TwinIon Posted May 22, 2019 Posted May 22, 2019 Playdate is a new tiny handheld system from Mac software studio Panic, who has more recently moved into gaming with Firewatch and soon, Untitled Goose Game. It looks retro, but it's not a retro game system. It runs an OS designed by Panic and will only play games built for the platform. The Verge It sports a black and white screen, a d-pad, two face buttons, and oddly enough, a hand crank. While the screen feels like a throwback, the Playdate does have modern connectivity options, sporting Wi-Fi, bluetooth, and USB-C. When you buy the device for $149 you'll gain access to one "season" of 12 games. After powering it on, you'll start with one game and receive one new game for each of the next twelve weeks. Future seasons of games will be released depending on how sales go for the first. The games themselves are largely being kept under wraps, but developers of games like Qwop and Katamari Damacy have signed on. It's certainly an oddity, and I kinda want one. It feels like a throwback to those old nearly disposable mobile games from my childhood. At $50 I'd be all over it, at $100 I'd probably buy. At $150, if feels like a stretch. They do warn that stock will be very limited, so buyers will likely have to decide sight unseen. Quote
Littleronin Posted May 23, 2019 Posted May 23, 2019 This reminds me of that company that made laptops for impoverished nations. It had a handcrank for power and whatnot. It was a real piece of shit overall. Quote
Nokt Posted May 23, 2019 Posted May 23, 2019 Not really interested in it for that price. I can't see the games really being worth it either, but who knows. Quote
DarkStar189 Posted May 23, 2019 Posted May 23, 2019 Looks pretty cool but yeah the price is too high for me to just impulse buy it. I'll enjoy watching YouTube videos of it in action and leave it at that. Quote
Commissar SFLUFAN Posted May 23, 2019 Posted May 23, 2019 $149?!? Have they lost their goddamned minds?!? 2 Quote
Mr.Vic20 Posted May 23, 2019 Posted May 23, 2019 7 minutes ago, SFLUFAN said: $149?!? Have they lost their goddamned minds?!? In fairness, that's a bespoke hand crank! Quote
number305 Posted May 23, 2019 Posted May 23, 2019 I'm honestly surprised that the price is what has everyone turned off. If this was in the $5 bin at best buy I wouldn't look twice at a black and white system with a hand crank. Quote
Xbob42 Posted May 24, 2019 Posted May 24, 2019 I'm actually genuinely interested. Seems weird and stripped back enough that devs can focus on making fun experiences. The visuals based on the gifs seem like a real screen and not some Tiger Electronics shit. Seems a little pricey I guess, but it also comes with 12 games made specifically for it, and I like the concept of getting a new game each week. The crank isn't for charging, it's an alternate control input, which seems like it could be fun. I'm big on little additions like that so long as they're not the focus of the system, which it sounds like it's not. Quote
vaxick Posted May 24, 2019 Posted May 24, 2019 I'd be more interested if the price were not so steep. Quote
gamer.tv Posted May 24, 2019 Posted May 24, 2019 If I’m not going to buy a Vita in the foreseeable future, I can’t see myself paying for this. Quote
chakoo Posted May 24, 2019 Posted May 24, 2019 This feels like a device that 90%+ of the people who own it will either be youtubers or collectors. So this will probably stay expensive for a while. Quote
JPDunks4 Posted May 24, 2019 Posted May 24, 2019 I signed up to be notified of its release. Not overly excited for it but I like wasting money on new gizmos. Quote
Biggie Posted May 24, 2019 Posted May 24, 2019 23 hours ago, SFLUFAN said: $149?!? Have they lost their goddamned minds?!? You would have to be completely crazy to buy it at that price or @Mr.Vic20 😂 1 Quote
Xbob42 Posted May 24, 2019 Posted May 24, 2019 Don't act too uppity, guys, most of you threw down several times the cost of this on a PS4 and Knack at launch. Quote
Biggie Posted May 24, 2019 Posted May 24, 2019 5 minutes ago, Xbob42 said: Don't act too uppity, guys, most of you threw down several times the cost of this on a PS4 and Knack at launch. We don’t act uppity. You are mistaking us for yourself Quote
chakoo Posted May 24, 2019 Posted May 24, 2019 10 minutes ago, Xbob42 said: Don't act too uppity, guys, most of you threw down several times the cost of this on a PS4 and Knack at launch. You take that back. Knack was worth every penny. (LoL) Quote
Xbob42 Posted May 24, 2019 Posted May 24, 2019 5 minutes ago, Biggie said: We don’t act uppity. You are mistaking us for yourself You the uppitiest motherfucker I know! Quote
Biggie Posted May 24, 2019 Posted May 24, 2019 7 minutes ago, Xbob42 said: You the uppitiest motherfucker I know! You obviously don’t understand what it means Quote
Mr.Vic20 Posted May 24, 2019 Posted May 24, 2019 I gotta tell you, my kids loved knack! It was the first game my daughter played all the way through! Quote
Xbob42 Posted May 24, 2019 Posted May 24, 2019 2 minutes ago, Mr.Vic20 said: I gotta tell you, my kids loved knack! It was the first game my daughter played all the way through! Now imagine that but you move Knack around with a handcrank while on the shitter! 1 Quote
Mr.Vic20 Posted May 24, 2019 Posted May 24, 2019 6 minutes ago, Xbob42 said: Now imagine that but you move Knack around with a handcrank while on the shitter! And in black and white! It'll be soooo hip! Quote
JPDunks4 Posted May 24, 2019 Posted May 24, 2019 Well I happily paid 2/3 the cost of this to say “Xbox watch HBO” and “”Xbox volume up” for a few years. Quote
Spawn_of_Apathy Posted May 24, 2019 Posted May 24, 2019 When you’re in public and can’t have a wank, pull out your Play date and have a little crank. 1 Quote
chakoo Posted October 27, 2020 Posted October 27, 2020 None. A small handful of developers have units due to a lottery that was held last year and there are some videos of what they are working on but that is about it. I was super excited for this and even got on the drawing list for a devkit (sadly didn't get one) but I'm starting to lose interest because this thing has taken so long to come out. -.- Quote
Xbob42 Posted October 27, 2020 Posted October 27, 2020 Hm? They posted an update in August. Their Twitter profile also still says: "On sale and shipping in 2020, hopefully." 1 Quote
GameDadGrant Posted June 4, 2021 Posted June 4, 2021 Huh. I'll admit I pretty much forgot about this. Guess I'll tune in on Tuesday the 8th and see if this is worth my attention! Quote
ort Posted June 4, 2021 Posted June 4, 2021 Part of me wants this thing and loves that it exists, but a bigger part of me knows I'll play with it for like 45 minutes and it will end up in a drawer. Quote
chakoo Posted June 4, 2021 Posted June 4, 2021 I'm currious to see what they will show off but I have to admit my interested in this thing has dissipated since it's announcement. Quote
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