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[Op-Ed] Android’s Next Update Should Focus On Gaming

Google’s next Android update should focus more on gaming. Android is an open source operating system (OS) that is based on Linux. The great thing about open source is that it is free and any one can enhance the OS. Android is an OS meant for mobile devices but lately it has been used to create consoles.

Ouya
One of the most famous of these consoles is the Ouya. It was funded by the public through kickstarter and is android based. It is not 100% Android and for good reason. The people behind Ouya knew this and enhanced Android so that it can be souly focused on gaming. One of the short comings of this is that there is no Play Store. That means the games you already own might have to be bought again for the Ouya. Madcatz M.O.J.O is another Android based console that runs 100% Android. However this brings short comings because Android is meant for a touch screen interface.

Netflix once said that they want to become HBO before HBO becomes them. Netflix has been #1 at what they do but they know full well to stay on top you have to keep moving forward. That is how they beat Blockbuster and that is how they are beating television and cable networks. So who has the ability to beat Android? Definitely not Apple. Yes I had to say that. The OS they have to look out for is Steam OS (Steambox). Even though it is still in beta the Steam OS is on its way to change the gaming industry. Steam OS is a Linux based OS that is made with its sights solely on gaming. Steam OS was made to take out the middle man so that games can run in theory smoother. The only reason I bring up the Steam OS is because the mobile hardware is slowly evolving to becoming like PC. For example Nvidia’s next generation chip is based off their PC chip system. So much so that they ran a full PC game on one of their demo tablets. So even if the Steam OS is not ready now it will only be a matter of time.

Even though Android has made small improvements in the development toward gaming, none have been a big leap. Sure we can play games with a USB controller attached to any Android device running 4.0 and above. However that is a small step toward the right direction. Android has a chance to be a lot more than just for the mobile market, but Google has to make that choice before someone else makes it for them. With Google picking up Green Throttle, it is looking like they are already moving in that direction. I certainly hope something happens soon.