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Ouya console review: "Pass on it"

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Re: Ouya console review: "Pass on it"

#21

Post by Zimahl »

reitzensteinm wrote: post #15
Zimahl wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

where will you get legal ROMs for those consoles? You don't. You put on your eyepatch, grab your cutlass, and raise the Jolly Roger.

You've both missed his point, which is: why pirate SNES games but not Xbox 360 games?

I can't speak for the OP but the main reason for me would probably be nostalgia. The second reason is that I could probably download every single ROM ever produced for these systems and store it on an average sized flash drive. Finally, I don't know much about pirating on the 360 but I'm personally not inclined (read: lazy) to mod an XBox.

Re: Ouya console review: "Pass on it"

#22

Post by derefr »

ianterrell wrote: post #12
jiggy2011 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel that the problem is the price, none of the major console manufacturers have tried (or at least succeeded) in building a console for that sort of money. There's probably a reason for that.

The reason the major players haven't made a cheap console is because they (Nintendo excepted) are pushing the boundaries of what "cheap enough" hardware can do. That's necessary for the type of games they want to sell -- but it's not necessary for all games. I fully expect an Ouya/Google/Apple/GameBerryPi/etc to really find a fun loving, large market at a $100 price tag.

I think Nintendo and Apple have both seen the future of this particular market: casual gamers don't want consoles; they want handhelds that can mirror-play onto their TV when they want a more enriching experience (which isn't necessarily all the time.)

Apple has the iPad+Apple TV set-up; Nintendo has the WiiU as a transitional console generation while increasingly moving all its flagship titles to the 3DS. I fully expect that the next console Nintendo ships will be a lot like the Apple TV--a bridge appliance to point your DS4 at.

Re: Ouya console review: "Pass on it"

#24

Post by brigade »

reitzensteinm wrote: post #15
Zimahl wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

where will you get legal ROMs for those consoles? You don't. You put on your eyepatch, grab your cutlass, and raise the Jolly Roger.

You've both missed his point, which is: why pirate SNES games but not Xbox 360 games?

Whose point?

People don't pirate 360 games because it's probably fairly annoying - you need a 360 console to begin with, then mod it which might need an older one running an out-of-date OS, and likely can't play multiplayer without the risk of your account being banned. Plus the size of games means torrents which means letters to your ISP. And if it's a couple years old you can probably buy the game for $10-20.

Pirating games for older consoles is trivial in comparison - any computer you have and most smartphones can emulate a PS1 or older almost perfectly. And the game sizes are tiny.

If you were asking about a moral justification, there's always the "it's not being sold new, so the makers won't get my money if I buy it used anyway." Though by now at least 95% of games that people actually play have been re-released, so that justification doesn't hold much water.

Re: Ouya console review: "Pass on it"

#26

Post by LawnGnome »

ergo14 wrote: post #2

I actually think that as an inexpensive XBMC TV device + emulator gaming Ouya is an outstanding offering for its price. But if someone expected current gen console compatition here - it means that the product was misunderstood.

I couldn't agree more: mine runs XBMC well and, for me, is worth the $100 just for that. That there are emulators that work well and some fun games are pure bonuses, really.

It's something that slots in alongside other consoles rather than replacing or even competing with them.

Re: Ouya console review: "Pass on it"

#27

Post by ianterrell »

jiggy2011 wrote: post #17
ianterrell wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The reason the major players haven't made a cheap console is because they (Nintendo excepted) are pushing the boundaries of what "cheap enough" hardware can do. That's necessary for the type of games they want to sell -- but it's not necessary for all games. I fully expect an Ouya/Google/Apple/GameBerryPi/etc to really find a fun loving, large market at a $100 price tag.

Problem is that you are trying to hit a middle ground between people who are gaming enthusiasts and want to play games on a dedicated device be it a console or PC with a fancy GPU. And a larger casual market; many of whom are probably looking to buy games for a system they already own like a laptop or tablet.

I'm not sure if it's more accurately described as a middle ground or as a niche: Casual gamers who want to play cheap games on their TV, with a controller, and/or with friends. (Another possible interpretation of "midcore.")

I think Towerfall's popularity is due in some measure to hitting that specific formula: cheap & fun same screen multiplayer; "mobile philosophy" on a television.

I do think overall you're right that the casual market wants to play on devices they already own. It would not surprise me if Apple released a WiFi controller & added a dedicated Games store on the AppleTV (using touch screens while looking at a TV just feels awkward).

Re: Ouya console review: "Pass on it"

#28

Post by GuiA »

EpicEng wrote: post #16
GuiA wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, I've been thinking about getting one specifically for that purpose: a cheap way to play NES/SNES/GBA/etc. games on my TV (I'd imagine that a Ouya filled with such games would be a great present to a niece/nephew whose family can't afford to pay for modern consoles + games). The Ouya also has Towerfall, which is apparently a fantastic game. Comparing it to PS3/Xbox/Wii U is missing the point.

Another cheap way to play SNES games; your computer and a $10 controller.

Sometimes I leave my primary laptop at work.

Sometimes my girlfriend may want to play a SNES game while I'm using my laptop.

Sometimes I want to reinstall my laptop and don't want that to impact my gaming console.

Sometimes I may not want to bother with having to plug in my laptop in the TV and find the controller, to play 20 minutes of Dr. Mario. (I'm very lazy)

I'd rather have several cheap, interchangeable devices rather than everything from a single one :) (that applies to my laptop too; I did all of my programming and work from a 300$ netbook for a couple years, that was nice and I wasn't too heartbroken when my gf at the time spilled water on it and killed it)

Re: Ouya console review: "Pass on it"

#29

Post by jjsz »

ianterrell wrote: post #12
jiggy2011 wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel that the problem is the price, none of the major console manufacturers have tried (or at least succeeded) in building a console for that sort of money. There's probably a reason for that.

The reason the major players haven't made a cheap console is because they (Nintendo excepted) are pushing the boundaries of what "cheap enough" hardware can do. That's necessary for the type of games they want to sell -- but it's not necessary for all games. I fully expect an Ouya/Google/Apple/GameBerryPi/etc to really find a fun loving, large market at a $100 price tag.

Yeah, this market, back then was the handheld market. If I remember correctly the Gameboy Advance SP was around that price. Really, as processors go up and decent tablets become cheap, a mini 7 inch with a DualShock will suffice.

Re: Ouya console review: "Pass on it"

#30

Post by jjsz »

GuiA wrote: post #28
EpicEng wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Another cheap way to play SNES games; your computer and a $10 controller.

Sometimes I leave my primary laptop at work. Sometimes my girlfriend may want to play a SNES game while I'm using my laptop. Sometimes I want to reinstall my laptop and don't want that to impact my gaming console. Sometimes I may not want to bother with having to plug in my laptop in the TV and find the controller, to play 20 minutes of Dr. Mario. (I'm very lazy) I'd rather have several cheap, interchangeable devices…

I found this forum [0] that lists Android USB sticks, which are more portable than the Ouya, and cheaper. This "Tronsmart CX-919 Quad Core Google Android 4.2.2 OS Rockchip RK3188 Cortex A9 1.6GHz Mini TV BOX Dongle HDMI HDD Player 2G/8G BT/HDMI/External Wifi Antenna-Blackis" is $65 [1].

[0] http://forums.redflagdeals.com/android-tv-stick-convert-norm... [1] http://www.geekbuying.com/item/Tronsmart-CX-919-Quad-Core-Go...

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