The Ouya video game console was one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns of all-time, and the team behind the little Android box that could has set its sights on making its library of games even better. Ouya recently announced “Free the Games,” a $1 million fund that will match Kickstarter campaigns for future Ouya titles. Any game that achieves a minimum goal of $50,000 on Kickstarter is eligible for the promotion, and can earn up to $250,000 from “Free the Games” with one simple catch: the game must be an Ouya exclusive for six months. The Ouya’s hardware launch has been lukewarm at best – the console has received middling reviews and many backers didn’t get the consoles they were promised by the time it was available to the general public. But for fans of the console – and game developers looking to get in on the ground floor – ideas like “Free the Games” go a long way to helping build up the community and quality of the Ouya brand.
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.