Hasta La Gadget!

The Ouya game console already has the distinction of being one of the most highly-funded Kickstarter projects of all time, and it aims to become an innovative gaming machine that will change the way people think about gaming consoles. It’s still up in the air whether the latter is true, but we’ll find out starting next month, with Ouya dev consoles shipping on December 28.

The Ouya folks have posted an update on their Kickstarter page along with a photo of an actual prototype of the console in hand. They announced that developer consoles will ship on December 28. Additionally, the software development kit for the console will be made available to anyone on that date as well.

We’re not sure what the difference is between the developer consoles and the regular consoles, since Ouya ultimately said that “every Ouya will be a dev console.” The only difference we know of is from the update they posted today, calling the dev consoles, “pretty special.” However, they’re mostly just releasing early so developers can get a head start on doing what they do best.

The first batch of regular Ouya consoles are expected to ship sometime in March 2013 for users who purchased the console without developer credentials. The Jelly Bean-based console launched on Kickstarter over the summer and it raised over $8.5 million, thanks to its extremely-low $99 price point and overall hackability.

Ouya dev console shipping on December 28 is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

It’s time for the iFixit teardown of the Wii U, bringing on more details about this device than you could ever possibly want to know about. Starting with the basics, it’s found that along with NFC and either 8GB or 32GB iterations for internal storage, this unit has USB hard drive support, AMD Radeon-based High Definition GPU action, and a fabulous IBM Power-based multi-core processor. All that we know about – that and the 6.2-inch 854 x 480 pixels LCD panel on the touchscreen controller as well as a disk slot, sync button, SD card slot, USB 2.0 x 4, HDMI, AV multi-out, and sensor bar connector on the main unit.

The back of the device has a tiny CMOS battery you’ll likely never need to remove, while the main casing for the unit is shown to be extremely easy to access and open. It’s found that about 1/3 of the weight of the whole console is accounted for in the optical drive alone – iFixit suggests that this giant unit could be in place because it’s likely less expensive than its slimmer companions. This savings would therefor be passed on to you, the consumer, allowing the Wii U to be as inexpensive as it is on the market today – another possibility is that it allows for more breathability and quieter operation than a slimmer drive.

On the motherboard its found that this unit uses several pieces of Broadcom hardware, including the same Wireless Module used in the Roku 2 XS. This unit also uses a Broadcom Bluetooth 3.0 module. The AMD Radeon-based GPU and the IBM Power-based processor are placed rather close to one another physically so that – as iFixit suggests – they might reduce latency and power consumption as much as possible. Also inside is a Panasonic HDMI controller, Samsung eMMC 8 GB NAND Flash/Memory Controller, and Samsung 4 Gb (512 MB) NAND Flash.

The wireless touchpad controller is also torn down and found to contain a lovely 3.7 V, 1500 mAh rechargeable battery. The battery compartment is also shown to have extra room for an extended battery that will likely be appearing in the accessories aisle before the holiday season rolls around. The inside of the wireless controller is filled with mostly empty space, believe it or not, with the motherboard having lots of room to breath. This board works with a Broadcom NFC controller, is powered by a Broadcom BCM4319XKUBG, and uses a fabulous Texas Instruments Low Voltage I/O Touch Screen Controller.

This entire unit was rated a rather pleasing 8 out of 10 for repairability by iFixit, this meaning you’ll be able to fix everything yourself with only a few exceptions. Have a peek at the timeline below to see other rather recent stories surrounding the Wii U and see how big this machine gets in the weeks to come. It’s already sold out across the USA unless you’re really lucky and happen across a retailer with a few sets left!

[via iFixit]

Wii U iFixit teardown shows super easy fix-up is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

I’ve been a gaming fan my entire life. From the old days of arcades on through to today’s iPhone gaming, I’ve found a way to incorporate video games into my life. Without them, I don’t think I’d feel as entertained as I am right now.

A key component in my video game love over the years has been consoles. From the Nintendo Entertainment System through the Sega Genesis and countless devices that came after, consoles have been the cornerstone of my gaming experience.

[Image credit: jammagames]

For a long time, I believed that consoles were important, necessary elements in gaming. Without them, I reasoned, the gaming business just wouldn’t be the same.

But now I feel differently. Consoles might still be delivering some of the best gaming experiences out there, but I’m just fine with the prospect of them dying off. It’s a grand new world, and I’m not so sure that consoles are as important to capitalizing on that as they were in the past.

I first came to that realization recently, after a report surfaced claiming cable companies are considering launching a digital-delivery video game distribution model that will allow us to play titles without any additional hardware. The controller would either come from the cable companies.

That story made me realize just how unnecessary consoles have become. Sure, they facilitate gaming, but over time, they’re going to become less and less important. After all, with Web speeds increasing and cloud-based delivery gaining a footing, there appears to be a growing chance of consoles losing their importance in the gaming industry.

Of course, we should couch that by saying that the chances of consoles dying anytime soon are slim. For now, we still need hardware to produce outstanding visuals, and with major companies like Microsoft and Sony dominating that space, it seems difficult to fathom the possibility of either company allowing the console market to slip away.

“The Web is our new platform”

However, I do think it’s time we start accepting the reality that eventually, consoles will die. The technology industry is slowly but surely moving towards a model in which we don’t have unnecessary hardware connected to our televisions. The Web is our new platform, and over time, we’ll expect more streaming and cloud-based delivery than we do right now.

Already we’re seeing consumers opt for services that reduce their reliance upon hardware for movies and music. And if history is to be our guide, the video game industry typically follows close behind.

The big question now, though, is when the gaming industry might finally reach a place where consoles are no longer necessary. Current Web speeds are nowhere near where they must be in order to accommodate a Web-only solution. And there is still the issue of storage and the costs associated with that.

But the time is coming. It must. Consoles are great when they launch, but keep us locked in the past after several years. With consoles pushed out of the way, developers won’t be held back by hardware requirements and could enhance the state of gameplay far more rapidly than they are right now.

It might take a decade or more, but I, for one, can’t wait to see consoles go the way of the Dodo.

Why I’m OK with the Death of Consoles is written by Don Reisinger & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

If you were one of the many who funded OUYA and have been sitting on pins and needles waiting for tangible progress updates, you just received them in spades. The fledgling console builder is on track with its Engineering Verification Test phase (you’re looking at a board sample here) and should not only deliver the initial developer kits in December, but include a pleasant surprise in the process — the Android-based platform will be built around Jelly Bean rather than the originally promised Ice Cream Sandwich. Programmers who just have to start right away have likewise been given a head start on hardware expectations. They’ll have free rein over as much as a 1080p screen for their free-to-play games, although they’ll have to toss aside familiar Android tropes like back and menu keys, notifications and fallbacks for hardware keyboards. The distinctive trackpad is likewise just a single-touch affair. To us, though, knowing that the console is finally taking shape just might be enough to tide us over until the March launch.

Filed under: Gaming

OUYA upgrades to Jelly Bean, gives early hardware details to game developers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo’s top dog Satoru Iwata recently sat down with some of his R&D crew to talk about designing the Wii U, and unfortunately, a console was sacrificed in the process. The discussion focuses on what changes they’ve made this time ’round, including the new multi-core CPU and GPU module, and how they fitted more cooling gear in a body smaller than the Wii as a result. In addition to some nice teardown pics for illustrative purposes, they muse on moving to HD, part testing, case design and how the GamePad is more of a companion than a controller. We don’t want to spoil the whole bit, so head to the source link for the full transcript, or check out the gallery below if you just want the visuals.

Filed under: Gaming, Nintendo

Satoru Iwata talks Wii U design, guts a console for context originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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