OUYA Video Game Console - Fully Funded, More Units Still Available at $99

[dharh]

Chark said:

dharh said:

A phone can be either expensive or reequire a contract, so there is that.  A phone is small, so for people who want larger more complex games, they'll want a tablet, and those who want even more complex, yet still cheap games, there is this.

At the moment the indie, cheap, non-uber-professional-studio game market is booming. XBLA, PSN, android play, amazon market, steam indie, etc. Cheap $1-$2 games can be pretty darn lucrative, especially for those small devs that have a good idea and want to get that idea on as many screens as possible.

You can do more things on a TV than you can on a tablet or phone. Off the top of my head I can easily see a game that on the phone behaves one way (as you expect a phone game to play), acts a different way on a tablet (giving you more complex gameplay), and yet another way on a TV (with much more complex multiplayer, etc gameplay).

I still don't see a strong argument over consumers getting this box over getting/using their smartphones. Many have argued that the popularity of mobile gaming is because of the consumer's preceived neccessity of a cell phone. Eliminating that from the equation isn't doing it any favors and when push comes to shove consumers would be better off buying a console from the big three, a PS2 would provide someone with a plethora of titles. OUYA seems far too niche, attracting those looking to pirate or those looking to develop over actual user base.

I don't disagree that it is niche. Just like mobile phone gaming itself atm is niche when you complare to dedicated gaming, even dedicated gaming.

But gamers will go where the games are. And if developers are fed up with the huge costs and expectations of the Big Three, then there are very few places left to look. I can easily see the OUYA as being the indie alternative haven for consoles. Id much rather play mincraft and super meat boy on an OUYA than waste my time doing it through XLBA.

You don't need to pirate games when they are so cheap, though im sure you will still see them. You won't see monstrous $30-60 games often, if not at all, on OUYA. People pirate for a couple reasons, one of them being because of cost. Lower that barrier and less people will feel compelled to pirate.