Amazon Fire TV and Fire Game Controller announced

[Joust Williams]

I don't know enough technically about Android to know if there are any hurdles, but right now it's just a big marketshare hurdle. There are few companies that can fix that, and Amazon is one of them (naturally, it wouldn't happen overnight)

[George]

The problem with the Android platform, and its marketplace, is sparse regulation, no standardization, and no quality filter or minimum performance requirements. Couple this with the fact that android platforms and OSes can be incompatible, even with EACH OTHER, and any hopes for a device meant to hook up to your TV that plays nice with every Android game or App out there, not to mention the hardware you hope to control it with, is really low.

Apple might have some kind of mother goose complex with blocking apps they deem "inappropriate," but there are benefits to a marketplace with more regulation. I'd be far, far more interested in an iOS console.

[Diff-chan]

That's why Amazon has their own ecosystem. It's the only way to build out a system like this IMO.

Still, though, even a curated Android store would be awful and worthless hooked up to the TV. We see that with Ouya. There's no way that can be all that Amazon is planning. Especially if, as Eurogamer says, they are targetting "core gamers."

[Yoshi]

They key is that Amazon is making their own games. I don't think any of the other Android hardware makers are doing that. They also have the coffers to buy exclusives I would think.

[Opaque]

Priced right and with their free daily game I could see this doing well with some people.

I just don't see the value in something like this though. The only time I want to play android games is when I have no access to a real system, which I always would if I'm home.

[Yoshi]

That doesn't make any sense though. Define "real system." I promise you no where in your definition will you specify which operating system it uses, and that is all Android is. Though unlikely, it's possible Amazon drops a box that is a kin to the One and PS4 but runs Android.

[Diff-chan]

You can't get a box like One and PS4 out of the ARM-based hardware that Android runs on. Unless they are porting it to x86.

[Yoshi]

I'd say with Amazon's resources, they could get whatever they want, though I already said it was unlikely.

[Opaque]

That doesn't make any sense though. Define "real system." I promise you no where in your definition will you specify which operating system it uses, and that is all Android is. Though unlikely, it's possible Amazon drops a box that is a kin to the One and PS4 but runs Android.

Even if it had that power, why would anyone write games for the android os that only run on one console? Android games are going to be made to run on the bulk of hardware.

Even on the off chance that the Amazon system is as strong as a PS4 and developers start making games for it on par with what we'd expect from PS4 or PC how many of those you really think there will be?

This system will be as strong as a high end phone and will play the same games.

[Some Stupid Japanese Name]

Even if it had that power, why would anyone write games for the android os that only run on one console?

That's where Amazon's first party developers and money hats come into play.
If this thing sold 200 million units, everyone would jump to it.