As the OUYA is slowly (but surely?) nearing its launch in March 2013, the OUYA Dev Kit can be pre-ordered for delivery in January 2013. The kit costs $800 and includes an OUYA console, 2 controllers and the ODK ( OUYA Software Development Kit). This devkit is targeted at game developers (Users better just wait the $99 version) who will be able to test their games and apps on OUYA hardware before the official release. The ODK should be available for download and the developer portal launched in December,
As a reminder, here are OUYA (updated) specifications:
- Nvidia Tegra3 quad-core cortex A9 processor
- 1 GB RAM
- 8 GB of internal flash storage
- HDMI port (up to 1080p HD)
- WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
- Bluetooth LE 4.0
- Ethernet
- USB 2.0 port
- Wireless controller with standard controls (two analog sticks, d-pad, eight action buttons, a system button), a touchpad
- Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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One thing that could end up killing Ouya (or at least reducing its impact) is the explosion of these “Android in a stick” devices. Looking at the specs, it doesn’t really offer anything these sticks don’t, except for the controller.
Will the Ouya include DRM to limit copyright infringement? If they don’t, it might be easier to just become a game distributor and sell the controller for use with any device (many phones, tablets, etc include HDMI out anyway).
@Ian Tester
You could also use a Bluetooth PS3 wireless controller with your Android device, if you already have one. If you don’t, it’s still difficult to beat the OUYA + Controller price.
All games on OUYA are free to download, and game developers can only make money with in-apps purchases. My guess is that OUYA plans to make most of its money with games, not with hardware sales, as is the case with all game consoles.
@cnxsoft
Ah right, I hadn’t kept up with how Ouya was structuring their business model. And $99 for a console + controller is a pretty good price. I’m looking at getting one of those Android mini-PC’s and a PS3 controller to serve as a cheap games machine. Depending on which one I get, the total price may be the same as the Ouya.
If the price of Tegra devices drops as fast as the RK3066 devices, couldn’t this be looking quite pricey by March?
@onebir
I don’t know many low cost Tegra 3 devices (Maybe I haven’t looked enough), but let’s say Freescale i.MX6 sticks go to $60 by March 2012, you would still need to add the price of the Bluetooth game controller (PS3 controllers cost around $45), so even at $99 I think the package will remain very competitive price-wise, as long as you use the OUYA as a gaming console…
@Ian Tester
You forget, that the OUYA comes with a Tegra 3 CPU, which, seemingly, has been clocked at higher speeds than current offers. Not by simply overclocking it, but, according to OUYA, in close participation of Nvidia. So, Nvidia seems to itch the last little performance out of the Tegra 3 for OUYA. This is in stark contrast to the relativly slow “Smart” devices. Also, OUYA may have exclusive titles. It has its own appstore, so this will hold some additional attractions, as well. One would be, that on Play Store you buy or you don’t, 15 minutes (or so) for testing till refund limit end is too short. With the OUYA marketplace you play the game for free, for as long as you want. All money gets made by in-app purchases. Another strong point for OUYA is Plex and XBMC support, right out of the box. This will mean hardware drivers for video acceleration for these programs. A big problem for all other platforms, as of now. And, last but not least, the OUYA has been announced as easily hackable by the vendor. All you lose is access to their marketplace, but not the gurarantee, as it seems.
@.jon
Oh, and the controller(s)… And all this for US$99.
@.jon
Why haven’t we seen proper XBMC support for other Tegra3 devices that have been out for years? There is nothing special about the OUYA that will somehow magically lead to a perfect XBMC port. At this low price, I also doubt they paid for licensing all the necessary codecs needed in a media player. As a game developer, I can also tell you that this thing is way underpowered to be used as a console connected to a large HDTV. It’s slower than even the worst integrated Intel IGP’s you’ll find on the PC – and nobody plays serious games on those. It’s only viable for gaming on a tiny tablet/phone screen where you can render to a very low resolution and scale up. That approach will look like garbage stretched out on a 40″+ HDTV. I agree the price is fair for what’s you’re getting – essentially console hardware from a decade ago (think original Xbox or Wii GPU with upgraded RAM/CPU).