5 ms·

I haven’t seen playdate before. Looks cool and I appreciate people doing things like this, but $200 seems like a lot! Compare to android phones for half the pri

by ks2048 3y ago

I haven’t seen playdate before. Looks cool and I appreciate people doing things like this, but $200 seems like a lot! Compare to android phones for half the price that also function as phones. I realize things without mass production will be more expensive, but I wonder what part(s) the device are the biggest contributor to the price? (Also, more to the point of the article - kudos to Swift team. A nice language I hope becomes more widespread)

linsomniac 3y ago
I was kind of interested in the Playdate but couldn't bring myself to buy one. Last summer I stayed at my brother-in-laws place for a week and did some DIY work around his house, and while I was there played with his Playdate. Really enjoyed it, but still couldn't bring myself to "pull the trigger" on buying one. I'm really busy with work and life these days and don't often find I have time to game. 3 months later a package arrived from Playdate; as a thank you for the DIY work my BIL bought me one. It's a very well designed and executed device, the crank handle is well used in many games, and it's nice to have a device that just does one thing and does it well. It can be a little tricky to play depending on ambient light.
- msephton 3y ago
  Props to your BIL! You're lucky to have family like that.
msephton 3y ago
I think the biggest contributors to cost are the Sharp Memory LCD screen, custom built crank, and the fact that you get 24 games included with the device. Regardless, it's absolutely worth it without a shadow of a doubt. There's nothing else like it. Plus, it's the only way to play exclusive games of which there are many. My game YOYOZO was listed in Ars Technica's "Best Games of 2023" alongside several games by Nintendo.
- ks2048 3y ago
  Thanks for the info. I think if Playdate could be significantly cheaper without the included games, it could bring in more people who would then buy games if interested (as well as potential developers). But, I understand it’s hard to say - they need to make money on the device too.
- myko 3y ago
  It's a neat device but I hesitate to say it is worth it, the lack of backlit screen makes it mostly unplayable to me :/
  - mattl 3y ago
    Have you played on one? I didn’t find the lack of a backlight a problem when you’re in reasonable light.
    - myko 3y ago
      I have one on my desk right now, and I have played it. It's just difficult for me (bad eyesight? I do wear glasses) because of the lack of backlight.

by ks2048 3y ago

linsomniac 3y ago

I was kind of interested in the Playdate but couldn't bring myself to buy one. Last summer I stayed at my brother-in-laws place for a week and did some DIY work around his house, and while I was there played with his Playdate. Really enjoyed it, but still couldn't bring myself to "pull the trigger" on buying one. I'm really busy with work and life these days and don't often find I have time to game. 3 months later a package arrived from Playdate; as a thank you for the DIY work my BIL bought me one. It's a very well designed and executed device, the crank handle is well used in many games, and it's nice to have a device that just does one thing and does it well. It can be a little tricky to play depending on ambient light.

msephton 3y ago
Props to your BIL! You're lucky to have family like that.

msephton 3y ago

I think the biggest contributors to cost are the Sharp Memory LCD screen, custom built crank, and the fact that you get 24 games included with the device. Regardless, it's absolutely worth it without a shadow of a doubt. There's nothing else like it. Plus, it's the only way to play exclusive games of which there are many. My game YOYOZO was listed in Ars Technica's "Best Games of 2023" alongside several games by Nintendo.

ks2048 3y ago
Thanks for the info. I think if Playdate could be significantly cheaper without the included games, it could bring in more people who would then buy games if interested (as well as potential developers). But, I understand it’s hard to say - they need to make money on the device too.
myko 3y ago
It's a neat device but I hesitate to say it is worth it, the lack of backlit screen makes it mostly unplayable to me :/
- mattl 3y ago
  Have you played on one? I didn’t find the lack of a backlight a problem when you’re in reasonable light.
  - myko 3y ago
    I have one on my desk right now, and I have played it. It's just difficult for me (bad eyesight? I do wear glasses) because of the lack of backlight.