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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" handh
by AussieWog93 5y ago
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.
- senko 5y ago> 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)
- AussieWog93 5y agoFor 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.
- willis936 5y agoThat doesn't jibe with how profiteers view how capitalism should work.
- gilrain 5y agoTheir view transparently leads to the end of the world. It can, should, and must be discarded as deranged.
- kkjjkgjjgg 5y agoWhat are you referring to? It sounds to me more like a socialist version of capitalism.
- AussieWog93 5y agoHonestly not sure what you mean by this. At least outside of the Silicon Valley bubble, there are plenty of profit-minded, capitalistic people who aren't trying to become a trillion dollar megacorp.
- JonathanFly 5y ago>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 https://overcast.fm/+R7DX2ydgY/1:25:44 Link to longer discussion: https://overcast.fm/+R7DX2ydgY/1:17:40 https://overcast.fm/+R7DX2ydgY/1:17:40
- bodge5000 5y agoI've said it so many times before even I'm getting bored of saying it, but it seems to me to be something closer to fantasy consoles than normal gaming handhelds. As you say its not meant to compete with the Switch, its much closer to something like pico-8 (obviously thats not hardware, you know what I mean) in my opinion.
- abbabon 5y ago> 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). I feel personally attacked.