Ouya is here, and it plans to shake up the video game industry. At the very least, it hopes to make a place for Android-based games in your living room. This new system went on sale June 24, and it is the latest attempt by a company to break into the home gaming market. Of course, breaking into this market will not be easy, as it is currently dominated by Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft.
So what does Ouya have to offer that other home consoles do not? Well that would be Android-based video games, of course. This little console hopes to earn a spot on hardcore gamers’ media centers by offering them a familiar way to play Android games by packaging the system with its own wireless controller.
Ouya has an uphill battle to win over the hearts of gamers everywhere. That is because most hardcore gamers have not accepted Android-based video games to be an actual form of gaming. Instead, they view Android-based games as nothing but quick time wasters that they can enjoy while they are waiting for the bus. Most do not make a habit of sitting down at home and just playing these kinds of games.
To make this uphill struggle easier, Ouya is entering the market at the low price of $99. This makes it cheaper than phones and tablets that run the same games. At $99, Ouya hopes that hardcore gamers will not view this system as a replacement for other home consoles but more as an add-on. In short, it does not want to replace systems like the PS4 or Wii U but rather be another system on your entertainment center as the perfect complement to your current home gaming setup.
Ouya has no lack of launch games. In fact, the system has over 150 games available. What makes this even more impressive is the fact that you can try every game before you buy it. This way you are 100 percent sure that you are buying a game that you will enjoy playing. On top of that, games that you buy for the system are a lot cheaper than those you would buy for traditional home consoles.
Games that will be available on Ouya include titles from big publishers like Square Enix to small indie developers. For example, Final Fantasy III from Square Enix is already available for download on the system. Thus, this system offers more games than just the quick-play games that we have come to know and expect from Android.
Another area where Ouya shines is the fact that it is not just a gaming device. You can also use your Ouya to download other media features like TuneIn radio or Flixster. With the ability to watch movies and listen to music on Ouya, it may be a cheaper alternative to other devices like Roku. The only problem with using Ouya as a media device is the fact that there are not a large number of media apps on it right now. Of course, this is something that is likely to change. The system just released after all.
That said, the best feature of Ouya might be that it allows users to completely customize or hack it. This means, there will be a number of homebrew apps released on the system in the near feature. With the homebrew community behind Ouya, the possibilities of what it can do are almost endless. This is possibly the single biggest advantage Ouya has over other home consoles aside from its low price point.
Now, let’s talk a little about the specs of the system. What do you get for $99? Ouya comes with an Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM. As far as storage goes, you get 8GB of internal storage, with the option to expand via a 2.0 USB port. The system outputs in 1080p via an HDMI connection. It also features 5.1 surround sound, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology. Each system also comes with a wireless controller that has a touchpad on it. You can buy an extra controller for just $49.
If you want to get your hands on an Ouya, you can buy it now. The system is sold in many stores, including Best Buy, Target and GameStop.
[via Ouya]