Where you can buy an Ouya console

By Phil Hornshaw

Kickstarter has given rise to some very interesting projects, and among the darlings of the crowd-funding service is the Ouya console, which raised more than $8.5 million with more than 60,000 backers. So, what is it? Put simply: Ouya lets you play your Android games on your TV.

Android, Google’s open-source mobile operating system, is teeming with games that range from simple time-killing arcade experiences to full-on games with lots to offer. The Ouya intends to keep things open and easy to develop, allowing game creators to make Android-based versions for a console – potentially keeping their costs down and opening up the burgeoning indie development scene to a new group of players.

The Ouya isn’t available until June 25, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start planning to grab one, or start thinking about the games you’ll want to play on the little box.

Where to find Ouya

The good news is that, while the Ouya came from relative obscurity and was backed by players who wanted to own it, you won’t have to get it from the creators themselves. The console will retail for $99, which is relatively cheap when you consider the Playstation 3 launched for $500, and will be available at retailers such as Best Buy (with up to 2 percent Cash Back), GameStop (with up to 2.5 percent Cash Back) and Amazon.

Games galore

The great thing about Ouya is that there are already thousands of Android games that will presumably be compatible with the system. The best games to play on the system will be those that are already of expansive scope on Android, so if you’re looking to fill out your library, look for the big games.

Among those achieving something most similar to “console quality” are the games of Gameloft, with titles such as Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour and Order & Chaos Online; Square Enix, with big role-playing titles such as Chaos Rings and Final Fantasy III; and titles such as Zynga’s Horn and Crescent Moon Games’ Aralon: Sword and Shadow. These are huge games that seem more like your standard game offerings than mobile titles.

If you’re going to bulk up on Android games, try pulling down a discount by checking Target (2 percent Cash Back) and Walmart (3 percent Cash Back), as well as the retailers above, for Google Play gift cards. That way, you can pull in some cash back while still getting your apps at their usual low price.