Getting Started with OUYA (2014)
Chapter 2. Setup Prerequisites
OUYA is an interesting console for developers because it allows them to use different tools to create their video games. Everything from Java and the Android SDK to the most popular video game engines, such as Unity3D and UDK, can be used with OUYA, as shown in the following diagram:
OUYA's development tools
Although modern browsers such as Firefox and Chrome automatically download any file in a specific path predetermined by them, we suggest creating a directory where you will download all the necessary installers, for example, C:\installers.
We also suggest creating a folder in the root of the hard disk, where all the programs that will be explained in the following sections will be installed. For now, you can create a directory called progs in C:.
This chapter explains how to install and configure the prerequisites to prepare the development environment for OUYA. Without this step, it will be very difficult to start a project for the console.
Installing the Java Runtime
The Java Runtime is the first component that must be installed. It should be downloaded from http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html.
Download the appropriate version for your operating system (Linux, Mac OS, 32-bit Windows, 64-bit Windows) as shown in the following screenshot:
Java download options
The installation process is very simple. Run the downloaded JRE file and follow the instructions using the default options. When finished, restart your computer.
Installing the Android SDK
Android SDK is the software that supplements the development environment for OUYA. Download the SDK from http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html, making sure to select the appropriate version for your operating system (Linux, 32-bit Windows, 64-bit Windows, or Mac OS).
Android SDK download options
The Android SDK does not require an installer; simply extract the main directory in the directory previously suggested (C:\progs) to facilitate the configuration later. When finished, restart the computer.
Navigate to <C:\progs\adt-bundle-windows-xXX-xxxxx> and run the SDK Manager.exe file.
Within the SDK Manager, we will install the components that are marked in the following screenshot, that is, Android SDK Tools, Android SDK Platform-tools, and Android SDK Build-tools from Tools; all the options under Android 4.1.2 (API 16); and Android Support Library, Google USB Driver, and Intel x86 Emulator Accelerator (HAXM) from Extras. We suggest that you install the API 16 Version; however, these components are available in the API 17 and API 18 Versions too. If you use Unity3D Version 3.5 or higher, we suggest that you install Rev. 21 of the Android SDK.
The options that should be selected are mentioned in the following list:
· Tools
· Android 4.1.2 (API 16)
· Extras
· Android Support Library
· Google USB Driver
· Intel x86 emulator Accelerator (HAXM)
The following screenshot also illustrates where the options are provided:
Configuring the Android SDK
You do not need to delete the other components of the SDK (such as other versions of Android) if you have them installed already.
The next step is to set the PATH environment variable of the Windows operating system so the Android SDK components can be referenced from any application and run properly. In Windows, this option can be found by navigating to Control Panel | System |Advanced System Settings.
You can edit the path variable as shown in the following screenshot:
Configuring environment variables
In this variable, you must add the following line (if some data already exists, insert a semicolon after the last data; however, we recommend that you write the elements from the beginning):
C:\progs\adt-bundle-windows-x86_64-xxxxxxxxx\sdk\tools; C:\progs\adt-bundle-windows-x86_64-xxxxxxxxx\sdk\platform-tools; C:\progs\adt-bundle-windows-x86_64-xxxxxxxxx\sdk\buildtools\android-X.X.X
Installing the Android NDK
The Android NDK is an additional component that is not mandatorily required for all development environments, but we suggest installing it right now, at the initial stages, for future use.
Download the NDK from http://developer.android.com/tools/sdk/ndk/index.html and select the version that fits your operating system: 32-bit Windows 32-bit, 64-bit Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.
Android NDK download options
You will now have the following file structure:
Directory structure
Installing and configuring Eclipse
The Eclipse IDE is used when you want to program natively with Java and Android SDK, and it can also be used with the NDK via the JNI. So it will be a prerequisite to have the Java Runtime or Java Development Kit (JDK) and the Android SDK installed. Download Eclipse from http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/ (the Eclipse Standard 4.3 option or the Eclipse IDE for Java Developers option is a good choice).
Eclipse download options
Android provides an Eclipse plugin called Android Development Tools (ADT) to configure new Android projects. This component must be configured within the Eclipse IDE.
To install the plugin in Eclipse, perform the following steps:
1. Navigate to Help | Install New Software.
2. Go to https://dl-ssl.google.com/android/eclipseand follow the installer instructions and use the default settings. You must then configure the path where the Android SDK was installed so that the Eclipse IDE can reference it. To do this, navigate to thePreferences menu as shown in the following screenshot:
Configuration of the Android SDK in the Eclipse IDE
After performing the preceding steps, the Eclipse IDE will be ready to create Android projects, which is used to create OUYA video games.
Installing Unity3D
From this point onward, we will use the Unity3D engine for implementing a small game. Download the installer Unity Pro (a trial version for 30 days is available) from the following website:
http://unity3d.com/unity/download/
After you download the file, run the installer and use the default options. After the installation, the program will ask for a Unity3D account. If you do not have one, you can create a new one with your e-mail ID, as shown in the following screenshot:
Configuration (creation) of a Unity3D user account
Configuring the Android SDK in Unity3D
To configure the Android SDK in Unity3D, you just need to run Unity3D and configure the path to the Android SDK. To do this, you need to navigate to Edit | Preferences | External Tools | Android SDK Location, as shown in the following screenshot:
Configuration of the Android SDK in Unity3D
Summary
By the end of this chapter, you will have installed all the prerequisites to develop a game with OUYA, the Java Runtime or Java Development Kit, Android SDK or NDK, Eclipse, Unity3D Engine, and basic settings in Unity3D.
The next chapter will present the second part of the settings required to work with OUYA.