Ouya - Android based open gaming console

[fusion_power]

Not to detract from your point, but you may want to do a quick fact-check about the hardware-loss/game-profit thing. Nintendo has only ever sold one console at a loss and that one console has now returned to profitability again, and Atari sold the 2600 for a profit for much of its lifetime, for example (at one point it cost $40 to make a unit, which was sold for $125, for example).

Yes, in case of ATARI I more think on things like Lynx and Jaguar. ^^


It can be true that Nintendo sells their Consoles with Profit. No clue if they have a loss with NDS and 3DS but these Handhelds are pretty cheap imho, especialy for what you get. I'm sure, Microsoft did not made profit with the XBOXes hardware. Sony may sell the PSX (Vita) under price but I'm not sure there.


However, they all make the big money with the licensed games. Of course, nobody can say if this will work at the end for QUYA but who knows. It can't be worse than all the issues and problems, the Pandora had and we are still here.

 

[vcoleiro1]

In regards to the Calculation on what they are actually selling the Ouya at. It's true that I did not take into account extra controllers, it's hard to estimate how many of these have been sold as there are no numbers. However, as for shipping, I don't believe shipping dollars are added into the amount raised. So all in all the amount raised per unit would still be over $100. Anywhere between $110 and $140.


It's hard to say without knowing how many people ordered a second controller or even if this money is added in the main amount raised pool.


As I have said, and as the HW Developer has said in his words. The HW they are offering is vanilla stuff . Android boards are a dime a dozen from the zillion chinese manufacturers that make and sell them these days. As for the controller, honestly , its a 360 controller with a touchpad. Not a lot of designing or expenditure going on there. I'm sure this will end up being made by one those chinese manufacturers who make 360 controller clones.


Lets not also forget that by the time this produced, the HW components will have come down in price yet again as the next generation of chips will be out.


On a different note, I agree with others who say that Google needs to introduce some program/product to try and get game developers to support externall controllers in there games (some standard HID thingy or something) . Really the gaming door would be wide open to any Android device when that happens. Cant wait for this , its a must.

 

[socket]

It seems that many here are simply "hating on" the Ouya... I threw $330USD into the Pandora and waited for ages for it... I am in for $99 on this and if it succeeds, awesome, if not, it's not THAT much money.

You really read genuine concerns about the fact that the presentation of this device (a glossy video aimed at pushing gamers' buttons, and lots of hype, essentially) resembles investor-scams, such as the Phantom, as "hating"? There isn't one person in here hating on the device - any posts with a negative slant are clearly providing good reasoning for it.


I'm glad that $99 isn't a lot of money to you, I really am, but that doesn't mean that people who've seen this sort of thing* before and are sensibly wary of it are just "hating" on it - that just sounds like an attempt to justify possibly throwing away $99 and getting nothing in return.


*("This sort of thing" being a startup coming out of nowhere with a shiny item accompanied by too-good-to-be-true marketing that just so happens to appeal to some people's sensibilities, who also claims to have the backing of many big-name developers, and getting a lot of credibility from the press, some of whom even state that they really shouldn't be giving such coverage to a no-name startup who has yet to make and sell a product.)

Although the Pandora was a larger investment it still felt safer than this.

Absolutely agreed - it did feel safer than the Ouya.

Late reply, I know, but all I was saying was that 99 will be a LOT easier to swallow than 330. You can climb back down from that saddle way up there any ficking day.


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[Prometheus]

Late reply, I know, but all I was saying was that 99 will be a LOT easier to swallow than 330. You can climb back down from that saddle way up there any ficking day.


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I don't disagree, I just can't imagine having that sort of money to throw away. I'm really not sure what on Earth saddles or seemingly aggressive wording have to do with that.

 

[Kaniu]

In regards to the Calculation on what they are actually selling the Ouya at. It's true that I did not take into account extra controllers, it's hard to estimate how many of these have been sold as there are no numbers. However, as for shipping, I don't believe shipping dollars are added into the amount raised. So all in all the amount raised per unit would still be over $100. Anywhere between $110 and $140.


It's hard to say without knowing how many people ordered a second controller or even if this money is added in the main amount raised pool.

Both shipping and extra controller dollars are added to the main pool. The pledge levels on Kickstarter are minimums, you can pledge more if you want (I've done that when projects needed a little bit extra in order to reach their goal). So there is no way to know that $50 of my 149$ pledge is for controller and shipping and not an extra donation.


- Kaitsu -

 

[vcoleiro1]

Well if you do the math of multiplying the pledge $'s by backers at each level (ie x by $99 + x2 by $225 etc) , you illiminate anything that would be possibily shipping (still doubt this is added but anyway lets assume it is) and extra controller dollars. Divide this by the backers and it still comes out to at least $116 per console. So to say $99 is the start point per console is incorrect. As you say Im not allowing either for the extra dollars people may have donated so its at least $116 per console. Lets call it $120


I think thats plenty for what really is a vanilla system.

 

[Kaniu]

Well if you do the math of multiplying the pledge $'s by backers at each level (ie x by $99 + x2 by $225 etc) , you illiminate anything that would be possibily shipping (still doubt this is added but anyway lets assume it is) and extra controller dollars. Divide this by the backers and it still comes out to at least $116 per console. So to say $99 is the start point per console is incorrect. As you say Im not allowing either for the extra dollars people may have donated so its at least $116 per console. Lets call it $120


I think thats plenty for what really is a vanilla system.

You forgot fees for Amazon and Kickstarter, those are about 8-10% according to Kickstarter FAQ. Wireless keyboards with a touchpad sell for around $35. OUYA's $30 price tag for exta controller probably means it will costs at least $20 to make. Domestic shipping must also be paid. So there probably isn't $99 left for the console, more like $70.


I do think they will be able to deliver a working system, probably in time for the Christmas season 2013. Hardware prices are dropping fast, they might even be counting on a little delay...


- Kaitsu -

 

[vcoleiro1]

From Kickstarters Fee's page . They say there fee is %5 . You then need to add Amazon payment fees which for a project this size is about 1.9% it's scaled so the bigger the project the smaller the %.


Total 6.9%


So it's roughly $120 per unit - 6.9% = $112


minus controller at about $15 a pop (judging by what is on sale on aliexpress) = $98


As for internal shipping that would be cheap and could be offset by what they charge for OS shipping but anyway lets say $10. That leaves $88 for just the console ie the box. It's also hard to judge how many free local vs payed OS shipping there is (so $10 for each one is quite a lot considering lots are payed for by OS shipping charges)


Remember I raised this as Craig has continuously used a starting figure of $99 and then subtracted the fees and costs above. The point is, that starting point is wrong.


As for a possible delay, I agree with you there. I'd say there would be a heavy chance it will go beyond the March 2013 they say. Most of these projects are often late according to the stats Ive read. No doubt by the time this comes out , the next Tegra chips will be on the market and in devices. So Tegra 3 chip price's will have dropped yet again.

 

[robert2098]

I don't think this Engadget article was already posted in this topic:


The Engadget Interview: OUYA CEO Julie Uhrman on taking console concept to reality


The quote:


We know that we can deliver the goods.


The hardware is doable.


takes away all my doubts


In the article they say: "NVIDIA is collaborating with us, to help us both get production going and to get the most out of our Tegra 3 chips."


In my opinion a big involvement of NVIDIA (such as providing the chips below costs or sponsoring the production) is needed to make this product for that price. It seems to me that the profits must come from the app-store.


Another quote:


- Will there be any app curation or approval process? Can anyone push any game or app to the console?


- Yes, there will be approval and curation – as is standard on other Android platforms today.


I thought from the KickStarter description that everybody could publish games for this console. Seems that developers still need their blessing to publish in their store.


Robert

 

[Kaniu]

Btw, there are some interesting stories on difficulties with Chinese manufacturers if anyone is interested... Pen Type-A has had it's share of problems. I'm still waiting for my pen, looks like it might arrive about 9 months late.


First shock


Optimism


Lots of delays


Never again


- Kaitsu -

 

[vcoleiro1]

Holy toledo, talk about exceeding your funding goal. So they wanted $2,500 for the Pen Type A and got $281,000 ie 111,000% more than they were after.

 

[vcoleiro1]

I have only ever backed one project on Kickstarter . This one: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/andrewayres/iremoco-remote-control-helicopter-for-iphone-ipod?ref=search


Even though they only raised $33,000 they were still able to produce the chopper and propriety transmitter all boxed in a very very professional box with instructions and delivery etc etc. Each unit was $99. They manged to make and ship it on time. Maybe I was lucky - the heli is very well made and high quality to.

 

[Kaniu]

Holy toledo, talk about exceeding your funding goal. So they wanted $2,500 for the Pen Type A and got $281,000 ie 111,000% more than they were after.

That may have caused a slight increase of the heart rate


- Kaitsu -

 

[vcoleiro1]

Holy toledo, talk about exceeding your funding goal. So they wanted $2,500 for the Pen Type A and got $281,000 ie 111,000% more than they were after.

That may have caused a slight increase of the heart rate


- Kaitsu -

Lol - I'll say

 

[craigix]

Apparently Julie Uhrman has been aware of what I've been saying and has answered with 'you're wrong'.


/gets popcorn.

 

[diligentcircle]

/me gets popcorn.

/me also gets popcorn

 

[Prometheus]

Link please? :lol: I'd love to see this.

 

[craigix]

[01:34] <sebt3> ixix, http://kotaku.com/5927416/?comment=51115385


[01:38] <aTc> who cares about that thing anyway


[01:40] <ixix> still no real information


[01:40] <ixix> I guess they will start a kickstarter for some kind of reality manipulator

 

[Prometheus]

Thanks muchly. :lol:

 

[craigix]

I still think they should make the controller the console to save a fortune.