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Ouya Approaches $5 Million In Backing, Attracts 5x Goal (So Far)

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Re: Ouya Approaches $5 Million In Backing, Attracts 5x Goal (So Far)

#11

Post by chucknelson »

hkmurakami wrote: post #4
FreeKill wrote: post #2

Whatever you think of the console itself, that's an impressive amount of fundraising. I think Ouya has shown one thing for sure and that's making your Kickstarter a pre-order of sorts definitely encourages people to donate in larger sums. Of the 36K backers, only ~2000 have donated less than the $95 that gets you a console.

I personally think that this is the greatest value that kickstarter has brought us. We now have the option to forego the traditional cycle of [product development -> promotion -> sales] and instead pursue a [promotion -> sales -> development] path, which reduces the risk of irrecoverable sunk costs significantly. In a way, it shifts "risk" from the producer to the consumer.

It's also one of the worst things about kickstarter. The risk is moved to us, the consumer, and if it falls through, kickstarter isn't doing anything about it. We've basically funded some employee salaries, etc. with nothing to show for it.

I do think kickstarter is great, though.

Re: Ouya Approaches $5 Million In Backing, Attracts 5x Goal (So Far)

#12

Post by StavrosK »

10char wrote: post #9
StavrosK wrote: post #6

Can someone explain how this is different from any other Android thing? Is it not the same thing as my phone/tablet hooked up to the TV with a Bluetooth gamepad?

Usually when someone describes a new product as "the same as x through y while z", it means the new thing is solving a pain point. Like, "isn't Heroku just git hosted on AWS which runs a Rails server after a push?" The process you're describing is definitely workable and some games take advantage of it, but the Ouya focuses solely on making the experience of playing and downloading games painless. Whether or not they…

Ah, are they providing their own UI, then? I'm guessing Android is just the backend, from what you say, is that correct? I.e. you won't have access to the rest of the apps and the system itself except through their custom launcher?

Re: Ouya Approaches $5 Million In Backing, Attracts 5x Goal (So Far)

#13

Post by StavrosK »

flexd wrote: post #10
StavrosK wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It actually cost $0, as I already have one of each. Are you saying that none of the OUYA backers has an Android phone or tablet?

Are you easily able to connect your mobile phone to your TV? And does anyone even make games for phones that would benefit from being on a TV? I think OUYA could change how the platform gaming landscape looks like, and it certainly won't hurt for more competition to enter that market, hopefully putting some pressure on the existing companies.

> Are you easily able to connect your mobile phone to your TV?

Yeah, the phone has an HDMI output. So does the tablet.

> And does anyone even make games for phones that would benefit from being on a TV?

Are OUYA making games? I'm genuinely asking, I'm not sure why people get so indignant about my question.

Re: Ouya Approaches $5 Million In Backing, Attracts 5x Goal (So Far)

#16

Post by hkmurakami »

chucknelson wrote: post #11
hkmurakami wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I personally think that this is the greatest value that kickstarter has brought us. We now have the option to forego the traditional cycle of [product development -> promotion -> sales] and instead pursue a [promotion -> sales -> development] path, which reduces the risk of irrecoverable sunk costs significantly. In a way, it shifts "risk" from the producer to the consumer.

It's also one of the worst things about kickstarter. The risk is moved to us, the consumer, and if it falls through, kickstarter isn't doing anything about it. We've basically funded some employee salaries, etc. with nothing to show for it. I do think kickstarter is great, though.

Definitely agree that said risk is the big question mark about the whole platform.

Do you think that perhaps a few future scandals at Kickstarter would spur a "staged release" of funds to the project? (somewhat like how Greece receives its bailout funds in successive packages upon hitting milestones, rather than in one lump sum)

Re: Ouya Approaches $5 Million In Backing, Attracts 5x Goal (So Far)

#17

Post by 10char »

StavrosK wrote: post #12
10char wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Usually when someone describes a new product as "the same as x through y while z", it means the new thing is solving a pain point. Like, "isn't Heroku just git hosted on AWS which runs a Rails server after a push?" The process you're describing is definitely workable and some games take advantage of it, but the Ouya focuses solely on making the experience of playing and downloading games painless. Whether or not they…

Ah, are they providing their own UI, then? I'm guessing Android is just the backend, from what you say, is that correct? I.e. you won't have access to the rest of the apps and the system itself except through their custom launcher?

Yup, from the video it looks like a totally custom front-end. Sort of like an Xbox/Metro interface, no Android chrome whatsoever.

Re: Ouya Approaches $5 Million In Backing, Attracts 5x Goal (So Far)

#18

Post by eropple »

flexd wrote: post #10
StavrosK wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It actually cost $0, as I already have one of each. Are you saying that none of the OUYA backers has an Android phone or tablet?

Are you easily able to connect your mobile phone to your TV? And does anyone even make games for phones that would benefit from being on a TV? I think OUYA could change how the platform gaming landscape looks like, and it certainly won't hurt for more competition to enter that market, hopefully putting some pressure on the existing companies.

> And does anyone even make games for phones that would benefit from being on a TV?

If it's an Android phone, then, yes, because Ouya is likewise an Android device and (unless they are tragically stupid, but I don't know for sure because they still have no developer information) is using the Android gamepad API so you could do the exact same thing with your phone.

Re: Ouya Approaches $5 Million In Backing, Attracts 5x Goal (So Far)

#19

Post by StavrosK »

10char wrote: post #17
StavrosK wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ah, are they providing their own UI, then? I'm guessing Android is just the backend, from what you say, is that correct? I.e. you won't have access to the rest of the apps and the system itself except through their custom launcher?

Yup, from the video it looks like a totally custom front-end. Sort of like an Xbox/Metro interface, no Android chrome whatsoever.

Ah, I'm on a data-limited connection and haven't managed to watch the video. Sounds like that's why I can't understand what it does.

Re: Ouya Approaches $5 Million In Backing, Attracts 5x Goal (So Far)

#20

Post by xaro »

StavrosK wrote: post #8
cryptoz wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> phone/tablet Please let us know where you're buying a gaming-quality $100 phone or tablet from!

It actually cost $0, as I already have one of each. Are you saying that none of the OUYA backers has an Android phone or tablet?

The thing is, I have a $200 phone that has Android but isn't very powerfull. I don't own a tablet, buying one would cost me $200.

For $100 they are offering me a console that I could also use as a TV media center.

I think you are narrowing your view to people that own multiple gadgets, in my country that isn't the norm and I know that a cheap console could have a huge impact here.

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