Skyrim on Ouya? New console's founders want to know what YOU want to play on it

Incredible pledged figure keeps rising and makes the possibilities all the more exciting

Words: Justin Towell on July 13, 2012

Ouya, the new $99 games console that's already been funded four times over on Kickstarter is now suddenly a world of possibilities. With $4million already pledged and still some 26 days to go until the kickstarter closes at the time of writing, the team behind the new machine is re-evaluating what it can actually do. So it's made a survey.

The survey is asking a simple question: Tell us which games you want to see on OUYA. But we're not talking about typical Android fare like Angry Birds, or ports of iOS games like Infinity Blade. We're talking about big hitters like Final Fantasy, Grand Theft Auto and even Skyrim.

Above: Look out, Skyrim! You're being kited with a new shout: "OUYA!"

It is truly amazing how quickly this console concept has taken root in the collective gaming consciousness. A cheap base price, USB ports, controller support, HDMI out and an Android OS that's 100% open and hackable - even the screws that hold it together can be undone with a regular screwdriver. It's everything modern consoles have tried so hard not to be, and it's massively refreshing.

But can a game like Skyrim really run convincingly on a $99 Android-based console? With the pledged amount increasing so rapidly, it is possible that the machine's specs will get a boost. But whether Bethesda spends the time and money porting the game to Android remains to be seen. Sounds about as likely as an iPhone port to us. And how would you make Skyrim 'free to try'? One of the console's big selling points is that everything on it has to be free or free to try.

Above: Way more successful than anyone could have hoped. Now come the questions

The 20 games (some of which appear to be series, not actual games) on the list are: FIFA, Limbo, Battlefield, Skyrim, Timesplitters, Call of Duty, Need for Speed, Final Fantasy, Bastion, Mass Effect, Grand Theft Auto, League of Legends, Fez, Assassins Creed, Minecraft, Super Meat Boy, Terraria, Torchlight, Battletoads and Dungeon Defenders.

We're not sure why Battletoads is on there (and it does ring a few alarm bells when TimeSplitters is written as 'Timesplitter') and Minecraft has already been announced for the machine. But if there's any possibility of fare like Skyrim coming to the machine, we're interested.

There are also spaces underneath the list where you can put your own requests. We want Shenmue III. Apparently anything can happen with Kickstarter.

What do you think the likelihood is of seeing Skyrim (or Battletoads) on the Ouya? Let us know in the comments.

Platforms:

Xbox 360, PC, PS3

Topics:

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Ouya

31 comments

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chase-kirby - October 18, 2012 5:32 a.m.

everyone keeps complaining about the graphics personally i dont think they look all that bad plus you can upgrade the hardware and if it does cloud streaming like there saying it will have better graphics than anything out there. You give me battletoads and i'll give you $99 for a ouya!
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JayQ - July 13, 2012 2:01 p.m.

See, just looking at that list of games tells me that the majority of people who contributed to this kickstarter are expecting this thing to be something it's not. There is no way the Ouya can run Skyrim, GTA, Battlefield, Mass Effect, or Call of Duty unless your talking about some crappy mobile versions.
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ChaosEternal - July 14, 2012 8:10 a.m.

Absolutely. It makes me wonder, just how deluded are these people? Are they really promising $99 when they seem to have no understanding about the console or its capabilities? It made me kind of sad to see that. >_>
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MrSythe - July 16, 2012 1:10 p.m.

It is possible because the Ouya can be hardware upgradable i.e graphics card, cpu,and motherboard. And you will still be under the warranty "For hackers: root it. Go ahead. Your warranty is safe. Even the hardware is hackable. Want to get inside? You’ll need a standard screwdriver and nothing more. Go to town. We have standard USB ports and Bluetooth, so you’ll even be able to create your own peripherals." -http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ouya/ouya-a-new-kind-of-video-game-console
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tompie - July 17, 2012 6 a.m.

So ... You kinda could also just hook up your computer to your TV then? Or am I missing something?
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MetroidPrimeRib - July 13, 2012 11:56 a.m.

IT HAS A FUCKING TEGRA A TEGRA IT WON'T RUN SHIT
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goggamanxp - July 13, 2012 11:23 a.m.

Does anybody know if the Ouya will hit retail shelves in the U.S.? Does anybody know if the Ouya will have the ability to plug in a USB hub and plug in a few thumb drives to it? And I know that this one is a longshot, but will you be able to hook up Xbox 360 gamepads to the Ouya for extra controllers? (Of course this would only be compatible for games that don't use the Ouya's touchpad)
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boondocks50 - July 13, 2012 10:27 a.m.

shenmue 3 for me as well, if they promise me that ill raise them more money than they thought possible
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etherealshadow - July 13, 2012 9:50 a.m.

I love the idea of an open console. I really really do support their idea, and I love that they have gotten this much support. Hopefully it'll at least turn a few heads in the industry and show what gamers really want. However, the console just doesn't have the power to keep up with modern consoles. Not to mention the next gen is right around the corner. This thing is already obsolete as far as its hardware goes, and that's the bit that worries me. However, as I said, I love the idea of it. I really hope a bigger company can come in and support these guys or at least their ideas, and hopefully make a truly modern console based on the idea of it being open. Who knows, maybe valve will see the popularity of this thing and we just might see a steam-based console with similar philosophies the ouya has shown really are popular among gamers. :crosses fingers: Come on Gabe, just give me this one.
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tompie - July 13, 2012 9:26 a.m.

Currently their Kickstarter states it'll have 1GB RAM. Seriously, I don't see it possible to run any recent AAA title with 1GB RAM, let alone Skyrim.
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goggamanxp - July 13, 2012 11:06 a.m.

The X-box 360 and PS3 have 512MB of ram, so it wouldn't be that hard to run Skyrim on the Ouya. Skyrim's graphics would be a little worse than the xbox 360 and ps3 versions, but you would be able to apply mods to skyrim on the Ouya since the Ouya is open to hacking, and plus, the console is only $100. But either way I wouldn't get Skyrim for the Ouya because I have the PC version and it runs well on my PC.
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tiben36 - July 13, 2012 3:53 p.m.

the cell and xbox processor's (i dont remember the name) are usede both for graphic and processing power considering the cell is the equivalent of around 5 gb of *raw* ram (as if its used without a graphical interface, mind you), i think its pretty fair to say that this HOAH console is shit when i see this console, i think about this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV4v-3i5pPU
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chavbuster1 - July 13, 2012 8:56 a.m.

If it can run Skyrim as well as an Xbox, as well as provide access to pc mods on this new console, then I would give them my first born child. I just don't have like $10,000 lying around in my booty-pipe for a gaming PC :(
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Evanesco - July 13, 2012 7:16 a.m.

If it runs skyrim, and skyrim isn't glitchy, or has the shitty graphical bugs or draw distance issues it's current console versions have, I'll buy it in a heartbeat.
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Hydrohs - July 13, 2012 6:51 a.m.

I think many people fail to realize that large publishers and developers really like how current consoles work, a closed environment. The closed environment helps protect their game from running in ways that weren't intended, or by being decompiled. The people backing this project are more than likely thinking "Cheap console with free games, awesome!" without thinking that it couldn't possibly replace what we've already got. Sure, there will be some great indie and lower budget games I would imagine, but they'll also be available for the phone you probably already have.
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into the sound - July 13, 2012 6:33 a.m.

Battletoads forever. No but seriously I wanna see some interesting indie stuff. I've already got a PS3, 360 & Wii, so why would I get an OUYA if not for their exclusives?
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wheresmymonkey - July 13, 2012 6:04 a.m.

Bethesda will port Skyrim if enought people want it and the hardware can handle it. the current specs of the OUYA probably can't but if they used the extra money to beef the machine up a bit they might do. As far as giving away free trials of games it's not like its anything new. You can already download essentailly timed trials of serveral PS3 games on PSN. If you have a plus a ccont considering the machines going to be digital only i'm going to assume that it'll work the exact same way.
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TheHowetzer - July 13, 2012 6 a.m.

I appreciate being kept up to date on this project, thank you. As far as the questions about games like Skyrim etc, I think its pretty obvious that those exact games will NOT be seen on this set up, but what about games that are or would be very similar? Perhaps they are simply trying to gather information from potential clients? Either way it seems like this might just take off. Of course we'll see.
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fourteenaha - July 13, 2012 5:41 a.m.

It does seem a little silly to expect Skyrim, Mass Effect et al to run on those specs, especially as so many already own it on other systems. Why would they want to port it, and what would actually be left? I could definitely see a version of Timesplitters working however. It fits the free-to-play format nicely, as so much is based around unlocking character skins with varying attributes. Charging people for the full set of monkey characters? Definitely a money maker. Equally, custom weapons, map packs, publisher made missions are easily doable, along side the user generated creativity.
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fourteenaha - July 13, 2012 5:44 a.m.

While something like Timesplitters is feasible, would rather see it as a full retail game on PS3/Xbox/Wii U of course
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