Jul 10, 2012

An All-Star Plan to Build a New $99 Hackable Video Game Console Requires $950,000 Of Your Money [UPDATE]

Kotaku

Julie Uhrman isn't asking the world for a million bucks. No, she's asking for just under it to produce a new $99 Android-based video game console called Ouya ("ooh-yuh") that will challenge the way Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo have been bringing games to you on your television for years.

"We don't think the console-makers are dead," Uhrman said in an interview with Kotaku. "We just think it's time to rethink how they do their business. We don't like it when people pay $60 for a game and feel cheated. We don't like it when developers can't work on a platform because it's too expensive."

Enter: Ouya, a fully hackable console with the same Tegra 3 chip as the new Nexus 7 tablet and a twin-stick controller that also includes a touchpad. Enter a system that is being pitched as a platform for both indies and big companies, a console that is fully open to develop for and on which every game will be free either initially as a demo or as a free-to-play game.

But Ouya will only be made with crowd-funding, so today Uhrman and her team, which includes early Xbox pioneer Ed Fries and One Laptop Per Child designer Yves Behar, are launching a grand appeal on the crowd-funding service Kickstarter. They're asking for $950,000 over the next 29 days. If they hit their goal, they're promising their new console by March 2013.

The Next Xbox?

It's been 11 years since the last successful insurgency into the home console war. In 2001, Microsoft barged into a scene contested by Sony, Nintendo and Sega. Very slowly, the Xbox found its place. On either side of the timeline, we've had the likes of 3DO, the Phantom, Project Nuon and other console contenders that couldn't last or, as has been more common, couldn't even get started.

Uhrman, naturally, says the time is right for Ouya. The longtime gamer and former boss of IGN's downloadable games division senses a "brain drain" among console game developers. She sees top game creators bailing on the expensive business of making games that will run on Xboxes, PlayStations and Wiis and seeking better profits and more creative freedom by making games for cellphones and tablets. There's just one problem, she says: those new games they're making don't run on TVs, not with a controller. Ouya is built to address that.

An All-Star Plan to Build a New $99 Hackable Video Game Console Requires $950,000 Of Your Money [UPDATE]

The Ouya box is small and designed to either be a conversation piece or to be easily tucked away, whichever the player chooses. It and the controller were designed by Yves Behar, designer of the One Laptop Per Child computer. "Just because it's inexpensive it doesn't mean it's cheap," Uhrman said of the console. "We have designed this to be beautiful."

Ouya would work like any other Android platform. Development would be open. "Every console is a debug kit," Uhrman likes to say, drawing one of many distinctions between her machine and the closed Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo systems. The established players in home gaming only let licensed developers make games for their machines and only grant those creators the debug kits that are essential to creating games. The big three console makers must approve all game development and serve as gatekeepers for nearly every game made on their machine (the sole exception is the community-approved Indie gaming channel on the Xbox 360).

Uhrman believes that the current closed system of home console gaming stifles creativity and is out of step with the popularity—Apple's walled garden of iPhones and iPads not withstanding—of open platforms. "I just think closed is the wrong way of doing things," she said. "I see unbelievable indie content out there, and watching ‘Indie Game the Movie' and watching their faces as they wait for Microsoft to approve [their game], it just didn't make any sense."

This new console will be so open, that its backers are expecting and asking for it to be hacked.

"We decided, ‘let's take this as far as it can go," Uhrman said. "So if you want to go in and hack the box, go ahead and do it. We hope you do it."

In a follow-up e-mail, she was more specific about just how far under the hood the Ouya crew would let a hacker go: "The circuit board will have well-documented test points. People can swap out chips, add, etc. We may even publish the hardware design if enough people are curious. Because Ouya will also have Bluetooth and a USB, hardware hobbyists can also make their own peripherals (someone already suggested pinball controls to us). Regarding the software, you'll be able to root the device easily. It won't void your warranty. Every unit has a debug console. We are even working on the idea of a "plant"—which will restore your profile after rooting your device (reverse your root). Because it's built on Android, you'll understand the source code well, too. (Obviously if a hacker roots the device, our integrated user experience and game store will no longer be available while the device is rooted — so there is, as always, a tradeoff between customizing your device and enjoying the benefits of standardization. We expect the true hackers to be an elite, but small proportion of the total number of people who buy the box. Most people will probably just use the standard setup.)"

This kind of openness is anathema to an outfit like Nintendo, that frowns on people even tinkering with their Wii to play a game that's not coded to run on consoles sold in a specific part of the world. It is also a hazard that could fracture Ouya the way so much of the Android experience already is fractured, leaving gamers and game-makers uncertain about which games, which hacked controllers and even which hacked consoles can run what. The same is true, of course, for PC gaming, which has been flourishing on its open platform for decades.

If this is sounding so open that it doesn't sound like a console anymore, Uhrman said we can still think of it as one thanks to the controller. It ties it together. It makes this thing a TV-gaming machine in a way that other Android devices, even if they can connect to your TV, are not. "Ouya is a video game console first," she said. "To be emotionally immersed playing games, you need a fast and accurate way to control the game — and, for most games, only a controller with precise sticks and responsive buttons can do that."

Ouya Specs

Console

Tegra 3: Quadcore ARM CortexA9 + GPU

1 GB LPDDR2 RAM

8 GB on-board flash

HDMI connection to the TV at 1080p HD

WiFi 802.11bgn

Bluetooth LE 4.0

Enclosure opens with standard screws

No disc drive

Controller

Wireless controller with 2.4Ghz RF

Standard game controls (two analog sticks, d-pad, eight action buttons, a system button)

Touchpad, for porting mobile games more easily

2x AA batteries

Enclosure opens with standard screws  

OS and Software

Android 4.0

Custom TV UI

Integrated custom game store — find and download games (and other apps)

Includes SDK for game development

Ability to root device without voiding warranty

The Games Of Ouya, In Theory

Ouya currently has no Super Mario Bros.. It doesn't have a Halo, either. What it's got is a litany of testimonials from indie developers who say that Ouya is a great idea. They say they'd probably or maybe make or port a game to it.

There are some smoke and mirrors here. The Kickstarter video shows Minecraft on Ouya's system dashboard, which might be possible without further development given that Minecraft is available on Android. But Carl Manneh, who helps run Minecraft development studio Mojang told Kotaku that he and his colleagues "haven't seen it nor committed to anything." He added: "but we do like the idea!" Loving the idea and wanting it to succeed seems to be the status for a raft of top indies, including Canabalt creator Adam Saltsman and Wasteland creator Brian Fargo.

The Ouya team assumes that they'll simply be awash in, at worst, top Android games. Uhrman doesn't want to settle for that. She wants to use part of the funding for the new console to fund the development of games.

On Kickstarter, the Ouya hype reel shows mega-pubisher EA's Madden football game on the system's dashboard. Again, not quite. The Ouya crew has mostly reached out to all-star indie developers. Asked what kind of traction they've gotten with the likes of EA, Activision and Ubisoft, Urhman said, "We've talked to a lot of the AAA publishers. As you can imagine their questions about a new platform are similar to what anybody's are: ‘So you have an audience?' ‘Do you have great graphics?' and ‘Why would somebody want another box?'"

The audience part might be proven out in the crowd-funding, if enough people pitch in to reach the $950,000 goal.

The graphics?

The Ouya people point to tech demos of Tegra 3, like the one here. (We recently reviewed a game called Puddle which is a showcase for the Tegra 3's power.)

"I think the openneess and variety of games for Ouya will trump what something else can do technologically," developer Fargo told Kotaku. "They have a good price, a familiar OS. You don't have to make games just for this."

But there's that last question… "Why would somebody want another box?" If they already have an Xbox 360 or a PlayStation 3 or are buying a Wii U this fall. For one thing, Uhrman said, her console will only cost them $99 more. "I think this is for everyone. There's no reason they wouldn't get this too. I think there are going to be great games on mobile and Androud that they wouldn't be able to get on consoles." Through Ouya, they'd be able to play them on their TV, with a twin-stick controller.

"I think it will start as an indie/casual platform," industry analyst Michael Pachter told Kotaku. He's been briefed on the device. "I don't see them attracting publisher support until there is an installed base. It's chicken and egg. I think it is powerful enough for $99, and will accommodate most XBLA type games."

This Is Where You Come In

Up until now, the Ouya project has been funded by angel investors. Venture capitalists, Uhrman said, "are still scared away from hardware."

That's why they're asking regular people for nearly a million bucks. That's why they're basically saying that even though Bill Gates' fortune made the last successful insurgent console, the common gamer or ambitious game developer is needed to make the next one possible. Donate $90 and you're insured a console, but only if the thing gets funded and made.

"We believe this is really the people's console and we want to get their support," Uhrman said. "More importantly, we need the money. If the world does not support this we will not exist."

If you're interested, their Kickstarter is here.

UPDATE: $950k target achieved in just eight hours. Amazing.

Jul 10, 2012

Finally! True Cross-Platform Gaming with Crazy Fairy Tale Characters

Kotaku

Crazy Fairies: One World is the newest game by American McGee's Spicy Horse studio. Inspired by fairy tales from across the world, Crazy Fairies is a multiplayer social game that can be simultaneously played across web browsers as well as iOS, and Android devices in real time.

The game itself plays like Worms or Scorched Earth, with players using a variety of weapons (and an understanding of launch trajectories and gravity) to kill the other players on a 2D plane. Spicy Horse's twist on the formula is the inclusion of occasional 3D levels that wrap around a central point (think Super Stardust HD). While interesting, these levels make it infinitely harder to judge the necessary aim and power of your attacks.

Crazy Fairies is free-to-play, but like most free-to-play titles, it has a micro-transaction system set up. Any of the game's weapons, items, or skills can be purchased in addition to a large amount of cosmetic items.

In its current iteration (I played the closed beta), the biggest problem with Crazy Fairies is how unbalanced the weapons are. While all the weapons are the same price, Thor's Hammer (which causes chain lightning) and Artemis' Bow (which fires multiple arrows at once) are by far the most deadly weapons in the game. All other weapons are practically useless by comparison.

Another problem is that the co-op levels of the game—where you take a team of humans against computer-controlled enemies—can only be attempted once per day. If you fail, your only options are to wait 24 hours or pay real world money to reset the cooldown. This is more than a little annoying to a person like me who enjoys co-op far more than versus play.

However, despite the problems, I had a good enough time with Crazy Fairies. The ability to play it on both portable devices and computers is a great selling point and as the game is still in beta, there is plenty of time before the final release to balance the gameplay and make the needed tweaks to the micro-transaction system.

To see how Crazy Fairies looks in action, check out the video above.

Crazy Fairies will be released on PC, iOS, and Android systems later this year. The closed beta will begin sometime in the next week (and you can sign up for it at www.crazyfairies.com).

Jul 10, 2012

Pokémon Black and White 2 Is Neither Black, Nor White. It's Gray.

Kotaku

PokÃ©mon Black and White 2 Is Neither Black, Nor White. It's Gray.

There have been a lot of games in the Pokémon series but none has been a direct sequel to any other. Rather, they have each focused on a different region in the world with a unique adventure largely unrelated to any other one. However, this all changes with the first direct sequels in the series, Pokémon White Version 2 and Pokémon Black Version 2. However, do Black 2 and White 2 bring enough new to the table to merit being their own games or are they nothing more than a quick cash-in before the DS is whisked away to the cornfield forever?

Good — Return to Familiar World

Black 2 and White 2 take place in the same region as the original Black and White. Most of the areas visited in Black and White return as do many of the gym leaders, trainers, and villains. However, the most enjoyable part of Black 2 and White 2 is seeing how the people and places have changed over the two years since Black and White—and let me tell you, there PokÃ©mon Black and White 2 Is Neither Black, Nor White. It's Gray. have been some major changes. The region is now populated by 300 Pokémon, a cross section of those from all previous games, and many locations have been extensively redesigned. Moreover, with N, the leader of Team Plasma, gone, a new Team Plasma has risen up with a new goal: world domination. So, taking the role of a young teenager, you head out (once again) to become the next Pokémon champion—and maybe save the world, if there's time.

Good — Hey, That's New!

Just because Black 2 and White 2 are set in a location we've already visited doesn't mean there isn't any new content. Rather, there is an entire new section of the region with two new gyms, a ranch, a port city, and perhaps most importantly, Pokéstar Studios. PokÃ©mon Black and White 2 Is Neither Black, Nor White. It's Gray. Pokéstar Studios is a minigame where, through battling and dialogue choices, you can become a movie star in the Pokémon world.

However, the addition that will no doubt interest long-time players the most is the Pokémon World Tournament. The Pokémon World Tournament allows you to battle against all gym leaders from all previous Pokémon titles (sans Koga)—and even a few of the past champions as well.

Mixed — It's Pokémon

To some people, Pokémon is a series with deep mechanics and a fanatical online community. To others, it's just that JRPG that little kids like. Whichever way you look at the series though, Black 2 and White 2 are just more of the same. The improvements and other small tweaks to the game will interest longtime players, but there is really nothing here to draw new players in. If you are a Pokémon fan, you will no doubt enjoy this game; but if you are a non-fan, you will find nothing to change your mind.

Final Thoughts

Are Black 2 and White 2 a mere cash-in? No. There's more new here than in the Pokémon remake titles, but that doesn't mean these are the best of the series either. All in all, Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 really are just average Pokémon titles. Fans will no doubt enjoy a new Poké-tastic adventure, but if you're looking for a game-changing entry in the series, you won't find it here.

Pokémon White Version 2 and Pokémon Black Version 2 were released on June 23, 2012, in Japan and will be released in North America on October 7, 2012 (October 12 for PAL).

Jul 9, 2012

Why I Feel No Need to Catch 'em All

Kotaku

Way back in 1999, a friend of mine gave me an ancient gray brick of a Game Boy and a very used copy of Pokémon Red while we were on a middle school field trip. An eighth grader, I already knew myself to be "too old" for Pokémon. After all, I was already into games like Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger; besides, everyone knew Pokémon was for little kids. Of course, on a six-hour car trip, when someone offers you a Game Boy, you take it—no questions asked. I was completely unprepared for how utterly and completely addictive the game would be. By the end of the car ride, I had a full team of Pokémon led by Bulbasaur and two gym badges under my belt. And my friend, knowing exactly what he had led me into, gave me both the game and Game Boy to borrow indefinitely. (I still have both to this day.)

Over the next few weeks, I did indeed "catch 'em all"—well, all those that could be caught in Red anyway. I even caught myself a Mew through a now well-known glitch. After leaving the game all but mastered, I returned to it the following year when Pokémon Stadium hit the N64. It was during this time I also picked up Pokémon Snap and started watching the anime on TV (though I stopped once Ash became the Pokémon champion). But by the time Gold and Silver came out late that year, I was pretty much Why I Feel No Need to Catch 'em All Pokémon-ed out—and the addition of an entire new set of Pokémon past the original 150 was more intimidating than exciting. When Pokémon Stadium 2 came out, I was saddened and more than a little annoyed to find my team from Red unable to stand up to the new types of Pokémon. I was pretty much done with the series.

Over the next decade, a lot happened. I graduated high school and college and then moved to Japan. Sometime during all this, I remember briefly trying the remakes of Silver and Red, but neither was able to hold my interest past the first sitting—they were still the same old story but with reams of Pokémon I didn't know.

The next time I picked up the series was for work rather than pleasure—and I wasn't very optimistic. Yet, to my surprise, White was the perfect game to bring me back into the fold. It had a new world, an interesting plot, and—if you see the game the way I do—a villain protagonist. Moreover, with nothing but new and unique Pokémon, I felt I was on an even footing with everyone else—no one knew which the best Pokémon was or what the best teams were. I beat it, but didn't attempt to master it. I largely avoided the online features as well; versus fighting still doesn't interest me.

When Pokémon Conquest hit Japanese stores earlier this year, I had a good time with it, despite not being the biggest fan of turn-based strategy games. So heading into Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, I was still feeling pretty excited. But sadly, the feeling was fleeting. White 2 leaves behind the interesting story and social commentary of the original Black and White and returns to the tried and true formula of the other Pokémon titles—the formula I tired of back in 2000. And as the feature with the most staying power, the online battling, failed to interest me once again, it looks like I won't be playing another Pokémon title for pleasure anytime soon.

Really when it comes down to it, Pokémon hasn't changed very much in the years since I first played Red. But I have. Everything that made me like the series is still there—it's just that now I look for other things in the games I play. But as the original Black and White showed me, every once in a while, the series is capable of drawing me back in. So while I may never have the need to "catch 'em all" again, I'm sure that Black 2 and White 2 are far from the last Pokémon games that I will ever play.

Pokémon White Version 2 and Pokémon Black Version 2 were released on June 23, 2012, in Japan and will be released in North America on October 7, 2012 (October 12 for PAL).