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Playdate Software Development Kit is now available for free to all

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Re: Playdate Software Development Kit is now available for free to all

#51

Post by AussieWog93 »

A lot of people here seem to be surprised that people would spend $200 on a niche gaming console when you could instead get an emulation machine or "real" handheld.

To add a bit of perspective, from someone who sells classic video games for a living: this console's main point isn't to be affordable or play high-end games. Its target market probably already owns an OLED Switch, a Vita, PSP, every DS model and 2 or 3 Game Boys (one of which is modded with an IPS display).

It's designed to be interesting. That's it. Doesn't need to have a killer app or broad library.

Any utility it offers comes from the fact that it's something to add a bit of spice and fun to an already broad games collection, and possibly the clout that comes from showing other people that you own one.

From that perspective, I think these guys have absolutely hit it out of the park. Not surprised by the success of this at all.

Re: Playdate Software Development Kit is now available for free to all

#52

Post by hortense »

rideontime wrote: post #6
Jyaif wrote: post #4

> Most games will use Playdate’s Lua API Oh my sweet summer child. Reminds me of the Android documentation that said something along "Most apps shouldn't use the NDK".

Do most apps use the NDK?

Almost all the most popular apps (Facebook, WhatsApp, Google Chrome, Google Maps ..) do.

And of course, nearly all games do.

Re: Playdate Software Development Kit is now available for free to all

#53

Post by traspler »

For anyone asking "why", Panic has written a blogpost about it and talked about it on their podcast: https://panic.com/blog/the-story-of-playdate/

It wasn't always their goal to enter the console market, it started as an idea for a very special anniversary project and evolved into the playdate. It might be a pricy, boutique, indie gaming handheld for us but from what I've read more of a "fun" project and life experience for panic.

Re: Playdate Software Development Kit is now available for free to all

#54

Post by senko »

AussieWog93 wrote: post #51

A lot of people here seem to be surprised that people would spend $200 on a niche gaming console when you could instead get an emulation machine or "real" handheld. To add a bit of perspective, from someone who sells classic video games for a living: this console's main point isn't to be affordable or play high-end games. Its target market probably already owns an OLED Switch, a Vita, PSP, every DS model and 2 or 3 G…

> Any utility it offers comes from the fact that it's something to add a bit of spice and fun to an already broad games collection, and possibly the clout that comes from showing other people that you own one.

Is that niche large enough for a sustainable success?

(not arguing, genuinely interested to hear your opinion)

Re: Playdate Software Development Kit is now available for free to all

#55

Post by compilerone »

RototRobot wrote: post #35

while the device is novel and I wish the devs the best, I just cant wrap my head around who would actually want to use this device? The Gimmick seems like it would wear off rather fast for anyone interested in gaming, the Seasonal model of games released seems to put all the risk on the consumer to hope they make more. the games dont actually look all the interesting, and as a fun toy for non-gamers it seems to expen…

> will want to buy but after a week sits on a shelf unused.

Just like my nintendo switch!

Re: Playdate Software Development Kit is now available for free to all

#56

Post by AussieWog93 »

senko wrote: post #54
AussieWog93 wrote: post #51

A lot of people here seem to be surprised that people would spend $200 on a niche gaming console when you could instead get an emulation machine or "real" handheld. To add a bit of perspective, from someone who sells classic video games for a living: this console's main point isn't to be affordable or play high-end games. Its target market probably already owns an OLED Switch, a Vita, PSP, every DS model and 2 or 3 G…

> Any utility it offers comes from the fact that it's something to add a bit of spice and fun to an already broad games collection, and possibly the clout that comes from showing other people that you own one. Is that niche large enough for a sustainable success? (not arguing, genuinely interested to hear your opinion)

For a mega-corporation the size of Microsoft or Sony, not at all.

For a small business staffed entirely by enthusiasts, absolutely.

There always have been, and always will be, successful businesses based in niche novelties.

Re: Playdate Software Development Kit is now available for free to all

#57

Post by user-the-name »

Danieru wrote: post #29
roywiggins wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Arduboy is $60. I don't doubt this thing is more capable that the Arduboy, the hardware is probably nicer, but they're both tiny fidget toys for small games- and one is 4x pricier than the other. So it's not like cheaper indie handhelds can't exist.

The Arduboy is more powerful for sure. I've made a game for the Playdate using the Pulp tool release last month. My summation is the device will be a neat toy for hobby gamedevs.

In specs it certainly isn't.

Re: Playdate Software Development Kit is now available for free to all

#58

Post by JonathanFly »

AussieWog93 wrote: post #51

A lot of people here seem to be surprised that people would spend $200 on a niche gaming console when you could instead get an emulation machine or "real" handheld. To add a bit of perspective, from someone who sells classic video games for a living: this console's main point isn't to be affordable or play high-end games. Its target market probably already owns an OLED Switch, a Vita, PSP, every DS model and 2 or 3 G…

>A lot of people here seem to be surprised that people would spend $200 on a niche gaming console when you could instead get an emulation machine or "real" handheld.

A good explanation from John Siracusa:

>To a certain class of person, this makes no sense.

>This product is a celebration. It's all custom hardware, every single part, and they wrote their own operating system. Why would you do that? Why is this not running Linux or a Raspberry Pi or something sensible? Because the company is ridiculous, the people are insane, and this is an amazing thing that should not exist but does.

https://overcast.fm/+R7DX2ydgY/1:25:44

Link to longer discussion: https://overcast.fm/+R7DX2ydgY/1:17:40

Re: Playdate Software Development Kit is now available for free to all

#59

Post by germinalphrase »

nstart wrote: post #48

For those mentioning the price, it's worth noting that you receive games for free on the device. That's part of the package From their homepage: > Here's the truly unique bit. Playdate isn't just an empty system. Once you set up your Playdate, you'll start to receive two brand new games... every week. For 12 weeks. > >That's 24 free games, in lots of genres. Some are short. Some are long. Will you love them all? Prob…

Obviously, fishing.

Re: Playdate Software Development Kit is now available for free to all

#60

Post by code_runner »

I haven’t heard of this device and thought It felt like something from teenage engineering… awesome that they’re involved.

A full blown sdk for a device like this seems like a blast. Side projects/hobby coding can get boring/stale sometimes but this seems like a blast

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