Crowdfunding a Phantom

I've been known to browse Kickstarter for new projects since Double Fine's amazing success.   I've posted a few of the products I've found that are rather interesting here.  There's one popular product that I've been wary about, and intentionally did not post about - the Ouya.

 It's a project I've seen lots of people excited about, and it promises some amazing features for its price.

• $100 Android Console
• Android OS
• Wi-fi and Bluetooth
• Lots of Free to Play games
• Lots of developer backing (Mojang and Brian Fargo!)
• Popular Android games and Minecraft already confirmed!
• Plays every Android game!
• Beats XBox, PS3, and Wii features for a fraction of the cost

This was enough that I found myself quite excited for this console -- for about ten minutes.  And then I realized it sounded vaguely familiar.  I've been stewing about it for about two weeks, wondering what it was that screamed "scam" about this system.  I've finally realized what was bothering me, and had a refresher course on it thanks to Wikipedia.  This marketing pitch sounds identical to one thrown around for a system called the Phantom a few years back.

• Plays every game ever!
• All games are free, and all you pay is for a subscription!
• Digital content delivery system (in 2005)!
• Slated to destroy the Xbox 360 at launch (in 2005)!
• Partnered with Alienware.

The Phantom was a promising console, threatening to revolutionize the industry with a very similar concept seven years before the Ouya.  However, the Phantom never made it to market, despite having more than $60 million sunk into it.  That's right -- Phantom Entertainment collected more than $60 million, and after years of delays, disappeared into a puff of smoke, much like you would expect its namesake to.  This, of course, after the SEC chairman accused the company of a "pump and dump" scheme.  But don't worry!  They came out with a fancy-dancy keyboard for use on your couch.

But, wait -- this wasn't the only system that came to mind.  Wasn't there some system a Swedish mobster sold to Tiger Electronics for a ridiculous sum?  Oh, right.  The Gizmondo.

• Part of the cost of the unit is subsidized by ads
• GPS
• Multimedia player
• 14 games available at launch (and GPS software!)
• Barcode scanner (like a proto-QR system)
• Cellular connection

This little bugger was going to revolutionize the game industry of 2005 as much as the Phantom would.  However, it only launched with 8 titles, no GPS software, the ads didn't work, and there was 0 developer support.  Then, the parent company was accused of irregular business practices, the creators high tailed it out, burning through $300 million in the process.  If that weren't enough, the Swedish creator who apparently had a history of mob ties wrapped a Ferrari around a pole while drunk.  In a separate incident, he was arrested for embezzlement, grand theft auto, drunk driving, cocaine possession, and a weapons charge.

Hopefully that isn't the case here.  However, we know a few more things about the Ouya:

• Notch isn't actually buying into it, and will only make Minecraft for it if it's successful and a good system.
• There appears to only be one project for it right now.
•  The specs are about on par with an Android phone.
• Kickstarter is covering just the startup cost.  They're going to shop it around to companies and publishers next, meaning this could very well just be vaporware.
• Free to Play is largely code for "demos for everyone!"
• Many indie developers are extremely cautious about the project.
• You can't get your money back once a Kickstarter is funded.

On that note, I'm taking a "I'll give any craps about this if it works -- until then, I'm watching for Ferarris wrapping themselves around telephone poles" approach.