Hi downvoters!
If you downvoted me because you object to my complaint about the entry fee, allow me to educate you. If you downvoted me because you think Ouya is awesome or you own Ouya shares, more power to you.
Anyway, a company like Ouya co-opting the game jam phenomenon (not to mention the term) for pure commercial, money-making greedy purposes is offensive. Allow me to explain in detail:
The events normally associated with the term Game Jam are:
a) free
b) not about prizes or competition
c) intentionally inclusive
For a few examples, just google 'game jam', or check out these pages:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_jam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludum_Dare
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Game_Jam
The whole spirit and philosophy behind game jams is to encourage anyone and everyone to creatively participate in the creation of video games, regardless of commercial viability, tools used, race, gender, age, or creed.
In comparison, the Ouya game jam:
a) Required a $99 purchase of an Ouya console to enter - EVEN THOUGH - Ouya is supposedly an Android based platform and any functioning Android game should be able to run on the Ouya.
b) Included prizes and judges being handed out at the discretion of Ouya and/or Kill Screen
c) Required all games to be Ouya games, not Android games or simply 'games that can run on the Ouya'.
These are not minor distinctions. This is important. This is a corporation feeding off the efforts of the community without giving anything back (unless you count the pittance of a few prizes to be handed out to the 'winners').
The Ouya 'game jam' is a contest. And I have no problem with contests: They are a good way to promote interest in your platform. Microsoft ran multiple successful contests for XBox Live Indie Games called 'Dream Build Play' that produced lots of great games.