Ouya: How Did The Android Console Fare On Launch?

How did the Ouya do on launch?

Ouya was the not so well hyped Android based console funded by Kickstarter and costing only $100, so what could go wrong? A lot, apparently.

Now the Ouya should not be confused with Google’s new announcement of an Android powered game console being made to compete with Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The Nexus Q is actually being made with backing by the big dogs, unlike the Ouya, and industry experts say we should take it seriously. The Nexus Q is being funded by Google, not Kickstarter.

With that confusing tidbit aside, the “for gamers by gamers” Ouya has not impressed much of anybody. For a matter of perspective, it could be the console stuck under the Christmas tree and given by poor but well-meaning relatives. The console just seems to scream “budget” all the way. It may be too early to fairly judge, but for the moment, Ouya just fails to impress.

Just an example of how much an outsider this console is, Ouya didn’t have an E3 booth. The console was being promoted down the street from E3 while the expo was happening.

The Ouya does not have the power to compete with recent consoles, being basically a step back even from that phone you may be reading this review with. The console itself looks great, as a sleek and attractive device that weighs just over half a pound and may just fit in that little cubby hole next to its big brothers.

As far as connecting the little console that could, the Ouya has an HDMI output, micro and standard USB ports, a power port, and an Ethernet port if you don’t have a WiFi signal handy. That’s a lot of ports for such a small box, but it’s an indication that the creators of Ouya mean business.

The controller itself takes after that of the Xbox 360 with its button placements, but combines it with the touchscreen capabilities of the PlayStation 4, using a pad in the middle. The battery compartments, apparently leaving the wired controllers a thing of the past, are inside the plastic grips and held together with magnets. It’s just too bad the controller costs half as much as the console itself.

In general, the Android powered Ouya may be too new to be judged just yet, but don’t expect it to compete with any of the consoles you currently own, unless you haven’t upgraded from the SNES, Genesis, or early Neo*Geo.

What do you think of the Ouya?