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May 14, 2013

Ouya Cloud Gaming Ready for Release

By Robbie Pleasant, TMCnet Contributor

The people have spoken, and the Ouya game console is completed at last. This open-source, Android (News - Alert)-powered cloud gaming console was made possible thanks to crowd funding, and is now available to those who helped create it, with a retail version to be made available soon.



The console itself is small but effective, with just a few ports in the back for a power adapter and HDMI cable. No more is needed, given its function. The controller uses the usual setup of a left and right joystick, a d-pad and four buttons, which spell “OUYA,” as well as triggers and bumpers. It’s designed to fit comfortably in one’s hand, and it does just that.

When users connect to the system, they have to log into their account, so remembering one’s username and password is advised. The current interface is a little lacking in that regard, but it’s a minor issue that can be fixed in time.

The interface has some ups and downs, with four options: Play, Discover, Make and Manage. “Play” is a simple “play the games you downloaded.” “Discover,” on the other hand, has lists of downloadable games, with sub-menus and searches that can make it a little difficult to properly search. “Make” is for software developers, and “Manage” is for system configuration.

The games currently available tend to be small and amusing, as designed for Android. Among the most noteworthy is Final Fantasy III, providing updated graphics and gameplay to a classic game.

While there are still some issues with Ouya that need fixing, it seems to be off to a very good start. It’s clear that people want it to succeed, as the crowd-funding shows, and while it may not be able to provide the same graphics that we can expect from the Xbox Infinite and Playstation 4, it offers games that are affordable, easy to access, and just plain fun. The issues it has may very well be resolved by the time it’s made available to the general public, providing a new kind of cloud-based gaming.




Edited by Alisen Downey
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