Ouya's Android-based console now official, Kickstarter project launched & already funded

[garyopa]

Upcoming hackable console explained.



The Ouya has reemerged as a Kickstarter project with a funding goal of $950,000. Shooting to launch by March 2013!

As you may know, Ouya's first details were leaked last week.

Now, creators have made it official. A Kickstarter campaign for the Android-based $99 console is now live with a goal of $950,000. However, at the time of this writing, the project has already collected $400K+ USD -in less than 12 hours- and keeps rising... amazingly FAST.

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**UPDATE**

The project met its goal ($950k) in just eight hours! Of course, the project is still live on the official KS website linked below.
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That's right, the console was fully explained:

We love console games.

There's something about a big HD TV and digital surround sound that fills up a living room. Shooters, platformers, sports games, arcade classics and experimental indie games just feel bigger on a TV screen. It's how most of us grew up gaming.

But maybe people are missing out.

We get it – smartphones and tablets are getting all the new titles – they're "what's hot.” The console market is pushing developers away. We’ve seen a brain drain: some of the best, most creative gamemakers are focused on mobile and social games because those platforms are more developer-friendly. And the ones who remain focused on console games can’t be as creative as they’d like.

Deep down, you know your best gaming memories happened in the living room.

You busted your ass just to find out the princess was "in another castle." You fought bosses that told you repeatedly how much "you suck." You taped a blanket to half of your screen so your friend couldn't see where you were. You traded the best players onto your team just so you could have the perfect season. And you did it all on the TV.

It's time to upend console gaming.

Let’s open this sucker up! It's time we brought back innovation, experimentation, and creativity to the big screen. Let’s make the games less expensive to make, and less expensive to buy. With all our technological advancements, shouldn't costs be going down? Gaming could be cheaper!

We're handing the reins over to the developer with only one condition: at least some gameplay has to be free. We borrowed the free-to-play model from games like League of Legends, Team Fortress 2, Triple Town, and many others. Developers can offer a free demo with a full-game upgrade, in-game items or powers, or ask you to subscribe.

OUYA: The revolution will be televised.

OUYA is a new game console for the TV, powered by Android.

We've packed this little box full of power. Developers will have access to OUYA's open design so they can produce their games for the living room, taking advantage of everything the TV has to offer.

Best of all, OUYA's world-class controller, console, and interface come in one beautiful, inexpensive package. All the games on it will be free, at least to try.

Hackers welcome.

Have at it: It's easy to root (and rooting won't void your warranty). Everything opens with standard screws. Hardware hackers can create their own peripherals, and connect via USB or Bluetooth. You want our hardware design? Let us know. We might just give it to you. Surprise us!

Here are the full system specs:

Specifications:

- 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

OK, there's also a FAQ explaining in detail the "free games" model (basically F2P):

When you say "free games," what does that mean exactly?

We want you to pay only for the games you love. A “free to play” model works when everyone (gamers and game makers) benefits from directly rewarding amazing games.

For gamers, every game will be free to play: what this means is that there will at least be a free demo, or you’ll be able to play the entirety of the game for free but may have access to additional items, upgrades, or other features that come at a cost.

For developers, free to play means that they can set their own prices. Developers know best: There is no better way to sell a game than to have folks that have actually touched the game share glowing reviews with their friends. By allowing some form of free play, we’ll help them do just that. The only reason you used to pay for games before playing them is that you couldn’t try them at the store before you brought them home – it’s a relic of an old way of doing business, and one of the many things about the games business we plan to change.

So, there you go. Go to the official Kickstarter project below for more info, where you can also watch an introductory video for the console.

This is what you will get if you back the project:

Those who pledge $10 or more to the Ouya Kickstarter campaign will be able to reserve a username for the console prior to launch. For $25 or more, backers will be able to reserve a username and have an emblem emblazoned next to their tag. For $90 or more, gamers will receive everything already mentioned, as well as a Ouya console (plus extra for shipping), and a controller (plus $30 for a second controller).

Backers of $225 or more will receive a Ouya console, two controllers with their username permanently etched in, and all perks mentioned above. Those who pledge $699 or more--aimed at developers--will score a first-run Ouya console, early software development kit access, two controllers, and promotional assistance for their games for 12 months.

Users who back the Ouya campaign at $1,337 or more will receive the Elite Developer Special promotion. This offer grants users everything mentioned above, as well as a direct email contact to Ouya developers, and an invitation to the Ouya launch party in Los Angeles.

Gamers looking to dig even deeper into their wallets to support Ouya can spend a day with designer Yves Behar in San Francisco for pledging $5,000 or more. The final, uppermost pledge tier is called The Angel List, and is being offered for backers of $10,000 or more. Those who give at this rate will have their username and backer number engraved on every first-run Ouya console, and will be invited to Los Angeles to have dinner with designers, and attend the console's launch party.

It sounds/looks really interesting right? What do you think?

NEWS SOURCE #1: Ouya a new kind of video game console (via) KickStarter
NEWS SOURCE #2: Ouya Android based hackable game console (via) EnGadget

Our thanks to 'Gauss' for this news item!

[billysastard]

i quite liked the idea of this "console" but having every game as a fee to pay / pay to win is a complete dealbreaker.

[garyopa]

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...o-game-console - almost 4 times their goal already

Growing fast.

[[ACF]Umax]

Damn! Honest question: I wonder what they're gonna do with all the extra money?

[billysastard]

Damn! Honest question: I wonder what they're gonna do with all the extra money?

well they are asking for suggestions over email and additionally they are asking users to submit the titles they would like to see on the system looking at maybe using some of those funds to part fund a project or two or to at least partner with a few publishers.

that said the way this has taken off certainly proved that there is a market for a games console at a decent price no matter if its inferior to the competition or not, i just think that when reality hits and all these buyers are faced with f2p games the wheels are going to come off.