Everything You Need To Know About Ouya Game Console ...

For years there has been talk of Google launching their own console and now it appears that some people have got bored of waiting and decided to just go right ahead and design, develop and produce their own console running using the search giant?s Android operating system. Allow me to introduce the Ouya.

So, what the hell is Ouya?

As detailed above, Ouya is a brand new console running with the Android operating system and with open source very much in mind. The idea is to get an affordable console, running an open source OS, which can drive down the cost of quality gaming on HDTV. The Ouya team claim they plan to ?upend the console market? arguing that as technology costs decrease and we progress to more affordable technology, then shouldn?t the cost to both the consumer and developer go down?

The open source side of things means that the Ouya is also going to be hacker and indie developer friendly. Rooting the device is supposedly not only quick and easy but it will also not void the warranty for the console itself and will allow the next wave of small time developers to show off their skills to the world

Reduced cost would be awesome, but will this just all be Indie and mobile Games?

In a word, no. The Ouya will be able to run these games, but that won?t be all it can do and this shouldn?t be looked at as a negative point. Supporting the bottom of the gaming food chain gives us some fantastic experiences, look at Minecraft despite being ?just an indie game? it has become a household name, selling millions of copies and building an enormous following of devoted fans. Minecraft is also strongly rumoured to be making an appearance on the console, but developer Mojang are far from confirming it as a launch title.

But on top of being a great starting point for the indie successes of the future, Ouya is set to take the entire games industry by storm, having already gained some attention from some huge companies within the industry. Game streaming service Onlive have taken a shine to the innovation of the console and have agreed to provide access to their entire games library to the console meaning it will be possible to play titles including Deus Ex: Human Revolution and the Batman Arkham games. It isn?t just Onlive who have taken note, Square Enix have thrown support behind the new boys too, announcing that, for the first time outside of Japan, Final Fantasy III will be a launch title for the game in updated HD graphics on an HDTV.

Anything else confirmed?

Damn straight there is. The key to console survival now seems to be creating ?full home entertainment experience that can be jacked into the TV. On top of bringing brilliant and affordable gaming to the masses, Ouya is also working on lining up some partners to handle some other aspects of the entertainment industry. First up will be Vevo who have confirmed that they are going to making their massive library of music videos available on the console. Who will be the first TV partner to sign up? Time will tell but it would be safe to assume that it can?t be far off.

While it?s not a TV giant, the growing e-sports market is ready to make the plunge with the new console, with Twitch TV making an appearance on the console when it finally arrives meaning you can keep up to date with some of the biggest games across the e-sports world including Starcraft II and League of Legends.

Ouya has also lined up it?s first exclusive title coming in the form of a prequel to the higly anticipated zombie survival game, Human Element. Details remain scarce but with a former Call of Duty developer happy to support the console, this will definately mean more big things in the future.

So what does this wonderful contraption look like?

I?m glad you asked, check out the video and gallery below for some shots of the gorgeous standard console, limited edition console and the snazzy controller, also fitted with a touchpad allowing mobile games to make the leap easily across.

Right, it looks great, but what about the specs?

The full specifications for the console are listed for your reading pleasure.

• Tegra3 quad-core processor
• 1GB RAM
• 8GB of internal flash storage
• HDMI connection to the TV, with support for up to 1080p HD
• WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
• Bluetooth LE 4.0
• USB 2.0 (one)
• Wireless controller with standard controls (two analog sticks, d-pad, eight action buttons, a system button), a touchpad
• Android 4.0
• ETHERNET

You mentioned reducing the cost of gaming?

I did indeed, the console is currently being funded through Kickstarter with a week to go, meaning that you have to live in the USA to pledge money for the project but bagging the console is currently possible by pledging as little as $95 with a limited edition option available exclusively to Kickstarter backers for $140. Once the console is released to the awaiting public, it is expected to retail at around $99.

So it?s cheap, good looking and open source?

Don?t you just know it, Ouya looks set to deliver on it?s promise of revolutionising the console industry and if they succeed, the future could be not only be very bright, but also cheaper right across the board. If the Ouya does what it promises and manages to hold it?s own, the bigger console providers could soon see a drastic change in the way they market their own product.

Source: http://gamingirresponsibly.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-ouya-game-console

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