After taking the time to put the OUYA through its paces, three indie devs have provided Engadget with their take on the strengths and weaknesses of the open Android console. Strangely, they seem to boil down to one and the same issue – openness and how it will affect both the development process by lifting certification restrictions and the quality of the marketplace through lack of curation.
“I’m happy to release the game there, but it’s a nice break to have fewer restrictions,” Mommy’s Best Games’s Nathan Fouts explains. Vlambeer and its very own Rami Ismail however thinks that “there are still a few unknowns that will ultimately decide how Ouya pans out. Much will depend on curation. Too strict risks alienating creative developers and too loose and you end up with a minefield of terrible apps similar to the Android Play Store.” And Tiny Tim Games is just happy it can develop for Android while sidestepping the issue of fragmentation.
Openness: A Double-Edged Sword
The concept of openness in the OUYA console is both its greatest strength and its most significant weakness. On one hand, the lack of stringent certification restrictions allows developers to innovate freely without the bureaucratic red tape that often stifles creativity. This freedom can lead to a surge in unique and experimental games that might not find a home on more tightly controlled platforms like PlayStation or Xbox.
For instance, Nathan Fouts from Mommy’s Best Games appreciates the fewer restrictions, which can be a breath of fresh air for developers used to navigating the complex approval processes of other platforms. This openness can foster a more diverse gaming ecosystem, encouraging indie developers to take risks and push the boundaries of what games can be.
However, this same openness can lead to a lack of quality control. Without proper curation, the marketplace could become flooded with low-quality or even malicious apps, similar to the issues faced by the Android Play Store. Rami Ismail from Vlambeer highlights this concern, noting that the balance between too much and too little curation will be crucial for OUYA’s success. If the platform becomes overrun with subpar games, it could deter both developers and players, ultimately harming the console’s reputation.
Fragmentation and Development
Another significant advantage of the OUYA console is its ability to sidestep the issue of fragmentation that plagues the broader Android ecosystem. Fragmentation refers to the wide variety of devices and operating system versions that developers must account for when creating Android apps. This can make development more complex and time-consuming, as games need to be tested and optimized for numerous configurations.
Tiny Tim Games appreciates that developing for OUYA allows them to focus on a single hardware and software configuration, simplifying the development process. This can lead to more stable and polished games, as developers can spend more time refining their creations rather than troubleshooting compatibility issues.
Moreover, the OUYA’s standardized hardware can provide a more consistent gaming experience for players. Unlike the varied performance of games across different Android devices, games on the OUYA console can be optimized to run smoothly on its specific hardware, ensuring a better overall user experience.
Community and Support
The success of the OUYA console will also depend heavily on the community and support it can build around itself. A strong developer community can drive the creation of high-quality games and foster a collaborative environment where developers can share knowledge and resources. This can be particularly beneficial for indie developers who may not have access to the same level of resources as larger studios.
Additionally, robust support from the OUYA team can help address any issues that arise and provide developers with the tools and guidance they need to succeed. This includes everything from technical support to marketing assistance, helping developers bring their games to a wider audience.
The OUYA console’s openness presents both opportunities and challenges. While it allows for greater creative freedom and simplifies development by avoiding fragmentation, it also risks quality control issues without proper curation. The balance between these factors, along with strong community and support, will ultimately determine the console’s success.
Source Engadget
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