way to Ouya within a few months. I’m also quite certain Youtube will have a specialized Ouya app as well. I would personally like to see a Manga Entertainment and Funimation app as well, but maybe if things move smoothly enough, we’ll see them.
In truth though, there is one gripe I have with the Ouya and I’m sure it’s something that a number of gamers have a problem with, and that is there being no disc support for it. Though I’m fairly certain that if one of the many genius people who will be developing for the console have the chance, they could make and market a disc drive component for it. Then the only other thing that would be needed to do would be to develop physical discs of games. I would really only worry about this for bigger games though, those which would probably take up more than 1 GB of data (like games which have additional downloadable components). This would be helpful to those who wish to purchase it, but have horribly bad network connections because of the area they live in. And the only other thing that I hope for it that Ouya supports USB hubs, otherwise that one USB port will get burned out rather quick from the constant switching of devices. Then again, a micro USB to USB adapter might also be usable to use that as an additional USB port as well, hopefully that type of functionality will work.
I think that I’m done here for now, I know there is information that I’m missing, but I can’t spend the next few weeks researching it, it’ll be in the hands of the KS Backers at that point, and they’ll give us the much needed information that we are looking for. So, those developing for Ouya , if you are reading this article, think about some of the questions I posed above, and see if those things would be viable. And as always, please post the link to this article and any others that I have written to any forum you wish, especially those related to gaming. Keep your eyes peeled for my next article as I am currently working on it. Until then, enjoy your games.