What's with the lack of interest lately in the Upcoming section.

[Grimbarian]

I was going to leave this thread well alone - but as the developer who asked to be removed from the developer group, I feel compelled to post my reasoning and input onto the OP.

Apologies in advance, there's no real way to make this short...

It's probably best to kick off with my assumption of what the OUYA would be (and - are you ready for this internet - I now believe my assumption was wrong). I saw the OUYA as a console for first time/small developers. I thought it would be a way for those who wanted to try to make a game,to place their efforts in front of 65'000+ (at launch) players who were interested in finding something new. A platform that those with no money - but the right talents - could showcase their work, and possibly earn themselves a little bit of money/exposure from.

I also believed (again - I think I was wrong here too) that the community here would be like minded and interested in experiencing new games. Something different from the norm. That, given the chance to do so, the community would get involved and excited about fresh new games from unknown talent and feedback to the developer - during development - to create something original and desirable.

At first, there were some great things - No Brakes Valet, Hidden in Plain Sight, Ice Rage - fun, well made, simple games. Some free, some priced nice and low.

The longer the OUYA has been out, the louder the claim for games from already established developers. The OUYA didn't have many of these, and it became clear to me that a lot of OUYA users (dare I say the majority?) were primarily interested in these releases only. Pages and pages of posts for games like TWD and Minecraft, with little love for the new developers. Not only the community here though, through OUYA themselves. Lot of statements about just how many developers they have on board, but little to no exposure for the majority of them or their games, and a heavy focus on developers who had already established themselves. (I understand this from a business point of view)

So, I personally started to question where that placed me as a brand new developer - with lots of demo's and unfinished projects under my belt, but no 'complete' game - and how much of an audience were actually interested in any product I was creating.

The thread (in Upcoming - just to assure you that this is in some way related to the OP) for the title I was putting together was quite bare, so I decided on a test. I was after a collaborative/feedback led development approach to my game. I wanted to create something that, while sticking to my game vision, was able to incorporate requests and guidance from the people I believed would be most interested in my game - this community. I made .apk's available and posted with as much interesting material as I could muster.

There were around 10 downloads in a month, and very little feedback. (Not knocking the ones that DID give feedback - it was extremely helpful and appreciated. Not to mention satisfying to know that people were playing - and enjoying - my game)

So, in came the second part of the test - I took what had been developed for the OUYA and, with some small tweaks, made it available online with about the same amount of promotion.

Over the last 3 weeks, the game has been played around 75'000 times.

I have had it pointed out to me, that this isn't a fair reflection. That if I were to put the game on the OUYA Alpha/Beta Discover section, I would receive more feedback and plays than an .apk on here. If I can muster some enthusiasm to do so, I aim to test this at the start of August.

With that said, it does make you ask questions. Is there the audience numbers to play the game? Is there an interest from the OUYA owners to play this game? What are the expectations of the OUYA audience? Is it the same as the audience for a web game? Do OUYA themselves even want the games from developers like me on their console?

I can, of course, only speak for myself - but the constant posts of kickstarters that may or may not come to the OUYA, the lack of feedback/interest in the individuals that are creating for the OUYA, seemingly little interest from OUYA themselves, and my own experience (I'll be the first to admit my game i not unique or graphically impressive), are the reasons I have little to know interest in making something for the OUYA right at this moment.

It would not surprise me if some of the things I've experienced are the reason the Upcoming section of this forum is perceived as quiet.