安卓电视将颠覆游戏王国

    自视频游戏业发展早期开始，游戏机就主宰了千家万户。像任天堂（Nintendo）、世嘉（Sega）、索尼（Sony）和微软（Microsoft）等企业都依靠打造封闭的生态系统赚得盆满钵满。开发者可以有5到10年的时间开发游戏，直到一款更强大的新游戏机进入市场，这个循环才会被重启。不过，自从苹果（Apple）、诺基亚（Nokia）、三星（Samsung）、LG、谷歌（Google）和亚马逊（Amazon）等公司推出智能手机以来，游戏开发者们就纷纷涌向这些强大的移动平台，同时，一个由小型独立开发工作室构成的完整生态系统也逐渐兴盛（这也要部分归功于任天堂、索尼和微软为新游戏机开发的数字销售网络）。

    而近年来，智能手机（和平板电脑）与传统游戏机的联姻，造就了不少像Ouya、Mad Catz M.O.J.O.、Nvidia Shield和亚马逊Fire TV这样的小型游戏机。今年秋季，随着谷歌携其安卓电视（Android TV）挺进这一领域，游戏开发者们将能够创造跨平台的游戏体验，从而与传统游戏机厂商开始更直接地交锋。安卓电视的工程经理克里斯•麦基洛普在此为大家解读这种新技术将如何彻底颠覆游戏业。

    《财富》杂志：英伟达公司（Nvidia）这类芯片企业的新技术影响了安卓智能手机和平板电脑的游戏能力。您如何看待这种影响力的速度？

    麦基洛普：简直难以置信。现在最新一代手机系统级芯片（SoC）的图形芯片(GPU)速度已经达到或超过PlayStation 3和 Xbox 360了。当PS3刚推出时，安卓1.0还要近两年后才发布。用不了多久，手机芯片的速度就能赶上当前的第四代系统（PlayStation 4和Xbox One）。

    您认为这些年来Google Play的游戏体验有提升吗？

    Google Play上的手机游戏体验已有很大进步。安卓就是一套纯粹的生态系统，要想让一套生态系统阔步前行是需要时间的。它始于2009年的一个开发包（NDK），马上要进行的L轮发布，将推出专为PC级游戏打造的安卓扩展包。我不认为游戏开发者为安卓系统开发新游戏时会受到任何限制。随着更多手机和平板设备开始装备能支持高清分辨率游戏的处理器和图形芯片，开发者将有更大动力入驻Google Play。

    安卓为游戏开发者、尤其是那些小团队开放了哪些机会？

    有很多小团队（有时候仅有一个开发者）都做得很棒。由于Google Play商店为开发者发布更新及新游戏提供极快的周转时间，那些小团队更容易获得更大的影响力。另一个机会则是免费游戏。

    目前的游戏生态系统（很大程度上）分布于手机、游戏机和PC游戏中，您认为安卓电视对这一系统有何影响？

    过去一年中，我有机会和来自这三个领域的游戏开发者都做过深入探讨。手机开发者对更多屏幕开始运行安卓感到非常振奋。尽管目前我们还无法确切知道游戏机玩家会如何进入这个领域，但随着安卓电视的发展，这个问题的答案必然会揭晓。我们已经有些创意了，在接下来的几年中，这些想法将成为现实，对此我十分憧憬。

    Since the early days of the video game industry, consoles have ruled the home. Companies like Nintendo, Sega, Sony and Microsoft MSFT -1.11% thrived by building closed ecosystems that developers could creates games over the course of five to 10 years before a new, more powerful box entered the market and the cycle began all over again. But ever since the introduction of smartphones from companies like Apple AAPL -1.31% , Nokia, Samsung, LG, Google and Amazon AMZN -1.02% , video game creators have flocked to these powerful mobile devices and an entire ecosystem of small and independent development studios have flourished (also in part thanks to the digital distribution networks on new consoles from Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft).

    In recent years, this marriage between smartphone (and tablet) and the traditional game console has resulted in micro-console devices like Ouya, Mad Catz M.O.J.O., Nvidia Shield and Amazon Fire TV. With Google’s GOOG -1.04% entry into this space this fall with Android TV, game developers will be able to create cross-platform experiences that will begin to compete more directly with the traditional console manufacturers. Chris McKillop, Android TV engineering manager, explains how this new technology could forever change the game.

    Fortune: What are your thoughts on the speed at which new technology from companies like Nvidia has impacted the gaming capabilities of Android smartphones and tablets?

    McKillop:It’s incredible. The latest generation of GPUs in Mobile SoCs are now at or exceeding those of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. When the PS3 originally launched, Android was still nearly two years away from a 1.0. It’s not going to take long for the mobile chipsets to catch up with the current fourth-generation systems (PlayStation 4 and Xbox One).

    How have you seen mobile game experiences advance over the years on Google Play?

    Mobile game experiences have made big strides on Google Play. Android is all about the ecosystem, and moving an ecosystem forward happens over time. It started with the NDK in 2009 and now with the upcoming Android Extension Pack for PC class gaming in L release. I don’t see any limit to what game developers can bring to Android. As the broader handset and tablet space start having CPUs and GPUs that can provide great high definition gaming, there is a big incentive for developers to be on Google Play.

    What opportunities has Android opened up for game developers, especially smaller teams?

    There are a lot of small shops (sometimes just one developer) doing great work. Since Google Play Store has such a quick turnaround time for developers to publish updates and new games, it makes it easier for smaller shops to have a bigger impact. Another element is free-to-play gaming.

    How do you see Android TV impacting the current video game ecosystem, which is tiered separately (for the most part) across mobile, console and PC games?

    Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to discuss this with game developers across all three of these spaces. Mobile developers are excited to have more screens running Android. I don’t think we know yet exactly how the console players will come to the space but, as Android TV grows, it’s a question that will have to be answered. We have some ideas, and I’m excited about the next couple of years as they come to life.