10 ms·

This is pretty much what Google TV should have been all along, but Google cares too much about web search and not enough about what people actually want to do o

This is pretty much what Google TV should have been all along, but Google cares too much about web search and not enough about what people actually want to do on a TV - watch shows and play games. The gaming aspect of this will make it a winner. OUYA's big problem is that it didn't do streaming and was a bit clunky. Amazon has a big game library and just needs controller support. As a parent, a $100 streaming box and game console that has cheap/free games is very appealing. As a developer, the economics of game development for such a console is not so great, but maybe IAP would make it worthwhile.

keehun 13y ago
I disagree that this will become a winner. No one wants to play crappy games on their TV, and Amazon can't become a winner with the small population of people who do.
- runevault 13y ago
  Amazon in theory is looking for more than just crappy games. They grabbed Double Helix and I have to assume that was part of this initiative, and they've recently released several well regarded games in Killer Instinct and Strider.
- matt_heimer 13y ago
  Wrong audience, this is everything my Roku is but better. Better UI, better performance. Plus apps and maybe some games with a real controller. It is everything an OUYA is but better. And miracast support too.
  - keehun 13y ago
    This reminds me of phones before the iPhone. Yeah, "better" UI, bigger keyboards, more color, .1 more megapixel camera... Iterative stuff. Someone or some company is going to have to completely shatter our imaginations of this market. Until then, good luck getting any massive success.
sutterbomb 13y ago
Not sure if it will be a category winner, but if the gaming works, it will definitely be a winner for me. I haven't owned a gaming console in years, but I'd certainly do some casual gaming if there was a cheap option built into a streaming. I currently own and frequently use an older Roku, but if gaming reviews come are positive I will likely switch.
downandout 13y ago
With screen mirroring, Apple TV offers the ability to play any game in the App Store on a TV wirelessly without having to buy a controller. That game library will likely always be larger than this one. Granted, you must have an iPhone or iPad, but I am surprised that Apple does not tout this feature more. I use it daily and it is pretty awesome.
- bratsche 13y ago
  If AppleTV let me watch Amazon Prime video it would be perfect. I use Amazon Prime and Hulu+ for TV, and right now the only device I have that lets me watch both is my PS3, and its UI sucks (plus it's constantly requiring me to download updates).
  - dankoss 13y ago
    Amazon added this about six months ago, but it requires another iOS device: http://techcrunch.com/2013/09/17/amazons-instant-video-app-adds-airplay-support-for-streaming-to-apple-tv/ http://techcrunch.com/2013/09/17/amazons-instant-video-app-a...
    - smackfu 13y ago
      Interesting that Amazon now has a pretty good motivation to remove this feature.
      - twoodfin 13y ago
        Why? Amazon wants to make money on the blades (content), not the razor.
        esrauch 13y ago
        Except they are now selling a razor that "works best" with their own blades.
        13y ago
bitcrusher 13y ago
It's interesting how different perspectives work: > The gaming aspect of this will make it a winner. OUYA's big problem is that it didn't do streaming and was a bit clunky. Amazon has a big game library and just needs controller support. I think the gaming aspects are the worst part and are entirely useless. Who wants to casual game with an underpowered box on a giant TV screen? Goofy games are fun on a 4-7" screen because expectations are low. On my TV I expect a crazy immersive experience, not "Candy Crush". Perhaps they would have been better served by spending their time getting HBO-Go, Starz/Encore and Spotify all hooked into their little box. If they want to be the central hub for all things "media" and want to compel people to move off of their existing platform ( Roku and ATV ) it seems like they need to offer a more complete package.
- alttab 13y ago
  I wouldn't knock it until you tried it. The graphics for games like Bard's Tale and many others are pretty damn good on mobile devices. We all have great mobile gaming experiences, wouldn't it be awesome if you could share that with anyone you had over on a big screen? You may expect a "crazy immersive experience" but I would venture a guess that you are not the casual mobile gamer.
  - JonFish85 13y ago
    Does the casual mobile gamer want their casual mobile game on a giant screen? Isn't part of the allure of mobile games that they are private, games that you play in your hand? Why would someone want these broadcast to a giant screen? Does that add any enjoyment? To me, the Wii U was a failure in this regard. They tried to marry the "fun game in my hand" with the "fun game on the big screen" and the result was a messy, confusing experience.
    - alttab 13y ago
      Possibly. Some games won't cross over well, or at all. For instance, Fruit Ninja wouldn't work. Angry Birds would. Tap Tap Revenge or whatever wouldn't. Etc. One thing to keep in mind is mobile is a form factor, but no longer a "platform." In this case, the platform is Android. There are plenty of game types that would cross over well. Even better if you could sync state between platforms for a seamless anywhere experience. Imagine playing FFVII on your phone, and then when you get home pick up a PS2 like controller and continue playing that same game on your HDTV? I think the biggest hurtle is the fact that consumers already have similar devices, and at $99 its not like the FireTV is a no-brainer. If they timed it right, and people are "rolling over" to the next set of devices?
alttab 13y ago
As a developer, the economics of game development have got to be pretty good, actually. Most game development companies have a multi-platform approach. Either they accomplish this with cross-platform development tools, or target iOS, Android, and XBox/Consoles separately. Amazon has already gone through motions to making getting your Android app onto their Kindle Fire devices smoother, so I imagine getting it onto the FireTV wouldn't be much different. So the story goes, you have a successful game that is gainin traction on multiple platforms and you want to expand your user base. Add game controller support to your android version, and now you're in every Prime customer's living room? edit: This is of course if people purchase the device, so that's the starter.
hokkos 13y ago
The gaming part won't do anything, in France each internet provider give a box exactly like this one, with TV and games. Guess what, nobody play the games. The people that play games in front of their TV are gamers that want AAA experience.
- alttab 13y ago
  I feel like that last part is an assumption. That's like saying people who want more out of their phones only want to do e-mail. I have been aching for a large library of easy and casual games I can share with my wife forever. She doesn't care about the AAA games and I'm willing to give those up if it means we can play together. Also, the standards for games these days is really low. I see children playing total crap all the time. Gone are the days you beg your mom to spend $60 buying you one game where upon you had to spend the next 6 months playing it before you would get another one. Parents will buy a game on their phone and hand it to their kid like its the pacifier of the 21st century.
hokkos 13y ago
The gaming part won't do anything, in France each internet provider give a box exactly like this one, with TV and games. Guess what, nobody play the games. The people that play games in front of their TV are gamers that want AAA experience.
Pxtl 13y ago
To me the big questions is whether Amazon will release a first-party gaming peripheral for this device. If they make that kind of commitment to gaming, they'll have my attention. Even if it's a re-branded MadCatz PS3 controller, it would be an important move. There are tons of dongles and sticks with gaming added as an afterthought. I'm interested in seeing somebody truly tackle the space Ouya promised to deliver - the low-cost Android gaming device.
- eclipxe 13y ago
  Like this: http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-53-000894-Fire-Game-Controller/dp/B00DU0ZI8Q/ref=kin_ddp_pop_BuellerThunder_popT http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-53-000894-Fire-Game-Controller/...
  - Pxtl 13y ago
    ... oh man, I missed that detail. Seriously, Google needs to wake up and notice that other people are doing a better job with Android than they are.
    - jessaustin 13y ago
      I thought that was the point of Android, to let other parties do some of the work to keep the internet "open"?
  - unwind 13y ago
    That looks pretty nice, as controllers go, and better priced than e.g. the most recent DualShock. Seeing that it's Bluetooth, I hope support for it trickles into mainstream Linux.
paulyg 13y ago
If you look back at the timetable, Google realized the Chromecast was a better direction then Google TV and but all efforts into Chromecast. That's why I'm really disappointed Amazon choose to create yet another platform for companies to develop apps and games for instead of building on one already in place. Games work just fine on my phone and tablet. So does searching for content. I say that as a parent that has been doing a lot of Netflix->Chromecast streaming of kids shows & movies lately. I would like to buy some of the content that Amazon has and Netflix does not without plunking down $99 more and another boz to manage and another ecosystem.
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
- zemo 13y ago
  it's just an android sdk add-on: https://developer.amazon.com/sdk/asb/overview-gs.html https://developer.amazon.com/sdk/asb/overview-gs.html that's not quite the same as a whole new platform.
  - alttab 13y ago
    It looks like it could take minimal effort to map controls to the controller or remote. This gives existing android games and developers a quick in-road to the living room.
    - king_jester 13y ago
      Kinda sorta. One of the problem points for Google TV development was that its not just a simple process of adding the SDK support and throwing your app on screen. Attention has to bee paid to input interaction and how the UI displays on such a large screen, so things like margins, color choices, and touch focus support need to be addressed (which many apps don't do correctly or need adjustment).
  - cageface 13y ago
    This is why I think Android is going to be an increasingly important platform going forward. It's a logical foundation for almost any new consumer electronics device.

keehun 13y ago

I disagree that this will become a winner. No one wants to play crappy games on their TV, and Amazon can't become a winner with the small population of people who do.

runevault 13y ago
Amazon in theory is looking for more than just crappy games. They grabbed Double Helix and I have to assume that was part of this initiative, and they've recently released several well regarded games in Killer Instinct and Strider.
matt_heimer 13y ago
Wrong audience, this is everything my Roku is but better. Better UI, better performance. Plus apps and maybe some games with a real controller. It is everything an OUYA is but better. And miracast support too.
- keehun 13y ago
  This reminds me of phones before the iPhone. Yeah, "better" UI, bigger keyboards, more color, .1 more megapixel camera... Iterative stuff. Someone or some company is going to have to completely shatter our imaginations of this market. Until then, good luck getting any massive success.

sutterbomb 13y ago

Not sure if it will be a category winner, but if the gaming works, it will definitely be a winner for me. I haven't owned a gaming console in years, but I'd certainly do some casual gaming if there was a cheap option built into a streaming. I currently own and frequently use an older Roku, but if gaming reviews come are positive I will likely switch.

downandout 13y ago

With screen mirroring, Apple TV offers the ability to play any game in the App Store on a TV wirelessly without having to buy a controller. That game library will likely always be larger than this one. Granted, you must have an iPhone or iPad, but I am surprised that Apple does not tout this feature more. I use it daily and it is pretty awesome.

bratsche 13y ago
If AppleTV let me watch Amazon Prime video it would be perfect. I use Amazon Prime and Hulu+ for TV, and right now the only device I have that lets me watch both is my PS3, and its UI sucks (plus it's constantly requiring me to download updates).
- dankoss 13y ago
  Amazon added this about six months ago, but it requires another iOS device: http://techcrunch.com/2013/09/17/amazons-instant-video-app-adds-airplay-support-for-streaming-to-apple-tv/ http://techcrunch.com/2013/09/17/amazons-instant-video-app-a...
  - smackfu 13y ago
    Interesting that Amazon now has a pretty good motivation to remove this feature.
    - twoodfin 13y ago
      Why? Amazon wants to make money on the blades (content), not the razor.
      - esrauch 13y ago
        Except they are now selling a razor that "works best" with their own blades.
        13y ago

bitcrusher 13y ago

It's interesting how different perspectives work: > The gaming aspect of this will make it a winner. OUYA's big problem is that it didn't do streaming and was a bit clunky. Amazon has a big game library and just needs controller support. I think the gaming aspects are the worst part and are entirely useless. Who wants to casual game with an underpowered box on a giant TV screen? Goofy games are fun on a 4-7" screen because expectations are low. On my TV I expect a crazy immersive experience, not "Candy Crush". Perhaps they would have been better served by spending their time getting HBO-Go, Starz/Encore and Spotify all hooked into their little box. If they want to be the central hub for all things "media" and want to compel people to move off of their existing platform ( Roku and ATV ) it seems like they need to offer a more complete package.

alttab 13y ago
I wouldn't knock it until you tried it. The graphics for games like Bard's Tale and many others are pretty damn good on mobile devices. We all have great mobile gaming experiences, wouldn't it be awesome if you could share that with anyone you had over on a big screen? You may expect a "crazy immersive experience" but I would venture a guess that you are not the casual mobile gamer.
- JonFish85 13y ago
  Does the casual mobile gamer want their casual mobile game on a giant screen? Isn't part of the allure of mobile games that they are private, games that you play in your hand? Why would someone want these broadcast to a giant screen? Does that add any enjoyment? To me, the Wii U was a failure in this regard. They tried to marry the "fun game in my hand" with the "fun game on the big screen" and the result was a messy, confusing experience.
  - alttab 13y ago
    Possibly. Some games won't cross over well, or at all. For instance, Fruit Ninja wouldn't work. Angry Birds would. Tap Tap Revenge or whatever wouldn't. Etc. One thing to keep in mind is mobile is a form factor, but no longer a "platform." In this case, the platform is Android. There are plenty of game types that would cross over well. Even better if you could sync state between platforms for a seamless anywhere experience. Imagine playing FFVII on your phone, and then when you get home pick up a PS2 like controller and continue playing that same game on your HDTV? I think the biggest hurtle is the fact that consumers already have similar devices, and at $99 its not like the FireTV is a no-brainer. If they timed it right, and people are "rolling over" to the next set of devices?

alttab 13y ago

As a developer, the economics of game development have got to be pretty good, actually. Most game development companies have a multi-platform approach. Either they accomplish this with cross-platform development tools, or target iOS, Android, and XBox/Consoles separately. Amazon has already gone through motions to making getting your Android app onto their Kindle Fire devices smoother, so I imagine getting it onto the FireTV wouldn't be much different. So the story goes, you have a successful game that is gainin traction on multiple platforms and you want to expand your user base. Add game controller support to your android version, and now you're in every Prime customer's living room? edit: This is of course if people purchase the device, so that's the starter.

hokkos 13y ago

The gaming part won't do anything, in France each internet provider give a box exactly like this one, with TV and games. Guess what, nobody play the games. The people that play games in front of their TV are gamers that want AAA experience.

alttab 13y ago
I feel like that last part is an assumption. That's like saying people who want more out of their phones only want to do e-mail. I have been aching for a large library of easy and casual games I can share with my wife forever. She doesn't care about the AAA games and I'm willing to give those up if it means we can play together. Also, the standards for games these days is really low. I see children playing total crap all the time. Gone are the days you beg your mom to spend $60 buying you one game where upon you had to spend the next 6 months playing it before you would get another one. Parents will buy a game on their phone and hand it to their kid like its the pacifier of the 21st century.

hokkos 13y ago

Pxtl 13y ago

To me the big questions is whether Amazon will release a first-party gaming peripheral for this device. If they make that kind of commitment to gaming, they'll have my attention. Even if it's a re-branded MadCatz PS3 controller, it would be an important move. There are tons of dongles and sticks with gaming added as an afterthought. I'm interested in seeing somebody truly tackle the space Ouya promised to deliver - the low-cost Android gaming device.

eclipxe 13y ago
Like this: http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-53-000894-Fire-Game-Controller/dp/B00DU0ZI8Q/ref=kin_ddp_pop_BuellerThunder_popT http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-53-000894-Fire-Game-Controller/...
- Pxtl 13y ago
  ... oh man, I missed that detail. Seriously, Google needs to wake up and notice that other people are doing a better job with Android than they are.
  - jessaustin 13y ago
    I thought that was the point of Android, to let other parties do some of the work to keep the internet "open"?
- unwind 13y ago
  That looks pretty nice, as controllers go, and better priced than e.g. the most recent DualShock. Seeing that it's Bluetooth, I hope support for it trickles into mainstream Linux.

paulyg 13y ago

If you look back at the timetable, Google realized the Chromecast was a better direction then Google TV and but all efforts into Chromecast. That's why I'm really disappointed Amazon choose to create yet another platform for companies to develop apps and games for instead of building on one already in place. Games work just fine on my phone and tablet. So does searching for content. I say that as a parent that has been doing a lot of Netflix->Chromecast streaming of kids shows & movies lately. I would like to buy some of the content that Amazon has and Netflix does not without plunking down $99 more and another boz to manage and another ecosystem.

deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
zemo 13y ago
it's just an android sdk add-on: https://developer.amazon.com/sdk/asb/overview-gs.html https://developer.amazon.com/sdk/asb/overview-gs.html that's not quite the same as a whole new platform.
- alttab 13y ago
  It looks like it could take minimal effort to map controls to the controller or remote. This gives existing android games and developers a quick in-road to the living room.
  - king_jester 13y ago
    Kinda sorta. One of the problem points for Google TV development was that its not just a simple process of adding the SDK support and throwing your app on screen. Attention has to bee paid to input interaction and how the UI displays on such a large screen, so things like margins, color choices, and touch focus support need to be addressed (which many apps don't do correctly or need adjustment).
- cageface 13y ago
  This is why I think Android is going to be an increasingly important platform going forward. It's a logical foundation for almost any new consumer electronics device.