Xiaomi company is actively expanding its range of devices. At this time, enterprising Chinese decide to do gaming history, and released a game controller with support for Bluetooth.

Gamepad from Xiaomi was introduced last year, but then he could try only selected the lucky among loyal fans of the brand. Now the device is available to everyone, it can be purchased online Xiaomi only 99 yuan (about $ 16).

The device is equipped with a module Bluetooth 3.0, 3-axis accelerometer and a vibration motor, providing a return in the game. Gamepad compatible with set-top boxes (eg Mi Box Mini) and TV production Xiaomi.

Externally, the device follows the design of the controller family of consoles Xbox: asymmetric arrangement of the analog stick and sloping sides to grip. The layout and arrangement of buttons is also similar to the device from Microsoft. Gamepad powered by built-in battery, which should be enough for 80 hours of continuous play. Meanwhile games that support the game controller from Xiaomi, has not been announced.

Release of such a device, most likely indicates that the company is preparing for the announcement Xiaomi own Android-console or gaming service for TVs.

As if there was not, I still do not fully understand why play mobile games on the big screen with a gamepad. Bad experience Ouya console has proved that this is a very specific kind of leisure.

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Shelf “stationary” consoles arrived on Android – and even a very cool reception the same Ouya (see our review ), it is not a hindrance, manufacturers do not stop trying to make a dedicated gaming system on the basis of universal OS. His version of the device and the company unveiled Mad Catz, known primarily for its game controllers.

Options MOJO 

Mad Catz MOJO comes in a large box of thick white cardboard. Inside are the console itself, the power supply with interchangeable tips for different types of outlets, cable HDMI, gamepad, brief instructions on getting started and a special nozzle holder smartphone gamepad.

Design MOJO 

The console is small, the size of a conventional compact media center (slightly less than the bundled gamepad). All surfaces except the matte side and rear faces of the panels are made of black glossy plastic, which instantly fingerprints. Sloped top panel gives the device a little unusual appearance, plus such a decision makes it more readable logos and console itself with the location of the player.

The front panel LED activity, rather glowing bright blue. Side faces “farmed out” vents, rear, we have witnessed a whole set of connectors: power, headphone output port HDMI, microSD-card reader port Ethernet (100 Mbit / s) and two port USB – 2.0 and 3.0 (one of They immediately becomes busy receiver gamepad).

Cost console rubberized feet wide, which significantly reduces slipping on smooth surface (though not eliminate it completely).

Gamepad MOJO 

Included with the console is the same gamepad “abbreviated” name (which, like MOJO, really does not stand) – GameSmart CTRLR Mobile Gamepad. It looks almost exact copy of the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows – in fact, the main difference between them is the presence of additional multimedia buttons and glossy finish top of the gamepad. Plus, due to the use of two AAA batteries had been significantly reduced battery pack that have GameSmart CTRLR Mobile Gamepad hardly protrudes from the housing.

The controller is excellent in the hands (though glossy part of the “horns” can become slippery when the long game – fortunately, the lower part of the gamepad yet matte, and finger not have this problem). In analog triggers soft and smooth running, buttons are pressed on them easily and clearly. Cap analog sticks look a full copy of those of the controller from the Xbox 360, and they are also no questions asked. But digital D-Pad is not executed in the best way (though obviously better than the gamepad Microsoft) – it’s a distinct “cross”, and do not drive with painted buttons on it, but the course has a rather vague, especially when very often pressed where a sense of “prozhima” simply lubricated.

Besides the usual gaming buttons on the controller and have a block of multimedia – adjust volume and control playback; it will be claimed when using the console as a media center.

Powered GameSmart CTRLR Mobile Gamepad for Bluetooth, and since Mad Catz MOJO no built-in receiver, it is necessary to use an external, connected via USB – so without using USB-Hub at the console remains free only one port USB 3.0. However, this gamepad – not “exclusive” for MOJO, and it works with any smartphone on the Android (good, Bluetooth support they built).

For more convenience, the game on the small screen producer even offered a very original solution – universal holder removable smartphone, bolted to the front of the gamepad – so that the user can for a minute to turn your phone into a portable console with user-friendly controls.

In this paper, MOJO 

In Mad Catz MOJO uses a system-on-chip NVIDIA Tegra 4, CPU clock speed – 1.8 GHz. RAM is 2 GB internal – 16 GB console is running running Android 4.2.2. Apparently, the console uses passive cooling, because it runs completely silently (and thus practically not heated).

In the console version uses ordinary smartphone Android (in some places in the menu even found mention of “smartphone”) – with the standard launcher, without any add-ins. Do gamepad has 3 modes (they switched inconspicuous lever between “horns») – GameSmart (Mad Catz proprietary technology for communication “native” periphery), “mouse” and “PC”, for its use in the first or suitable (in this case it is without question determined the console even when first connected, without having to search for a new device) or the second – here begins the left stick to control the movement of the cursor, and it turns out decent enough emulation touch. In games it is better to use either “PC” or GameSmart, as in this case, the user receives the greatest functionality.

In Mad Catz MOJO have access to Google Play, however, not all the games there are marked as compatible with the console – for example, Real Racing 3, Dead Trigger 2 and Shadowgun finding does not appear (as well as all the games in the Final Fantasy series of Square Enix), three is just GTA San Andreas, and the pages of Deus Ex: The Fall and Dead Trigger go though possible, but setting is not available, but the games themselves are marked as “incompatible.” Measure the performance of Mad Catz MOJO not possible – Google Play noted as incompatible all popular benchmarks (3DMark, AnTuTu, Quadrant, Epic Citadel, Vellamo, Basemark). On the eye, 8 Asphalt, performance was adequate, but periodic jerking pictures yet observed. It should be noted that similar problems are observed with conventional applications – as, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and MX Player just can not install – Install button instead of on their page displays a message about the incompatibility with the current device. Solve the riddle is simple – the device does not support touch control (via emulation “mouse” mode does not count), and because of this Google Play filters all applications in which the existence of touchscreen prescribed in the requirements (and not hard to guess that the proportion of those Android applications, to put it mildly, high). Mad Catz, of course, aware of the problem, but the solution offers, frankly, quite ambiguous: use Root . Moreover, a special website with steps on the initial setup console (reference to which is located on the home screen launcher) at the end recommended to Ruth and reference is made ​​to the relevant instructions. Nevertheless, it is obvious that such a step will be solved, not all buyers console to the same question arises – if the company strongly recommends Ruth, why could not start the console on sale with him?

Manufacturer presets the console application TegraZone, which in this case is the only front-end for games in Google Play, redirecting the user to the store Google – while on the console nerutovannoy TegraZone now and then you get to the games that are displayed in the shop again as incompatible.

Loaded from Google Play arcade racing Asphalt 8 was not just compatible, but optimized for the management of this console gamepad – nothing needed to customize the game itself at startup shows the configuration of buttons on the loading screen. Unfortunately, the turn of the wheel, even though assigned to an analog stick, was “digital” and no different from using the reversals that, frankly, almost negates all the advantages of a gamepad in this race.

We hooked up a gamepad to your phone and tested it in Dead Trigger 2. Immediately it should be noted that “hovering” over the controller smartphone significantly shifts the center of gravity of the whole structure beyond gamepad that is not very convenient – the player gets the feeling that he was about to “break.” Of course, this does not happen (in our case, using the LG G2, gamepad without any problems standing on the table and does not turn), but in terms of ergonomics, it’s still not very good (although the only real way to solve this problem – heavier gamepad so that the weight of the smartphone in the holder has not felt – is unlikely to please the gamers). Overall management of the feelings were very similar to the normal console shooter in which you play with a gamepad, but turn the camera was slightly inertial because of what management felt somewhat “stringy.”

Total MOJO 

Mad Catz MOJO was very controversial product. On the one hand – a powerful “filling” and very comfortable gamepad (probably the best of those, which are equipped with similar console), on the other hand – the need to install as root, without which severely limited capabilities of the device, plus the unnecessarily high cost – even in the west stands console twice as expensive as the same Ouya; in our country, the price of Mad Catz MOJO is comparable to the price of the “adult” of the previous generation game consoles, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

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Game console Android – fixed idea by many companies. At first glance, the task quite simple – there is a platform, games under it enough, left to create their own dedicated device, which will be adapted for the games better than the existing universal now smartphones and tablets. And here begins unexpected complications – at least we still have not seen the device, about which one could say “here on this really comfortable to play!”. Try your hand in this direction and the company decided to NVIDIA, which released a portable gaming console Shield.

Options

NVIDIA Shield comes in a rather large box, painted in signature black and green colors. Within itself feels quite free to console itself is also evident here charger, USB-microUSB cable and brief instructions on use. Grade, as we see, is minimal, but sufficient to get started.

Design

Console is unexpectedly large and weighty – at weight 587 g it is considerably heavier typical gamepad, which is very similar in appearance, especially in the “closed” state. On the other hand, it is 65 grams lighter than iPad 4, which plays a majority of users, and if they complain about its weight, it is not very strong. 

In form it, by the way, reminiscent of the legendary gamepad console Sega Dreamcast, but, of course, much larger – in the end, NVIDIA Shield fits full game system rather than a memory card with rudimentary capabilities of handheld console, as was the case with the VMU .

Body is painted in black and silver colors, corporate green presented very modest. Mostly plastic mat, rough, very practical – from fingerprints on the body almost does not remain. There are also small glossy inserts – perhaps to be combined with folding screen gloss, plus the lower portion of the console is covered by a rubberized material, causing, in particular, hardly any slip on a smooth or a rough surface (so reset it to the floor, accidentally hooked hand, is unlikely to succeed.) Unfortunately, the coating can not be called wear-console – silver plastic scratches easily and quickly erased the corners. Rugged plastic in this respect is much more practical and more durable than even the glossy inserts (which quickly appear marks of plug connector cables around the connectors). 

Almost all of the top panel – this flip cover, which is touch-screen LCD. By area, it is, however, much less than the cover, so that the edges he observed rather broad scope. Underneath all the main controls, which strongly resembles the layout of the button layout in the Xbox 360 gamepad (even the color and symbol buttons under the right thumb are the same), with one difference – an analog stick and D-Pad is arranged differently, in a style gamepads DualShock (symmetrical arrangement of sticks, D-Pad slightly to the left and above). Located in the center own power buttons (system “back” and “home”, Sound Control, Start button and proprietary NVIDIA). Immediately above the buttons, there are two dynamics – wheel stereo is very important for the games, so this location is very successful speakers (note that the sound quality is frankly pleased us – in this respect is much better than the console not only smartphones, but the vast majority of tablets ).

Triggers under forefingers also very similar to those used in the Xbox 360 gamepad, not only in form, but also on the principle of action (analog “triggers” and numeric buttons on them). Between triggers placed ventilation grille and a set of connectors (slot for memory cards microSD, video micro-HDMI, microUSB port and audio output to headphones).

Ergonomics

As already mentioned, the console turned weighty so long to keep her weight is unlikely to succeed. If the play sitting in a chair, then stop elbows back or handrails already be comfortable enough for long gaming session.

“Horn” uhvatistye keep them handy for the console, rubberized surface prevents slippage. However, there is one caveat – the sidewall at the console almost parallel, making palm also arranged in parallel – the player must press the elbows close to the body, otherwise one has to bend unnaturally hands (gamepad in this issue is usually solved wide apart “horns” of the controller, whereby the hands are placed at an angle to each other). However, the only downside we noticed ergonomics NVIDIA Shield, otherwise the console is easy to operate.

Dimensions of the console makes it easy for people with a palm size of the average and above – child she may be too big. All buttons are in the comfort zone of reach, capture the console to reach the desired button, only needed a central “system” block. Here, however, we can do the same as when you operate the touch screen – keep the console with one hand and click them forefinger another benefit of ergonomic console allows you to easily hold it in one hand, and without having to change grip. Note that here we are conveniently located under the triggers even forefingers – is uncommon.

All the buttons are easy to press and clearly, but D-Pad, unfortunately, not so responsive as desired (though much better than the Xbox 360). Hats rubberized analog stick, the return springs work very well, allowing precise control of their deviation. They work by pressing a tight, with a visible effort, plus the need to hide them under folding screen made the producer to “drown” in the body of the cap – it does not create any special problems, but thumbs can touch the cabinet with a maximum deviation of the stick, and the fact such a “deep” location is unusual sticks after conventional gamepads. 

During the game console is almost not heated – the central unit in the lower part becomes lukewarm and slightly warm at the same time the lower part of the screen, which comes out warm air from the ventilation grill (yes, there is an active cooling, but you can hear it, just put your ear to the body) .

Hardware Platform

NVIDIA Shield based on SoC NVIDIA Tegra 4, which includes a quad-core ARM Cortex-A15, clocked at up to 1.9 GHz (plus the fifth companion core with a maximum frequency of 500 MHz, consumes very little power and is used to perform background operations), and 72 -nuclear accelerator NVIDIA GeForce ULP. According to NVIDIA, Tegra graphics accelerator 4 to 6 times faster its predecessor Tegra 3. In NVIDIA Shield integrated IPS-folding screen with a diagonal of 5 “and a resolution of 1280×720 pixels (pixel density – 294 PPI). Internal memory is 16 GB (expandable with cards microSD), RAM – 2 GB. It works all of the battery capacity of 7350 mAh – charge it for 4 hours full charge lasts approximately 4-5 hours of play.

In this paper,

NVIDIA Shield is running Android 4.3, here are the standard launcher, without any add-ins, but the OS is optimized for the particular console. Thus, in the system settings there is a section for configuring the hardware buttons and their operation modes, no usual volume rocker button is compensated by the “Volume”, calling a special menu the sound level (in addition, you can adjust the volume and using triggers – after pressing the “Volume “) screen system keys not used instead hardware in the central block, etc. Button not only NVIDIA launches corporate services TegraZone, but returns the user back to the home screen and long press to its usual menu off, which “ordinary» Android-devices caused by long pressing the power button. In addition, the right analog stick controls the virtual mouse cursor left – moves the focus between application icons (you can run an active button «A», right trigger or pressing the hat stick), and the button «B» in applications and OS works the same way as system and “Back” button (which will be familiar to owners of Xbox 360 gamepad).

Overall management of the system is very convenient, it was noticed a couple of not very successful moments – the management application using the touch screen to drag the button “Back” is somewhat unusual (proved much easier to press «B»), plus sometimes suffered from a lack of landscape orientation of the screen – While the virtual keyboard window usable area is much too small.

The manufacturer added a few applications to a standard set – in particular, Hulu Plus (service “video on demand»), Twitch (customer service for popular streaming video games) and two games – Expendable Rearmed and Sonic 4 Episode II.

In unoptimized under management NVIDIA Shield games hardware buttons can behave differently. Thus, in the benchmark Epic Citadel «geympadnaya” section of the console has been detected is correct, and in the mode of free movement around the city the user does not require any settings – walking and camera control with analog sticks did not differ from conventional console shooters. Downloaded from Google Play Shooter Dead Trigger appeared already optimized for NVIDIA Shield – before loading level shows the standard layout management game Feels again no different from the console shooter – moving, aiming and shooting intuitive anyone to play shooters with a conventional gamepad . 

ShadowGun: DeadZone though did not show that he was “familiar” with NVIDIA Shield, yet managed with the help of sticks and buttons as well as Dead Trigger, and nothing is set again was not necessary.

In Real Racing 3, however, was not recognized by the management, so it had to use the default normal settings – Touch Screen and gyroscopes. If this option is not happy gamer, long pressing the system button Start (icon looks like Play / Pause) called overlay utility company Gamepad Mapper, which can be assigned to hardware controls hot zones on the screen. By the way, the utility supports cloud storage profiles and download ready-made options from other users over the Internet – so manually configure in the case of Real Racing 3 did not have to, downloaded profile has been quite successful.

Besides the usual Android-Games, NVIDIA Shield also offers a very interesting service NVIDIA GRID, which is part of TegraZone – it is available to owners of the console gaming to streaming servers. At this point, apparently, the service is still in beta status, it is accessible dozen hits of past years – Alan Wake American Nightmare, Darksiders 1 and 2, Red Faction: Armageddon, and even “The Witcher 2.” Gameplay on subjective sensations almost no different from the usual local games, not counting a few slow control – it may have been caused by network lag. In addition, NVIDIA Shield can play and personal computer games are located on the local PC (for that he should be a module Wi-Fi), but hard for us to imagine who would want to play computer games on a 5-inch screen.

Performance

As expected, NVIDIA Shield shows a very high performance than favorably with specialized game we’ve seen Android-devices in China. Judging by the results in popular benchmarks, it equal to compete with modern top-end smartphones, and even ahead of them – like, Tegra 4 is really failed. 

Results

The conclusions of the simplest thing would be to restrict the classic phrase “dubious practical value,” but in the case of NVIDIA Shield not so straightforward. True, unique candidate to buy this console called, unfortunately, does not work – it has both advantages and disadvantages, and not in terms of implementing the idea of ​​”pocket game console Android» (here all just done very worthy) and at the level of the concept.

On the one hand – not low price, $ 300 (suggested retail price in the U.S., in our conditions, unfortunately, this amount is gradually turning into $ 400). On the other hand, for the money the user gets a powerful gaming system (really powerful, and not as in the case of anonymous Chinese handicrafts on budget chips) with easy operation and high-quality screen, comparable with screens flagship smartphones (standing, as a rule, more expensive ). Ie theoretically, the user can stay on option “cheap Android-smartphone for everyday tasks and games for NVIDIA Shield”, and at the price it will be slightly more expensive than the top-end smartphone. On the other hand – the console is clearly not a pocket, and weighs more than a pound of significant dimensions and wear it except that you can bag, and there she was “lost” will not succeed. So every day on the road it is clearly not taking it does not, which means that for episodic gaming sessions in the queue, transport, etc. (The main way of using the smartphone game) it does not fit – the user for these purposes will still need gaming smartphone. NVIDIA Shield also acts as a “Divan” device, where its main competitor becomes a tablet – and here she plays a diagonal screen. Advantage over tablets in this case may be additional services – streaming PC games on the console and sending video to the big screen – but how this will be popular among the bulk of the players, hard to say.

Liked

+ Excellent performance
+ Very good ergonomics
+ High-quality assembly
+ Convenient control in most games
+ High-quality sound

Dislike

– The screen might be more
– Significant size and weight
– High cost

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Consoles on Android

Situation in the gaming industry is surprising: while analysts tipped crash consoles as a class, selling Xbox One and PlayStation 4 hit records. On the other hand, the market enough producers who do not intend to give up without a fight: consoles, running Android , appear punctually and differ at least a more reasonable cost. But whether the green robot to adapt in a new niche for themselves, and where it leads – worth investigating.

In theory

Bright prospects – that’s what awaits consoles on Android, according to NVIDIA, which last year has already proven its interest in the release of the portable console Nvidia Shield. The American company has long-term plans for rapidly gaining momentum gaming ecosystem Android, and I am sure that it is for her future. Moreover, not only as a platform for consoles, but in general all – a single, unified OS for managing data on your smartphone, computer, car, well, console, of course.

On the other hand, the very openness of the operating system provides more opportunities for ambitious software developers and games, it is not surprising how fast evolving gaming industry in the world of Android and Google. 

In practice

Currently, all game consoles on Android have a significant drawback: limited igroteke. While manufacturers do not tend to come together for the common good, and try to get their piece of the pie, concluding agreements with several developers. The number of games, which in fact has Nvidia Shield, does not exceed 60, and from this small number is not all of them deserve attention. Theoretically Android-console allow you to use any application from Google Play, but you dare you play any shooter, suddenly it turns out that the control system is not completely adapted to the controller. Compatible software and hardware simply will not allow to enjoy the opportunities that are theoretically Android-top boxes.

Play Market desperately needs a level playing standard. When developers can produce games that are compatible with any devaysami on our beloved OS, instead of doing releases for one device with a small niche target audience, whether or Shield OUIA. That’s when we’ll live and play!

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Need for Speed: Rivals coming out this fall on the consoles of both the old and new generations. It is clear that externally it will look better on the PS4 and Xbox One, however, between these versions may be some difference. Executive producer Ghost Games Marcus Nilsson (Marcus Nilsson) told this in an interview to VideoGamer.com.

“Both next-generation consoles were a little more powerful than what we expected. Especially one of them, but what exactly, I’m not telling you. PS4 and Xbox One – a very powerful system, and, most likely, both versions are very similar. But one of them will be a little worse, and the second closer to the version of the graphics for personal computers. ” When a reporter asked whether there was referring to Playstation 4 as a more powerful platform Nilsson left on the answer and repeated his last sentence.

Thus, it appears that the developers have yet to launch consoles are beginning to use all of the features, and therefore do not offer players the identical versions of their projects. No comparisons NFS: Rivals for the PS4 and Xbox One yet, so we can only guess at what the console is considered more powerful creators of this racing game.

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As previously reported, Microsoft after the official announcement of the console Xbox One announced its intention to improve its hardware.

Then it was planned to increase the frequency of the GPU, to equalize the graphics performance to that of the PlayStation 4, as well as increase the amount of RAM.

As the representative of Microsoft, the company is now actively the process of internal testing Xbox One. Daily releases new build of the operating system console containing certain improvements. As for the graphics, then after the official announcement of the Xbox One, it has undergone some changes. So, it is reported to increase the GPU frequency from 800 MHz to 853 MHz. Also, have developed a new graphics driver. In Microsoft has not reported any performance gains provided these improvements.

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In our news not just once or twice slipped mention of an unusual game console Ouya – about raising money for innovations on Kickstarter, about the “childhood diseases” first revisions, caught by observers before the start of sales, about the sponsorship program for game developers, etc. etc. And finally, we had the opportunity to meet personally with this console and see what came of the idea of ​​”alternative gaming console for everyone, for next to nothing, and let no one will be left out.”

Options

Ouya comes in a relatively small box, which shows the console itself, and almost life-size.

Inside are the console, wireless controller, power supply, HDMI cable and a quick start guide. Set, as we can see, the minimal but sufficient.

Design
The console is a small cube with a rounded base. Furnishings in steel gray matte metal and glossy black plastic on the top panel with a rather unusual pattern (because of which all those who for the first time take the console in hand, believe that this is actually the bottom) is inconspicuous power button on the bottom there are four rubber feet, the surrounding ring of ventilation holes. The side edges are free from any kind of design elements and connectors, only the front, if you look closely, you can see the nondescript logo OUYA.

Behind a power supply connector, the port Ethernet, connector micro-USB, HDMI ports and USB.

In general appearance Ouya impresses: the unusual design, metal side panels, the build quality on high.

Gamepad
Gamepad made in the same style as the console itself – steel gray metallic inserts on the sides and black plastic in the middle and at the bottom (only here it is, for obvious reasons, is not glossy and matte). Developers obviously inspired controller for Microsoft Xbox360 – gamepad with Ouya almost the same size (only sweep “horns” even more), the location of the buttons, D-Pad and analog sticks on the configuration Xbox360 Controller up to a distance between all the elements and color separation buttons below right thumb (clockwise, starting with the “12 hours” – yellow, red, green, blue). Just indicate on the buttons, of course, their own, and here was very useful that the console title just four letters – so instead of geometric shapes, like the Sony DualShock, and abstract letters, like Xbox360 Controller, repeat the name of the button here OUYA .

The top digital triggers, lower – analog. Move them big enough return springs are soft, but the build quality is somewhat disappoint – triggers rub against members of the body, so they move turns out not so soft as desired for more precise control. Analog sticks tugovat, “cap” is not rubberized, so there is a control accuracy are also seen some problems. However, most claims have gamepad Ouya imposed on the D-Pad – it is very weak and wishy-washy course, without any hint of a “click”. In addition, there is also a touchpad – in his role as playing a central part. It can be used in the console menu – or rather, in the part that follows the “humanoid” part of the system, since the native launcher Ouya is optimized for operation with the gamepad.

Gamepad large, designed for large hands, and in them is quite good (although the same Xbox360 Controller he loses uniquely). All the elements are arranged correctly and are in a “comfort zone reach”, with the exception of the upper flip-flops – click on them frankly embarrassing, and the player to reach, it is necessary to intercept the gamepad.

Wireless controller, is powered by two batteries type AA, hidden under the side metal plates.

In
The console is based on SoC Tegra 3 with a 4-core CPU family of Cortex-A9, clocked at 1.7 GHz. RAM is 1 GB, the size of the internal storage – 8GB. It works running Android 4.1.2, which is installed on top of your own launcher. In the retail sale Ouya arrived in late June for $ 99.

When you start the console has to bind the gamepad, for which it is necessary to press the system button and hold it for a few seconds until 4 LEDs will light up only the two center. Subsequently, the light will be just one of them, showing the serial number of the gamepad.

Ouya interface is extremely simple and concise, looks stylish and intuitive even for a child (assuming, of course, he knows a dozen or English words) – large buttons Play, Discover, etc. speak for themselves. In brief rundown on the composition of the menu. 

Thus, in the Play contains all games installed in the system. They go a long ribbon of miniatures without any signatures (the name is displayed only for the game at the current cursor position), so the focus in a large collection will either visually or with the built-in search. For each game, you can call a separate page with a summary, the number of “likes”, etc.

Menu Discover – is, in fact, a corporate “app store» Ouya. Here we see a fairly typical sections: “promote” the game (Featured), own exclusives (Only on Ouya), Up & Coming (Trending Now), broken down by genre, etc.

Make menu reminds us that the console is this – not only for gaming but also for developers, because it contains two sections, one of which, Builds, offering to go to the website devs.ouya.tv and begin to develop games for this platform . The second subsection, Software, you can install software from other sources, download the installer using existing immediately browser, after which the application will be available immediately, click Software. So on Ouya can be set, for example, the popular XBMC media center or a third-party app stores (Amazon AppStore, Yandex.Store, etc.), which would be superfluous, given that the official store of Google – Google Play Store, on Ouya available.

And the last menu item, Manage, offers access to a variety of system settings. Here, you can manage your account in the system Ouya (include parental control, add a payment card), connect additional controllers, configure the network settings (other than Ethernet, there is also Wi-Fi), view system alerts and call the “advanced” settings. Beneath them lies access to the normal menu system Android, the familiar to any user smartphone or tablet to the OS.

Games
In the absence of access to Google Play Ouya user is restricted by the set of games, which is available in a native app store. Plus, if you wish, you can use the services of third-party stores like already mentioned Amazon AppStore, but it should be borne in mind that the games for the “traditional” Android-devices that are not optimized for the Ouya, can be a variety of problems – for example, in the Amazon AppStore for Ouya not displayed games like Real Racing 3 or Dead Trigger, and set out a Minion Rush flew at startup. I ported games available in the store Ouya, of course, no such problems – for example, ShadowGun played like a normal console shooter (except in 1920×1080 it to slow down considerably, posing on the eyes, around 20 fps), and even tips on management have been converted the new platform (“to open the door, press the button on your controller,” etc.).

But in general, in the native app store situation is, frankly, not very funny (let’s hope it’s only temporary – after all, the console went on sale just a month ago). The main idea of ​​Ouya – «all games should be free. Well, at least in part. ” Translated into human language, this means that any game can be found for free, ie, for all the games have a demo version – and if you have a desire, you can buy the full game. Taking into account all sorts of promoting the indie scene from the console manufacturer, it is not surprising that a large mass of currently available games – small, often not very playable with primitive graphics projects, most of which you are unlikely to play longer than downloading them lasted. Of course, there are a few decent games developed for Ouya, as well as “adult” multi-platform games like ShadowGun, The Bard’s Tale, The Ball and Final Fantasy III, but they weather is not doing – for this they are still too small.

The results
Frankly, Ouya produces conflicting impressions. On the one hand – a very interesting the concept “cheap console on Android without any regular payments and other things, with a lot of free games.” On the other – the implementation, at least for the moment, it looks no better. Decent projects developed for Ouya, there is little, but without official access to Google Play console owner who does not want to mess with root access and wants to just turn on the console, pick up a gamepad and sit on the couch, is very limited in choice.

On the other hand, it’s Android, and that’s it. Already on the site XDA-Developers have instructions for installing Google Play on Ouya . Not an easy task, but, as we can see, it is solvable. In addition, the lack of original fresh games can always be solved with the help of classic console emulators – they certainly look (and played well) by today’s standards, so-so, but it will give a hundred points to a good half of the projects for Ouya, available at the moment. If desired, the console can be turned into a full-fledged media center, setting him on XBMC (for that nothing should break and rutovat – just go to the official website and select the program from the download page for the version of Android). However, in this case mounted on Ouya XBMC had twice shut down for literally 10 minutes walking on its settings, but at the same time without any problems playing the movie from the local network, including HD-video to MKV.

In general, so far Ouya – it is rather a device for enthusiasts who do not feed bread, let alone the opportunity to find some non-trivial application of the next gadget on Android, plus an interesting platform for indie developers, which can be practiced in creating games for mobile systems . But as an ordinary video game console, unfortunately, Ouya until frankly weak. Will it be different in the future? Wait and see. In the end, the developers themselves understands their problems, and are not going to sit idly by .

Liked
+ Concept

Do not like it
– State of the platform at the moment

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It seems that fans of the series Half Life got a reason for cautious joy. Resource NoShitShurlock, citing the words of a level designer Half Life 1 and Half Life 2 John Guthrie (John Guthrie), announced that Half Life 3 is created for PC, Mac, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, will include many major Half Life 2 characters and continue the story from the end of episode 2. Expect the first demonstration of the trailer and the game can be at E3 2014.

“I can not tell you much, because the game’s development is still in its early stages, but I can confirm that we are going to release the game for both the current and the next generation of consoles, as well as on our own platform exclusively for PC and Mac – he wrote in a letter NoShitShurlock. – We hope that one trailer will be ready for the event E3 2014, we (after several years of absence), and finally back. “

Valve allegedly decided not to Half Life 2 Episode 3, because the story is somewhat different from the original, despite the presence of many of the key characters. The new game mechanics, improved engine and a new generation of video game consoles have caused a return to the idea of ​​creating Valve Half Life 3. John Guthrie also said that the game will not be co-operative and multiplayer components – this is purely single-user project. A bit strange that Mr. Guthrie did not mention Linux – because Valve put a lot of effort into porting their games for this OS. By the way, a “platform” it could be because of how Steam, console and Steam Box.

By the way, recently co-wrote and Half-Life game designer Marc Laidlaw (Mark Laidlow) in a social service Vine has published a short video, the action of which revolves around the number 3. In the video, somebody wants to press the number 3 in the elevator, and then suddenly clicks L. Perhaps, however, this teaser is not about Half-Life 3, and a Left 4 Dead 3.

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