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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)

#42
post #15

If they take the $5mil and are unable to deliver, that might be the beginning of the end of crowdfunding.

Imagine how they must feel. If this falls through their reputations will never recover. They'll go down in the tech history books as one of the biggest failures ever.

I think they might actually be able to pull it off. $99 is probably too low a price point, but they might be able to attract some investment based on this so that they can get away with selling the first million at a loss. In that scenario there is a good chance the company would eventually go bankrupt, but they would still be able to ship what they initially promised. So in short, I think there is a fairly good chance of at least a break-even scenario.

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

#44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Imagine how they must feel. If this falls through their reputations will never recover. They'll go down in the tech history books as one of the biggest failures ever.

Not to be unfair but it could be sort of like with Diaspora. The inability to deliver on the kickstarted campaign caused one of the founders to take their own life. It would be very sad if something like that were to happen again only because a group massively over promised and was unable to meet their own goals.

In what way didn't they deliver? I got my t-shirt and use the service every day.

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

#46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Imagine how they must feel. If this falls through their reputations will never recover. They'll go down in the tech history books as one of the biggest failures ever.

Not to be unfair but it could be sort of like with Diaspora. The inability to deliver on the kickstarted campaign caused one of the founders to take their own life. It would be very sad if something like that were to happen again only because a group massively over promised and was unable to meet their own goals.

> The inability to deliver on the kickstarted campaign caused one of the founders to take their own life.

You don't know why he chose to end his life -- nobody does -- and making up stories about it is irresponsible. Even those closest to him have competing explanations, e.g. http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-10/on-diasporas....

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

#47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to be unfair but it could be sort of like with Diaspora. The inability to deliver on the kickstarted campaign caused one of the founders to take their own life. It would be very sad if something like that were to happen again only because a group massively over promised and was unable to meet their own goals.

In what way didn't they deliver? I got my t-shirt and use the service every day.

I think they were expecting something hugely successful. When it turned out to be just average with so much publicity attached it must have been difficult.

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

#48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to be unfair but it could be sort of like with Diaspora. The inability to deliver on the kickstarted campaign caused one of the founders to take their own life. It would be very sad if something like that were to happen again only because a group massively over promised and was unable to meet their own goals.

> The inability to deliver on the kickstarted campaign caused one of the founders to take their own life. You don't know why he chose to end his life -- nobody does -- and making up stories about it is irresponsible. Even those closest to him have competing explanations, e.g. http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-10/on-diasporas... .

I read a CNN Money article which said suspect suicide (with confirmation from coronar coming later). If I am incorrect I will edit my post and apologise.

Articles: http://money.cnn.com/2011/11/14/technology/diaspora_cofounde... http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/249210/20111114/ilya-zhitomi...

Edit: "The San Francisco Office of the Medical Examiner formally ruled the death a suicide last month." - http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-10/on-diasporas...

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

#49
I really don't get the level of enthusiasm for this device, and struggle to see it really taking off mainstream (which may not matter, since it's just an android box).

Yes, we haven't seen an android device targeted for gaming yet, but AFAICT, there is nothing this will do that you can't already do with something like an mk802[0]. Similarly, decent tablets can be had for $100[1]. Now, both of these have slower GPUs (mali 400, as SGS2), but come 9 months when this is actually meant to be available, i'm certain there will be better-than tegra3 hardware available in that price range. Further, most people could just connect their phone via hdmi and a PS3 controller to get the same result.

Another angle of looking at it could be as reference hardware, like a nexus device for gaming. That would have advantages.. (better dev support etc etc) but its userbase is going to be a drop in the ocean compared to other android devices- take the SGS3 for example-- 9m pre-orders. This is currently at 0.05m.[2]

I do wish these guys luck however.The fundraising is impressive however you look at it. I do see ARM devices taking over a large chunk of the conosle space[3], and i do see a mobile OS involved. A greater degree of freedom than the big boys (although not than android) is welcome, as is the competition. I really hope we get some quality in-room multiplayer back-- and this could help to spur that-- which hasn't been a first class citizen since way back in the n64 days(!). But there is no guarantee that anything will change.

Ultimately, the success of the fundraising could be its own downfall, attracting google/apple/microsoft to compete. We all know how much they want presence in the living room. OUYA's interface is more suited for a game pad, but it's nothing that couldn't be matched with an app, or an android update.

--

0. $74 USB-stick PC.

1. I would post retail links but i don't want to come accross advertising. Check out cnx-software.com or armdevices.net if you wish to learn more.

2. based on a lazy $5m/$100. Extrapolate linearly over the 30 days and you still only have 0.3m.. a case which would smash all kickstarter funding into oblivion. People buying this would be expected to buy more games.. but we are looking a 30:1 ratio to match the big boys in the most optimistic case.

3. IMO the days of the monolithic console are numbered- mobile OS's have made gaming on an upgradeable platform as simple as the consoles, which will be soon out-dated by the relentless pace of progress in the ARM/mobile GPU world.

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

#50
post #15

If they take the $5mil and are unable to deliver, that might be the beginning of the end of crowdfunding.

The level of funding popular KS projects are getting almost leads me to be concerned that someone is going to game the system and promise the earth, and then just run off with all the money. Which, AFAICT, would be perfectly legal.
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