Developers speak: The Ouya, four months later

**vatigo** · 10-24-2013

Check out what the devs say about the sales on OUYA after 4 months:
http://gamasutra.com/view/news/20296...nths_later.php

Most are content with their sales, but no one got rich - except maybe Matt (Towerfall), but they didn't interview him

Some expected their games to get more sales.

**ezraanderson** · 10-24-2013

~
Cool thanks for the post

**seiseki** · 10-24-2013

It's interesting reading the comments about the store and pricing..

I think this is a big issue, you can't really judge a game if you don't know what they're asking for it.
You also don't really feel like you own the games when they're "free".
And you can't have special sales, which usually helps indie games a lot and entices buying, when everything is "free".
You also can't have bundles, like the humble bundle, which could also help sales and interest for the OUYA.

I say drop this free thing all together, it doesn't work and it won't help the console in the long run.
Sure, force every game to have a demo, that's fine, but please write a price on the store front, f2p games can be labeled as 'f2p' and free games as 'free'.
Because this whole thing is just bad for everyone involved.

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A positive sidenote though, it's great that it allows "Pay what you want" but that can still happen.

**Animan** · 10-24-2013

For additional data, Wrecking Balls Arena has had about 500+ individual downloads and only 6 "full-game" purchases since the game was released about 2.5 months ago. Currently, I have the price of the full game ($3.99) listed in the game's description on the store so people know how much the full version costs before they download the game, although for a long time it was "for sale for $2.99 until August 28th".

I see the "all games are free-to-play" system as a double-edged sword. On the one hand, there's plenty of awesome games I never would have played/bought if there wasn't the free version to try, but on the other hand it does have the good potential to decrease sales.

**mmartino** · 10-24-2013

Originally Posted by Animan

For additional data, Wrecking Balls Arena has had about 500+ individual downloads and only 6 "full-game" purchases since the game was released about 2.5 months ago. Currently, I have the price of the full game ($3.99) listed in the game's description on the store so people know how much the full version costs before they download the game, although for a long time it was "for sale for $2.99 until August 28th".

See this is a good example of why I do think not publishing the price is the way to go... at least not right up front. I saw Wrecking Balls Arena but saw the 3.99 price and a screenshot and thought, "nope not worth it" and moved on. For all I know it is the best game on the system. Other games I just install, try, and if I like it I then look at the price and decide if what I played would be worth it. While having no price in Discover is frustrating, once you get past it/used to it, it really seems like a great idea.

Just wanted to add that even though I just spoke in favor of no pricing, I also wanted to add that Ouya does need to redesign how they handle it. As mentioned before things such as timed sales and bundled packs would be a nightmare to find with the current scheme. It just would be nice to know when games go on sale and all in Discover

**seiseki** · 10-24-2013

Well I do think we buy with our eyes as much as anything else..
But the price also sets expectations, a low price lowers your expectations.
A low price might also entice you to try something you wouldn't otherwise..

**Kaimega** · 10-24-2013

Originally Posted by seiseki

Well I do think we buy with our eyes as much as anything else..
But the price also sets expectations, a low price lowers your expectations.
A low price might also entice you to try something you wouldn't otherwise..

A lower price may also deduce that the game isn't worth playing if it is priced so low. Honestly I like the free to try system they currently have, because it actually gets me buying things I would never have if judging by price and screenshots. I have been smoked one-too-many times when it comes to buying games (be it 60$ or only a couple) Screenshots, videos, and a up front price just doesn't cut it. Anyone can make a game look like it plays well, but playing the game yourself is a whole other story.

On top of that, demos tend to play differently than the retail games as well. Because demos are just that, demos. Most companies don't actually take a chunk of the final stable game and release it. They take a part of the game that they feel is most polished and show it off. Gameplay elements, controls, etc tend to change when the final game is out. That is why I like the paywall system devs use because you get your demo fix, and it is part of the main game so you know what to expect (more or less).

**Hugo** · 10-24-2013

Originally Posted by Kaimega

A lower price may also deduce that the game isn't worth playing if it is priced so low. Honestly I like the free to try system they currently have, because it actually gets me buying things I would never have if judging by price and screenshots. I have been smoked one-too-many times when it comes to buying games (be it 60$ or only a couple) Screenshots, videos, and a up front price just doesn't cut it. Anyone can make a game look like it plays well, but playing the game yourself is a whole other story.

On top of that, demos tend to play differently than the retail games as well. Because demos are just that, demos. Most companies don't actually take a chunk of the final stable game and release it. They take a part of the game that they feel is most polished and show it off. Gameplay elements, controls, etc tend to change when the final game is out. That is why I like the paywall system devs use because you get your demo fix, and it is part of the main game so you know what to expect (more or less).

In contrast, the issue that I have with the Ouya is that paying for the game still feels like you're playing the demo. This is why I've purchased practically nothing. That, and the genre that I like is essentially dead on this platform as far as any discernible quality is concerned.