Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I don't understand all the hate for this (not just here, but other comments/forums). This device is not meant to compete with the switch or stream deck. For me this is a nostalgia machine that puts a modern spin on the original game boy (which I grew up with). The debate on pricing I understand, but not whether it should exist.

Yes.
Imagine if Apple relaunched a retro version of the original 8-bit Macintosh, powered by an M1 chip.

Many are probably too young to have experienced the simplicity of black and white games.
Dark Castle, Prince of Persia, Deja Vu are three games that spring to mind.

Nostalgic? Sure.
Too simplistic? Perhaps, but sometimes, less is more and constraints force developers to think differently.

But I do agree price is on the high side.
 
For everyone barking "DOA", they've pre-sold a metric tonne of these. I have no interest, but that doesn't mean there's no interest.

Like Panic… I totally lost interest in 'don't call it coda 3', since VS Code is free. But that doesn't mean there aren't a lot of people willing to pay $100/year for it. Niche businesses are niche for a reason.
 
The problem here... is price, it's the same price as a Switch Lite.

Panic's manufacturing cost is $99, but that should have been the retail cost. Law of economics of scale, their factory couldn't get the price lower because their quantities are too small.

(Also read in the reviews that everyone's favorite game was the one without the crank... doesn't bode well for developers embracing it...)
Don't forget the price also includes all the games, which without ******** freemium mechanics still cost something
 
It's not for me, but it is a cute little console. The crank looks like one of those satisfying fidget toys, and the black and white screen is an interesting constraint to give developers.

Even if this product doesn't achieve the standard for success that mainstream tech companies set, I don't think that's the point; the company could go under in a few years and that wouldn't undo all the fun players had with this thing.

One thing that really sucks about it, though, is that it lacks a backlight. I really hated that about the GBC and GBA.

My kitschy handheld of choice at the moment is the Funkey S. It's a lot of fun working my way through PS1 platformer/collectethons on something the size of a matchbox.

tempImageeaVKrM.pngtempImage1TXP79.png

Pretty sure this is the smallest playable console you can get before it becomes completely illegible.
 
Last edited:
No!

At first sight, I thought it was for power, like the rechargeable flashlights with a crank. Make the kids work for their gaming. :)

Anyway, it seems awfully expensive for a B/W gaming system. I'll just keep using one of my phones.

Keep in mind that the Playdate's $179 price point gets you the system plus 24 games with more on the way, though whether season two will be included for free is yet to be seen of course.

And I see a lot of sideloading and homebrew coming out of this thing as well.

 
I don't understand all the hate for this (not just here, but other comments/forums). This device is not meant to compete with the switch or stream deck. For me this is a nostalgia machine that puts a modern spin on the original game boy (which I grew up with). The debate on pricing I understand, but not whether it should exist.
I support this take. analogous to how there's a renewed interest in those little polaroid type film cameras in an almost 100% digital world. think there's probably a niche market for people who want a simplified handheld game system from back in the day. $179 isn't a TON of money, but sure, it's def not for everyone - or even most people.

on the other hand, if this is successful, they've already got a planned obsolescence scenario in the pipeline - Playdate 2 Color.
 
  • Like
Reactions: peanuts_of_pathos
Yes.
Imagine if Apple relaunched a retro version of the original 8-bit Macintosh, powered by an M1 chip.

Many are probably too young to have experienced the simplicity of black and white games.
Dark Castle, Prince of Persia, Deja Vu are three games that spring to mind.

Nostalgic? Sure.
Too simplistic? Perhaps, but sometimes, less is more and constraints force developers to think differently.

But I do agree price is on the high side.

I would buy the PlayDate if it had Dark Castle.
 
For the hardware alone, maybe, but you're also getting 24 games bundled into that price. Even if the hardware was free, you're still only paying $7.50 a game.
But let’s be honest here. How many of the included games are going to be good? From what I’ve read these are pretty short bite sized games.

I will say I am pretty impressed by Panic’s genius in what basically amounts to a cash grab.
 
it is a nifty, kind of charismatic curiosity that promises 24 free games.
Ha. When I read this my hipster alarm went off. Then...
Perhaps it is a bit of a hipster product,
And that's as good a reason as any to stay away.

Now if it used Vector graphics like the Vectrex that would make it far more interesting.
 
  • Like
Reactions: peanuts_of_pathos
Lots of cynicism here, but I think it’s a breath of fresh air. Playdate was never positioned and should not be considered as a new entrant in the competitive handheld console market
I’m going to stop you right there and say that the handheld market isn’t competitive. There is the #DS and Switch. That’s it, and I would argue that since they are the same company and that the #DS is discontinued that there isn’t a competitive market. There is pc/console gaming and then there is Nintendo.

And while I didn’t preorder one of these Crankenstein systems I thought about it as a decoration. I had to realize that I’d rather have a Steam deck that lets me play on the couch for an hour than a kindle play that lets me game in the woods for a week.
 
If we can get 10% of people reading this to pre-order, hopefully Panic doesn't go down with this write-off and can stay in business so those of us invested in their apps can keep receiving updates and support, so, please, MR readers, act now.
Lol 10 percent is astronomically high. Most of the time conversion rates don’t even get past 0.9%.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.