The Ouya is the only machine hooked up to my TV right now.

I’ve played video games for a long time. I’ve got consoles sitting on shelves, in closets, even in boxes. I have multiple HDMI ports. I have a CRT sitting around for the old stuff. I could be playing any of those.

But I’m not. For the last week, all of my console time has been eaten up by this tiny box. Why is that?

To be honest, I’m still having trouble pinning down exactly why I’m enjoying the Ouya so much. It doesn’t have the greatest library at present, though considering it just came out on retail it’s doing alright. The hardware certainly isn’t impressive. Using the thing can be a chore, especially when you’re trying to sideload stuff or mess with video settings for emulators so that you can get Blast Corps to actually work. But as of right now, none of that feels painful. I’m enjoying the process of using the machine, and that’s more than I can say for most.

There’s just something refreshing about this thing. It’s so simple: you set it up, you download whatever games you want to try, and you pay for the ones you actually like. It’s not a new concept by any means, but when “let people play video games” becomes your mission statement it takes on a new meaning.

I downloaded TowerFall and immediately bought it. I played Deep Dungeons of Doom until I hit the payment wall, and I threw $3 at them. I gave the GNES people a dollar to keep doing what they’re doing. I threw more money at Adam Spragg because Hidden in Plain Sight is still one of the best games I’ve played in a while. And I felt good about it.

Playing games on Ouya strips away a lot of the bullshit that’s become the norm in the modern games industry. Most of the games here are made by small teams or individual people. They made a thing they think is fun. If you agree, you pay them for it. It feels good to not have to worry about DRM, or online passes, or staying connected to the game’s servers. I just…play video games.

I think I’ve missed that. And it’s good to have it again.