However, I just decided (seeing as I could not get to one before the Kickstarter editions ran out) to do a bit of Google searching to see if such an awesome piece of hardware would support the Play Store unofficially alongside its own store. I figured it would be no different than loading the Amazon App Store or GetJar on your current Play Store supported device. In my findings, much to my surprise, many people despised the notion of installing the Play Store.
People felt like it would be a waste of time, and you may as well install Cyanogenmod on it while you’re at it. It would take away the point of having a unique device with a unique store and unique experience, coupled with the fact that not many apps on the play store support controllers without a complicated button mapping app. Someone also said what about Accelerometer based apps? The OUYA controller doesn’t support them because it doesn’t have the hardware installed in the controller. Ultimately, it’s more trouble than what it’s worth. You wouldn’t try to install Games for Windows Live on your Xbox would you? (Poor example, but you catch my drift).
The opposing argument is that the point of the Google Play Store addition is not to interfere with the experience of the OUYA or its store. Advocates for this say that it is simply a means to avoid repurchasing, say, Minecraft: Pocket Edition which is $6.99 on the Play Store, and is probably not going to be much different on the OUYA store. If you are like me and have spent $50.00 to $100.00 in games, then this seems like a smart idea. Even though the console has 10,000 developers (literally), that doesn’t mean all the big names like Gameloft and EA (just examples) have jumped on board just yet. Therefore, to avoid spending another $8.00 on my copy of NBA 2K13, why not migrate it, and do any additional purchases from the official store in the future.
Both sides have good points. One says that your OUYA experience and your Android experience (oxymoron, I know) should be different, not to mention the difficulty of button mapping and support would be more hassle than what it’s worth. The other says that if the device was meant to be open and “hackable” by the creators, then why not take full advantage of the invitation. Plus, let’s say I’m not open to repurchasing my apps, and I don’t put the Play Store on there, my next option is to see if I can’t stumble upon the old five finger discount on the internet and make the worst nightmares of the console’s critics come true.
Therefore, what do you think? Should the OUYA at least be able to run the Play Store if the consumer so desires, or should you leave the OUYA console for the OUYA store only? Comment below.
Source: Google
