How to install sideloaded Apps that require Cache / data files on Ouya???

[Brian Bresler]

I've seen a million conversations online about sideloading apps that also require data / cache files onto the Ouya,

but i have yet to see even one full explanation of how to do this.

Every explanation i've seen is either so terribly worded that it's impossible to follow whatever the heck they're talking about,

or is explained in a way that assumes that the reader has been sideloading apps with data files for years, leaving out KEY details of the process.



Can someone, anyone, PLEASE, just lay it out nice and simple for a newb here; it would be so very very much appreciated.



THANK YOU!

[Paul Laimal-Convoy]

I think you might mean "obb" files. Data files are normally created by the game as it is installed by the app or game.

Usually, most apps for android that require a big file are split up into an "apk" and an "obb" file. the apk is small because Google PLay has limits for app size. Thus some games then use their own servers to download extra data needed for it to run just after the game is installed and booted up for the first time. THis method can nalso be used as a form of copy protection, as some games will only run if the obb file is downloaded and authenticated by their servers.

Sideloaded games that need such data, need an obb folder to be manually downloaded. these are usually refererred to as "data", so you will see "GAME NAME HERE.apk + Data" in wares sites or other naughty places.

Usually, the game will need the apk to be installed and the obb folder copied and pasted to the folder marked "android", then "obb" and then pasted down here. Sometimes, as is the case with the ouya, you might need to put the obb in the same folder, but in the external harddrive instead of the internal memory (if you've got an external drive, that is). However, some games will not run this way and must be saved to internal memory, but this seems to vary from ouya to ouya.

---

I just found a video that might be useful. If it isn't, there are quite a few others at youtube that are probably more so

- :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSoG2PYigCU

(NOTE TO DEVS: My apologies for double-posting, but due to the fact that this site often boots me out during long posts and after I leave the site, and the problems that Dolphin browser has wiuth copy and paste (it will always put pasted things at the top of the text entry box before any text already written and/or cannot copy text already written in text entry fields all of the time), I posted a seperate post...

[BrEmerican]

Thanks!

But wait a tic: by external drive, do you mean like on a USB stick?

Would i then have to create an Android folder, and an Obb folder within that, on my usb stick, and place the obb file in there;
as well as having that same folder setup with another copy of that obb file in it on the internal memory as well?

Or just one or the other?


(This is Brian by the way, i just finally made an account instead of logging in through facebook)


and I'm guessing if the apk is on internal, then the obb would need to be on the internal too;
and if the apk were on external, the obb would then have to be on the external as well?

____________
(edit)
..now i'm confusing myself; i'm not even sure what i was trying to ask LOL

I'll just watch that video and see if I can figure anything out.

thanks!


___________
(update)

Finally figured it out!!

Thanks for the info!

[Paul Laimal-Convoy]

First, just try putting the obb folder in the folder marked "android/obb" in the internal memory. If that doesnt work, create a similar folder (if the Ouya hasn't already) in the external USB memory and try from there.

So, to recap:

1/ Download an .apk file and the corresponding obb folder (which has a name like "com.GAMEPUBLISHERgamename"). These are usually in a zip folder, so you will need to extract them via a file manager app on the Ouya or via your PC and then have them ready to transfer to your Ouya via USB stick or similar method.

2/ Put the obb folder into the "Android" and then "obb" folder (you will see "obb" next to "data". Do NOT put it in the data folder!)

3/ Click on the apk file now and install it.

4/ If the game has installed OK, it will now work. If the copy protection is not happy, the game requires you to put it in the equivilent folder in your external memory or some other reason, you might get a message stating that "the data has not downloaded" or equivalent.

Please bear in mind that the Ouya is a tempermental beast and for me games that worked fine one week will not sideload the next.

Have a go anyway.