still worth? - Xperia Play General

Hello guys
my first android was a Motorola Atrix, then a Atrix 2, now i have the samsung Galaxy S duos, but i saw the Xperia play with friend(for the first time) and i loved play with him.
i want to buy a new one, my Galaxy is more expensive than a Xperia play so i can "change" and doesnt waste nothing, but i want to know if it has problems or i can buy without hesitating.
so it have problems like... my earlyer Atrix have a fingerprint reader but with ICS it have issues...
thanks

mucego said:
Hello guys
my first android was a Motorola Atrix, then a Atrix 2, now i have the samsung Galaxy S duos, but i saw the Xperia play with friend(for the first time) and i loved play with him.
i want to buy a new one, my Galaxy is more expensive than a Xperia play so i can "change" and doesnt waste nothing, but i want to know if it has problems or i can buy without hesitating.
so it have problems like... my earlyer Atrix have a fingerprint reader but with ICS it have issues...
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would recommend getting a more powerful phone and using a bluetooth controller. The play is really outdated now IMHO.

chick3n564 said:
I would recommend getting a more powerful phone and using a bluetooth controller. The play is really outdated now IMHO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd probably do this aswell
Sent from my R800i using xda app-developers app

Right now it's not a smart choice. Yes, its gamepad it's a gem to play anywhere but its official rom it's outdated and has some limitations about RAM and internal memory.
If you want to sort these limitations you will have to take some time installing a custom rom and tuning the configuration so, imho, if you don't mind about try some custom roms and you can find it cheap then go ahead, otherwise look for a more logical choice.

Since there is absolutely, positively not a single Bluetooth gamepad on this planet with as much software support as Xperia Play has, it's still the best choice for gamers.
There's a lotta better specs out there, but with so little necessitating all that power, their best use is for... well... **** measuring. Xperia Play handles things just fine with what it has regardless of whether it's old or new. Doesn't legally get 4.x.x, but since this is not iOS, we have many app supplements that net us 4.x.x features...and we get that extraordinary stability/software support that was compromised by newer FWs.
Honestly, I don't know the first thing about tweaks, yet my YouTube is constantly blown up with questions about what I do to make my Xperia Play so smooth. All I've ever been doing is running a debloated stock ROM to get iPhone-tier fluidity...and with link2sd, the onboard storage complaint even becomes invalid.
Only thing I wouldn't recommend is using a contract upgrade on a phone that's so low-cost... and that's just 'cause there's more strategic ways to work the system.
The Xperia Play is; however, still a good phone.
Sent from my R800a using xda app-developers app

tbh, if you can put up with a few fps drops here and there on heavy 3d games (e.g. modern combat, wild blood, dark knight rises, gta etc) and also play them at low settings then its a good gaming phone. Yes the hardware is outdated but if you get a custom ROM and then overclock your phone then it should be alright.

Honestly the phone feel fairly smooth using stock or NXT rom. If you use a light rom or debloat it, it feel smooth overall. It only slow down once you install custom ICS or JB roms.
The one thing I miss is can't do is play high bitrates HD movies like newer phones. Also having to stay on GB you get the speed, but miss out ICS features and apps that aren't compatible with GB.
Sent from my R800i

mucego said:
Hello guys
my first android was a Motorola Atrix, then a Atrix 2, now i have the samsung Galaxy S duos, but i saw the Xperia play with friend(for the first time) and i loved play with him.
i want to buy a new one, my Galaxy is more expensive than a Xperia play so i can "change" and doesnt waste nothing, but i want to know if it has problems or i can buy without hesitating.
so it have problems like... my earlyer Atrix have a fingerprint reader but with ICS it have issues...
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check this thread and post No.5

TLRtheory said:
Since there is absolutely, positively not a single Bluetooth gamepad on this planet with as much software support as Xperia Play has, it's still the best choice for gamers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to be a **** or anything, but I'm gonna have to disagree with you on that one. The MOGA in my opinion is starting to gain a ton of support from developers and the hardware itself works very well. When you couple this with the MOGA universal IME app, it gains all the capabilities of the ps3 controller. I love my Play, but I will take my GSIII and MOGA over the Play when playing Dead Trigger any day.
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LegionTHEFecalExcretion said:
Not to be a **** or anything, but I'm gonna have to disagree with you on that one. The MOGA in my opinion is starting to gain a ton of support from developers and the hardware itself works very well. When you couple this with the MOGA universal IME app, it gains all the capabilities of the ps3 controller. I love my Play, but I will take my GSIII and MOGA over the Play when playing Dead Trigger any day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I disagree with that. We were sent a couple of MOGA's to use/review with are Xperia S, T and V but find for portable gaming it just does not work as good as you would want.
To start with the connection takes along time to kick in and then disconnects time to time during game play (Normally with Gameloft games). Having the MOGA app always running in the background gives the system more to process which cause's lag in games, they also seam to have a mined of their own (Keep moving in the same direction after you let go and are very inaccurate overall). The controller is not supported as a generic HID device meaning you need a 3rd party app and root to be able to play emulators and Non MOGA support games.
The other issues are to do with the physical form. The weight when the controller holds a phone is unevenly distributed (The phone weights a lot more then the controller meaning its top heavy (Not great for long periods of gaming), that's why there is a lip on the back of the controller to prop it all up. The sticks are stiff with no grip (Easy grip fix, take the foam pads out so they cup round your finger) and are useless for any FPS (Try out online multiplayer MC4, Nova 3). The lack of buttons (No d-pad, No L2, R2) and plus the fact you need AAA battery's to power it (Not ideal).
I could go on and on but Moga is no competition for the Xperia Play (purpose built for gaming, not an add-on) . If on public transport and want to play a quick game, its much better to slide the play open and play compared to getting the MOGA out of your bag or pocket, turn on bluetooth, clip in phone, wait for moga to connect to device and so on.
The list of games are on the increase but still only around 40 compared to the 400 on the Xperia Play. Its a novel way to play games at the moment and that's why some game developers are supporting it. But cant see this being a long time thing.

IMO ps3 pad with gameklip is the best setup maybe not so portable but for actually gaming its better than the xperia play
Sent from my R800i using xda app-developers app

Wow, I honestly think that you both got a bad unit and haven't spent much time with it since launch.
First of all, in regards to the game selection, its true if you only use the company provided Pivot app, it only supports around 50 games. But what you are forgetting/ignoring is the MOGA universal driver app that makes it work as a standard HID controller just like the ps3 that allows it to play ANY game that works with HID contollers plus act as an ime that can emulate PLAY controls. There is not a single Play game that I cannot play without controls on my SGS III. Not a single one. This includes emulators. I can even use gamekeyboard if I wanted. I like my play too, but you are just ignoring the facts here.
Second, the connection honestly takes around 2-3 seconds for me and I have NEVER had a disconnect, not once. I have run quadrant with the pivot app and without and have seen no noticable difference, and it is the same with gameplay. I have one of the heaviest devices available and it does not seem top heavy at all. I think the comment people make about the sticks being stick is due to the fact that it is a smaller controller than normal so of course the sticks would have less travel area, it is just a matter of getting used to it just like it was with the Play touchpads. I have played several FPS's with the pad, MC4, Dead Trigger, Shadowgun, ETC, and have actually been impressed at the sensitivity and ease of use.
The argument that it is a pain to carry around is I think a weak one as it easily fits into any coat pocket and is smaller than some android phones Ive owned. I have used it daily for weeks now.
Again, I can play every Play game out there, so I feel like I my gaming experience just got way better. I also got a laugh of you calling it a novelty that wont catch on, thats what they said about the Play too.
Anyways, just a few thoughts, no offense meant my friend.
---------- Post added at 09:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:22 AM ----------
ILikeTheWayYouMove2 said:
IMO ps3 pad with gameklip is the best setup maybe not so portable but for actually gaming its better than the xperia play
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, ever since the MOGA got ps3 controller capability, I was in heaven.

LegionTHEFecalExcretion said:
Not to be a **** or anything, but I'm gonna have to disagree with you on that one. The MOGA in my opinion is starting to gain a ton of support from developers and the hardware itself works very well. When you couple this with the MOGA universal IME app, it gains all the capabilities of the ps3 controller. I love my Play, but I will take my GSIII and MOGA over the Play when playing Dead Trigger any day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually got my father a MOGA to go along with the EVO 3D I got him... and I'd actually even agree that it's support is far above and beyond the rest of those BT controllers... and I hope to see it get even more support because I'll likely get one for myself come January when my upgrade is available... but at the time being, not even the universal IME app brings it anywhere near being even a fourth of what the Xperia Play is.
From personal experience, I can vouch for the statement that it does greatly expand what it can be done outside of the pivot app, but it doesn't have all the specialized support Xperia Play has from having hardware menu navigation and all the precision of games tweaked to work especially with it's hardware, which results in cases like a *generic-converted* Eternal Legacy requiring an incredibly awkward form of still having to mostly use the touch-screen. While I didn't particularly find it as uncomfortable as poo-tang, the clip didn't really seem like it was designed to accomodate any kind of phone that has decent protection... meaning that my father was put in an awkward position where he'd either lose the convenience of his MOGA clip, or lose the protection of his EVO's ballistic case... this is particularly frustrating because I can use all the high-end protection that I want without sacrificing. Then the actual pivot app itself and the games involved don't seem entirely foolproof without all the tweaking options Xperia Play's given... NOVA 3, for example, has more natural feeling aiming... and all that aside, it's missing a major method of locomotion control by lacking that d-pad (which is a huge deal for precise input in 2D games). On a lesser note, I was quite shocked to find that it uses AAA batteries as opposed to having a rechargeable lithium like iControlPad does.
I do like the MOGA a lot more than other solutions because - honestly - even with all the minuses, there's still no other option on the market that allows well-done controls outside of just emulating tons of old content. Any cheap piece of plastic can emulate nowadays but the Xperia Play brought something truly special where we could play present-gen games like Wild Blood with physical controls, and the MOGA's actually picking up a lot of support for that audience with striking momentum. For that I give the MOGA credit above the iControlPad, Gametel, 60Beat, Red Samurai, Nyko Playpad and all others... but it's got a looooooong way to go before it's up there with Xperia Play... and with the ever-lasting hardware limitation (plus the burden of pairing per every game session), it may not even be possible that the MOGA can ever be up there with Xperia Play.

I will definitely agree that the lack of a true dpad is a disadvantage. There is a larger edition coming out later that has one built in, but its bigger which is both good and bad, but at least theres a choice I guess.
One thing that has actually made it not bad at all for me is the analog stick is very sensitive so as soon as there is any movement at all to either the left or right axis it registers immediately, something Metal Slug on my phone can attest to. I am not just saying this, platformers have not been an issue at all. What kind of case does your father use? I am using the shell/holster combo case and have not had it have problems.
I have never been a fan of shooters on the play, touch pad was always a frustrating experience at best and a nightmare at worse, at least for fps's. Twin Stick shooter kick ass on the play.
You mention a "everlasting hardware limitation" could you elaborate? Wouldn't the same apply to any game console, even the play? In other words, you can't upgrade hardware with an ota, which I know you know Im just illustrating my point.
Pushing the power button and then opening the pivot/universal ime app is a bit less seamless than sliding out the gamepad but I don't think it takes away from the experience. I have the whole process down to about 5 seconds before I pick my game.

Related

Cametel (detachable gamepad) = xPlay competition

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Not sure if it has a touchpad but it has similar looking oval area as on our Plays. If it does maybe more and more games will support the touchpad.
I still prefer integrated xperia Play solution
There's plenty of alternatives out there. Its the fact that its incorporated and is actually nice looking
Sent from my R800i using XDA App
Honestly, I don't even consider that thing to be a viable competition to the Xperia PLAY.
This has been done before quite a few times... and none of them ever get to the point that Xperia PLAY has because they barely get past old, outdated emulator content. A good controller solution actually has to bring a system's own games beyond mediocrity... this'll half-work with a couple general keyboard-compatible games like Zenonia, but it's not breaking any mold that Xperia PLAY didn't break twice.
• Flaw #1: Peripherals are cumbersome!: First and foremost, who wants to have to carry around an additional device with their cellphone and have to do on-field assembly every time they wanna play a game? Not only that, but with the time any proper gaming device has already started up, owners of this would still be left dickin' around with the pairing/connection process.
• Flaw #2: Bluetooth Connection Drains Battery Life: Battery life for gaming is beyond decent on Xperia PLAY thanks to a lot of optimizing technology (the screen, the Elpida chip, etc)... for most other Android phones, however, battery life is crap... and even crappier for gaming. I don't know if you've ever tried out the current BT controller solutions (BGP100, iControlPad) but this equates to even worse battery when you've got a constant BT connection going.
• Flaw #3: Lack of Analogs: The major revolution of the Xperia PLAY is that we get to see so many games get a hit of true dual-analog a generation early. The OpenPandora and iControlPad also attempted this, but the game selection didn't go past emulated content... so neither of them really broke any mold. Xperia PLAY, on the other hand, allows true dual analog control on games of THIS generation. Of course Gameloft's quality is iffy at times, but when these touch-pads fall in the hands of a competent developer, we get experiences like Dead Space that are absolutely on another level compared to their touch-screen counterparts.
• Flaw #4: Game Selection ALWAYS Sucks: This is, by far and large, the biggest reason these all never skyrocket. These solutions always work well for emulators, but barely ever anything more. When a user buys something like the iControlPador one of these, this should mean that they never, ever have to put up with trying to control a system's own fighting games, platformers or FPS with touch screen nonsense (SFIV: Volt, KoF-i) again. Xperia PLAY delivers on this front.
This Gametel thing, however, will leave 'ya hangin' in the past... with all those famously imbalanced old-school fighters, horribly-translated/imbalanced/slow-paced RPGs that we probably wouldn't have played if we were old enough to have a grasp on quality, platformers with the most ridiculous physics ever, all those horrid aberrations of tried-and-failed control schemes that came with past-gen FPS... and even if we do happen to enjoy it, it a short-winded humor for the nostagia-drunken at best... and if we were to be honest, we've probably all gone through the trials of downloading a bunch of emulators we barely ever use.
Xperia PLAY; on the other hand, doesn't have to piggyback off the successes of SNES/PSX/GBA/GB/GEN/N64/GG/SMS generation because it already has near 200 games playable with it's controls. It's a badass emulator, but it's the only solution out there that actually has some lasting appeal after people sober up from their nostalgic intoxication and realize how poorly their old school games aged.
Long story short... this ain't got **** on the Xperia PLAY. Not even close.
TLRtheory said:
Honestly, I don't even consider that thing to be a viable competition to the Xperia PLAY.
This has been done before quite a few times... and none of them ever get to the point that Xperia PLAY has because they barely get past old, outdated emulator content. A good controller solution actually has to bring a system's own games beyond mediocrity... this'll half-work with a couple general keyboard-compatible games like Zenonia, but it's not breaking any mold that Xperia PLAY didn't break twice.
• Flaw #1: Peripherals are cumbersome!: First and foremost, who wants to have to carry around an additional device with their cellphone and have to do on-field assembly every time they wanna play a game? Not only that, but with the time any proper gaming device has already started up, owners of this would still be left dickin' around with the pairing/connection process.
• Flaw #2: Bluetooth Connection Drains Battery Life: Battery life for gaming is beyond decent on Xperia PLAY thanks to a lot of optimizing technology (the screen, the Elpida chip, etc)... for most other Android phones, however, battery life is crap... and even crappier for gaming. I don't know if you've ever tried out the current BT controller solutions (BGP100, iControlPad) but this equates to even worse battery when you've got a constant BT connection going.
• Flaw #3: Lack of Analogs: The major revolution of the Xperia PLAY is that we get to see so many games get a hit of true dual-analog a generation early. The OpenPandora and iControlPad also attempted this, but the game selection didn't go past emulated content... so neither of them really broke any mold. Xperia PLAY, on the other hand, allows true dual analog control on games of THIS generation. Of course Gameloft's quality is iffy at times, but when these touch-pads fall in the hands of a competent developer, we get experiences like Dead Space that are absolutely on another level compared to their touch-screen counterparts.
• Flaw #4: Game Selection ALWAYS Sucks: This is, by far and large, the biggest reason these all never skyrocket. These solutions always work well for emulators, but barely ever anything more. When a user buys something like the iControlPador one of these, this should mean that they never, ever have to put up with trying to control a system's own fighting games, platformers or FPS with touch screen nonsense (SFIV: Volt, KoF-i) again. Xperia PLAY delivers on this front.
This Gametel thing, however, will leave 'ya hangin' in the past... with all those famously imbalanced old-school fighters, horribly-translated/imbalanced/slow-paced RPGs that we probably wouldn't have played if we were old enough to have a grasp on quality, platformers with the most ridiculous physics ever, all those horrid aberrations of tried-and-failed control schemes that came with past-gen FPS... and even if we do happen to enjoy it, it a short-winded humor for the nostagia-drunken at best... and if we were to be honest, we've probably all gone through the trials of downloading a bunch of emulators we barely ever use.
Xperia PLAY; on the other hand, doesn't have to piggyback off the successes of SNES/PSX/GBA/GB/GEN/N64/GG/SMS generation because it already has near 200 games playable with it's controls. It's a badass emulator, but it's the only solution out there that actually has some lasting appeal after people sober up from their nostalgic intoxication and realize how poorly their old school games aged.
Long story short... this ain't got **** on the Xperia PLAY. Not even close.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totally agree - but I was intrigued to see that they have this oval area which looks like our touchpad for analog controls - I think it is not functional on their's but I'm not sure. If their's is non-functional I think they would be better off not having this confusion and putting physical keyboard buttons instead. More people would justify purchasing it I think

Xperia Play: the next five years

When OnLive, the popular cloud gaming service, released a version of their client for Android phones and tablets last year, they offered a potential vision of the future, one where any mobile internet-connected device – no matter how gutless - gave you full access to top-tier games that looked just like current-gen PC and console games. Notice I said ‘potential’, for while the technology behind it is stupendous and its implementation is mind bogglingly effective, for all that it is hampered by one big downside: smartphones lack anything in the way of actual real buttons, d-pads and the like, so getting a complex FPS or racing game to work on something with just a touch screen is, as they say, nontrivial.
The insurmountable problem here is that touch-screen mobiles and tablets are not good platforms for traditional PC and console ports. “But what about Angry Birds, or Fruit Ninja, or any number of games that have earned Millions on mobile?” Well, yes, if you create a game from the ground up that takes advantage of what controls are there (gyroscope, basic touch gestures and so on) then it’s quite possible to craft an effective (albeit lightweight) game that’ll go on to sell like hot cakes. But just try playing R-Type with virtual controls: you can do it, but it’s no fun. It lacks any tactility and sooner or later you’re going to get wiped out once your finger reaches for a control but misses because your muscle memory just isn’t that good. Ok, there’s an OnLive gamepad in the wings which you’ll be able to tether to your device and while that will solve that problem, really, who is going to carry a gamepad around with them?
However right at the end of the year, OnLive then did something that inadvertently – almost accidentally – gave rise to one of, if not THE most significant gaming event of the year: one that went totally under everyone’s radar. You see, they very quietly pushed out a version of their Android client that had been tweaked to take advantage of the slide-out gamepad on the Sony Ericcson Xperia Play phone. Wait, what? That’s the most significant gaming event of the year? Bigger than the Wii U reveal? More important than the 3DS? Well, I think so. Read on.
Now I am aware that the Xperia Play has had a bit of a torrid time in its short life. It’s something of an oddity in the realm of smartphones: somewhere between a phone and a handheld console, it’s struggled to find purchase with gadget lovers and gamers alike, for a variety of reasons. From an insane price point at its release in May 2011, to criticisms on its sheer bulk, button placement (I’m looking at you, power button), down to the middling hardware specifications that were already outdated on release day.
If we were being particularly mean we could even try to draw parallels to Nokia’s implementation of a similar game-as-phone concept a decade or so back, the hideous N-Gage, a concept so poorly received and so badly implemented that they probably had to bury five million of the things next to the pile of Atari ET Cartridges buried in a Texan landfill. But the combination of the Xperia Play and OnLive – though both individually flawed in certain ways – together produce something utterly mesmerising, somehow more than the sum of its parts. Quite simply, it’s a revelation.
For, you see, all of these pros and cons paled into insignificance the moment OnLive ported their client to the Xperia Play. Suddenly there was a single solitary handheld mobile device, unique and distinct from anything else on the market, that could play current-gen console-standard games, and more to the point could deliver them without silly pretend on-screen controls, or wiimote hacks, or external controllers, or compromises. You just slide that slick gamepad out, launch OnLive, fire up your copy of Batman: Arkham City or Saints Row: The Third and enjoy high-fidelity PC-quality gaming.
For you see, this killer combination of OnLive, the Xperia Play and a capable internet connection delivers something you can’t get anywhere else: proper, full-fat, platform-agnostic gaming in one unit that will fit in your pocket. Nobody else does it. It’s a game-changer. It’s so ahead of its time that I suspect that no amount of waxing lyrical will alter the fact that this devastatingly effective combination will be totally overlooked by all and sundry. (That is, presumably, until Apple ‘invents’ the concept of integrated mobile cloud gaming in five years’ time – iPlay anyone? – everyone slaps their forehead, wonders why no-one else thought of the concept and we buy them in their millions.)
The Xperia Play needed OnLive, and OnLive needed the Xperia Play, though neither would have admitted it. The Xperia Play has finally found its raison d’être, a unique reason or "killer app" to buy it over any other phone, or portable games console for that matter. And in OnLive’s case, it gives it a reason for existing: what’s the point of playing games through OnLive on a computer that probably could have played those games natively anyway? It only begins to make sense in environments away from the raw processing power of your Desktop Computer, and never more so than on the Xperia Play.
While there are certainly plenty of devices that will run OnLive, none do it with the ease, perfection and panache of this quirky little device. It also future proofs it: If Sony stopped selling it tomorrow, even if everyone stopped writing games that support it, as long as OnLive keep going you’ll get a constant stream of bona fide, triple-A games coming your way. And for Xperia Play owners, it even puts an end to the mobile arms race – it simply doesn’t matter that newer phones with faster dual and quad core processors come out every other five minutes. As the games are rendered on OnLive’s servers rather than on the device, it means that you can ignore all of that nonsense as it simply isn’t important any more. Now that’s a game changer.
Our device is not perfect until the Playstation suite is out.
Thats very fanboi of you to say. Fck $ony
I agree that services like OnLive greatly expand gaming possibilities.
I would like hardware updates that improve style and also non-gaming functionality. Plus there will be games that just won't work with an OnLive type of setup.
An HDMI port would be great in the next iteration as well as more RAM. A better camera would also be great.
flat_steve said:
When OnLive, the popular cloud gaming service, released a version of their client for Android phones and tablets last year, they offered a potential vision of the future, one where any mobile internet-connected device – no matter how gutless - gave you full access to top-tier games that looked just like current-gen PC and console games. Notice I said ‘potential’, for while the technology behind it is stupendous and its implementation is mind bogglingly effective, for all that it is hampered by one big downside: smartphones lack anything in the way of actual real buttons, d-pads and the like, so getting a complex FPS or racing game to work on something with just a touch screen is, as they say, nontrivial.
The insurmountable problem here is that touch-screen mobiles and tablets are not good platforms for traditional PC and console ports. “But what about Angry Birds, or Fruit Ninja, or any number of games that have earned Millions on mobile?” Well, yes, if you create a game from the ground up that takes advantage of what controls are there (gyroscope, basic touch gestures and so on) then it’s quite possible to craft an effective (albeit lightweight) game that’ll go on to sell like hot cakes. But just try playing R-Type with virtual controls: you can do it, but it’s no fun. It lacks any tactility and sooner or later you’re going to get wiped out once your finger reaches for a control but misses because your muscle memory just isn’t that good. Ok, there’s an OnLive gamepad in the wings which you’ll be able to tether to your device and while that will solve that problem, really, who is going to carry a gamepad around with them?
However right at the end of the year, OnLive then did something that inadvertently – almost accidentally – gave rise to one of, if not THE most significant gaming event of the year: one that went totally under everyone’s radar. You see, they very quietly pushed out a version of their Android client that had been tweaked to take advantage of the slide-out gamepad on the Sony Ericcson Xperia Play phone. Wait, what? That’s the most significant gaming event of the year? Bigger than the Wii U reveal? More important than the 3DS? Well, I think so. Read on.
Now I am aware that the Xperia Play has had a bit of a torrid time in its short life. It’s something of an oddity in the realm of smartphones: somewhere between a phone and a handheld console, it’s struggled to find purchase with gadget lovers and gamers alike, for a variety of reasons. From an insane price point at its release in May 2011, to criticisms on its sheer bulk, button placement (I’m looking at you, power button), down to the middling hardware specifications that were already outdated on release day.
If we were being particularly mean we could even try to draw parallels to Nokia’s implementation of a similar game-as-phone concept a decade or so back, the hideous N-Gage, a concept so poorly received and so badly implemented that they probably had to bury five million of the things next to the pile of Atari ET Cartridges buried in a Texan landfill. But the combination of the Xperia Play and OnLive – though both individually flawed in certain ways – together produce something utterly mesmerising, somehow more than the sum of its parts. Quite simply, it’s a revelation.
For, you see, all of these pros and cons paled into insignificance the moment OnLive ported their client to the Xperia Play. Suddenly there was a single solitary handheld mobile device, unique and distinct from anything else on the market, that could play current-gen console-standard games, and more to the point could deliver them without silly pretend on-screen controls, or wiimote hacks, or external controllers, or compromises. You just slide that slick gamepad out, launch OnLive, fire up your copy of Batman: Arkham City or Saints Row: The Third and enjoy high-fidelity PC-quality gaming.
For you see, this killer combination of OnLive, the Xperia Play and a capable internet connection delivers something you can’t get anywhere else: proper, full-fat, platform-agnostic gaming in one unit that will fit in your pocket. Nobody else does it. It’s a game-changer. It’s so ahead of its time that I suspect that no amount of waxing lyrical will alter the fact that this devastatingly effective combination will be totally overlooked by all and sundry. (That is, presumably, until Apple ‘invents’ the concept of integrated mobile cloud gaming in five years’ time – iPlay anyone? – everyone slaps their forehead, wonders why no-one else thought of the concept and we buy them in their millions.)
The Xperia Play needed OnLive, and OnLive needed the Xperia Play, though neither would have admitted it. The Xperia Play has finally found its raison d’être, a unique reason or "killer app" to buy it over any other phone, or portable games console for that matter. And in OnLive’s case, it gives it a reason for existing: what’s the point of playing games through OnLive on a computer that probably could have played those games natively anyway? It only begins to make sense in environments away from the raw processing power of your Desktop Computer, and never more so than on the Xperia Play.
While there are certainly plenty of devices that will run OnLive, none do it with the ease, perfection and panache of this quirky little device. It also future proofs it: If Sony stopped selling it tomorrow, even if everyone stopped writing games that support it, as long as OnLive keep going you’ll get a constant stream of bona fide, triple-A games coming your way. And for Xperia Play owners, it even puts an end to the mobile arms race – it simply doesn’t matter that newer phones with faster dual and quad core processors come out every other five minutes. As the games are rendered on OnLive’s servers rather than on the device, it means that you can ignore all of that nonsense as it simply isn’t important any more. Now that’s a game changer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tldr
Sent from my R800x using xda premium
Great post, and very well written I might add. Props sir!
This is the first post that actually sucked me in. I had to read the rest of it. Great writing! You should start a blog and get paid son. I was really excited about this phone but being the hardcore gamer I am I will stick to my PC and 360. I bought the phone mainly because I had alot of dowtime at my job and what better way to kill time than to beat the hell out of people online with a physical game pad. I no longer have the job so why play dead space when both 1 and 2 can be played on my big ass flat screen. Phone to the left and 360 to the right hmmmm!
Sent from my R800x using XDA App
I just don't understand why they released the xperia play with a single core and 512mb ram.
this phone with a dual core and 1gb of ram would be perfect. I'd almost prefer to see it running on Tegra instead.
I'll just sit back and wait for the Xperia Play 2(hopefully) and hope that they get it up to date.
1 ghz with adreno 205 is still great for gaming, we dont need superb graphics on 4" LCD screen. Except for 512mb RAM in PLAY, i think 1gb RAM is better.
That was an impressive read. You should really start blogging. To be honest I was looking for someone like you to start a Xperia/android games based blogging site/portal. I'll pm you the details =)
Sent from my R800i using xda premium
Its only a matter of time before Steam join the party. Sony need to get there suite sorted as soon as they can. If they fail to bring there games to the masses it could stop plans for future handsets.
CapNM77 said:
This is the first post that actually sucked me in. I had to read the rest of it. Great writing! You should start a blog and get paid son. I was really excited about this phone but being the hardcore gamer I am I will stick to my PC and 360. I bought the phone mainly because I had alot of dowtime at my job and what better way to kill time than to beat the hell out of people online with a physical game pad. I no longer have the job so why play dead space when both 1 and 2 can be played on my big ass flat screen. Phone to the left and 360 to the right hmmmm!
Sent from my R800x using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd think myself as a gamer but after
Getting this phone my time on the xbox has reduced
Sent from my R800i using XDA App
I wrote a similar piece, well really a review of OnLive on the PLAY the other day.
Its here:
onlivefans.com/reviews/2012/01/28/onlive-review-xperia-play-with-the-android-client/
(apologies, it would appear because I don't post often URLS are beyond my powers)
I still like the Xperia Play even though it has it's flaws. The games that have come out up until now have been very good.
GTA 3 and reckless racing 2 is awesome on the Xperia Play. ( I know there are more but just can't be bothered mentioning them )
But when the PS Suite will be officially released which will be in a couple of weeks
then you'll realise why we have the Xperia Play and how awesome it is !
Forget the emulators, thousands of old school games,
Forget the phone, gps, display and speakers,
A portable onlive with a built in gamepad is worth the price alone.
Who cares if sony brings out ports to psp games, onlive destroys psp games.
Im very happy i have this ridiculously awesome device
hairdewx said:
I agree that services like OnLive greatly expand gaming possibilities.
I would like hardware updates that improve style and also non-gaming functionality. Plus there will be games that just won't work with an OnLive type of setup.
An HDMI port would be great in the next iteration as well as more RAM. A better camera would also be great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why are so many people desperate for a hdmi port i honestly dont get it fully.
case 1
video playback on a larger screen (ok this one makes sense) but hey you could copy it to your computer so its backed-up and then play it on a tv which is a better choice really unless your round a friends
case 2
play games on your tv screen - this really makes no sense to me if you have a full hd tv surely your better off playing on a proper console or have a pc connected and play proper games.
Sniper Spr3e said:
why are so many people desperate for a hdmi port i honestly dont get it fully.
case 1
video playback on a larger screen (ok this one makes sense) but hey you could copy it to your computer so its backed-up and then play it on a tv which is a better choice really unless your round a friends
case 2
play games on your tv screen - this really makes no sense to me if you have a full hd tv surely your better off playing on a proper console or have a pc connected and play proper games.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True. But the only reason i'd want a HDMI output for the Xperia Play is so that I can view my photos and videos on a big screen.
Sniper Spr3e said:
why are so many people desperate for a hdmi port i honestly dont get it fully.
case 2
play games on your tv screen - this really makes no sense to me if you have a full hd tv surely your better off playing on a proper console or have a pc connected and play proper games.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree our website has tested many devices with HDMI like our Asus Transformer and all Xperia 2011 range handsets with HDMI out and others even are plarc which we turned an arc into a play micro console. But in are testings none could upscale the screen to a reasonable quality (for game's and onlive), it looks so blocky and streched. Not to mention getting set up each time is so not as easy as pressing home on my ps3 controller. To sum it up hdmi out is cool but when you really going to bother using it. BTW the origianl post really intresting thanks for writing.
Agreed with everything you said.
Sniper Spr3e said:
why are so many people desperate for a hdmi port i honestly dont get it fully.
case 1
video playback on a larger screen (ok this one makes sense) but hey you could copy it to your computer so its backed-up and then play it on a tv which is a better choice really unless your round a friends
case 2
play games on your tv screen - this really makes no sense to me if you have a full hd tv surely your better off playing on a proper console or have a pc connected and play proper games.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are more uses - especially when traveling. Website browsing on a larger screen, music, youtube, netflix, Amazon prime video, presentations, etc.
My TV can connect to a webserver and stream movies directly, but only a few formats are supported.
I have a PC but I don't want to hook up a PC in my living room. Thing is too big and ugly. There are also times when I'd rather be on my couch than at my desk in my office.
When my wife replaces her Droid 3 I'm going to use it as a tiny media center box that I can connect to one of my HDTV's and it will be very easy to hide.
poo-tang said:
I agree our website has tested many devices with HDMI like our Asus Transformer and all Xperia 2011 range handsets with HDMI out and others even are plarc which we turned an arc into a play micro console. But in are testings none could upscale the screen to a reasonable quality (for game's and onlive), it looks so blocky and streched. Not to mention getting set up each time is so not as easy as pressing home on my ps3 controller. To sum it up hdmi out is cool but when you really going to bother using it. BTW the origianl post really intresting thanks for writing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Setting up my ASUS Transformer Prime was as easy as plugging in the HDMI cable. It's truly plug and play. Connected my Xbox 360 controller and it was good to go with no set-up required.
As for game playing quality on a large HDTV, you can judge from my own video

PS VITA has arrived, will i ever use my Xperia Play again?

My PS VITA arrived today and i cannot wait to get home to try it.
This got me thinking Will i ever use my Xplay again? Will i miss it if i got rid?
When i first got my Xplay (April 2011) i was over the moon, the potential this phone had was endless. Coming from a Palm Pre it had alot to live up against, (I Love webOS) I find myself with every phone wanting to play games, perfect fit i thought.
However nearly 12 months later and the games i still play the most are all on emulators, N64, PSX, etc all android games that are half decent end up being a let down (personal thoughts of course) GTA3, Dead Space Even (repetitive), all gameloft games!
Maybe i was sold on the hype and potential and not on the actual business plan Sony Erricson had for the Xplay, infact what is it for? causal gamers, emulator nuts? It annoys me that not all android games utilise the gamepad (this is one thing i expected to happen - Its only a litlte bit of code to add isn't it?)
The only real thing that has made me pick my xplay up in the last few months is the amount of support the devs have given it. Kernels, Custom Roms etc (I can do this on nearly any android phone)
I feel i can get rid of my Xplay now, i love android for its customisation options, maybe if there ever was a Xplay 2 they can get it right, make it a proper console like the vita which can make calls and i'll be happy.
My rant, debate, statement whatever i wrote is over.
However my question still remains Will i ever use my Xplay again? Will i miss it if i got rid? Wierdly...........
I think the answer would be yes i would miss it!
blonqe said:
My PS VITA arrived today and i cannot wait to get home to try it.
This got me thinking Will i ever use my Xplay again? Will i miss it if i got rid?
When i first got my Xplay (April 2011) i was over the moon, the potential this phone had was endless. Coming from a Palm Pre it had alot to live up against, (I Love webOS) I find myself with every phone wanting to play games, perfect fit i thought.
However nearly 12 months later and the games i still play the most are all on emulators, N64, PSX, etc all android games that are half decent end up being a let down (personal thoughts of course) GTA3, Dead Space Even (repetitive), all gameloft games!
Maybe i was sold on the hype and potential and not on the actual business plan Sony Erricson had for the Xplay, infact what is it for? causal gamers, emulator nuts? It annoys me that not all android games utilise the gamepad (this is one thing i expected to happen - Its only a litlte bit of code to add isn't it?)
The only real thing that has made me pick my xplay up in the last few months is the amount of support the devs have given it. Kernels, Custom Roms etc (I can do this on nearly any android phone)
I feel i can get rid of my Xplay now, i love android for its customisation options, maybe if there ever was a Xplay 2 they can get it right, make it a proper console like the vita which can make calls and i'll be happy.
My rant, debate, statement whatever i wrote is over.
However my question still remains Will i ever use my Xplay again? Will i miss it if i got rid? Wierdly...........
I think the answer would be yes i would miss it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Congratulation on having PSVita
But I really don't care if you are gonna get rid of your xperia play or not.
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I suggest you keep your Xperia Play cause end of the day it's a phone and you can make calls with it AND just keep it because you have got emulators on it.
Vita has arrived... and yet we STILL don't have the damn playstation store....
When Gameboy Advance came, did you miss your Gameboy color?
I've ordered a HTC chacha, because I miss the keyboard, and I feel that's petter then a gamepad, even if the chacha is not as powerful as the play.
I'm happy with my Vita and my chacha
My xperia play is in the box, ready to sell.
Well you say what you pay the most on it is emulators, so yeah you'll still use it, you're not getting emulators until the Vita gets hacked, and even then the Xperia Play has more good games. At the minute the Vita isn't a portable games console, it's a portable Uncharted console.
Rogue Leader said:
Vita has arrived... and yet we STILL don't have the damn playstation store....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. Where's the Playstation Suite ??
sufy1000 said:
Agreed. Where's the Playstation Suite ??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ditto. WTH
Sent from my R800x using xda premium
Rogue Leader said:
Vita has arrived... and yet we STILL don't have the damn playstation store....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
playstation store will most likely be with ICS so everything is pushed to the play at once
also 3 hours vita vs upto 8 hours xplay best idea would be to keep both and try use the vita for vita games and everything else phone
Well I can understand your view. Even I've stopped gaming on my XPlay since gameloft slowed down on releasing new games for android.
And myself I'm planning to get the new Xperia S after few month's of its release or wait till the dev section in XDA gets little populated with custom kernels/roms etc. And I'm not sure about carrying another device(Vita) in my pocket except my phone.
But by next year hopefully we see an XPlay 2 with better specs and much better support but I highly doubt Sony will do that since it will create competition against its own product which is the new Vita.
But on the other hand I have fingers crossed for HTC to release a phone with gamepad. Why so? Because latest rumor has that some new HTC devices will get PS certified from Sony. Which means there are chances of another phone with gamepad or maybe it will simply be like a "PS certified" device like Xperia S. Which makes no sense at all.
Sent from my R800i using Tapatalk
bornotty said:
Well I can understand your view. Even I've stopped gaming on my XPlay since gameloft slowed down on releasing new games for android.
And myself I'm planning to get the new Xperia S after few month's of its release or wait till the dev section in XDA gets little populated with custom kernels/roms etc. And I'm not sure about carrying another device(Vita) in my pocket except my phone.
But by next year hopefully we see an XPlay 2 with better specs and much better support but I highly doubt Sony will do that since it will create competition against its own product which is the new Vita.
But on the other hand I have fingers crossed for HTC to release a phone with gamepad. Why so? Because latest rumor has that some new HTC devices will get PS certified from Sony. Which means there are chances of another phone with gamepad or maybe it will simply be like a "PS certified" device like Xperia S. Which makes no sense at all.
Sent from my R800i using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've cut back on my PLAY time as well, mainly because I've beaten every game I have (that I wanted to beat, excluding Splinter Cell which just sucks), and the only ones I don't have that I'd like to play are Shadowgun, MC3, and BackStab. I'm waiting for a sale to buy them as I refuse to pay full price of a GL game when they hand them out for a buck every few months.
Waiting for or hoping for some more games with depth, otherwise I may get a Vita as well.
As for HTC I don't see them making a niche phone like this, and in fact I think its entirely possible we will never see an Xperia PLAY 2, as they 1 wont want to compete with the Vita, and 2 mucked it up the first time around.
EDIT: If I have to wait for ICS on the PLAY to get the Playstation Suite I may as well get a Vita and ditch this phone at my next upgrade, because Verizon hasn't even given us 2.3.4 yet, gonna be a cold day before we get ICS.
Get a vita, play it in public, never get laid again.
Pretty funny though you guys got to go out and replace this with 2 seperate high end products.
Rogue Leader said:
I've cut back on my PLAY time as well, mainly because I've beaten every game I have (that I wanted to beat, excluding Splinter Cell which just sucks), and the only ones I don't have that I'd like to play are Shadowgun, MC3, and BackStab. I'm waiting for a sale to buy them as I refuse to pay full price of a GL game when they hand them out for a buck every few months.
Waiting for or hoping for some more games with depth, otherwise I may get a Vita as well.
As for HTC I don't see them making a niche phone like this, and in fact I think its entirely possible we will never see an Xperia PLAY 2, as they 1 wont want to compete with the Vita, and 2 mucked it up the first time around.
EDIT: If I have to wait for ICS on the PLAY to get the Playstation Suite I may as well get a Vita and ditch this phone at my next upgrade, because Verizon hasn't even given us 2.3.4 yet, gonna be a cold day before we get ICS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Verizon does suck, doubtful we will ever get ICS. Also didnt I read somewhere in the begining of Dec that they were traning their employees for the Xperia PLAY LTE? Guess that never panned out. I really like my PLAY but it seems like all the games worth playing are old, and pretty much all dave 2 of the GameLoft games are buggy pieces of crap. The PS Vita has a really nice display but I will never buy a handheld game console anymore, and no its not because I want to get laid I am already married and can get that whenever she wants......because if its me I end up on a milk carton.
The second that I found out that the VITA was not a mobile device I lost interest...
I'm not gonna carry around multiple devices.
And it's true, seeing a PSP/3DS/VITA being played in public makes the person look... juvenile... Of course playing a game on a cell phone doesn't have the same effect. Double standard, I guess.
hairdewx said:
The second that I found out that the VITA was not a mobile device I lost interest...
I'm not gonna carry around multiple devices.
And it's true, seeing a PSP/3DS/VITA being played in public makes the person look... juvenile... Of course playing a game on a cell phone doesn't have the same effect. Double standard, I guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FACT! I had a PSP for 5 years and was single. Sold it, got an xplay and got laid. It's more than just a phone ;-)
brought to you by the XDA app on my badass Android toy
hairdewx said:
The second that I found out that the VITA was not a mobile device I lost interest...
I'm not gonna carry around multiple devices.
And it's true, seeing a PSP/3DS/VITA being played in public makes the person look... juvenile... Of course playing a game on a cell phone doesn't have the same effect. Double standard, I guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats my problem... I just can't see myself carrying it. The reason I love the Xperia PLAY is its in my pocket all the time.
When I was a kid I had a Sega Game Gear. I barely used it and ended up selling it for two reasons, 1. was that I had very little money, so if I was gonna spend money on games I was gonna spend it on Genesis games since 2. it was too bulky to carry aground (and the Vita is not much better) meaning aside from long Car rides I rarely carried it around, meaning I played it at home, and when I'm home I'd rather play a game on a TV.
Rogue Leader said:
Thats my problem... I just can't see myself carrying it. The reason I love the Xperia PLAY is its in my pocket all the time.
When I was a kid I had a Sega Game Gear. I barely used it and ended up selling it for two reasons, 1. was that I had very little money, so if I was gonna spend money on games I was gonna spend it on Genesis games since 2. it was too bulky to carry aground (and the Vita is not much better) meaning aside from long Car rides I rarely carried it around, meaning I played it at home, and when I'm home I'd rather play a game on a TV.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. PS Vita is NOT a phone. Okay it's got better graphics and all that but then the games aspect comes into play. You have to pay £30 for every game. I'd rather play a game on PS3 on a 40'' 3D TV than play it on the Vita's screen.
To be honest i'm happy with my Xperia Play even though some people may not like it. I'm happy with £3 games I spend on it and happy to play them.
As I said I'd rather play games on the PS3 with a big screen.
The Vita is just for people who want to show off
What the hell is with the talk that dedicated handheld gaming consoles look stupid? I play them in public, and I have no issues getting laid. I'd chalk that one to looks. I play a 3ds as well as my xplay. Its the same ****, who cares.
Sent from my R800i using XDA App
I've had the Vita since 30 dec [Japanese import] and I can tell you that the only device I carry around is my Xperia Play. Sony has gotten so paranoid over copyright infringement that the Vita is compeltely locked down even on purchases I have already made on the Playstation Network. My existing mini's and PS1 games do not transfer / the content manager is a pain to use, I have to reformat video to get it on the device. Yeah, Unchartered is pretty, but my Vita is collecting dust because it is too frustrating to use and too bulky to carry around. In fact, I rushed to get one because I think sony will discontinue the Vita after a failed US and European release.
Why would Sony put out an Android "playstation phone" and then Vita shortly after - they are hedging their bets, If the Vita fails miserably [which it should in this new gaming environment] then I bet we get an XPeria PLay 2 shortly after.
on the other topic, i'm married which means I rarely get laid
All interesting points!
I got a vita so when my girlfriend is watching soaps and stuff i get to play proper games on the sofa, portbale consoles will never replace the home console, the experience is totally different, e.g i play fifa on my vita same game more or less as my xbox 360 but on a portable system seems different still brilliant and way better than the xplsy version, i will still play the home console version over vita anytime big screen and surround sound!
vita is great for my purpose, sofa, work, long trips, cant take my 360 or ps3!
my play just didnt give me yhe same satisfaction, apart from the emulators i mentioned in my op.
and fir ppl saying 40 quid is too much, i agree but these are way better quality games then the 3 quid ones on phones.
i think its time for game companys to start releasing double play, triple plays like blu ray movies.
by one game for 40quid, play it on ya home, portable console and ya phone
Sent from my R800i using XDA App

The OUYA console... is it doomed? Inquiring minds want to know...

I just wanted to bring up a few thoughts I've had about the upcoming OUYA console, and see what you guys think.
1. I still don't really understand how/why all of this couldn't have been handled by simply creating a GoogleTV-specific OUYA app...?
2. Besides the OUYA's dedicated game-centric market, and their custom controller, what does one really gain that is not already available in the Android ecosystem?
3. How do they plan to prevent their entire custom OS (Or their individual apps) from being ported to other Tegra-based GTV devices in the future? Or, given their outright support for hacking the device, would they even care?
4. And then there's this: Google reportedly making a Game Center for Android
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Google-reportedly-making-a-Game-Center-for-Android_id30026/
If one was to pair the above (hypothetical) "GTV Game Center" app with a Google-branded "Nexus Controller," wouldn't the entire OUYA become pointless? Would you prefer an app/service that is fully integrated with the entire Google ecosystem, rather than a custom version of the OS and functionality that are outside of (or weakly tied to) said ecosystem?
That said, I still plan to buy a OUYA, but only because I'm a sucker for shiny new toys -- especially of the Android variety! :laugh:
What are your thoughts? Am I "over thinking" this console? Do you think it will be made pointless by an evolution of the GTV?
I'm just looking for friendly debate, so please keep it civil...
150+ views and nobody has any thoughts on these questions? lol...ok, fair enough, was worth a shot.
I think best case scenario they can hope for is becoming a niche platform for android-nerds. Why? Because there is no market for such device. Casual gamers are quite happy with what they get from smartphone industry and PC-facebook-gaming stuff. More hard-core gamers will want bleeding-edge graphics and high-end performance. Without any real GPU on board OUYA will just stay behind. From the software standpoint, Android is a great system but, with sandboxing and multitasking environment, it is not very well prepared for running performance-demanding games.
But still.. I think I will buy it.
atoktoto said:
I think best case scenario they can hope for is becoming a niche platform for android-nerds. Why? Because there is no market for such device. Casual gamers are quite happy with what they get from smartphone industry and PC-facebook-gaming stuff. More hard-core gamers will want bleeding-edge graphics and high-end performance. Without any real GPU on board OUYA will just stay behind. From the software standpoint, Android is a great system but, with sandboxing and multitasking environment, it is not very well prepared for running performance-demanding games.
But still.. I think I will buy it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Without a real gpu? The ouya has a twelve core tegra 3 gpu with quad core cpu, one of the best you can get, how is that not a real gpu?
It is not aimed at hardcore gamers as it can't beat a ps3 but it can attract casual gamers and even general gamers.
It can handle all the current top android games at max quality settings which is just fine for a lot of people and the ouya can be a multimedia device too so should be fun and useful too.
By your reasoning about casual gaming the wii shouldn't have sold well but it did, I don't think it will be a mass hit but it will do ok at least.
Dave
( http://www.google.com/producer/editions/CAownKXmAQ/bigfatuniverse )
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk 2
I hope someone releases an overclocked kernal for it, so we can get some real power
..
mistermentality said:
Without a real gpu? The ouya has a twelve core tegra 3 gpu with quad core cpu, one of the best you can get, how is that not a real gpu?
It is not aimed at hardcore gamers as it can't beat a ps3 but it can attract casual gamers and even general gamers.
It can handle all the current top android games at max quality settings which is just fine for a lot of people and the ouya can be a multimedia device too so should be fun and useful too.
By your reasoning about casual gaming the wii shouldn't have sold well but it did, I don't think it will be a mass hit but it will do ok at least.
Dave
( http://www.google.com/producer/editions/CAownKXmAQ/bigfatuniverse )
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope you are referring to mobile device gpus/cpus because they are nowhere near the best you can get in desktops or even laptops or that matter.
It seems interesting and I do want to have one but I kinda want to see what games it gets first before buying, if it doesn't have anything that'll interest me then it would be a waste.
Halmo said:
I hope you are referring to mobile device gpus/cpus because they are nowhere near the best you can get in desktops or even laptops or that matter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course, I was referring to mobile gpu's and pointing out that this could easily handle the highest quality android games.
I should have been more clear on that but thought as the discussion was about android that people would realise I meant gpu's that android works with.
Dave
( http://www.google.com/producer/editions/CAownKXmAQ/bigfatuniverse )
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk 2
I think it all really has to depend on the support of developers that are willing to make develop for that hardware. But i understand where you are coming from.
mistermentality said:
Of course, I was referring to mobile gpu's and pointing out that this could easily handle the highest quality android games.
I should have been more clear on that but thought as the discussion was about android that people would realise I meant gpu's that android works with.
Dave
( http://www.google.com/producer/editions/CAownKXmAQ/bigfatuniverse )
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk 2
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But won't the Ouya be trying to compete with the likes of other home consoles? Because if it is, it is considerably underpowered compared to them.
First, I was an earlier KS backer.
Those who have order one by now, release this is not meant necessarily to complete with an Xbox or Playstation. They're going after a slightly different gaming market.
The problem I see with Ouya is that it can be a bit of redundant machine. What does it do that can't be done with a decent smartphone? You may need a rooted phone, but one can hook up a controller, connect to a TV. It's more the mobile game developers adding in controller support. That said, talk about annoying trying up your phone to play games. Having to hook up the phone to the TV every time.
But I think it could be a nice entry point for small game developers to get into the livingroom. New developers to try to get into the market without going broke or closing the doors if a game fails. Allow gamer to fiddle with their consoles.
On the positive side, if the Wii can find success, maybe there is a room for something like the Ouya too. The Wii showed, if it's fun to play, a cheap machine can make it.
---------- Post added at 04:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:09 AM ----------
Plus with announcement it's going to be sold a Target, Bestbuy, Amazon and a few other stores, will help with getting numbers sold, which can help bring some of the bigger game developers to the platform.
I'm excited for the OUYA, but not for reasons they'd probably like. I'll be getting one later down the line, once someone slaps new firmware out there for it. I really don't like the idea of them trying to push their own version of a marketplace and basically building on top of Android for their own purposes. I get it, but I don't feel it's necessary and splintering Android further than it already is needs to stop.
In short, my idea is to see how this device would fare for an AIO media center. It'll hook up to a TV just fine already, it runs Android, and it has its own controller! So once it's running stock (and by stock I inherently mean CM), I'll have a media center PC essentially ready to go- I've got everything already hosted on a NAS so as long as it's on the network, bam.
I checked that link for basically Google's version of a game center, but that date was about a year ago- I think Google's a bit busy with KLP and I/O coming up. Then again they're a secretive company, but I don't think a game device could top up there with their big bombs they'll be dropping - that being Glass and KLP.
edit: Oh, and this may go towards a second device or supercede my media center plans- but I've been toying with the idea of Android as a desktop ever since 4.2 came out with multiple users. I think with OUYA it could be manageably done, or at least to the point where it could be a fun little hobby project to see what limitations I run into.
I don't think it can keep up with the graphics needed...i mean they might as well have marketed a universal market controller with the ability to miracast your phone. the device has Tegra 3, but Tegra 4 just came out. MY real question is why buy a phone and then buy another device to play games on when it has same specs...i'd rather just use my phone and stream it (with controller)...
other devices like ps3/xbox/ps4 are actually powerful. Unless a really cheap device like this is backed by nice hardware like Nvidia's Grid. It really isn't too useful. of course, this is all in my opinion.
Kinda reminds me of Ubuntu phone's concept. However, the phone's specs aren't up to do everything you'd want to so i guess the Ubuntu phone/desktop thing could be handy for average users that don't need super powerful pcs.
mistermentality said:
Of course, I was referring to mobile gpu's and pointing out that this could easily handle the highest quality android games.
I should have been more clear on that but thought as the discussion was about android that people would realise I meant gpu's that android works with.
Dave
( http://www.google.com/producer/editions/CAownKXmAQ/bigfatuniverse )
Sent from my LG P920 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The fact is is that they are calling it a gaming colsole. Well its not. Not without a proper gpu. 12 cores is nothing. My Radeon 7770 in my computer has over 400 cores. Also the one in the xbox has over 100 cores I think. It is not a gaming console without a powerful gpu. Its just an android emulator. Thats it.
AFAinHD said:
The fact is is that they are calling it a gaming colsole. Well its not. Not without a proper gpu. 12 cores is nothing. My Radeon 7770 in my computer has over 400 cores. Also the one in the xbox has over 100 cores I think. It is not a gaming console without a powerful gpu. Its just an android emulator. Thats it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Eh, now we're getting into the territory of whether or not graphics make a "game." While I'll take up my torches against Farmville any day, I've delve my fair share into text-only based games (to really go on the opposite spectrum of "graphics" here).
nessonic said:
Eh, now we're getting into the territory of whether or not graphics make a "game." While I'll take up my torches against Farmville any day, I've delve my fair share into text-only based games (to really go on the opposite spectrum of "graphics" here).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, so the Ouya will be competing with the likes of the Atari Flashback? That makes sense.
And with people making snide, smartass comments with no real backing (or point beyond insulting a product) behind them... This conversation just lost any point and validity.
When I first saw the Ouya and all the info I admit was very happy yet very sad, sad indeed... happy for thoose pioneers and innovation at finest, daredevils! but the device is doomed to die from day 1, why? here:
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Smallest game console in the world, doesnt need AC (draws from internal battery), that "stick" plugs directly into the HDMI, yeah, THATS the console, closer specs compared to ouya, second version may kill the ouya (in terms of graphics), also a lot more portable plus you can use the controller with any bluetooth device (pc, tablet, phone). Did I mention cheap? ($100 or so dollars)
Now to the not so expensive side ($150 or so US dollars), again ouya killer... :crying:
Emulates from nes*, Snes, Gba and neogeo to PSone* and N64*, PSP emulator is getting better and better. PSone.. yeah, you got 2 analog sticks, d-pad, 4 frontal buttons, select and start buttons in the side, R1, L1, R2 and L2 buttons! yeah 4 freaking shoulder buttons!!! holy sh!t ( reason I'm buying this), stereo speakers, and HDMI! gaming on the big screen!! 1080p video playback, and mapping buttons (this means you can map the fisical buttons to the on-screen ones, so you can play ANY game on the market... maybe not angry birds... but you don't want this device to play anrgy birds :silly.
These JXD guys had done a lot of tablets, gaming tablets and psp wannabes, so their expertise paid with this one.
*emulators included
Lastly both of them already on sale!
I already ordered mine :victory: but I live in Mexico... so will take some time but yeah, ouya is doomed.
Official site with specs and more pictures
Bought it here
---------- Post added at 11:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:29 PM ----------
dj_techwiz said:
I think it all really has to depend on the support of developers that are willing to make develop for that hardware. But i understand where you are coming from.
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Click to collapse
Indeed, its no use if developers dont add support for the controller, and 70% games in android use touch screen, so, bumpy road ahead.
dibblebill said:
And with people making snide, smartass comments with no real backing (or point beyond insulting a product) behind them... This conversation just lost any point and validity.
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Click to collapse
Well, if you're honestly going to bring up 'games aren't about the graphics' when we're talking about a home console (throwing in a comment about text-based games) meant to compete with the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii U, then yes - you're going to met with snide comments. The GPU's capabilities translate more to being actually able to play the games, and that has little to do with the visual representation.
The Ouya won't be a worthwhile investment at its price. Honestly, it won't. The above two options, especially the latter Wii U gamepad rip off, seem to be a much better choice.
Valve's 'Steam Box' and other equivalents will likely catch the audience the Ouya is trying to get.

Steam controller... remind you of anything?

Steam has just revealed the new controller to go with their new OS/Console:
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http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamController/
Notice anything familiar? The Xperia Play's dual touchpads were oft overlooked, but were the device's best-kept secret.
I wrote about why they were a revelation a year ago on Xperia Gamer: http://www.xperiagamer.com/Blog3/xperia-play-touch-pads-a-touch-of-genius.html#!
Xperia Play: ahead of its time? Only time will tell.
flat_steve said:
Xperia Play: ahead of its time? Only time will tell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to agree with this.
Once i opened my Play (for flex replacement) i was amazed how that Play's dual touchpads is just one single touchpad like in laptops, with a simple connection to the motherboard. And i've seen so many opened laptops that even in Play's case i am surtain that ordinary PS/2 protocol is used (just as in laptops)
I'm glad to see more hardware that is based on touchpads instead of analog stick.
I really like using touchpads more often than analog sticks. The touchpad is like using a mouse, more accuracy and more speed (e.g. First/Third Person Shooters).
RoboticBuddy said:
I really like using touchpads more often than analog sticks. The touchpad is like using a mouse, more accuracy and more speed (e.g. First/Third Person Shooters).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The touchpads on the Play are God-awful. Way to sensitive and half time my thumb slides off them. They are best left in the past
Sent from my R800i using xda premium
CTU_Loscombe said:
The touchpads on the Play are God-awful. Way to sensitive and half time my thumb slides off them. They are best left in the past
Sent from my R800i using xda premium
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I disagree, it has the edges around it and the center pokes out a bit also. I think it really depends on how its implemented, some games control better than others.
Sent from my R800i using xda app-developers app
korrectmethod said:
I disagree, it has the edges around it and the center pokes out a bit also. I think it really depends on how its implemented, some games control better than others.
Sent from my R800i using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
I'm afraid CTU_Loscombe was correct, or at least for the most part. The dual touch pads on the Xperia play, for the most part, looked (and played) like utter crap, but those few titles produced by those developers that 'got' them hinted at something surprisingly innovative.
They were generally unloved and unused by developers and gamers alike. However, a handful of developers understood what they actually had in front of them: a pair of laptop-style mouse touchpads. And once you code with this in mind, you can end up with a control mechanism that more resembles the hallowed, devastating Mouse-and-Keyboard combo beloved of PC gamers. Fire up Dead Space, ShadowGun or Minecraft - three games that utterly nail the dual touchpad controls - and it looks for all the world like you are using a mouse and keyboard.
I'm not saying Valve have copied and built on what Sony Ericsson have done here - I think it's more a case of convergent evolution, but either way I've already had a taste of what this new controller can potentially do, and - naysayers and pessimists aside - I think the status quo is in for a pleasant surprise.
flat_steve said:
I'm afraid CTU_Loscombe was correct, or at least for the most part. The dual touch pads on the Xperia play, for the most part, looked (and played) like utter crap, but those few titles produced by those developers that 'got' them hinted at something surprisingly innovative.
They were generally unloved and unused by developers and gamers alike. However, a handful of developers understood what they actually had in front of them: a pair of laptop-style mouse touchpads. And once you code with this in mind, you can end up with a control mechanism that more resembles the hallowed, devastating Mouse-and-Keyboard combo beloved of PC gamers. Fire up Dead Space, ShadowGun or Minecraft - three games that utterly nail the dual touchpad controls - and it looks for all the world like you are using a mouse and keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I did say it depends on the game and how its implemented. You listed 3 great games that did it right, and I'd add MC4, nova 3, and pewpew to that list.
Just because the play isn't fully supported by the app world doesnt mean its crap hardware that doesnt work. It's just an esoteric device and developers dont always put in the hours to code it specifically for our phone.
Sent from my R800i using xda app-developers app
flat_steve said:
I'm afraid CTU_Loscombe was correct, or at least for the most part. The dual touch pads on the Xperia play, for the most part, looked (and played) like utter crap, but those few titles produced by those developers that 'got' them hinted at something surprisingly innovative.
They were generally unloved and unused by developers and gamers alike. However, a handful of developers understood what they actually had in front of them: a pair of laptop-style mouse touchpads. And once you code with this in mind, you can end up with a control mechanism that more resembles the hallowed, devastating Mouse-and-Keyboard combo beloved of PC gamers. Fire up Dead Space, ShadowGun or Minecraft - three games that utterly nail the dual touchpad controls - and it looks for all the world like you are using a mouse and keyboard.
I'm not saying Valve have copied and built on what Sony Ericsson have done here - I think it's more a case of convergent evolution, but either way I've already had a taste of what this new controller can potentially do, and - naysayers and pessimists aside - I think the status quo is in for a pleasant surprise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I disagree. Most titles used it quite well: Fifa 12, Gun Bros, Modern Combat 4 ect.
Wonder if the Steam Controller will pull through
Steam controller looks so ugly .The contoller looks waaay Futuristic.Something like a 1996's movie that talk about the year 2100.
flat_steve said:
Steam has just revealed the new controller to go with their new OS/Console:
http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamController/
Notice anything familiar? The Xperia Play's dual touchpads were oft overlooked, but were the device's best-kept secret.
I wrote about why they were a revelation a year ago on Xperia Gamer: http://www.xperiagamer.com/Blog3/xperia-play-touch-pads-a-touch-of-genius.html#!
Xperia Play: ahead of its time? Only time will tell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey steeeeve ! is that you , i always read your articles
why xperia gamer is stopped man ?
Hi mehdi.moha, thanks for your comments. I was just a contributor to the site, it wasn't run by me. The site has gone a bit quiet as of late, I think the guys that run it have been looking to do something new. I'd love to write for another website again but I'm not sure where my meagre time constraints (and, ahem, talent) would fit in.
flat_steve said:
Hi mehdi.moha, thanks for your comments. I was just a contributor to the site, it wasn't run by me. The site has gone a bit quiet as of late, I think the guys that run it have been looking to do something new. I'd love to write for another website again but I'm not sure where my meagre time constraints (and, ahem, talent) would fit in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
good luck steve
i wish some day i'll be read your article about xperia play 2 - review ... :fingers-crossed:
The only problem with Play's pads is that they are small. When you move your big thumb around on a small area, its way too sensitive.
You need to use "thumb roll" when you finetune your aim.
I dont think that touchpads will replace analogs sticks in the near future. There needs to be some sort of feedback to your fingers (much like when you write on the touchscreen, you always get that nice vibration)
I think that they said somewhere that Steam controllers bads "give in" just a tiny bit so that the surfaces isnt just solid piece of plastic ? Not sure though if I understood it correctly.
Steam controller could work decently with those touchpads.

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