[malkia]

On one side I want it to succeed (the liberal hobbyist in me), on the other side I see some problems (the conservative console game developer in me)

I don't see how AAA title would be delivered to this device. And without AAA titles, the device can't be primarily about games.

What used to fit in CD-ROM in PSX days, then on DVD in PS2/Xbox, now it needs bigger and more storage. With the recent download limits from internet companies that would become even harder. It's one thing to stream 2-3hr movie - it's completely another to have the assets on time, even to places where bandwidth is not that great.

TRC - Technical Requirements Certification process - This is the GATE to the quality. It's way more hard and complete process than Apple's or Android (if there is any).

Security - Hardest part to get. You can't succeed here, it's a goalie position. But if you can hold long enough, you'll be good. Yes, piracy is what makes video games unsellable in China (so far micro-payment seems to work there).

Original Titles - Without them, or much improved Ports of something else - there is no direct incentive to buy it.

Second nature - The device does not serve as something else to be used mainly instead of games. When I bought my PS2, there were not many PS2 games, but it was (and still is) pretty good and cheap DVD player.

[comex]

> What used to fit in CD-ROM in PSX days, then on DVD in PS2/Xbox, now it needs bigger and more storage. With the recent download limits from internet companies that would become even harder.

Depends on your Internet connection. As a Steam user, I'm used to downloading games and love the benefits (no worries about losing the disc); though I think the largest game I've downloaded is Portal 2 at ~11GB, even 50 GB will download overnight on my home connection, with a good server. But in general, I don't think OUYA is expected to be about AAA titles...

> Second nature - The device does not serve as something else to be used mainly instead of games. When I bought my PS2, there were not many PS2 games, but it was (and still is) pretty good and cheap DVD player.

Sure it does - classic game emulator, media player / streaming target. Other consoles have to be hacked to run XBMC.

[Zuph]

Why is a device without AAA games necessarily a device that isn't primarily about games?

I'm genuinely curious about this. From my perspective, the Ouya seems to perfectly match my gaming habits (I have not played a "AAA" title in many years), so I have to wonder what about the economics of the situation make the Ouya fundamentally untenable.

[malkia]

Because it would not catch mainstream people. No "cool" kid in the school would play unpopular games. And most popular games are AAA, yes there are quite a few indie gems - minecraft, angry birds, plants & zombies - but only few of them can keep them attached for many sequels.

Where Mario, Donkey Kong, Final Fantasy, Grand Theft Auto, Gran Turismo, and many others are games where kids expect them and know about them. These are AAA titles. This is what sells a console.

[learc83]

I don't really think it's going to compete with the big three in terms of total sales.

If it succeeds it's probably going to be as an addition to the current consoles. If it costs $99, bucks why not buy one?

[mtgx]

AAA titles? This device is about "disruption". By default that means it won't get the very best games out there, but that's irrelevant. Did iOS have AAA title games in the first few years? Can you even say it does now? And does it matter that it doesn't? Because I don't see it.

[simias]

I kinda agree with your point, however I don't think you picked a good example. The iPhone and iFriends were not sold as gaming devices (at least in the beginning, and even now it's not their main function).

The other "open source" consoles I know of were handheld (gp2x, pandora, etc...). It was a niche market, mostly for emulation with some homebrews. None of them really "disrupted" anything.

Of course, the ouya's main gambit is the android market, we'll see if it'll give them enough momentum to make it.