OUYA: The $99 Gaming Console Everyone’s Talking About

by Angela Nazworth | July 12, 2012 12:00 pm

March, 2013 could turn out to be an exciting month in the tech world — one that could forever change the gaming industry. It’s the month when startup company Ouya plans to ship the first boxes of its eponymous gaming console, Wired[1] reports.

Here’s why Ouya could be a very big deal.

It will cost $99: Microsoft‘s (NASDAQ:MSFT[2]) 4GB Xbox 360 usually retails new for about $199 at stores like Best Buy (NYSE:BBY[3]), whereas the 4GB Xbox 360 with Kinect starts at about $299. Nintendo‘s Wii (PINK:NTDOY[4]) packages start at about $150 at Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT[5]).
Ouya uses smartphone technology to operate: It’s based on Google‘s (NASDAQ:GOOG[6]) Android. This means users will download Android apps instead of purchasing actual game discs and cartridges that usually cost upwards of $30 a pop.
Game possibilities are seemingly endless: Any Android app developer could publish apps on Ouya. The company is already working with several partners.
Hackers are encouraged: That’s right. Ouya actually wants hackers to create their own peripherals[7] and connect via USB or Bluetooth. The company might even use hardware designs from hackers.

Ouya was founded by Julie Uhrman, who formerly led IGN’s digital distribution business.

Endnotes:

Wired: http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2012/07/ouya/
MSFT: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=MSFT
BBY: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=BBY
NTDOY: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=NTDOY
WMT: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=WMT
GOOG: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=GOOG
create their own peripherals: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ouya/ouya-a-new-kind-of-video-game-console?ref=live

Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2012/07/ouya-the-99-gaming-console-everyones-talking-about/