The Ouya console is slated for a commercial launch in June 2013 and Kickstarter backers have begun receiving their orders a little early. Engadget and The Verge took it for a spin and while their reports weren’t glowing, there are some positive points made.
In both reviews the writers note that although they do have some issues with the console, it’s still early days and the commercial launch will certainly feed the platform with some much-needed killer apps.
The Verge gave it 3.5 out of 5, saying that although it was inexpensive and very efficient, the teething problems did affect their experience, particularly the technology inside the wireless controllers and some lagging in the interface. Engadget noted the same issues with the user experience and highlighted that all versions of the OuyaAconsole now in the hands of Kickstarter backers should be considered as “a beta release.”
Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Ouya responded to the reviews and noted that these weren’t launch units, nor were they packaged for retail, calling the time between the present and the console’s launch a “preview period.” An Ouya representative said the preview period will be used “to test our eco-system and fine-tune the experience” in advance of the retail launch.
Ouya console
The Ouya is a small, lightweight console powered by Nvidia’s Tegra 3 quad-core SOC (system-on-chip) and currently ships with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, along with a custom skin.
Ouya says that they have some exciting partnerships lined up for the console, naming XMBC and OnLive as partners, and all the games available for the device will be free, with paid-for options to get rid of any advertising the game developers may elect to use.
Ouya says the console is “hackable” and promises that every Ouya unit sold will also act as its own development kit. The bundled controller is a modified version of the Xbox 360’s controller design, but uses its own labels for the action buttons and has a touch panel in the middle, just like Sony’s new Dualshock 4.
Source: The Verge, Engadget, GamesIndustry.biz
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Ok hang on a second, if they are partnering with XBMC then I will DEFINITELY be taking one of these if it means I can get the power of a HTPC for that price.