Ouya CEO 'pissed' at delayed backer shipments as console hits stores

The Android-based Ouya console is hitting stores today, having built a library of 170+ game and entertainment apps as it went out to backers.

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The Android-based Ouya is hitting retail stores today, but the occasion hasn't quite gone off without a hitch. Some of the Kickstarter backers still have not received their early-edition consoles, prompting a message from the company CEO.

"I am pissed," CEO Julie Uhrman wrote on the Kickstarter blog (via Polygon). "Some of you have not yet received your Ouya--and, to you, I apologize. I did not promise to ship to *most* of you before we hit store shelves. I promised to ship to *all* of you. I've been reading your comments, and we are working to solve this."

She wrote that the Ouya shipments were delivered to a partner in May, but some were not delivered as promised. Head of operations Ken Stephens apologized for DHL's tracking system, and said that the "vast majority" of those who have not received their consoles yet are international customers.

According to a press announcement released alongside the launch today, the console boasts more than 170 games and media apps so far. 17,000 game creators have registered, a number that must include quite a few indie devs alongside its bigger names like Sega, Square Enix, and Double Fine. The console costs $99.99, and additional controllers will run you $49.99.

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  • reply
    June 25, 2013 8:15 AM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Ouya CEO 'pissed' at delayed backer shipments as console hits stores.

    The Android-based Ouya console is hitting stores today, having built a library of 170+ game and entertainment apps as it went out to backers.

    • reply
      June 25, 2013 8:29 AM

      Wait, are you telling me the Ouya is having a less than smooth launch?

      Goodness, what does this mean for next gen consoles?

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      June 25, 2013 8:31 AM

      Still predicting this to be the first big kickstarter flop that causes backlash. Don't drag kickstarter or crowd sourced funding down with you, Ouya!

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        June 25, 2013 8:37 AM

        Haven't they already done everything they needed to do by making the thing be real? I mean most of the thoughts of disaster for this thing was that it would be Phantomware. At least there is an actual box you can plug in and have lights come on.

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          June 25, 2013 9:23 AM

          Yeah, as long as they produce a functioning box which puts an image on the TV when you turn it on... they at least did something. The first big Kickstarter disaster will be one of those million dollar deals which just completely falls through and never produces anything.

          The fact of the matter is though... that is part of funding a project. They can't guarantee it's going to be successful. They are basically asking for money to give it a try. Some of these will just fail.

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            June 25, 2013 9:36 AM

            Very true. There have been discussion on chatty and other places about how Kickstarter has become too much of a pre-order shopping channel (perception) instead of the risk of funding an unproven idea site that it really is.

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      June 25, 2013 8:37 AM

      [deleted]

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      June 25, 2013 9:15 AM

      I predict a lot of bad reviews coming soon! I've had mine for 3 weeks, it is underwhelming at best and has no killer apps yet.

      Also the controller is garbage... but hey $99

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        June 25, 2013 9:24 AM

        I don't really think this console is going to be a big hit with "gamers." I think youngsters and parents that want to spend less on games than what the Wii U, 360, and PS3 sell for will be the primary audience.

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          June 25, 2013 9:55 AM

          or people who want to load up 1000 illegal roms

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          June 25, 2013 10:05 AM

          And people who want to use it as a media player. I suspect its a bit more powerful than a Raspberry Pi.

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        June 25, 2013 9:37 AM

        Does the controller lag as bad as the early reviews say?

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        June 25, 2013 10:12 AM

        Is there a single game worth playing on it?

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          June 25, 2013 10:30 AM

          Bard's Tale and FFIV I guess, but those are also available on a lot of other platforms for quite a while now.

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          June 25, 2013 12:47 PM

          I've noticed an increasing number of games that natively support controllers. I noticed this when Sonic released a few weeks ago. It specifically mentioned support for the xbox controller. Threw on a USB to go cable on my N7 and found I play a things I already owned; as well as navigate the system it self.

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      June 25, 2013 9:23 AM

      I did get mine and I have to say for a 100 bucks it's not bad, I do disagree that this will drag kickstarter down, since they have in fact released the system like they said it would. I got mine primarily for emulators of classic systems and for the most part it works perfectly, there is a minor issue with it turning off (automatically turns on when you change inputs on your tv) but past a few bugs it does what it promised to do. Can't really complain, it never said it was going to be a next gen killer counsel.

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        June 25, 2013 10:11 AM

        Doesn't it automatically turn on because of hdmi's CEC?

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      June 25, 2013 9:30 AM

      "Ouya", more like "Fukya", amirite?

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      June 25, 2013 9:45 AM

      [deleted]

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        June 25, 2013 10:02 AM

        At what point did you think there would be demand for them? Certainly not at retail price.

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        June 25, 2013 11:10 AM

        Selling a used system on eBay for the price of brand-new-in-box retail is probably guaranteed to fail. Even if you never unpacked it, your system is still a risk because you are a risk. You could've come across a bunch of knockoffs that you want to unload for the same price of the real deal. There's no way a buyer will say, "Hey! This guy that I never met before is selling his Ouya on eBay for retail plus shipping! Screw you, local Best Buy where I don't have to pay for shipping."

        I'm just saying, you're blaming a lack of demand where in reality it's just common sense.

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        June 25, 2013 3:20 PM

        I'll give you a dollar.

    • reply
      June 25, 2013 10:10 AM

      Their first mistake was including a custom controller, they should have just said $99 and compatible with 360/ps3 controllers.

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        June 25, 2013 12:49 PM

        Not compatible with 360 wireless I don't think.

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          June 25, 2013 12:53 PM

          but they should have said it

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            June 25, 2013 1:02 PM

            The official site doesn't even say anything about 3rd party controller support. Yeah, it's stickied in the forums.

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          June 25, 2013 1:09 PM

          Why not? The 360 wireless works like a charm with my Android tablet.

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            June 25, 2013 5:21 PM

            [deleted]

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              June 25, 2013 5:35 PM

              Just the USB PC receiver. I tried it out one day just for the hell of it... I was totally blown away by the fact that it worked with no effort. I use it to play SNES and Genesis games on my tablet.

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        July 1, 2013 7:00 PM

        [deleted]

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      June 25, 2013 11:19 AM

      Anyone got Mame working on this thing yet?

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        June 25, 2013 1:06 PM

        That's my plan... Once it shows up.

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          June 25, 2013 5:23 PM

          [deleted]

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            June 26, 2013 9:18 PM

            I'd actually go with some lightweight build of Linux, personally. Except for SNES9x and its derivatives, all the best emulators exist in a Linux-compatible format. It's way easier to make Linux controller-navigable than it is to make Windows, not to mention that you don't have to worry about Windows updates, mysterious background processes, etc. etc. etc....

            ...y'know, I have a busted laptop lying around here waiting for me to do something with it. I think I've figured out what. Emulator station here I come.

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      June 25, 2013 5:50 PM

      This might be relevant... http://i.imgur.com/64MZee6.gif

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      June 25, 2013 5:58 PM

      I backed it and have had mine for probably a into at least and I've turned it on twice. The first time was setting it up when I got it, the second time was the day after. I have it in my entertainment center (with glass doors) and the controls are laggy as he'll. I open the doors and it works a bit better. Not sure when I'll turn it on again.

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