It will be some time before the Ouya can be classified as a successful venture. Given their lack of a product demonstration, or even a prototype, it remains to be seen whether the millions of dollars that went into its Kickstarter fund will turn into anything worthwhile.
In the meantime, Kickstarter has announced a few major changes to its guidelines for future hardware and product design projects. Kickstarter will prohibit product simulations, renderings and offering multiple quantities as a reward for backing the project.
This means that products will have to actually exist in reality before Kickstarter allows them onboard the platform, as makers won’t be able to use photorealistic renderings or concept art to depict the finished product.
“To clarify, we mean photorealistic renderings of a product concept. Technical drawings, CAD designs, sketches, and other parts of the design process will continue to be allowed. Seeing the guts of the creative process is important. We love that stuff. However renderings that could be mistaken for finished products are prohibited,” reads the FAQ.
Had these changes gone into effect months ago, Ouya would’ve never gotten off the ground.