It seems that so many people seem to think the OUYA and the newly announced Mad Catz MOJO console based on Android is some seriously good stuff. I for one disagree and see no point in getting such a console. Essentially what these things allow you to do is play Android games with a controller on your TV or monitor. There really isn’t anything more to them in my opinion. Why spend the money to play something that you can already play on your mobile device everywhere you go?
From systems that could keep your beer cool, to oddities trying to get in on the popularity of VHS and laserdisc, you’ve got some very, very weird video game consoles out there.
I had the LaserActive... it was a nice collectors piece but not very practical. Especially when it came to needing recapping. I think i paid all of about $50 for the floor model from an incredible Universe back in the day. I ended up selling it many years later for $300 at the time due to it needing a new laser and the aforementioned recapping.
An honorable mention not on the list would be the VM Labs Nuon. It basically looked like any regular DVD player but it had ports on it for controllers to play specific games. one of which is still exclusive to it with Tempest 3000. It also offered nuon enhanced DVD movies with extra content not accessible by regular players.
Virtual Boy, Sega Nomad, Ouya and the other troubled game systems that nobody bought.
How has this article missed out Sega's Dreamcast and Nintendo's Wii U, two consoles that were actually superb devices in their own right, but were seen as failed due to lacklustre sales at the time of release?
Wonder how long before Stadia appears on the list surprised the Ngage is not on that list
Talk about a blast to the past.......I remember trying the virtual boy at Toy R Us and it was cool but I did feel slightly disoriented afterwards......good article.
The Ouya, a failed Android gaming console from early in this generation, is getting a second lease on life thanks to Internet archivists and some new software.
That's pretty cool they were able to bring it back. It sucks when something online only gets killed.
I got mine when it first launched, however it wasn't good for anything other than retro emulation. I couldn't sell the thing fast enough. Managed to get almost all my money back selling it on eBay.
I guess the Stadia launch is bringing back memories of other failed consoles/services.
.... they never were intended as next-gen game-changers.
They're intended as an easily accessible, low-cost console, both for consumers as well as developers.
And that's perfectly fine.
If anything, it's an alternative to PSN and XBLA marketplaces. And it has the potential to be a very good alternative.
HOWEVER, the main 'problem' these devices face, is that consumers can also just buy a cheap but powerful chinese Android phone (or tablet), with HDMI-out and USB-ports, and pretty much get the same kind of easily accessible Android-gaming machine that you can hook up to the TV and to a controller, and get the same experience.
Personally, being a big fan of 'arcade games', I'm positive about the OUYA, however, I AM still looking how it will all develop further, before I decide to get one.
bad times to release a console next to PS4.
Greatness awaits
4>1
U can buy USB devices that run ICS and play ur android games,apps. They r on Amazon for cheap but, r also cheaply made one is just a the size of a thumb drive., and some aren't and powerful.
They aren't supposed to compete with the One or PS4, they pretty much said so from the start. They're indie consoles, simple as that.
They are not supposed to be!
I'll be getting Ouya for all the emulators :)