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'Big players' from US and China reportedly interested in OUYA
OUYA's remained relatively quiet over the past few months, aside from making content-focused announcements here and there -- such as OUYA Everywhere and the expansion of it. That said, the gaming startup, once a Kickstarter sensation, could be making a very big splash in the near future. Re/code is now reporting OUYA is in the middle of acquisition talks with "multiple big players" in the US and China, citing sources familiar with the matter. Chinese companies said to have had discussions with OUYA are Xiaomi and Tencent, among others; meanwhile, here Stateside, Amazon and Google reportedly took part in "some engagement" over a possible sale. Interestingly enough, though, Re/code notes that these outfits are primarily interested in the sale to acquire members of OUYA's staff, rather than the business stemming from its tiny game consoles. Only time will tell if anything ends up actually happening -- but as they say, where there's will, there's a way.
Next stop for Ouya Everywhere: China
Now that everyone from Google to Amazon is getting into the Android gaming set-top box business, Ouya is going to have to get creative. It's already announced plans for "Ouya Everywhere" to extend its sizable library of 900+ TV and game controller-ready games to other platforms, and now the company tells Reuters it's working out a deal with China's Xiaomi. CEO Julie Uhrmann says the arrangement will see an Ouya channel added to devices like the Mi TV and MiBox, where users can shop for and download games, and with Xiaomi "likely" committing to marketing the games. On the backend, Xiaomi, Ouya and the game's developers split the money. The $99 console has gone through a number of changes (both hardware and software) since it arrived on the scene as a Kickstarter hit, now we'll see if Asia can help provide a second wind for the platform.
Ouya tutorials help you make a game in 20 minutes
With the right tools, Ouya says you can program and publish an Android game in just 20 minutes, and it's offering the online and in-console tutorials to make that happen. Ouya offers a how-to video on the console, accompanying instructions online, and the AIDE app for Ouya, which provides basic Android coding lessons. "Most gamers have, at one point or another, considered making their own game – but don't follow through," Ouya developer relations head Kellee Santiago writes. "The process can be daunting due to lack of proper how-to information, they are intimidated by coding, or they just think it's just too hard overall. But it's not! Your friends at Ouya are here to show you that creating your own game is way easier than you think – and you can pick up valuable programming skills in the process." The promise of developing and publishing your first game in less time than an episode of Bob's Burgers is bold, but apparently doable. We'll prep the headlines now: "The Next Big Game delayed by 20 minutes so developers can start and finish it." [Image: Ouya]
Microsoft court order shutters Chess 2 servers
Ouya chess variant Chess 2 currently lacks its key asynchronous multiplayer component as a result of a Microsoft-issued court order levied against the game's DNS management service. Chess 2's DNS service No-IP issued a statement regarding the takedown, noting that Microsoft seized 22 of its domains after finding evidence of malware creators distributing harmful software from its subdomains. "We have been in contact with Microsoft today," No-IP reports. "They claim that their intent is to only filter out the known bad hostnames in each seized domain, while continuing to allow the good hostnames to resolve. However, this is not happening. Apparently, the Microsoft infrastructure is not able to handle the billions of queries from our customers. Millions of innocent users are experiencing outages to their services because of Microsoft's attempt to remediate hostnames associated with a few bad actors."
Mad Catz's Android console nabs OUYA games and 4K UHD support
Things have been relatively quiet with OUYA, but yesterday's announcement of a subscription service apparently isn't all that's coming out of Julie Uhrman's Android gaming company this week: you can finally access OUYA games through Mad Catz's Android console, the M.O.J.O. Sure, the appearance is a bit tardy but it means you're aren't stuck playing games with the OUYA's contentious controller any longer. Additionally, the latest M.O.J.O. update adds more than just another place to play Towerfall. The console now has bragging rights over the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One too, because, unlike those more expensive systems, it supports 4K UHD output for games and video right now. When the latest from Sony and Microsoft will gain that functionality still isn't clear. But hey, at least you can play Halo and LittleBigPlanet 3 on those this fall, right? [Image credit: Associated Press]
OUYA's new subscription model gives you 'everything' for $60 a year
When the developer of your platform's most popular game says "being the best game on OUYA isn't a huge deal," it might be time to innovate. OUYA is trying. Earlier this year it announced plans to bring its gaming platform to smart-TVs and set-top boxes -- now it's testing out a subscription model. The deal seems pretty straightforward: $59.99 buys a year's worth of access to every game on OUYA. Read the fine print, however, and it's clear this isn't quite the Netflix of Android gaming.
Butterfly-in-the-sky blue Ouya fills out Reading Rainbow Kickstarter's color spectrum
Here's a collaboration we didn't see coming, and not just because we don't wear a VISOR like Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge: Ouya has partnered with LeVar Burton and Reading Rainbow to produce a sky-blue limited edition Ouya console, 500 of which will be signed by Burton. Ouya's offer is part of a Kickstarter celebration; now that the Reading Rainbow campaign has joined the top five projects of all-time, the four other most-funded projects are offering their own collaborative efforts. Alongside Ouya, Reading Rainbow has partnered with Pono Music, Pebble Watches and the Veronica Mars Movie Project. To get your hands on a signed version of the special Ouya, you'll need to back the Reading Rainbow Kickstarter at the $250 level. You can also get an un-signed version as an add-on reward for $175, or donate an Ouya to a school of your choice for $150. The Reading Rainbow Kickstarter campaign concludes at 3 p.m. EST, July 2. [Image: Ouya]
Catlateral Damage knocks its funding goal off the shelf
We've got another game to be added to the rapidly-expanding genre of animal simulator games: Catlateral Damage, which started as a game jam project and charmed its way into our hearts back at the beginning of the year with a limited demo build, has met its $40,000 Kickstarter goal. The feline festivities are anticipated to make their way to Mac, Linux, PC and Ouya in Q4 of this year. The kitty train doesn't stop here, though. Developer Chris Chung has 12 more days to reach his stretch goals, which include extra levels, a PS4 version and support for Steam Workshop. Chung is also participating in Ouya's Free The Games Fund, which means that his financial support will double upon a successful close of the crowdfunding campaign - with some caveats. Meanwhile, at Catlateral Damage HQ ... [Image: Chris Chung]
How would you change the OUYA (founding backer edition)?
OUYA was one of Kickstarter's biggest success stories, and in a way, we all felt a little chunk of pride. After all, this was a console that the community had created, which would topple Sony and Microsoft's duopoly at the top of the gaming market, all for just $100. The higher the promises, and our expectations rose, however, the further they had to fall. When our Tim Stevens reviewed the first edition of the hardware, he found that the controller and UI fell far short of what was expected. The game library was nothing to be excited about, and the company is now offering its games store on other platforms -- somewhat negating the point of the console in the first place. So, our question to all of you is this: had you been sat in those initial meetings with Julie Uhrman and Yves Behar, what would you have told them to do differently?
Double Fine's Broken Age now on Ouya
Double Fine's adventure game Broken Age is now available on the Ouya microconsole, bringing two of Kickstarter's highest-earning gaming projects together at last in holy crowdfunded union. Broken Age earned over $3.3 million when it turned to Kickstarter's crowdfunding platform for support, later expanding its scope for a split release. The Ouya met with similar success, earning more than $8.5 million by the end of its Kickstarter campaign. Broken Age backers who pledged $15 or more toward the project will receive a free code for the Ouya version via the Humble Store. [Image: Double Fine]
Pier Solar HD pushed back to June
Pier Solar HD, the Sega Genesis-style RPG developed by Watermelon, has been delayed to June, Sega Nerds reported. The delay was announced via a backers-only update on the developer's Kickstarter page. Watermelon earned $231,370 on the service in December 2012, and just received approval from the Steam Greenlight community in March to begin distribution for PC, Mac and Linux on that platform. Also in development for PS3, PS4, Wii U, Android, Ouya, Dreamcast and considered for 3DS, Pier Solar HD was delayed to April just a few short months ago. Watermelon is reportedly looking to launch the game before E3, which starts on June 10. We've reached out to Watermelon to confirm the game's delay, and will update as we learn more [Update: Watermelon confirmed to Joystiq that Sega Nerds' report is accurate]. [Image: Watermelon]
'Towerfall,' OUYA's most popular game, only sold 7,000 copies
If you're looking for a metric for the OUYA's (lack of) success, then the developer behind one of the platform's best selling games can help you out. Towerfall creator Matt Thorson has revealed that despite being the number-one title on the Android platform, the game has sold a measly 7,000 copies. In a conversation with Eurogamer, the developer said that the title was a smash hit on PS4, with PC sales coming in a close second, but added that "being the best game on OUYA isn't a huge deal, but it is nice" -- ouch. In response, OUYA's CEO Julie Uhrman has said that her company "helped put Towerfall and Matt on the map," adding that the company is "finding the next great developers and making them household names." That said, we suspect that since PS4 and PC sales account for nearly 80 percent of Thorson's $500,000 in revenue, we imagine the next great developer might just choose to bypass OUYA entirely.
Towerfall PS4 trumps PC as multiplayer hit tops $500,000 sales
Local multiplayer obsession Towerfall has proven incredibly successful, to the tune of more than $500,000 in sales to date, but according to creator Matt Thorsen, the nascent PlayStation 4 version of TowerFall has outpaced its PC predecessor. "It's actually doing better on PS4, but it's still doing well on PC," Thorsen told Eurogamer. "It's doing definitely well enough for me to support myself for quite awhile. That's really encouraging." When asked why the PS4 game, which only appeared last month, had become such a success, Thorsen simply said, "I think it's just a console game, ya know?" "People have controllers - it's not confusing to get the controllers like it is for PC - and people have it in their living rooms already," Thorsen explained. "I think a lot of people still sit down with their friends when they play their consoles, whereas they don't do that on PC. Even if it's a single-player game. I know me and my friends will sit down and one of us will be playing a game while everyone else is just hanging out." Thorsen also praises Sony for the support the console manufacturer has offered Towerfall as an independent production. "They've featured and promoted it really well." Finally, Eurogamer asked Thorsen about the Ouya version of TowerFall, which is widely hailed as the best game available for the flailing Android console. He estimates about 7,000 copies of the game have been sold on Ouya to date. "Being the best game on Ouya isn't a huge deal, but it is nice. It still sells on there." [Image: Matt Thorsen]
Chupacabra update makes the OUYA game console a better media center
Go ahead and dust off your OUYAs, friends -- it's updatin' time. The little Android game console that could wasn't exactly the runaway hit its creators were hoping for, but some fresh features found in the new Chupacabra update help this thing stand a bit taller. As far as the team is concerned, the biggest draw is the addition of AC3, DTS and AAS audio passthrough support for the exceedingly popular XBMC media center app. The OUYA itself doesn't have the proper licenses to play certain bits of audio (say, a movie's surround sound audio track), but now it can pass them over to a user's home theater receiver that does have the licenses. In short, those of you using your tiny Android consoles as media centers can finally play some of the trickier videos in your collection. Also tucked away in the update: a cleaner view at game information, a download manager and the ability to set certain games as favorites for easy access. Alas, it's not all sunshine and rainbows here -- OUYA said it would remove its free-to-try requirement, and that change has finally taken hold. Granted, the move basically neuters one of the most gamer-friendly parts about owning an OUYA (who doesn't love free game demos?), but we suppose the company's gotta do what it has to in order to keep those game developers happy.
Ouya gives presents for its first birthday: seven games on sale now
On March 28, 2013, Ouya began shipping its Android-powered microconsole of the same name to backers of its Kickstarter campaign. One year later, Ouya is thanking those backers and all who have chosen to support the company with a seven-day sale on seven games from seven of its initial developers. The sale includes: The Ball (Tripwire Interactive): 60 percent off Beast Boxing Turbo (Goodhustle Studios, Inc.): 50 percent off Deep Dungeons Of Doom (Bossa Studios): 50 percent off DubWars (Helium Interactive LLC): 33 percent off Knightmare Tower (Juicy Beast Studio): 50 percent off The Little Crane That Could (Abraham Stolk): 50 percent off Natural Soccer (Thorsten Schleinzer): 33 percent off The sale will run until April 1; all games can be purchased directly through an Ouya game console. They grow up so fast! [Image: Ouya]
Amazon Gold Box Event discounts South Park, Lightning Returns, more
Brobdingnagian online retailer Amazon has kicked off another all-day Gold Box Event, bringing discounts to games like South Park: The Stick of Truth, Thief, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 and the Android-powered Ouya console. South Park: The Stick of Truth is today's Deal of the Day . Normally priced at $60, during the Event, South Park has been discounted by 28 percent to $43. Appropriately, the PlayStation 3 incarnation of Lightning Returns is one of the site's timed Lightning Deals. It goes on sale at 10AM PST, at which time its price will fall by 33 percent. Thief on PS4 is another Lightning Deal. It goes on sale at 2PM PST, though Amazon has yet to reveal the game's momentary new price. Rounding out this sales extravaganza is the Ouya, which serves as today's Bonus Deal. Instead of the console's standard $100 price tag, the device has been slapped with a 30 percent discount, reducing the cost of ownership to $70. For more details on this sale and the other non-gaming items up for cheap purchase, pay a visit to Amazon's Gold Box page. [Image: Square Enix]
Human Element set for Nov. 2015, Ouya prequel canceled
Human Element, the first-personal survival game from Robert Bowling's studio, Robotoki, will launch in November 2015 on PC, Bowling confirmed on Twitter. He added that the Ouya-bound prequel to the game was canceled "early on" as the developer shifted its focus to the CryEngine-based PS4 and Xbox One versions of the open-world game, which don't currently have a release date. Bowling left Call of Duty developer Infinity Ward in April 2012 to open Robotoki and announced Human Element in June 2012. The Ouya prequel was revealed soon after in July, at which point Bowling donated $10,000 to the microconsole manufacturer. The Human Element prequel was also slated to be the first console exclusive game for Ouya. [Image: Robotoki]
Ouya dropping free-to-try requirement for developers in April
Currently, any game on the Android-powered Ouya microconsole must be free in some way, shape or form, be it a free demo or free to play business model. That situation is set to change next month, when the Little Console That Could drops its free-to-try requirement. Polygon reports that Ouya head of developer relations Kellee Santiago announced the shift at this year's Game Developer's Conference in San Francisco. "In response to developer feedback, in order to give more flexibility to game-makers to decide what content they want to make on Ouya, starting April we're making the free-to-try component optional," Santiago said. The Ouya team also announced that games "exclusive" to the Ouya can launch concurrently on PC as well, thanks to changes made in developer agreement deals. This follows the company's recent branching out, which will allow Ouya content on devices that are not an Ouya console. [Image: Ouya]
OUYA removes free-to-try requirement, lets devs choose whether to include demo content
OUYA will soon let developers choose whether or not to include free content. Since the platform's launch, customers have been able to try out any game before making a purchase, but some devs have been pushing back, requesting that OUYA allow them to make that call on their own. While free content certainly has its advantages, game makers have outlined several reasons why a free-to-try model may not be practical. Creating demo content costs money, of course, and in some cases, it's difficult to fit a selection of free gameplay within an existing storyline. It's not entirely clear when the policy change will take effect, so if you've been taking advantage of OUYA demo content, enjoy it while it lasts.
Ouya Everywhere starts with Mad Catz's MOJO microconsole in spring
Ouya Everywhere aims to put Ouya games on other company's consoles, and it's kicking off that process this spring on MOJO, the Android microconsole from Mad Catz. MOJO launched in December, and one of its highlights is the eventual ability to stream PC games. Along with the Ouya news, MOJO is getting a price drop, from $250 to $200 in the US. Ouya currently has 680 games and 33,000 developers on board, and all of that – plus any coming content – will hit MOJO in the spring. Ouya founder Julie Uhrman announced Ouya Everywhere this week, adding that the company is thinking about building a Steam-esque PC application as well. "Up until now, the game console experience has been locked inside a box," Uhrman says in today's press release. "Together with the hardware veterans at Mad Catz, we end that. Today's announcement signifies the inception of a truly open platform where independent developers can bring their creations to the platforms where gamers actually play: everywhere." Or, for now: on another Android microconsole. [Image: Mad Catz]