The kickstarter for OUYA, a region free open source android game system for $99 USD succeeded today after less than 12 hours.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ouya/ouya-a-new-kind-of-video-game-console

Amazing!

An indicator for the three big closed system console makers of what gamers really want?

That seems like an overstatement. It's not really surprising that there are a few thousand people out there willing to preorder a $99 console.

As i said in the other thread on this device.... I think this proves my point that next-gen hardware will be more about smart OSs than gaming-only systems.

So how does this make money? The games are free? Or just trial free? What incentive is there for someone to develop? What are the hardware limitations? Is it cloud?

it's getting nearly 1000 dollars every 15 seconds, damn

Okay I read a bit more on it. So this is just their attempt to take what PSN and XBLA have been doing all this gen? Obviously it is more open, but Sony is having this same thing with PlayStation Mobile, which might end up on PS3 even aside from PSV, PS4, Xperia, HTC, and Sony Tablets. I don't buy this uprooting the closed console industry. Observing Sony, they are already cracking PlayStation open.

Any idea when this is coming out possibly?

March 2013. It says so right on the kickstarter page. And this isn't the same as closed consoles like PS3 (PSN). OUYA's dev kits are free. Everyone can program for it.

I read March 2013, but of course with funding so quickly proving interest, it could happen anytime.

As for this being like Live or PSN or NN... not really but sorta in terms as any web based store is the same.

Its a way to get to any and all Android games and basically apps as well. Its open and will likely have a unique market that they can control in order to enforce their rule that it must have a free version, even if its just a demo. To me, it'll be more of what will it provide to greatly differentiate it from the many GoogleTV products to come out now and through 2013? It can't just be the $99 price tag.

PS mobile dev kits are free and they will be on a home console, most likely PS4 but there is an effort towards PS3. Sony could beat this to market. Though OUYA has some decent specs that will top PS Mobile, being only an Android console means it won't have the high end games we will see next gen while the PS4 will have that and an open mobile development space. PS already has an install base. OUYA is making it seem like they are one of a kind when they are not, pinning themselves against a closed console market slightly demonized. Very unique and aside from Sony, no one has brought mobile development platforms to a home console yet.

It is meant for the indie market, which is actually quite large, though not as large per se as the regular game market. It will have a low barrier to enter which means more games like minecraft, angry birds, super meat boy.

Personally im interested in it purely from a programmers perspective rather than a game perspective.