Cause the Ouya obviously failed pretty hard, but what about the other ones they were releasing? Like the one Madcatz (or someone) were working on, the Game Stick or that weird controller like system a company I forgot the name of was working on?
Personally, I'm skeptical they'll ever succeed. I think the only reason a lot of smartphone games/app sell is because they're cheap games for a device lots of people already own for other purposes. No one really wants to buy these games as games for a stand alone games console, the kind of thing these microconsoles are trying desperately to be.
There's room for 'disruption' in the gaming market. But it's gonna come from a system which plays games designed for a real home console/hadheld gaming experience, not one which merely repackages titles from the Google Play Store.
I don't think they ever will, because like you said, they're made to be played on something that most people already have and that's the reason for their success.
I would have to agree. The only indie games I ever purchase are those that are full game length, and tend to have really bad mobile ports. I just prefer actual console games and PC games to the silly things most people play on their phones. I lose interest in them incredibly fast and can't ever see myself buying a console fully dedicated to that sort. It just seems like most people who would be inclined to buy a dedicated gaming device aren't going to get one for small little phone games.
I don't think they'll ever achieve great sales but there might be a niche for those who like to mod and tinker with Android. From what I've heard they also work great as all-in-one emulators.
Really, I feel like everyone is overreacting to mobile gaming. I've seen claims from people that mobile gaming will outdo and even destroy regular console gaming, but I don't feel like that's true. I think analysts aren't taking into account that everyone has a cell phone or tablet nowadays. When you've already got it, why not pick up a game for it, especially when so many are completely free to download and then dump whenever you feel like it. Heck, even my mom who's never played games at all before will poke around on them occasionally. I think the large number of people like my mom are really skewing the numbers. I find it hard to believe that mobile gaming is going to scrap the itch for in depth games and community that consoles, handhelds, and PCs do.
I don't think they'll ever achieve great sales but there might be a niche for those who like to mod and tinker with Android. From what I've heard they also work great as all-in-one emulators.
This I can definitely see, a niche product. Running one as an emulation machine would be fantastic too.
