As you may have read, the first wave of the android-powered Ouya consoles was sent to kickstarter backers – and some of those backers have included press, from the likes of Engadget and Polygon. Neither publication was particularly impressed by the Ouya, citing numerous problems with both the hardware and, more crucially, the software. Ouya’s responded to those negative reviews – and their statement should anger just about everyone who paid money for the Ouya to become a reality.
“The version of OUYA shipping now should be considered a beta release, and anyone hoping for anything more is in for some disappointment,” Engadget says. “It’s simply not ready for retail. The system is rough around the edges in many ways, quite literally when regarding the controller, but the interface and menus also could use work.”
Polygon was equally scathing in its appraisal of the console, saying that:
“Even if the concept is right, the Ouya misses the mark. The controller needs work, the interface is a mess, and have I mentioned there’s really nothing to do with the thing? I’m not even sure the concept is right, either: there are plenty of fun Android games, but currently few that work well with a controller and even fewer that look good on your television.”
To its credit, Ouya has always said that its Android-powered machine would be an evolving platform, but their statement regarding the early negative reviews angers me.
“We will be making Ouya review units available in early to mid-May so that you are able to review the more complete consumer experience and prepare your coverage in time for the June 4th retail launch,” Ouya said in a statement to Gi.Biz
“To clarify for you – Ouya has sent no review units out to press. Any reviews you have seen online are a result from individuals who received early backer units from supporting our Kickstarter.”
Now what angers me about that, is the thousands of people who kickstarted this thing; who actually made it possible for the Ouya to exist, end up saddled with beta, prototype versions of the console. “The ones we sent to backers are rubbish! We’ll make sure reviewers get proper units!”
Last Updated: April 9, 2013
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 9, 2013 at 14:37
Ouya?
OuNO is more like it
TechniKyle
April 9, 2013 at 14:51
OuNee
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 9, 2013 at 14:52
OuCrap?
TechniKyle
April 9, 2013 at 15:37
OuSnap!
TechniKyle
April 9, 2013 at 15:37
OuSnap!
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 9, 2013 at 15:38
OuLawl
Trevor Davies
April 9, 2013 at 15:58
OuRLY?
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 9, 2013 at 16:01
OuRRY
EDIT: pic did not post 🙁
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 9, 2013 at 16:02
OuRRY?
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 9, 2013 at 15:38
OuLawl
Styx ZA
April 9, 2013 at 14:38
That is all kinds of messed up.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
April 9, 2013 at 14:38
And all it takes for the Kickstarter bubble to pop is one rotten lemon…
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 9, 2013 at 14:42
No rotten banaaaana?
Carl Angus
April 9, 2013 at 14:54
I too found the “Rotten Lemon” reference confusing, shouldn’t it have been rotten apple?
So what you got against apples, huh? Frikken citrus hater!
I don’t trust penis-shaped fruit anyways.
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 9, 2013 at 14:56
Ok then dude, o…k
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
April 9, 2013 at 15:00
How dare you, my banana is not rotten!
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 9, 2013 at 15:09
Ok, not rotten, not big. You have confirmed these two facts for me today.
I have made the notes, and have learned these two facts. Documented and proven.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
April 9, 2013 at 15:12
WAIT WHAT?????
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 9, 2013 at 15:15
Both info sources came from you, today. You no remember?
FoxOneZA
April 9, 2013 at 15:35
You have an Erwin stalking your banana-nana!
matthurstrsa
April 9, 2013 at 14:49
Ridiculous. I used to be an early adopter but I’ve been burnt too many times and wasted too much money.
Trevor Davies
April 9, 2013 at 14:53
This sounds like a familiar attitude. OuEAya anyone?
Slade Boender
April 9, 2013 at 15:07
ha I lol’d
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 9, 2013 at 14:55
This is why putting money in to any kickstarter is generally a bad idea and risky.
Worst is there are people on kickstarter who would never dream of being this corrupt and who would actually deliver but now thanks to this kind of treatment they will never get kickstarted because people will be too afraid of another “Ouya” situation. *sigh*
Brian Lockett
April 10, 2013 at 20:00
No, not really. People are free to evaluate the risk of each Kickstarter they see. Many people supported OUYA, but many more didn’t. There are people who still support the Kickstarters of interest to them, and frankly, there are still many Kickstarters that aren’t nearly as much as a complete blind risk as investing into the OUYA was.
Not all Kickstarters do what OUYA’s Kickstarter did. OUYA didn’t even have as much as a working design concept for the thing–there are Kickstarters going where people are mostly done with their products but just need an extra push. Though, personally, I say that we’ll just still how this thing settles out and see what they ultimately do with OUYA before calling it an “OUYA situation.” Things are still rather early here.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 11, 2013 at 06:59
I hear what you are saying. The idea behind it is sound and naturally doesn’t come without risks. BUT.
What I meant was that a few really bad publicity things like this specific incident could destroy people’s faith in these things. A few bad ones here and there will mean nothing to people. But when it comes to really big things, such as this that got everyone very excited, it kind of puts a person ill at ease.
That’s all I meant. Just saying that the big, hard hitters (such as OUYA) need to be very careful how they approach these things. Sending out very beta units to your backers is great IF you tell them they will get the final product as well when it’s done.
This however gives the impression that their backers get these basic beta products and will have to buy the final product at the same price as everyone else in the world when it is released.
That’s all. It’s a PR thing. Be clear about things.
I for one wouldbe pissed if I backed something and didn’t see any worthwhile returns on it (a copy of the game or unit or whatever when it comes out).
Aidan Ovidiu
April 9, 2013 at 14:59
Wrote about it a few months ago in the publication I work for, in Romania. I was excited back then, but now I’m pissed.
Sentient_Slug
April 9, 2013 at 15:16
well guys this is what you asked for REMEMBER? you all want open “free to play” indie consoles and games! well you got it! il just continue playing my corporate made call of duty (which is an excellent game) on my corporate built PS3 (which is a brilliant console).
umar bastra
April 9, 2013 at 15:21
Nothing wrong with open games nor is this what people asked for. sure this is really messed up but the idea is still solid and ouya could come back. Android games are really awesome and to play those games on a lil console on your tv would be awesome
Brian Lockett
April 10, 2013 at 20:13
Dude, sorry, but this amounts to elitist babbling nonsense. You’ve addressed nothing actually concerning the nature of open console gaming. Nor would even a complete failure of OUYA make a point about such a development model of open console gaming itself. If you’ll notice, the issue here lies with the prototypes versions of these consoles–it had nothing to do with the philosophy of open console gaming itself.
It’s an issue of poor management. Even Sony’s had their share of that…$599 US dollars…hacked PlayStation accounts…announcing a price cut for Vita later in 2013 right before the 2012 holidays. Doesn’t mean that corporation-built console gaming doesn’t work–it just means people screw up, good business model or not. Let there be a well-proven issue with open console gaming itself as a model–one not based on a single instance of bad hardware production–and then one can better denounce it as a business model.
You’ve only used this article’s topic as opportunity to promote your elitist view of console gaming. But worse than that, in all your bragging about console gaming, you’re only just setting yourself up for some equally-elitist PC gaming to replace your argument, perpetuating arguments that lead to no greater avail in reasoning but seem to merit people’s support nonetheless.
brad coetzee
April 9, 2013 at 15:32
Kickstarter is e-begging, internet equivalent of standing at the robots asking for money. Worst of all Kickstarters are started by people who can mostly fund their own projects. One of the Ouyas main players is an award winning designer – probably a millionaire. Its a good idea I suppose but i forsee ads popping up in games just like in youtube vids.
HeatPhoenix
May 10, 2013 at 17:55
Most free Android games already have that and I don’t know if there’s a restriction for that in Ouya.
Ricardo Harvey
April 9, 2013 at 15:34
Its weird that they have a lack of games when theres enough power to run all 8bit, 16bit, and even 32bit console games, blasts from the past. And I personally would pay for these. So simple…why they not getting publishers on board.
Voter
April 9, 2013 at 15:49
I never understood the hype around this ‘console’. Why would I want to play cellphone games on a 1080p monitor with controllers? Anyway, kickstarter always involves risk and which is why I won’t support South Africa’s Muti game currently on it as well: it won’t succeed as a commercial product.
Woody
April 9, 2013 at 23:55
“Why would I want to play cellphone games…”
You’ve missed the point; Ideally, these would be new games. The fact that it has cellphonelike hardware is completely beside the point. Some cellphone games would translate (Shadowgun, etc), but in a perfect world, there would be a new game community growing around this thing
Corrie Botha
April 9, 2013 at 16:52
Wouldn’t using a MHL cable with a PS3 controller have a better effect, at least the Play store with all your purchased games are playable
cbstryker
April 9, 2013 at 17:50
I find it amazing that people jump to conclusions. You realize that the consoles that were sent out can receive software updates, right? It’s not like the hardware itself isn’t finalized seeing as how the Tegra 3 SoC has been in full production for about a year now. What are they going to do, put a faster, newer chip in the final product?
The concerns here for everyone are centred around the software, and that can and will be updated. Besides, can you really complain for $99? At the very least it’s worth it as an XBMC device.
DrewNusser
April 9, 2013 at 21:51
The software issue will be fixable through an OTA update – no biggie there. As far as the controller goes, hopefully they’ll provide a newer revised one for free or something, because it wouldn’t be cool to screw over the backers like that.
Daryl Eksteen
April 10, 2013 at 11:15
Give it time.