Android games console jumps to Jelly Bean for penultimate test phase
Development pace steps up as Ouya games box nears releases
Android-based games console Ouya has entered the Engineering Verification Testing phase, which essentially means the team is evaluating how the box runs ahead of the planned shipment of developer kits this coming December.
The hotly-anticipated games console - which made a big splash in the gaming world after a high-profile funding campaign on Kickstarter - is also set to roll out with the latest version of Android, the company confirmed.
While that currently means 4.1 Jelly Bean, there is the possibility of Android 4.2 in the pipeline, should Google's next OS be posted prior to the console's release. There is the ability to update after release too, of course.
While the console will hit shelves with fairly brawny specs - including an Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor, 1GB of Ram and 8GB of internal Flash storage - with mobile tech being developed at such a rapid pace, Ouya could soon find itself playing catchup.
During her keynote at London's Droidcon 2012 show last week, head honcho Julie Uhrman admitted that the current console model may need hardware refreshes every year or so rather than then five-years-plus lifespan of the Xbox and PlayStation.
Still, it's difficult to criticise the value of a console that only costs $99 (£64), particularly when it comes packed with so many free games and opens up the platform of a home gaming hub to indie developers like never before.
The Ouya console should be available for gamers in early 2013. Advance orders can be placed through the Ouya website. ®
COMMENTS
4.2 would be well suited to it
The addition of multiple user accounts added in 4.2 would be a good feature for a console. I'll be interested to see how this pans out....
I thought that was "Games must have a free to play version." Which to my knowledge meant you can sell your game on OUYA if you have a free demo available. I think they're aiming for plenty of content with minimal outlay ASAP to better the OUYA's chances of taking off, not gearing developers toward the freemium model. At least I hope not.
Having written a game that works both on PC and Android
I can confirm that Android is indeed capable of this. Choice of input controls should ideally be designed in from the start, but that doesn't prevent later ports. Just look at all the console games that have been ported to the PC. Games like Plants vs Zombies would be equally at home with controller, touch screen or keyboard and mouse input. Others not so much, but I think this device addresses a very real desire, and will do well.
I definitely hope not. It looks like a nice piece of kit, and it'd be a shame to cripple it like that.
Mind you, I don't buy most PC games due to them being crippled with DRM either. You want my money? Make sure I own what I buy. I don't do rental-disguised-as-purchase, thanks.
