Android Video Game Console? Ouya!

A group of developers in Los Angeles, California created a new kind of video game console and they have more than 39,000 financial backers.  The first consoles will be shipped this year and will retail for $99.00.  Today, all the smartphones and tablets attract developers because the console market pushes developers away with extremely high licensing fees. 

Android developers can invest their knowledge, time, and skills into developing games for android devices without high licensing fees. iOS developers have a fairly low license fee and they can put their own apps in the apple store where they can earn income for their work.  Gaming consoles on the other hand demand such extremely high licensing fees from developers that only large funded corporate groups can afford to develop games for the major gaming consoles today. 

The creators of the new OUYA game console want to bring back the magic we all experienced as youth playing games on the big screen television sets in our living rooms with a group of friends and family.  Right now, most developers are focused on developing for tablets or smartphones and OUYA knows it can attract those same Android developers to build games for the new game console with the same business model that Android app market currently uses.  Gamers can play a game for free and if they like it they can buy it.  The free games advertisement makes me feel a little uneasy about investing my money, time, and resources into helping build up someone else’s financial stability. 

As a developer myself, I do lean towards investing my resources into the iOS app store more than the Android marketplace because the income stats show a better return for iOS developers and of course I work to provide for my family and myself. 

When a business model promotes that developers work long hours, invest huge amounts of their time & money into providing end users with free everything while the developers starve, I tend to steer clear of that business model.  Now the Android marketplace does enable developers with the hope to earn income from their work, but the iOS app store is providing a better income to their developers; according to the stats that are posted all over the Internet.  I will continue this article with a hopeful view that Android developers can earn a fair income from their hard work though.

 OUYA is a game console for the TV and it’s powered by Android.  Android is an operating system that powers a lot of tablets and smartphones today.  OUYA gives access for developers to create their own games and sell those games in the Android marketplace.  Every single OUYA console is also a development kit so anyone can build games for it because unlike the traditional game consoles, OUYA will not charge licensing fees, retail fees, or publishing fees. 

 The designer of the award winning Jambox, One Laptop per Child, and his firm ‘fuseproject’ are part of the OUYA team that Julie Uhrman put together.  Julie has been in the game industry for a long time and has experience with Vivendi Universal, IGN, GameFly, and others.  They are even designing the controller to be “love letter to console gaming” to include fast buttons, triggers, laser-precise analog sticks and a D-Pad.  The D-Pad is a touch pad for any games that are converted from the mobile or tablet to the TV.  The team calls the controller the “Stradivarius of Controllers” and hopes it will inspire developers to take gameplay to a brand new level.

Hardware Specs

Tegra3 quad-core processor, 1 GB Ram, 8 GB 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, Wireless controller with touchpad, and Android 4.0.

OUYA Game Ideas

Shooters, Platformers, and RPGs are all options for the OUYA game console.  Of course any game that incorporates our Endangered Language Dialects will be awesome and appreciated.  Incorporating locations, people, and local events from Akwesasne and the whole North Country would also be an interesting challenge for local developers.  Hint: Start getting a lot of photographs and videos from the top of the Cornwall Bridge now before that view becomes a distant memory.  As a developer I always have cameras, video cameras, and audio recorders available because the inspiration for creating awesome User Interfaces can come from any location at any time. 

Developers and designers that know how to code with html5, css3, javascript, jquery, jquery mobile, phonegap, eclipse, the android sdk, java, and design adobe illustrator vectors can make some interesting game environments that will be unique and relevant for the topics that matter the most to our local community.  Start with simple clearly defined projects before taking on any big projects because the OUYA game console is new and it’s always a good idea to keep it simple – especially when dealing with technologies that are new to the team and require developers to deal with learning curves.

Start your own Game Developer Team in Akwesasne?

Be prepared to be part of a team that develops OUYA games for Android 4.0.  I use Eclipse IDE for Java Developers, Version Indigo Service Release 2 with the Android SDK plugin.  You want to update your SDKs frequently.  If you are brand new to the developer world, plan to spend 5 or more hours per day learning & practicing development and/or design skills.  Read everything you can about the software you use and the technologies you use as a developer.  Unity3D is expensive but it’s less technical for brand new developers to get started creating games.

 Network with local developers and keep good notes from each meeting.  Create a project schedule that works for everyone on your team.  A good team includes a developer, designer, marketing specialist, financial specialist, social networking specialist, Internet marketing specialist, with each team member maintaining a clearly defined schedule, requirements from them & all team mates, and good communication skills (Hello, Akwesasne Toastmasters!). 

 **

References retrieved June 18th 2012:

Ouya KickStarter: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ouya/ouya-a-new-kind-of-video-game-consoleAndroid Developer:  http://developer.android.com/index.html

Eclipse IDE for Java Developers, Version Indigo:  http://www.eclipse.org

Web Developer Blog:  http://www.MonicaLamb.com/blog3 

Unity3D:  http://www.unity3d.com