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Can't wait for the landfill to be filled with these in 10 years time... I genuinely do not understand the appeal, even as a former indie developer. I don't see

by fao_ 5y ago

Can't wait for the landfill to be filled with these in 10 years time... I genuinely do not understand the appeal, even as a former indie developer. I don't see why we need yet another tiny gaming console that's like the NES, except not. It has tiny buttons that look painful to use, it's credit card sized so you can barely hold the thing, it has an outdated usb port so it's not compatible with any of your devices, and a tiny screen that's going to shine in the sunlight. I wonder where all the copies of the OUYA are now. Or the PlayJam Gamestick[0] (Whose founders sold out, then pivoted to bespoke software, and their site is no longer online now). Or any of the other thousands of consoles and gaming devices like these, after 10 years when the actual hardware is outdated and about 5 other things that are exactly the same came out except with an OLED screen and other things that make it nicer. Despite raising 600k, the only place you can get the PlayJam Gamestick is on Ebay, for the shocking price of... 35 pounds. Because literally nobody wants one. It's value is zero, 10 years after the fact. The same for the OUYA (Which had more hype and is slightly cheaper now). The Caanoo, the GCW Zero, the GPD XD, etc. are all lying in the gutter. They either crashed when they tried to take off, or they crashed after 10 years. Now, don't get me wrong. I do understand the appeal of things like the Analogue Pocket -- it has both Homebrew appeal, and the possibility of playing original, 1980s game carts, that is hardware accurate, along with homebrew. A developer making a game for this can know their game works on the original hardware, too! It's an alternative to emulators for time-tested and beloved hardware, so it has staying power. This, like it's predecessors, objectively doesn't have that. It seems like a waste of resources. [0]: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/872297630/gamestick-the-most-portable-tv-games-console-ever https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/872297630/gamestick-the...

Gigachad 5y ago
The impression I got from the project is that it isn't about just loading premade games on but its about giving you a fun and accessible development platform for microcontrollers. I don't think this will be obsolete in 10 years because microcontrollers will have mostly the same requirements.
- fao_ 5y ago
  And yet there are about half a dozen other projects that I've described that cover the exact same space -- retro development, hobbyist. And they're either on Ebay for a fraction of the price, or in landfill.
  - Gigachad 5y ago
    Ultimately I don't think it matters that much here. The thing comes packed in a thin sleeve that fits in an envelope and contains very few materials. You would likely do better for the environment by passing on a single steak for dinner. The Arduboy is the least of my concerns.
spicybright 5y ago
I mean, you're using a computer right now that's probably 10 times the ecological impact of an arduboy once you toss it. And you're going to go through many of them. I own a few arduboys and I like making games for people and giving them the console itself as a desk toy. It's pretty nice to use all things considered, and I've gotten a lot of enjoyment out of it. It doesn't seem like a huge problem for someone to make this, even if other works exist close to it. Especially since it's barely going to effect your own life. Just don't buy it.
- birdyrooster 5y ago
  The replacement rate for computers is slowing substantially but the production of throwaway fast-fashion tech doodads and gizmos is increasing YOY. Also, that whataboutism looks past the utility of the computer vs the arduboy. "It doesn't seem like a huge problem" but perhaps our consumption generally is a problem and this is but one symptom. "Just don't buy it." talks past the PC because they are looking at this as a societal issue.
- fao_ 5y ago
  > I mean, you're using a computer right now that's probably 10 times the ecological impact of an arduboy once you toss it. And you're going to go through many of them. I've gone through 3 or 4 computers in the last 20 years and I can sell the computer on to a retro enthusiast, and not only will they know what it is, but they will pay for it. But then, I've only ever bought Thinkpads, which more or less hold their appreciation value across time. Not to mention, it's also 10, maybe 100 times the utility, as well.
Underphil 5y ago
Anecdotal, but I still have and use my GPD XD regularly. It's better than 99% of 'retro' handhelds out there and it holds together well. There's a guy out there updating it to a recent Android version too. Not all of us succumb to the latest flavour of the month, and wasteful people are naturally wasteful regardless. If it's not this, it'll just be something else.
bateskecom 5y ago
We are a different company with a different model to all of these businesses and products you have mentioned. It's intended to learn how to code on bare metal system using a language that both approachable and powerful, C++. Developing homebrew using assembly is tough. You can learn a lot by developing for a true 8 bit system and Arduino makes it easy and accessible. It's ok to be a nay-sayer but you are super late to the party. We're on year 6 so maybe check back in 4 and see how we are doing! :)

by fao_ 5y ago

Gigachad 5y ago

The impression I got from the project is that it isn't about just loading premade games on but its about giving you a fun and accessible development platform for microcontrollers. I don't think this will be obsolete in 10 years because microcontrollers will have mostly the same requirements.

fao_ 5y ago
And yet there are about half a dozen other projects that I've described that cover the exact same space -- retro development, hobbyist. And they're either on Ebay for a fraction of the price, or in landfill.
- Gigachad 5y ago
  Ultimately I don't think it matters that much here. The thing comes packed in a thin sleeve that fits in an envelope and contains very few materials. You would likely do better for the environment by passing on a single steak for dinner. The Arduboy is the least of my concerns.

spicybright 5y ago

I mean, you're using a computer right now that's probably 10 times the ecological impact of an arduboy once you toss it. And you're going to go through many of them. I own a few arduboys and I like making games for people and giving them the console itself as a desk toy. It's pretty nice to use all things considered, and I've gotten a lot of enjoyment out of it. It doesn't seem like a huge problem for someone to make this, even if other works exist close to it. Especially since it's barely going to effect your own life. Just don't buy it.

birdyrooster 5y ago
The replacement rate for computers is slowing substantially but the production of throwaway fast-fashion tech doodads and gizmos is increasing YOY. Also, that whataboutism looks past the utility of the computer vs the arduboy. "It doesn't seem like a huge problem" but perhaps our consumption generally is a problem and this is but one symptom. "Just don't buy it." talks past the PC because they are looking at this as a societal issue.
fao_ 5y ago
> I mean, you're using a computer right now that's probably 10 times the ecological impact of an arduboy once you toss it. And you're going to go through many of them. I've gone through 3 or 4 computers in the last 20 years and I can sell the computer on to a retro enthusiast, and not only will they know what it is, but they will pay for it. But then, I've only ever bought Thinkpads, which more or less hold their appreciation value across time. Not to mention, it's also 10, maybe 100 times the utility, as well.

Underphil 5y ago

Anecdotal, but I still have and use my GPD XD regularly. It's better than 99% of 'retro' handhelds out there and it holds together well. There's a guy out there updating it to a recent Android version too. Not all of us succumb to the latest flavour of the month, and wasteful people are naturally wasteful regardless. If it's not this, it'll just be something else.

bateskecom 5y ago

We are a different company with a different model to all of these businesses and products you have mentioned. It's intended to learn how to code on bare metal system using a language that both approachable and powerful, C++. Developing homebrew using assembly is tough. You can learn a lot by developing for a true 8 bit system and Arduino makes it easy and accessible. It's ok to be a nay-sayer but you are super late to the party. We're on year 6 so maybe check back in 4 and see how we are doing! :)