This happy yellow device is taking the gaming world by storm.
Remember the good old days? The time when you could boot up your Gameboy Color and play classic hits such as “The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX” or “Mario Tennis.” If you have been longing for a taste of those simpler times, then stick around for this article.
Bringing back a similar feeling of nostalgia is the developer Panic via their brand new handheld console, Playdate.
The Playdate is a unique experience amidst a vast array of powerful consoles and gaming PCs. As Steam is rolling out their long-awaited Steam Deck, Panic is going down the opposite side of the road. Instead of creating a device that will compete with the big dogs of portable gaming—Nintendo and Steam—they have carved their own path by means of a happy little console that substitutes modern power for a retro experience and ergonomic feel for aesthetic pleasure.
Design
The console boasts a minimal design, featuring a D-pad, two buttons and an analog crank on the right side of the body. The crank might seem a bit weird, but it is truly functional in-game, allowing players to move their characters around or navigate their various vehicles. It’s a nice change of pace that I look forward to trying out myself.
Along with this oddity, the console is fitted with a black-and-white screen that is not backlit. Much like the old school McDonald’s toy consoles 2000s kids received in their Happy Meal boxes, some reviewers are complaining of having a difficult time using the device in low light situations.
Appeal
As previously stated, the main appeal of this platform is the nostalgia effect it engenders in its users—at least that’s the main reason why I am considering pre-ordering the console. Oh, and by the way, the console will run you $179 as of now; however, you won’t receive your order until an undisclosed date in 2023.
Perhaps this is why there is so much hype around this console. As everyone learns in high school economics: a smaller supply results in higher demand.
Along with this, the console appeals to players who want to get out of the AAA gaming dumpster fire that constitutes games like “Battlefield 2042” and “Halo: Infinite.” As big game developers are still using the pandemic as an excuse for their sorry games in Silicon Valley, the Playdate permits users who have no coding experience to create their own games via their Internet browser—pretty cool, huh?
Free Games
Speaking of AAA gaming, when was the last time you downloaded a good free game off the marketplace? For me, it was Metal Gear Solid in 2012—a very long time ago (I’m a console guy).
The Playdate further enables players to get out of the popular space by not only creating their own indie games but by downloading two free games per week for the first 12 weeks a player owns the console. This means that all Playdate users will have a library of games they can play as they sit in the doctor’s office trying to kill time or in an Uber on their way to their next meeting.
Overall Thoughts
I’m excited about the Playdate if I must say so myself. I am always looking for new gaming experiences, so this console might fulfill that desire. Yet, it is a bit disappointing to know that though I may purchase the console now, I likely won’t get it until the middle of next year. By then I will already be a year into marriage and heading into my second year of seminary, which means I likely won’t have any time to dedicate to a device called “Playdate.”
Nevertheless, I look forward to seeing if all the hype will prove true. If not, then at least it will take me back to simpler times.
The Beat @APU 