AfterDawn: News

Ouya console finally on sale

Ouya game consoles are finally available today for anyone who could not pre-order it via Kickstarter.

The box, which runs on Android and a quad-core processor, was one of the highest funded projects on the site, with $8.6 million in funding from over 60,000 backers.



Additionally, the company raised another $15 million from venture capitalists.

So far, the console has been generally panned, due to its sluggish controller and small current selection of games. These reviews, of course, came for the beta edition of the console received by early adopters.

There are currently only 150 games available, all of which are free-to-play models, meaning they are either fully free or are free to download and play but you will need in-game purchases to really move forward or unlock new content.

The Ouya is available for $99 with a controller at places like Amazon and Target.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 25 Jun 2013 19:49

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• 18 comments

• Jemborg

  I was "guaranteed" a console before it got to stores... still waiting. :/
  
  I'm pretty disgusted. After being told it was two weeks away almost a month ago DHL Tracking says it's still in Hong Kong en route to Oz but who can tell where it really is? I received an OUYA support reply that if a second controller does not arrive I may receive it in a second shipment (it was not mentioned in the shipping notice to me).
  
  At the moment I am very much in two minds now about the OUYA. I'm not sure what to think.
  
  -I have been in communication with and read people who have received their OUYA and the reports, contrary to what you might hear are extremely mixed and/or polarised rather than "generally panned":
  
  Quotes from KickStarter comments:
  Quote:I got mine a few weeks ago after some major DHL Bullshit.
  
  I've played around with it a few times. First impressions were awful and haven't gotten any better. What did all that money we pledged go toward?
  Quote:...the unit feels great. Controller is nice and accurate. Much improved software from initial release. This is a fun console for sure. Nice to know it'll get better and better as time goes on. These wildly conflicting remarks are just the tip of the iceberg believe me. See:
  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ouy...onsole/comments
  
  -There are some real and expensive custom duty headaches with certain countries... but this is not an issue in Oz with anything under $1000.
  
  -I hear games are more expensive than buying them from, say, Goggle Play... but I don't know by how much exactly.
  
  -Updates will be regular and many expect them to still improve the situation greatly.
  
  -Another thing is that apparently they will (eventually) get around to replacing dodgy units and controllers. But their customer service has been shabby to say the least.
  
  -I'm trying to remember that this is an open source device and who knows what will happen? I knew I was taking a gamble. I'm hoping (expecting?) there will be a lot of experimentation by homebrewers keen to improve it. It's not the first time this has happened with devices e.g. hacking a Nook. Arguably you wont have to stick to the OUYA custom OS or you can swap about.
  
  -KickStarter projects rarely run smoothly... the GameStick has also been delayed.
  
  -I'm inclined to demand a refund but the amount is right on the cusp of "do I give a shit?".
  
  
  I believe the whole thing is being orientated towards the planned OUYA2 now anyway... if they can get it that far.
  
  
  EDIT: I finally received an apology from OUYA today with a "Gonna fix this". See latest update #30:
  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ouy...e-console/posts
  
  
  
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  26.6.2013 00:11 #1

• Bozobub

  Who's "Tate", and why do you need to "orient" him?
  
  lol - Sorry, I apologize, but that's one silly grammar flub that drives me mad. The "-ate" ending is completely redundant; I blame politicians for the rise of "orientate" ^^' ...

  26.6.2013 01:16 #2

• Jemborg

  Originally posted by Bozobub: Who's "Tate", and why do you need to "orient" him?
  
  lol - Sorry, I apologize, but that's one silly grammar flub that drives me mad. The "-ate" ending is completely redundant; I blame politicians for the rise of "orientate" ^^' ... @Bozo Humph, it's perfectly legitimate for an Australian mate. And my British spell-checker has no problem with it.
  
  I did find that one definition in the Urban Dictionary had a problem with it... it depends how authoritative (!!!) you find that august institution.
  
  Take comfort in the fact that seeing the clunky expression "lighted" written in US literature instead of "lit" does my little brain in.
  
  
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  26.6.2013 02:44 #3

• xnonsuchx

  If you 'invested' or buy one and feel ripped off, you probably deserve it.

  26.6.2013 03:34 #4

• Jemborg

  Originally posted by xnonsuchx: If you 'invested' or buy one and feel ripped off, you probably deserve it. Would you elaborate?
  
  On the surface that appears rather parsimonious. The only thing I tried to "invest" in was indie game development. I don't believe I used the expression "ripped off", I'm mostly disappointed and disgusted that it's still coming. The, albeit belated, apology that I mentioned in the above edit (and the fact I was eventually replied to by OUYA Support) has improved my mood somewhat. I did mention that the response to the OUYA has been wildly conflicted in every respect. In part, expectations have a lot to do with that. With the exception of perhaps the PS4 and xbone, I have found the introduction of a new console has always been rather underwhelming... amazing how people forget that.
  
  
  
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  26.6.2013 03:59 #5

• Jemborg

  Well, regardless of all the negativity:
  
  http://androidandme.com/2013/06/devices...lling-out-fast/
  Quote:...it is completely sold out at Target. Amazon is “temporarily out of stock.” Best Buy doesn’t have them in most stores in my area...
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  26.6.2013 04:41 #6

• Mysttic

  Quote:
  ...it is completely sold out at Target. Amazon is “temporarily out of stock.” Best Buy doesn’t have them in most stores in my area... I not sure if "Sold-out" would even be accurate, so much as in they may never had stock to begin with. Mind you Amazon.ca is listing as still in stock.
  
  Either way I kind of agree with Jemborg that he's right to feel conflicted about his choice to help kickstart OUYA. I felt that same confliction while OUYA was still asking for funding which is why I pulled my funding out.
  
  I can't say I foreseen the events which are taking place now, but I can say that OUYA's founder didn't do enough to answer the public's questions to have me brave that venture. But Jemborg did, and he's right to expect the console earlier than anyone else as that was what it was to be for: to allow anyone interesting in developing indy games the chance to do so prior to it launch.
  
  Honestly it's because of that, I believe OUYA owe's something more than just an apology. When I can go out and simply buy one from the shelf, or order online while my pre-distributed console has been shipped to limbo: it begs to answer, why won't OUYA let kickstarter backers buy one again with an extra controller, and be refunded for the entire unit? Let OUYA sort their supplier mess out to no penalty to the consumer. But then there it lies in the answer: OUYA can't do it because they are new, they also don't have to, and they need all the $ they can get.
  
  Jemborg, my advice, despite putting $ down on this unit, is to simply say *fuck-it* and move on. But it's your choice, you wouldn't be wrong for it. I think at the end what bothers me the most is this: total pledged = to nearly $9,000,000 out of $900,000 asking. There is NO reason this couldn't have been done correctly, and I personally believe she *the founder* spent more of that money on herself for personal use, and likely some on her colleagues to do the same than on ensuring a smooth launch. At $9 million and she didn't even have the decency to pay for a small booth inside E3... Sad....

  26.6.2013 06:34 #7

• Jemborg

  Originally posted by Mysttic: Jemborg, my advice, despite putting $ down on this unit, is to simply say *fuck-it* and move on. But it's your choice, you wouldn't be wrong for it. I don't know about all the rest but a couple of people I trust have said they quite like the thing so I won't ask for a refund after all and stick to the ideal ...but the expectometer is turned down an extra notch or two for now.
  
  
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  26.6.2013 07:04 #8

• Mysttic

  Quote:I don't know about all the rest but a couple of people I trust have said they quite like the thing so I won't ask for a refund after all and stick to the ideal ...but the expectometer is turned down an extra notch or two for now.
  Well that's just it, by saying *f-it*, it's taking the apathetic stance, and if/when the console shows up, then hey another gadget to play with. If it doesn't show up, it probably wasn't worth the effort to get it in the first place.

  28.6.2013 08:45 #9

• Jemborg

  Originally posted by Mysttic: Quote:I don't know about all the rest but a couple of people I trust have said they quite like the thing so I won't ask for a refund after all and stick to the ideal ...but the expectometer is turned down an extra notch or two for now.
  Well that's just it, by saying *f-it*, it's taking the apathetic stance, and if/when the console shows up, then hey another gadget to play with. If it doesn't show up, it probably wasn't worth the effort to get it in the first place. Actually, even despite some bugs, it's quite good fun after all Mysti.
  
  
  Turns out the games aren't more expensive than Google Play either. My 3yo went psycho for a cheap crane game... result!
  
  
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  28.6.2013 22:57 #10

• Bozobub

  Originally posted by Jemborg: Originally posted by Bozobub: Who's "Tate", and why do you need to "orient" him?
  
  lol - Sorry, I apologize, but that's one silly grammar flub that drives me mad. The "-ate" ending is completely redundant; I blame politicians for the rise of "orientate" ^^' ... @Bozo Humph, it's perfectly legitimate for an Australian mate. And my British spell-checker has no problem with it.
  
  I did find that one definition in the Urban Dictionary had a problem with it... it depends how authoritative (!!!) you find that august institution.
  
  Take comfort in the fact that seeing the clunky expression "lighted" written in US literature instead of "lit" does my little brain in.
  
  
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Well, you guys and the English also add a nonexistent "i" to "aluminum", so *thbpthbpfthp*. >.<'

  29.6.2013 09:33 #11

• Jemborg

  oops
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  29.6.2013 09:39 #12

• Jemborg

  Originally posted by Bozobub: Originally posted by Jemborg: Originally posted by Bozobub: Who's "Tate", and why do you need to "orient" him?
  
  lol - Sorry, I apologize, but that's one silly grammar flub that drives me mad. The "-ate" ending is completely redundant; I blame politicians for the rise of "orientate" ^^' ... @Bozo Humph, it's perfectly legitimate for an Australian mate. And my British spell-checker has no problem with it.
  
  I did find that one definition in the Urban Dictionary had a problem with it... it depends how authoritative (!!!) you find that august institution.
  
  Take comfort in the fact that seeing the clunky expression "lighted" written in US literature instead of "lit" does my little brain in.
  
  
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Well, you guys and the English also add a nonexistent "i" to "aluminum", so *thbpthbpfthp*. >.<' Well, we pronounce it differently. You make it sound like a brand name.
  
  
  PS: Do you prefer Helum, Lithum, Uranum, Strontum, Plutonum, Cadmum etc. too?
  
  :D
  
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  29.6.2013 09:41 #13

• Bozobub

  Originally posted by Jemborg: Well, we pronounce it differently. You make it sound like a brand name.
  
  
  PS: Do you prefer Helum, Lithum, Uranum, Strontum, Plutonum, Cadmum etc. too?
  
  :D
  
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Errr... Those words DO have an "i" in them just before the "u". "Aluminum" does not.
  
  The schools in England/AU must be even worse than ours. Dear me.
  
  Pwnt =) .

  29.6.2013 11:04 #14

• Jemborg

  Originally posted by Bozobub: The schools in England/AU must be even worse than ours. Dear me.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Obviously not.
  
  
  
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  29.6.2013 11:29 #15

• Bozobub

  Well, true - lol. No other "1st-world" nation has worse schools than us.
  
  Dammit, our terrible schools inconvenience keep me when I'm being properly "American Exceptionalist". Arg!

  29.6.2013 12:25 #16

• pmshah

  Originally posted by Jemborg: Originally posted by Bozobub: Who's "Tate", and why do you need to "orient" him?
  
  lol - Sorry, I apologize, but that's one silly grammar flub that drives me mad. The "-ate" ending is completely redundant; I blame politicians for the rise of "orientate" ^^' ... @Bozo Humph, it's perfectly legitimate for an Australian mate. And my British spell-checker has no problem with it.
  
  I did find that one definition in the Urban Dictionary had a problem with it... it depends how authoritative (!!!) you find that august institution.
  
  Take comfort in the fact that seeing the clunky expression "lighted" written in US literature instead of "lit" does my little brain in.
  
  
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Here is another one for you...
  
  Use of "momentarily" for something happening after a VERY short while and not for something happening FOR a very short while.

  1.7.2013 03:42 #17

• pmshah

  Originally posted by Bozobub: Originally posted by Jemborg: Well, we pronounce it differently. You make it sound like a brand name.
  
  
  PS: Do you prefer Helum, Lithum, Uranum, Strontum, Plutonum, Cadmum etc. too?
  
  :D
  
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Errr... Those words DO have an "i" in them just before the "u". "Aluminum" does not.
  
  The schools in England/AU must be even worse than ours. Dear me.
  
  Pwnt =) .
  
  Do refer to the older dictionaries. There IS an i in front of u in Amuminium. You must realiSe this and not realiZe this. Oh, I can go on....

  1.7.2013 03:45 #18