Playdate Review

[@SickMatt]

You just know someone's going to program the entirety of Doom in it

[@faisalalk5796]

Fr 😂😂😂

[@patrickyeary]

Hold my beer

[@luisnuke8389]

@@patrickyeary I'm rooting for you

[@raph5906]

Someone tried porting it a year ago and got the crank to control the chain gun

[@pointybits6496]

well..

[@bryce9596]

That would be perfect for a fishing game, reel in fish with the crank. Or a can opener simulator!

[@mitchjames9350]

Golf game would be awesome.

[@Amin_2k]

Fishing would be amazing lol

[@Ur_N0.1_fan]

A horror game that circles the use of a defective generator/flash-light combo

[@andrewwinkenwerder5258]

@@Ur_N0.1_fan genius

[@AlexM-mz7rx]

😂😂😂

[@zainmushtaq4347]

Those smooth and satisfying animations scream of quality, even in black-n-white colors. He's right, the device seems to be built with charm in mind for every aspect, which is why it looks and probably _feels_ great 😇

[@holdmeclosertonydanza22]

Fun fact I've just learned: This was developed by Teenage Engineering, who also do those little Pocket Operator drum machines, and the fabled OP-1 midi controller.

[@rud5101]

Really cute device, but a bit pricey for what it is. I'd love to see what games people make for it. Hoping to see some Wario Land, Metroid, or Kirby type games.

[@SS64DD]

just waiting for smb3 to be ported to it. we all know it's comming

[@yesnt5528]

do you know where to buy them?

[@teafourito]

@@yesnt5528on their official site

[@mmmtastyte]

A Wario ware type game would be perfect for it

[@peterkefalos7430]

This is awesome it reminds of one of those game systems that Wario would come up in warioware

[@als_pals]

There's a community-made warioware style game jam where each minigame was made by a different person

[@Ultravioletwave]

@@als_pals what is the name? That sounds awesome

[@zodajc]

@@als_pals sounds dope what's it called?

[@CoreZeroPH]

They beat Nintendo making a yellow handheld that plays a lot of (mini)games. Could have been the first real-world "WarioWare" console for all we know.

[@ohmygahdbilly]

“Rhythm heaven: Crank Concert”when?

[@Aubue]

Seems like it delivers on what it promised.

[@STICKOMEDIA]

Indeed

[@moisclipfarming]

Being too overpriced and not having a basic necessity, a backlight?

[@11th_defender51]

@@moisclipfarming why does everyone forget that it comes with 24 games?

[@drumman22]

@@11th_defender51 still not backlit

[@soltcolt4506]

It gives you free carpal tunnel and hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills, what's not to love?

[@brandong3469]

It looks like a fidget toy. If you get bored or anxious, just click the buttons, turn the crank. You even get games for it.

[@thierrys85]

A $179 fidget toy.

[@TheLover20xx]

An extreemly expensive one

[@valent.]

@@TheLover20xx 179 is like a pair of jeans

[@Simbabweman]

Never heard of this and thought the crank was how you charge it up. Interesting to use it in games. Feel like it should also power it as back up at least lol

[@Monkixote]

physically not possible if you consider how thin the device is and how wind-up chargers function. (You need to be rotating a magnet around a coil of wires).

[@Chennaz1]

Size issues not withstanding, it'd have to be a crank with some major resistance to generate sufficient power, meaning it'd be a workout to play a game with

[@hassaanahmed97]

Pardon me if my science doesn't make sense but bike dynamos are also not very resistant, only two magnets?

[@exia41gundam]

@@Monkixote you haven't seen the thinnest hand wind watch yet

[@Monkixote]

@@exia41gundam you haven't learned the difference between electrical and mechanical energy yet.

[@Kyotosomo]

Painfully hipster and painfully expensive but it does look like a lot of fun.

[@jepjep7373]

...yeah but it's still expensive lol

[@cole1714]

It’s cheaper than a console or a PC upgrade, lol

[@adamwasp2717]

Just remember that the price comes with 24 games

[@tabulaluden]

@@cole1714 isn’t it $20 cheaper than a Switch Lite? That’s really tough to argue that it’s “cheaper than a console” when it has less potential than a console that’s only $20 more. Just my take.

[@STICKOMEDIA]

@@jepjep7373 lol

[@43SunSon]

$180, this price almost killed everything.

[@jknifgijdfui]

the price is kinda reasonable cause it comes with 24 games and the console itself costs 90 to 100 dollars to produce its also a barrier to make sure only the people who fit into the niche that its aiming at will buy it cause everyone else wouldnt care that being said this thing should still get massive price cuts

[@UserAme99]

Used ps4 anyone?

[@SleepyPossums]

This is a nice indie device- Panic! can’t afford to make like millions of these like Nintendo makes switches, so this price makes sense to me especially since you also get 25 games.

[@duckmasterflex]

It’s because of its useless R&D

[@Benieg83]

@@jknifgijdfui Mini games. That on any other system or phone would be .99c each.

[@TheBlargMarg]

Love to see a interesting fishing game on this. The pixel graphics are so smooth

[@JaredConnell]

That's literally the only genre that works on the thing

[@Axolutl]

@@JaredConnellno?

[@_huw_435]

This is definitely one of the consoles of all time

[@DR.DisInfect]

Yes it is a console in time

[@oceman5446]

@@DR.DisInfect of all time lol

[@Urbanxx001]

Why would you say something so controversial?

[@olliepopAMV]

😂

[@bekucce]

@@Urbanxx001 lP

[@samuentaga]

It is a bit pricey for what it is, but it definitely looks cool. If it was $70-100 it would be a bit more appealing, but my guess is that the price is to justify the free games that you get with it.

[@mauriceyoung5225]

yea 180 with no backlight in 2022 lol no thanks

[@unusualsuspect980]

​@@mauriceyoung5225Especially when you can get a switch light for 200 bucks.

[@Axolutl]

@@mauriceyoung5225 well it’s supposed to be like that it’s part of the charm

[@polaris911]

the screen and the 1-bit dithered aesthetic really looks cool. The price though..

[@baekseulhyun6762]

The price is not worth it. Better off buying original consoles second hand or third party consoles that can do much more much cheaper.

[@aexlife]

No backlight kills it, cool idea though.

[@BobbyHo2022]

Wait til "Playdate Color". Lol

[@FrostyOcelot]

@@cmmartti this isn't E-ink, and like the reviewer said you need to look at the screen straight-on to see anything, you need decent lighting, and you need to hope that lighting isn't reflecting off the screen into your face. It's closer to a Gameboy pocket than an E-ink ereader.

[@firstreality3867]

@@cmmartti you can read books way easier than this thing lmao

[@firstreality3867]

@@cmmartti the fact that it needs to be “angled” at all proves I’m right. There’s already reviews about how bad the lack of a backlight is. And no I’m not wasting money on this thing to test it myself.

[@panampace]

“Super reflective” advertised as a selling point when there’s no backlight. What in hell

[@KoolAidManOG]

A backlit screen is not reflective, it is transmissive. This is reflective in the same way that an Kindle ebook reader is reflective, except moreso because the finish of the Sharp Memory LCD display this uses is shiny silver instead of grey matte.

[@timondimare1976]

the community being able to make games for it sounds really promising

[@frankc.531]

That price point is insane.

[@PMantis013]

Insanely expensive you mean, right?

[@frankc.531]

@@PMantis013 Most definitely. I’d consider it at $69.99.

[@HonuFlight]

Its differently going to fail due to that price point. Its a shame it seems really cool, its just nowhere near worth $180.

[@deshigamer4967]

switch lite is only 20 dollars more and thousand times better.

[@SavageSenzu]

@@deshigamer4967 switch isn’t made by an indie company and can afford to be sold at a loss, not this. You guys are forgetting that.

[@access1992]

never heard of this until now but it looks pretty neat actually! for how small the screen is and how simple it looks, they games look like they run SUPER smoothly and it looks pretty clear

[@majiankun23]

For 180 bucks I’ll take Nintendo switch lite any day of the week

[@feral4112]

Lmao ya my thoughts exactly! This thing is like a hipster version of a handheld gaming platform

[@suwooshi]

these two aren’t comparable in the slightest

[@timrogers6083]

Get both 😃

[@toooydoeur]

@@suwooshi they clearly are

[@AlexRodriguez0407]

@@suwooshi the price is With 200 dollars would you rather buy a tiny, simple system that is sold more as a novelty than a game console? Or a portable Nintendo console that can play breath of the wild, super mario odyssey, mario kart 8 and many others?

[@wesleyackerman8211]

Souja Boy really missed out by not putting a crank on his console...

[@FutonJohn]

Backlight should be an essential at this point.

[@mkb285]

Me: Wow this thing looks just like a Gameboy Pocket! IGN: It has no backlight. Me: So, it IS a Gameboy Pocket

[@ASTR0TALKSPHILOSOPHY]

Except it's a worser gameboy pocket.

[@raymondc7567]

Nah a Gameboy pocket is way better. This play date is not going to sell well. Definately not gonna last long lol.

[@Joe-gu8hg]

@@ASTR0TALKSPHILOSOPHY worser

[@TheTommyCraft]

@@raymondc7567 "Sell well" is relative. Not all products are intended for millions of consumers. Panic is currently sitting at 50k pre-orders which is more than they had expected. So while you may not think 50k units is selling well, Panic is quite pleased.

[@raymondc7567]

@@TheTommyCraft congratulations lol

[@aquelegf]

no backlight in 2022.......

[@LucieOne]

I'd be pretty nervous about that crank breaking off at some point.

[@nightman6349]

That's just an urban myth

[@Foxlum]

7:22 - 7:55 that's all you need to hear if you really don't understand why this exists, Panic isn't going for mass it's going for the niche gaming market, the "hyper" indie scene, stuff you useally don't see on modern platforms.

[@TheStop]

Cant wait to get mine, looks super cool

[@leoviper]

It feels like a portable console -IGN

[@tats_sacs]

You would think tech is cheaper now. This thing doesn’t even have a backlight on it. The GBA SP cost almost half and you can play it in the dark.

[@cryptocsguy9282]

@Tats Sacs It doesn't need a backlight because of the special screen type used of the 1bit colour images , sharp memory LCD

[@benwilliams5760]

Just too expensive. If it was £80/$100 then I'd be tempted. Also, if you ideally need a nice bright, sunny day to play it then that doesn't bode well for anyone buying it in the UK. 😄

[@Rev8691]

No backlight is a dealbreaker, makes it way too hard to play especially for that price.

[@goldenmindcavity]

if the price was normal or more in line with the limitations of the system then sure, but jesus it's 20 bucks shy of a switch lite

[@CODE14464]

Niche product, high dev costs, small company = totally reasonable price

[@lukesoddlife]

Geez when you put it like that 💀

[@CODE14464]

@Privileged White Male so you dont want any new start ups lol? Support so they can grow so we can have more competition and fun products

[@greatbigeyeball]

@@CODE14464 Yeah ultimately this is why there are only 2-3 companies buying everything and barely anything else can break through. Them hitting a niche like this is basically all they can do.

[@baekseulhyun6762]

@@CODE14464 They're not a small company. And there are tons of other companies who have better consoles with better hardware libraries at a much cheaper price point. Plus let's be real nobody gives a damn about how the price point is determined. Overpriced is overpriced.

[@tomhools1605]

wow, i've heard about this years ago and it's still in pre-order phase.

[@Nico-jc7zr]

started shipping out not long ago!

[@_walruseater]

my hand hurts just looking at it. pre-ordered!

[@zackattack5414]

Wish you could also charge with the crank this seems like a fun little thing for traveling

[@danieldubrovin8813]

Do you mean hand cranking it to start Jesus just use solar panels at that point

[@thanatosor]

Kudos to Playdate for picking Lua/C combo for game developers

[@Hermith]

Ive seen a lot of reviews on the playdate and a lot of people complain about the lack of a backlight, but I think that complaining about that feature ignores the whole theme of the playdate itself. Its meant to bring modern console gaming back to the gameboy era (albeit with a twist) where there were much larger limitations on the systems that were available. I agree that needing direct lighting to see whats happening on the screen can be annoying but i also think that it brings such a cute novelty to the device as the same was true for the earlier gameboys. Also there is a way to stream gameplay from the playdate onto a laptop or computer screen so if push comes to shove and you really cant find any light source you can always just whip out a laptop and stream the games on there (Note: I get that this isnt always going to be a solution if you are travelling with the playdate, but my main point is that there are alternatives for some scenarios). I used to have a gameboy when i was little (which ive since lost) and being able to experience that again through this device honestly feels really cool.

[@thebasketballhistorian3291]

The processor isn't "40x faster than the original Gameboy" from 1989... I'm guessing it's over 1,000x faster. Only its clock frequency is 40x the Gameboy's 4.2 MHz. But clock speed is almost a non-factor in determining processor speed. In fact, newer processors have been optimized to reduce clock frequencies as higher MHz creates more heat and uses more battery.

[@jackwilson5542]

This "console" belongs to 80s. Just a total grift to get hipster money. Costs under $10 to produce and sells for $180, it is as bad as the Daniel Wellington watches.

[@cammishu8004]

@@jackwilson5542 niche products cannot benefit from economies of scale and game devs cost money who knew,

[@asmrdestiny]

Can’t wait for mine! In group one 👍

[@Hansmusiclofi]

This is incredible for visual novels as well!

[@ericsnewlink3]

There’s nothing “gimmicky” about the playdate it’s a genuinely fun experience and new experience

[@bretbranson7780]

No backlight is the nail for me

[@mreyeball3085]

With the price point and design it just seems like a novelty item.

[@gae_wead_dad_6914]

It is basically a novelty. 100%. It's an item for the guys who are basically a mirror image of the "CONSOOOOOMER" meme

[@Treywaylife91]

Back in the 90s

[@blackktulu]

2 things: put a pop socket on the back and if they don't make a fishing game, thatsa huge missed opportunity

[@timytimeerased]

179 bucks for a console without backlight, a tiny screen, poor viewing angles, and a useless gyrometer. Wow, it really IS the best hipster portable console. Just buy an Analog Pocket if you want a dose of retro gaming.

[@Fabi42069]

Insane the steamdeck got an 7/10 and this got 8/10 🤣

[@voodude1074]

Did you watch the whole video? It's the console and all the games.

[@goncaloduarte4683]

@@voodude1074 that would be more relevant if the games were valuable, it's not like we are getting 70$ games

[@bile897]

Yea…no thanks lul

[@RoyAlWhicheez]

@@Fabi42069 That would make sense if it was the same person who reviewed both... but it wasn't soooo... yeah

[@12thMandalorian]

Im struggling to work out who this is for exactly, who are they aiming to sell this too especially at that price?

[@baekseulhyun6762]

Shallow people who like status symbol stuff.

[@mattsstuff907]

Hipsters lol

[@miadietrich7347]

Developers who want to take on the challenge of its limiting and interesting hardware. Developers already make a ton of money, so the price isn't really a problem for them.

[@Badoopboop]

Speedruns with this will be wild!

[@RookieDrifter]

Imagine if the crank could power up the console 🤯

[@fidelklckap1821]

@@Kayttaja1524 It doesn't.

[@Antidisestablishmentarianism63]

You call me on the telephone, you feel so far away You tell me to come over, there’s some games you wanna play

[@deerlyXO]

This seems like it’s more for game developers than it is for consumers

[@MultiZelda13]

To people complaining about price: don't forget that the price tag includes the games!

[@gv2212]

Yup shitty 2007 java mobile games

[@MultiZelda13]

@@gv2212 if you don't like micro games that's fine. But some people do!

[@Mandude4200]

If it ever goes on sale I’ll consider picking it up, 170$ for a neat little console like this is not worth it in my opinion

[@tristanj7090]

Sounds like the crank is cool but adds to the uncomfortable feel in hand over time.

[@miguelshihto]

That surfing game "Whitewater Wipeout" looks *suspiciously* familiar to "California Games: Surfing" for the Atari Lynx

[@PhreshPhil]

with Randy Home's song in that one game and Poolsuite FM, Playdate will truly be known as the vaporwave console. Maybe people will be able to mod in a backlight too

[@davidsgamingworld8935]

seriously it's only in black and white and it cost $180 and no thanks

[@JQJDaMan]

requires ambient light 8/10 -IGN

[@Telmarine55]

1990 called, it wants its Game Boy back.

[@BSWGGAMING]

$199 ?!?!?!??!?! rediculous not even emulation

[@HelmuthGerka]

Cool but for $179.99 it almost sounds like a joke, just get a Switch Lite at that point or play on your phone if you want tiny quirky games.

[@helliboss]

Now if only someone ported doom to it, it would be perfect.

[@JMadLabs]

They did, and programmed the crank to fire the rail gun

[@shaneharrington3655]

Developers: *Please make a game called Crankenstien*

[@btetschner]

Great review, thank you for showing all those different aspects of the console. Thank you for the video.

[@TheGoodContent37]

A cool design idea would had been to put a circular dial on the back that could work like the lever. That design would had been safer, that lever looks like it will break sooner or later.

[@Ugnexe]

$179.99........for a yellow box with a black and white screen.....wow

[@phunnbaba]

That isn’t back lit

[@cheeherrr]

It’s to prove people will buy anything. 😆

[@terraskasi]

And most likely made in China

[@andrewcheng2852]

@@terraskasi your point being?

[@gatekeeper7211]

@@andrewcheng2852 it's another gameboy pocket knock off. But with a crank.

[@timidtyphlosion7710]

It’s interesting but it’s currently $199. And at that price point you can get a variety of different emulation handhelds that can run up to PS1 or 2 reliably

[@infamousdood1696]

Next Console : PlayDate Color

[@justchill1617]

Then PlayDate Advance SP

[@tasoganedude]

I'm surprised that there aren't any fishing games that utilizes the crank.

[@Dedsirius]

For 200 dollars it better AT LEAST have a back light.

[@Sonny1065LV]

Really looking forward to trying the playdate out!

[@MrWolfchamp-xi3cu]

Has anyone been seeing ads for the Snapdragon G3X? It's a handheld gaming system. It looks cool. And I'm not someone who's ever interested in handheld gaming.

[@thomasperkins4895]

What's the background music in this? Anyone know? At the ~2:00 minute mark

[@mr.k6148]

you'll play with it for a week, and then it will lost in a drawer or purse.

[@RetroTechX]

Needs a pop socket on the back....

[@soltcolt4506]

For $180 you will get a device with a crank that cannot be used to charge it in a pinch or whatever, but you will get carpal tunnel from it, you get a 400x240 monochrome screen with no backlight. At least it's just as powerful as a switch, and 20 bucks cheaper. Perfect.

[@keenfuture]

Yeah this thing should be like 110 bucks or something

[@Nico-jc7zr]

lol it's clearly not a switch competitor, it's its own thing

[@The-Khandor-of-Kalakuta]

promise you guys, they will have to eventually address that back light issue...

[@cryptocsguy9282]

@Raymond Smith a backlight isn't needed because it uses a 1bit sharp memory LCD for displaying black & white

[@ax0r]

@@cryptocsguy9282 ?

[@cryptocsguy9282]

@@ax0r what don't you understand?

[@ax0r]

@@cryptocsguy9282 what is the effect of having a "1bit sharp memory LCD for displaying black & white"? it still doesnt have backlight

[@Sudstah]

The hotel dusk developer needs to get on this

[@meziembamara4004]

Missed opportunity to use the crank for dynamo charging. That'll save cost on fuel of electric generator every now and then.

[@SleepyPossums]

People hating on this never imagined gaming as anything other than Call of Duty 29 with the latest graphics.

[@Crushenator500]

It looks fun, I'd probably want check it out for maybe $50 max. Almost $200 is a joke though. That's Switch Lite territory.

[@jonathancharles9862]

“Battery anxiety” that’s a new one for me

[@fvkijay]

It would have been cool if the crank was used to power the unit.

[@Guitario666]

No backlight is a bummer.

[@billy6464]

this would be a neat little thing you pick up for like $60 and play for a few days then forget about. at that price nah that's a pass.

[@casekocsk]

Playdate needs bigger screen and frontlight or backlight button (like one in GBA SP).

[@baekseulhyun6762]

They need to stop being ambitious with their price point and drop it to $50 before anything else😂

[@bancf3153]

Yeah someone is going to do a whole as movie with this

[@8BitPasta]

we all know what he meant by marathon halo sessions

[@shadchandler3503]

No back light, no go what were they thinking.🤔

[@megamegaO]

It will become a collectible, and be worth hundreds in a few years.

[@nickicrandle5212]

Surely a fishing game with the crank

[@randomland9088]

The power of marketing!

[@vojtasedlak4547]

Just waiting for Bethesda to announce Skyrim on this.

[@serasplays]

A preowned switch is the same price and it comes with a backlight. This is the ouya allover again.

[@nebulaneka8946]

Takes me back to my GBP

[@senister9726]

I’ll wait for the playdate sp for the backlight

[@Farhankhan-oc9fb]

Consumers would still buy it!

[@neonswift]

Very informative review, and one with personality.

[@ProducerX21]

Too high of a price, no backlight, and every reviewer has said they get hand cramps. Did this get play tested before release? I’ll wait for the next version of the console