OUYA is Already Dead on Arrival

The early reviews of OUYA are out and they are not good. I never had any high hopes for OUYA and there are some obvious reasons for that. Hardware business is not something that you can start on some crowd funding website and even if you have started, you should take lesson from Sony and Microsoft, OUYA guys have no idea how punishing this business can be and even if money is not everything, OUYA does some horrible mistakes in the design department.

[DaThreats]

lol, I saw some other reviews praise it. http://www.ign.com/articles...

It takes time for games to show up with about all console releases. Also, their official launch hasn't happened yet, it's in June. You have to wait before you make a statement like that.

[MasterChief3624]

I'm fairly certain this is not supposed to be treated like another "console" launch. It's a console, yes, but it, from what I understand, only plays cheapo $1 games like Angry Birds. So it already has quite the library. But the library sucks.

[Mottsy]

Ya they should of integrated the controller to play all of Androids games instead of making their own app store. I know the article talks about that and out of everything that is what I agree with 100%.

Play Store has some quality titles coming out for it and just having that at your disposal would have been a huge sales factor, but like someone mentioned before you have to start somewhere and who knows what third party hardware or developers will bring to this system.

[Ritsujun]

OUch,YeAh.

[Bigpappy]

I don't see why anyone who already have a smart phone will want one of these. But I am not going to predict its failure. Just wouldn't be surprised.

[R6ex]

Tegra 4 needs to be in OUYA.

[harv052]

Why do people still use "should of"....Should've is from should have. I know this and i'm french for crying out loud!!!

[pixelsword]

We will make the console, but we will not make games for the console...

Oh,
Unless
You
Ask.

[g2gshow]

people will buy this as a alternative for young kids as a starter console. away from all the angry gamer's would be safer but kids should be out side. playing with parents an enjoying life not siting in front a screen

[LOL_WUT]

Another one bites the dust ;)

[lsujester]

This review does seem particularly harsh, like someone who was dead set against this machine upon first hearing about it. However, I also don't trust IGN when it comes to previews. I've seen way too many times they love a game... right up until it's release date.

[Lucreto]

From another site

Julie Uhrman used to work at IGN, specifically at their Direct 2 Drive digital game download service, and the very first person to invest in the company was the president of IGN, who is now chairman of the board. So expect a lot of OUYA coverage on IGN in the coming days, and IGN was the first site to break news about the OUYA.

http://ouyaforum.com/showth...

[pixelsword]

Explains why they also went ape-scat over it. I also expect them to give a lot of good rewiews for indie games and possibly a section on the site.

[GraveLord]

Many people already have the Ouya though and it is incomplete.

[Blacktric]

"You have to wait before you make a statement like that."

Buyer's remorse at its best...

[Gh05t]

"You have to wait before you make a statement like that."

Yes you have to wait to form an opinion for yourself. How dare the author have an opinion after actually using the product.

Its an opinion and I am pretty sure that just because you disagree with the opinion doesn't mean he doesn't have a right to make one... especially since he actually used the product, regardless of "official release."

[maximaz]

He missed the point of this console - emulators.

[Persistantthug]

I'st probably locked out of brick retail, but I'm Just curious if anyone's seen or heard anything.

[clarkdef]

Oh well it might be my next console if MS and Sony both decide on the "always online" move. Just out of principle.

[Parapraxis]

Sony?
They already said PS4 wouldn't need to always be connected.

[delboy]

Like it was this gen with DLC and Online passes.
In the end it will be left to the publisher to decide.

[BoNeSaW23]

@delboy
If your console is not online why would you need to redeem a online pass?

[Knight_Crawler]

They said it was up to the developers.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

why would you reward them for putting forward a poor product? Ouya appears to be far from the dream promised and much closer to the nightmare some envisioned.

Lets not forget, this console is a "connected" device as well so if you are trying to take a stance against that kind of ideology...I think you money is best left in your pocket.

[Snookies12]

Huh? It's not always connected... You can connect to the internet with it, but I don't believe it's required...

[logan_izer10]

I wouldn't say it's poor. It's $99. I'd say it's cheap

[OC_MurphysLaw]

@snookies12... its connected as in any game on that system is downloaded...any app you run will be connected to internet... honestly if you are trying to use this device offline I would say you aren't exactly using it as intended.

[krazeecain]

You can download games and play them offline. There's no BS requirement to always be connected to the internet. If your internet is crappy or whatever you can still play games on the Ouya.

[MestreRothN4G]

So you'll prefer a console that plays cel phone games?

How can someone even think this console may be a good idea, FFS?!

Yes, this always confuzzles me.

[NastyLeftHook0]

wow, microsoft announcing an always online console might actually be good news not only for sony but for ouya. people (casuals) who want a dirt cheap console could jump all over this. next gen will be interesting.

[chukamachine]

Nintendo fail
OUYA fail
Nvidia fail

Just

Microsoft
SONY

See what happens.

[AKR]

Nintendo fail?
What are you talking about?

- 3DS is the hottest selling gaming device on the marker right now.

- Nintendo also won the 7th generation in both the HOME and HANDHELD console divisions. They own the most sold game console ever (DS) and third most sold game console ever (Wii).

- The Wii U has infant growing pains like every console before it. It's potential has yet to be fully realized. Yet, it's as well as the 360 and barely less than the PS3 in the same time period (first 4 months). It just recently OUTSOLD the PS3 in weekly sales over in Japan.

- Don't say trash until you get facts straight -

[LKHGFDSA]

it's not all about sales, mate.

[ziratul]

Wii U will have some HardCore games + Nintendo games in the next few years. Win - Win combination.

I am not Nintendo user (don't have $$ to buy it) but I am almost 100% sure Nintendo will succeed.

[AKR]

@LKHGFDSA :

- Oh it isn't? The overall success of the console goes by how well the console is selling. That determines the success of any product, my friend. If you have a product, and there are more people just like you who have a product of the same kind, and you put it up in stores, what are you trying to do? Compete for sales, correct? You're the one trying to get the most sales, because if it's selling, it's becoming successful.

[kikoano]

SOny and AMD are very losing if they dont get so much money from the new ps4 they are doomed.Nvidia its too rich to compire with amd and microsoft are losing ing everyting in windows and xbox.its time for new companys to rise up even more like valve and intel.

[logan_izer10]

OUYA still has hope!
If they focus on getting more media based apps I can easily justify the price tag. For $99 I can have every old nintendo system on my big screen with functional controllers! To me that's worth it alone.
They need to focus now on good media apps for streaming content to tv, Netflix, Hulu, specific OUYA games are last in my opinion.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

One other thing I am interested in seeing... what is the fallout going to be like over their Kickstarter? I mean this is beginning to look a lot like a Kickstarter fail. Will this impact future hardware Kickstarter projects that are promising the world for under $100?

[logan_izer10]

I wouldn't think so. It may impact hardware starters for video game consoles. But I wouldn't imagine it scaring people off that do completely unrelated stuff.

[theDECAY]

How is it a Kickstarter fail? Really, I don't understand...

[Petro]

Still going to buy one, I need a small device always attached to my TV.

[MGRogue2017]

I'd much rather go for NVIDIA's Project Shield.

[Tuxmask55]

Yeah, I have no want whatsoever for a console like the Ouya.

[sarshelyam]

Rahul...I don't mean to sound like an ass, but, well...how uninformed are you, really?

Your entire argument against the OUYA is as a gaming console. OUYA never came out of the gates touting it as a replacement to home consoles and, as most other naysayers seem to neglect, you side-step all of the other applications within the Android architecture. HBOGO, VUDU, Hulu, Flixster, Netflix, iHeartRadio, Pandora, TuneIn, etc. At $99, this quickly becomes a cheap media center with the support of games and a controller that, frankly, doesn't have to be the centerpiece of the experience. Hell, I can syn my Dual Shock 3 to the OUYA if I so desire...or a 360 controller, WiiRemote.

See, that's the thing about OUYA. They gave consumers or aspiring hobbyists, the tools to open this system up and make it work for their needs. It's most certainly optimized for those kind of users, but those folks who just want a simply plug-and-play set-top have those apps I listed above as a shining example as to why it will work for them.

OUYA is not going to replace current/next-gen platforms, so stop reviewing it with that angle.

[Byeka]

last time i checked OUYA's website it says game console and its primary job is to do gaming, people won't buy OUYA to see Hulu or listen to Pandora and I never said it will replace home console btw the OUYA intend to do so. . . . OUYA call it a gaming console,GAMING. you have a wrong perception of how a gaming console should be used ;) . .. . no offence

[sarshelyam]

I understand their message just fine, but what's in print on their site, and the reality of the applications they've outlined, are two completely different things.

My point stands.

[Ace Killa 08]

If it's called a game console, ships like a game console, tries to play like one then it's a game console. With user development added. Which other game console do in their respective.

No matter how you try to word it it'll end up as a game console with apps.... Apps that all other consoles have... And tvs... And blu rays... And phones...it's doing what everything does already.

[Petro]

Yet I'm still going to buy it mainly to use it as a media center.

[bangshi]

Other devices can do all of this for half the price. That is the problem with it.

Those devices admittedly do not come with a controller of the same quality as OUYA, but if you're intending to use a 360 controller then that obviously wouldn't matter to you anyway.

[sarshelyam]

I'm not intending to do so, the point was more that most buying into this model aren't doing so to replace the form of entertainment, and, they're most likely multi-platform households so the option is certainly there for those that wish it.

As for your price-scheme, I'll plead ignorance on that. I simply didn't know there were $50 devices out there with Android OS that could support the variety of applications the OUYA is claiming to.

[ziggurcat]

"OUYA never came out of the gates touting it as a replacement to home consoles"

except they do. they're touting it as a revolution... it says so on the packaging.

"They gave consumers or aspiring hobbyists, the tools to open this system up and make it work for their needs"

and it'll all fall apart once idiots decide to do malicious things with the device.

[stragomccloud]

And?
It's not a console intended to directly compete with the likes of Nintendo, Sony, or Microsoft.

It'll have it's own market, and it'll probably be around for a while in one form or the other.

[cleft5]

What did you guys expect? This console was a money grab from the start. I am amazed that it will even get an actual release. Just be glad that they actually put this cheap crap on stores shelves for you to ignore.

[theDECAY]

How was it a money grab? These people had an idea for a cheap console (I understand it's not like the big consoles) and they made a kickstarter. It could have just failed. You realize people gave them money to see what they could do. It's called community funding for a reason. They never claimed it would be like the PS3 or the 360 and a lot of people were excited to see what it would offer. That doesn't seem like a money grab. People pledged money and got a device. It seems pretty cut and dry.

[MilkMan]

This is a silly, uniformed article. Let me go see what else is available on N4G

[Roper316]

lol, yet another doomed console that is dead in the water. Geesh with all the dead consoles out there which seems like it is everyone of them I am surprised I am able to game at all anymore.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

Man why is it like the people who actually follow the game industry want it to fail? Sony went through it with PS3, Nintendo is going through it now, and a lot of people would love nothing more than for the nextbox to go through it. Even the little Ouya is getting knocked around in the playground.

[eferreira]

this will be my emulator machine

[theDECAY]

It's seriously $99 with a bunch of free-to-play games. 99 dollars is basically one and a half games for current consoles. It's cheap, everybody, relax.

[swansong]

If it can emulate genesis,Snes,Nes,gba,and n64 then it is worth $100.

[FlyingFoxy]

or you could just build a midrange gaming pc, and emulate all those plus gamecube, wii and dreamcast. Plus numerous pc exclusives and other games.

[LordHiggens]

A midrange gaming pc for 100 bucks? Sure mate, just show me the specs and their respective costs.

Processor
GPU
Case
RAM
PSU

All for 100 bucks...also I'm going to need a controller and a list of all those emulators and they better work perfectly as the Ouya said theirs would.

All for 100 bucks go ahead I'll be waiting here.

[Th3 Chr0nic]

Ive never seen the draw to this thing. it just seems like a mini console that will let you play android games on your tv. big woop who cares. get a tv out cable for your phone and have at it.

i dont see it offering anything (that matters) that cant already be had either for free or at a much cheaper price

[krazeecain]

Not everyone can afford a smartphone. Also, this device is optimized for use on TV's, unlike smartphones. It also comes with a controller, so games are actually playable. It also has much better graphics than most other android media players, because it's equipped with an overclocked Tegra 3.

Does all that matter?

[theDECAY]

The controller alone is probably worth at least $30, and with the device as well, it's not a bad deal. Why are people so up in arms about this. It's also advertised and made to be open and free, unlike many many smartphones. That's pretty cool.

[Th3 Chr0nic]

It all sounds nice but i doubt there will be tha many android devs that run to it. cause like you say its way different than a smartphone so i doubt that many devs will put the work in to make applications just for this. or at least go the extra step to take advantage of all those additional features and extra power

[MontyQ]

be best for a pvr or hooked up for ol skool emu like nes/snes

[ApolloTheBoss]

Is it wrong that I bursted out laughing as soon as I read the title?

[sitharrefus]

This console still has potential, emulators? and well not everyone can afford an xbox or ps3, so if they want to stream games then at least we have choices.

[Ninja_G_Aidan]

Isn't this console good for Modders? I just hope they have a way of playing classics on the Ouya. Nes, Snes, N64, Gamecube, Master System, Mega Drive, Saturn, Dreamcast, 3DO, ect..

You get my drift! I know there's an Emulator for N64 coming for the Ouya so hopefully every N64 game will be playable. That then would definitely sell me!

[BitbyDeath]

It was made for a niche crowd of course not many will buy it.
You'd be lucky if even a million have even heard of it.

[BlueEye]

Just like the next Xbox.

[Jyndal]

I'll be buying one as soon as the June release gets here.

[freezola75]

Damn OUYA....

#YoureAlreadyDead

[krazeecain]

Ouya's not even released guys calm down, some good games for it are still in development. All that's available for it right now are the games that were already made for other android devices hastily ported over to Ouya. Of course there aren't anyways good games, the kickstarter for Ouya was less than a year ago!

Also, for those of you who are only interested in Ouya as a media center device...

http://dx.com/c/consumer-el...

[JasonXS12]

This platform is mainly aimed at indie developers but in no way can this console take out the big 2 CONSOLE makers of which are Xbox and Playstation. It might be a good platform for indie developers but I've seen indie games succeed rather well on Steam as well as Xbox and Playstaion.
Ouya is just like every other console or system with less to offer and with the price tag of $99. But this doesn't justify a purchase from me.

[harrisk954]

The buttons made me angriest, though. Instead of labeling them A, B, X, and Y, like every other manufacturer ever, Ouya went with O, U, Y, and A.

Ummm, Has this guy ever used a Playstation? I'm pretty sure that Sony does not (and never has) used A,B,X and Y!

[MattS]

It's hard to take the author seriously as a commentator on the games industry when he can barely string a cohesive sentence together.

[ShiftyLookingCow]

Another games "journalism" site not to bother with. I did rather eat Doritos with Geoff.

[IcicleTrepan]

It doesn't even release until June officially.

[Chapter11]

Since when did the Ouya become the next fun thing to hate on for absolutely no reason?