E3: ESA ask cops to shut Ouya down

James Delahunty
12 Jun 2013 10:32

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and Ouya are in an interesting stand-off at E3 this year.
Ouya - the Android games console that resulting from a successful Kickstarter campaign - is "kind of" in attendance at E3 this year. You wont find them in the Los Angeles Convention Center with the bigwigs, but you will find them in the parking lot.

Basically, to avoid the fees associated with getting inside the convention center, and then the costs of setting up booths and wooing attendees, Ouya decided to just show up outside the convention center, renting parking spaces in a nearby lot.
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which organizes the E3 event, was not amused and responded at first by parking trucks right in front of Ouya's little booths.

Undeterred, Ouya responded by renting parking spaces in front of the trucks and setting up again.

If things weren't ridiculous enough already, the ESA decided it was time to call in the boys in blue, hoping the police would move away the pesky Android box peddler. Unfortunately for the ESA, the cops checked Ouya's permits and left them alone to continue.

Julie Uhrman, Ouya founder, believes that the ESA is probably plotting its next move, but that they are ready to circumvent whatever they throw at them.

"If ten more trucks show up, we'll come up with another idea. I have a few up my sleeve," she said, according to IGN.

The whole thing might seem a tad bit ridiculous, but at least it managed to get more attention to Ouya that it was likely to get in the parking lot. The ESA's frustration would appear to play right into their hands.