The Playdate Awaits - Is The Crank To Thank?

It has been two years since the remarkable revealing of the Playdate from Panic [34] [35]. I recall being bewildered at its rather unique design and discussing what can enhance its appeal even further several months after its release. The COVID-19 pandemic may have caused delays within the Playdate’s production and preparation for marketing, but the determination to bring it into action was still there [20]. Somewhat similarly in terms of such willpower, a gaming website that got hacked and had to be taken down can always be re-established under a new name with stronger security standards [5]. Come to think of it, the Playdate’s bold shade of yellow reminds me of Bumblebee from the Transformers franchise [3]. Aside from that, much more about the handheld gaming system has been revealed over a week ago [20]. It looks like there are many great gaming-related things to experience this year, such as the outcome of Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart for the PlayStation 5 and another round of golf with Mario in Mario Golf: Super Rush [17] [27] [28]. Aside from new instalments of beloved gaming franchises, there is plenty of room for something completely new throughout the rest of the year and that is the one and only Playdate [20] [24].

As much as I praised the Playdate’s originality and how it is practically pocket-sized back in Spring 2019, I strongly believe there ought to be a left-handed edition for left-handed gamers [34] [35] [36]. [26]

What else can I say about the overall design of the Playdate? I like how the crank can also be bent outwards as it makes it more advanced than a crank on a Jack-In-The-Box toy [22]. I like how there is an “A” button and “B” button on the right side of the control panel below the screen, but I think a certain amount of us might prefer them to be the other way round [39]. As for the back of the device, we can see its production details at the bottom right corner. Do you think that once it becomes available as a left-handed edition or in any other colour besides yellow [34] [35], the production nickname for the second colour will be “Playdate PDU-02” [24]? Because I most certainly do since it would be a wise financial decision to only produce a console in some other colours and editions if the very first design sells rather successfully. Perhaps for consumers who might prefer the design to be a little bigger, there can be a second model that has an appropriately increased size named “Playdate XL” in the next generation. You know, like how the second design of the Nintendo DSi was called the “Nintendo DSi XL” since it was bigger than the first design [18] [30].

It is highly likely that the control panel of the Playdate will be easy to operate with and get used to, but I think it could have been a little more suitable to swap the “A” and “B” buttons around as the letter A always comes before the letter B, right? And also the Xbox One controller [39]. But I digress as I have recently beaten the final boss in Super Mario 64 for the second time in my entire life [19] [37]. [24]

Aside from Crankin’s Time Travel Adventures [21] [34] [35], the list of monochrome games in a large variety of premises and genres to play on the Playdate throughout about twelve weeks include:

•        Casual Birder [20] [24]
•        Boogie Loops [20] [24]
•        Whitewater Wipeout [20] [24]
•        Snak [20] [24]
•        Spellcorked [20] [24]
•        Saturday Edition [20] [24]
•        Pick Pack Pup [20] [24]

Some other forthcoming titles that has been revealed could be part of Season Two, including:

•        Mars After Midnight [20]
•        Noble Robot [20]
•        Direct Drive [20]

It is unmistakable how a lot of development teams have been willing to help enhance the legacy of such a uniquely designed gaming system. There will be a total of twenty-four games within a “first” season [21] [24], leading to some curiosity on what the second season of games would be like about a few months after the device’s official release, including the outcome of Mars After Midnight [20]. Call me crazy, but I am up for a Playdate game based on either Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss for older gamers during the run of Season Two [9] [10] [11] [12]. Oh. And whatever you do, gaming industry. Do NOT develop a port of the DS version of Sonic Colours for the Playdate…unless the next model will feature games in full colour as the “Playdate Colour” in the future [29] [38].

The idea of discovering two new games per week on the Playdate is quite engaging [20]. Do not forget to stay connected to the internet [22]! I still wonder if there could be an adaption of Tamagotchi for the system [31] [34] [35]. [24]

Oh, hello! What is this? A rehash of Mario Paint [7]? [20]

Any other forthcoming software to further increase ambition and appeal for a wide range of players out there? Well, ideally for an accessory that will be explained later, there is an application named “Poolsuite FM” that allows the player to listen to music from the Playdate [20]. There also appears to see an app that basically features a colourless clock encased in 1-bit graphics, which would be a reliable alternative to looking at a watch to check the time [24], similar to the Mario Clock and Animal Crossing Clock apps for the Nintendo DSi [15] [16]. Would you believe that there is a gaming development program that can be accessed online named “Playdate Pulp” that can inspire fellow gamers to wish to become game designers by allowing them to create their own games for their Playdates [21] [23]? It is interesting enough that another app on the Playdate will allow its screen to be shared on a computer or laptop [25]. I would be interested in trying Playdate Pulp out if I ever choose to do a postgraduate degree in computer games design. From casual software users to aspiring video game developers, the Playdate seems to be prepared to appeal to a wide range of people with different ambitions with specific types of associations.

Imagine being the host of a radio station for a Playdate connected with Bluetooth. There is something charming about monochrome music videos playing on a small gaming device. [20]

And imagine making your very own Playdate game with enough skill in Playdate Pulp [21]. [20]

The Playdate Stereo Dock is a square-shaped recharging station with a few quirks that make it unique [20] [22] [24]. Aside from how groovy the stereo dock is, the battery life of the Playdate would last about as consistently as a Nintendo DS’ battery life, especially when two players take their Playdates with them on a gaming date [22] [24]. Surely, there would be some indication of the device in need of barging, like how a reminder to change the battery in a Pixel Chix house would pop up on its screen [32]. The Playdate can be magnetically stuck onto the face of its stereo dock [20], which coated in the same shade of yellow, making it more stylised. It is compatible with Bluetooth, which will increase the Playdate’s overall sound quality. At the top, there are two holes for a pen to be inserted into [22]. The pen that comes with the stereo dock also consists of the same shade of yellow and looks quite like a stylus. Although, I highly doubt that the Playdate’s screen is a touchscreen. Furthermore, I do not know what the point of the pen being included is unless it is just a souvenir. Could there be other colours for the dock and pen eventually?

Strangely enough, the Playdate attached to the Playdate Stereo Dock looks quite like a television set you will see in the 1980s. Not only that, but the dock’s compatibility with Bluetooth will allow music to be played as if it was a traditional radio set. [24]

Similar to how my white iPad Air has a celestially designed cover to protect its screen from dust, there is a cover for the Playdate to keep it spick and span [24]. The perimeter of its flaps is consistently just about the same as the perimeter of the device. Hopefully, the cover should be easy to attach and detach from the device. The Playdate Cover ought to be eventually available in some other colours as some of us would prefer some other colour combinations over yellow and purple. For example, an ocean blue Playdate sandwiched in a frosted white cover would bring out some chilling winter vibes. I also think some covers can consist of a symbol associated with a charity, such as a red ribbon in association with World AIDS Day [13], which would be quite like how there was a Nintendo DS Lite designed in association with breast cancer awareness released in late 2008 [33]. Not only will an eventual variety of different colours for the Playdate’s model appeal to players with different tastes but some alternative colours besides purple for a protective cover can further enhance said appeal by providing a custom colour combination.

Quite a yummy electronic sandwich indeed. Wait! No! Do not eat it!! [24]

The Playdate will be available to be pre-ordered next month, leading to its official release date being marked at some point in the second half of 2021 [20] [24]. I am beginning to imagine what would happen if the Nintendo 64DD never turned out to be a commercial failure [14], such as the release of a sequel to Conker’s Bad Fur Day [4]. But more proactively, I do not doubt we curious gamers will find out what the overall gameplay experience with the first season will be like while fans of the Jurassic Park franchise will build their own Jurassic paradises in Jurassic World Evolution 2 [8]. I still strongly believe that there can be a left-handed edition with the crank placed on the left side of the device to potentially increase the comfort for left-handed players [34] [35]. Could successful sales lead to a bigger model named “Playdate XL” or a Playdate Colour that shows Playdate games in colour at some point between the mid and late 2020s? Will we be thankful for the crankful? Surely, the Playdate can provide even more ambition weeks after its release date, as long as it sells successfully. Keep gaming, gamers!

And now that jingle is stuck back in my head. Now it’s my turn [34] [35]! [20] [22]

Recharge it on the stereo deck
It seems worth quite a long wait
There'll be a clock shown in monochrome
Look! It's the Playdate [2]! [22]

References

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Nintendo Switch Lite – It’s Lite, All Right?

It has been two years since the ambitious hybrid of a home console and a portable gaming system has been released and began a new generation of Nintendo gaming [18]. It has received so much acclaim for providing a fair variety of gameplay styles for many Nintendo nerds [8] [18]. Another method of expanding its ambitions is the Nintendo Labo, a cardboard toy platform designed to help younger players express creativity as they build objects for certain games and activities [18], such as a little piano for playing music and a VR headset to experience a little virtual reality [10]. To further expand its legacy, Nintendo has announced that there will be a second version of their eighth generation console that will hit shop shelves in September 2019; the Nintendo Switch Lite [7] [8] [11] [12]. If you are a 2000s kid, the term “Lite” would sound familiar in terms of rather casual gaming [3] [16]. Well, unless you were more of a PlayStation Portable player back in the day [14]. Well, we are in the late 2010s now, so let us stay proactive for a bit. As a Nintendo nerd myself, I shall take a look at what it has to offer with you, my dearest readers. It’s the Lite, all right?

 

A part of the family. [12]

Aside from how it will be smaller and weigh less than the original Switch [7], I like how it will be available in yellow like Pikachu, grey like a thwomp and turquoise like Hatsune Miku’s hair [8] [11] [12]. And wow! There will also be a Zacian and Zamazenta edition for the release of Pokémon Sword and Pokemon Shield [11]. A decent variety of colours for the Lite will at least appeal to some Nintendo nerds of this generation. I guess a Nintendo Switch Lite that will be almost as pink of Princess Peach’s dress would look cool. Due to the success of a certain lighter and slightly smaller version of the original DS, its variety of colours and editions steadily increased throughout the late 2000s, thus appealing to more DS players with different interests [3] [16]. Furthermore, the same thing should apply to the Lite if any of the first three colours sell well enough. Similarly, I stated that the Playdate, an upcoming handheld from Panic should eventually have an increased variety of colours if it sells well in 2020 [20] [21]. How the Nintendo Switch Lite will be smaller and lighter suits its name and how it will available in at least three colours can somewhat increase sales.

Three is the magic number for September 2019. [12]

Oh. And did I mention that the Switch Lite will be cheaper than the original Switch, considering how it weighs less? [12]

I am afraid to state that I do not like how the lite will only be available to play in one method, thus it will not be able to connect to a Nintendo nerd’s television [7] [8] [11] [12]. Additionally, the controllers are permanently incorporated to the unit, making the second official interruption of the Switch remain in its handheld mode with no way of removing any of joy-cons [7] [8] [18]. These disadvantages completely contradict the meaning of the original’s name and meaning. Moreover, detachable joy-cons from the original Switch’s model will have to be used for games that require motion control [7] [8]. It is disappointing that the Lite will not be fully compatible with Switch games that only work with motion controls, including Super Mario Party due to how it will only be completely useful for playing in handheld mode [7] [18]. It looks like the Nintendo nerds of today will have to look carefully at the back of a Switch game to see if it is compatible with handheld mode. I guess my nicknames for the Nintendo Switch Lite will be “Nintendo Vita” and “NP”, which stands for “Nintendo Portable” [13] [14]. My deepest apologies to our Vita misters and sisters for making that claim.

What a bummer. No detachable joy-cons for a lighter version. Talk about contradicting the original’s name and meaning. It is also another reason why the Lite will be cheaper. [8]

If you buy a Switch Lite of any colour, along with a game that only requires motion controls and you do not have the original’s joy-cons, you are fudged. [8]

Let us look at other pros for the Lite, as well as some cons. The buttons on the left built in joy-con have been replaced with a D-pad [8] [12] [18]. This is beneficial for those Nintendo nerds who still play games on the DS and 3DS [3] [17]. Aside from that, many of the buttons are still in the same place, except that the capture and home buttons have been moved closer to the bottom of the screen [7] [12]. This will make the Lite comfortable to play for those have played on an original Switch in its handheld mode before. Another advantage is that whoever plays on a Lite will not miss out on multiplayer mayhem locally or online with a Switch Online membership [11] [12]. In addition to such a downgrade with a lack of independent support for motion controls, the Lite will not feature the IR Motion Camera and HD Rumble [7] [8] [11] [18]. Luckily, the Lite might at least be compatible with a few Switch accessories and additions, such as the wired Switch controller as it will have the same USB Type-C connector [12]. With a few more advantages, I guess the Switch Lite can at least honour the first Switch’s legacy to some degree.

 

On second thought, this controller might not look very practical with the Lite. [18]

The Lite players will miss out on the motion camera and rumble. [8]

The Switch Lite can at least be suitable for younger players, those who prefer lighter gaming systems and those who prefer sticking to simplistic handheld gaming with the original Switch [7] [8] [11] [12]. On the other joy-con, has Nintendo learned nothing from the dissatisfaction of the first version of the 2DS and Wii Mini [1] [2] [5] [15] [17] [19] [22]? In all honesty, I believe the Labo had a bigger purpose, mostly for children and preteens as it came in a variety of constructions for cardboard things [18], including a fishing rod and a little house that kind of reminds me of Pixel Chix [4] [9]. Ultimately, I will remain fairly neutral and not be too harsh as it can still be appealing somehow. If you would like to buy a Switch Lite, sure thing. If you want to stick to the original model for the sake of all three modes, I can understand [7] [18]. I can also understand if you prefer trying out a Nintendo Labo kit for the sake of creativity, even if you are an adult [9] [10] [18]. Feel free to express your thoughts on the Nintendo Switch Lite with me too if you wish. Now if you will excuse me, I shall nibble on some pancakes from Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp [6].

Sayonara! Yonde kurete arigatou gozaimasu! [8]

Mmmm…pancakes. [6]

References:

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A Date With Playdate Awaits – Could We Be Thankful For The Crankful?

As a variety of casual and hardcore gamers, we are all familiar with handheld gaming, yes? The delights of PlayStation Vita for our Vita misters and sisters and such [23]? Well, it seems like handheld gaming is going to be around for another decade. For four years, a group of designers at Panic designed and constructed a new small piece of hardware that seemed to helped them enhance their ambitions in what they enjoy doing [9] [10] [16]. Considering that the new invention is named the “Playdate”, I suppose it could be great for…well…playing video games during a date with your significant other? Anyway, due to its features that have been revealed on Panic’s official Twitter for new hardware, I am rather fascinated with the Playdate’s outcome for its release date; sometime in early 2020 [14]. Furthermore, please allow me to express my thoughts on the odd contraption of a handheld for those who are wondering if many consumers will be thankful for the crankful.

The Playdate’s final design after four years of development. [9]

The Playdate seems to be rather pint-sized, quite like a Tamagotchi [18]. It appears to be shorter than the Game Boy Pocket’s model and small enough to meet the standards of small gaming systems from the Game Boy Micro [4] [7], the member of the Game Boy family that was sadly the least successful one [6]. Luckily, the system might be comfortable for the hands of children and preteens between the ages of seven and twelve. As a young adult with small hands, I guess I could manage the experience in a calm and casual manner. Nevertheless, its overall design should hopefully not be too puny for many teenaged and adult gamers’ to play any of its games comfortably and refrain from squinting. Just in case, plenty of them can simply keep their own Playdates close enough to their faces. Alternatively, perhaps a bigger version could be released in 2021. At least those who buy the Playdate will not have to suffer from struggling to find the best position for playing a certain “huge pair of goggles on a stand” or feel the humiliation from experiencing the utter hilarity of the R-Zone in the early 2020s [20] [21] [22].

Oh. And let us not forget how unsatisfactory playing a game on a Tiger Wrist Game felt. [20]

Ultimately, it seems as if the Playdate can fit in a pocket, which is pretty casual. [18]

What about the controls? Well, you can say the front of the handheld seems rather traditional with two circular buttons and a D-pad. But wait, what is this? A crank you can turn on the right side of a handheld [11]? This is a very strange feature to me, as well as probably the first thing you will notice about the new specimen of a gaming system. Aside from how unusual a crank on the right side of gaming system is, it at least gives the Playdate some individuality, which is important for making a product recognizable. Unfortunately, I am not sure if flipping the screen by turning the Playdate upside-down could fully work for left-handed players due to the permanent placements of the buttons [3]. Pressing buttons that are above a screen during gameplay might feel too awkward, so I believe that there should be a left-handed edition of the Playdate just in case [3]. I honestly would not be surprised if the system ought to feature a main menu that allows you to play classic songs, such as “Pop Goes The Weasel” by turning the crank around as if they were aiming to activate a jack-in-the-box [11].

guerillacupid2 made a very good suggestion for the sake of left-handed players. [2]

The games for Playdate shall only be featured in black and white [12] [13]. At least it seems more appealing than the Virtual Boy’s rather unsatisfying red and black aesthetics [22]. The gameplay and art style of an example of a game for the Playdate, Crankin’s Time Travel Adventure reminds me of Vib-Ribbon due to how the way the playable protagonist is jogging is animated similarly to Vibri’s jogging [24]. The crank seems to really come in handy when reversing and fast-forwarding time for Crankin as a way to introduce a unique gameplay technique that can benefit the chance of the new system being sold well [12]. It would be interesting to see an adaption of Tamagotchi for the Playdate, considering there was one for the Game Boy back in 1997 [25] [26]. I know we are living in a generation of mostly appealingly detailed settings with many colours, but with creativity, logical decision-making, and hard work, the developers of the games that lack a huge variety of colours could enhance the Playdate’s appeal [12] [13]. After all, there is nothing wrong with only black and white on some occasions.

Four monochrome title screens exclusively for the Playdate. Even though black and white is nice, perhaps there could be a successor to the Playdate that provides a library of games in enormous collages of colours if it becomes fairly successful. [13]

Where have you been all this time, mister? [12]

Speaking of colours, the best way I can describe the Playdate’s signature colour is a shade of yellow that is close to being considered light orange [15]. The overall design of the Playdate and its hinted library of only black and white games may make it look like a more obscure system from the 1990’s, but I bet the gaming vibes from those days could be enhanced with a splendid list of colours available for gamers with different tastes. After all, the Game Boy Colour had a steadily increasing library of colours and editions from late 1998 to 2001 [5] [19] [27]. I bet many of us remember the fourth and fifth generations of the iPod Nano from Apple were available in a wider range of colours back in the days of 2008 and 2009 [1]. Similar to how I remember witnessing the Nintendo DS Lite becoming available in a radiant variety of different colours in the late 2000s [2] [8], I would be interested to eventually see the Playdate in different colours, especially a stylish shade of pink.

I changed the colour of the Playdate twice in Adobe Photoshop to show two examples of how it can be sold in different colours to increase sales. [18]

According to another delighted tweet from Panic, the interest towards the Playdate has rapidly increased within twenty-four hours, despite some gamers feeling the complete opposite [16] [17]. Because of this and according to what it has to offer, I have a feeling that the Playdate will be the spiritual successor to the Game Boy that casually consists of monochrome vibes. But then again, perhaps, it may not seem to be enough for this generation's gaming standards. The thumbnail of the link to the Playdate website features a speech bubble that says “Hello” on the little thing’s screen [15]. Isn’t that cute? I and possibly many others are hoping that with enough approval after its official release date, the Playdate may also be available in a wider range of colours for different demographics and a left-handed edition for left-handed gamers. We will have to wait for the strange contraption of a gaming system to settle in the markets in 2020 [14], a year of the rat and the year that could begin a whole new era besides a new decade. Will the Playdate make the fidget spinner eat one of its blades out or will unsatisfactory sales make Panic…panic?

They've worked on it for forty-eight months
The thing's design is clickbait
The games so far are in monochrome
Look! It's the Playdate! [11]

References

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3.    guerillacupid2. (2019). Available: https://twitter.com/guerillacupid2/status/1131573469156524032. Last accessed 24th May 2019.

4.    Muldoon, K. (2016). Nintendo Game Boy Micro - A Quick Look at an Amazing Handheld Console. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIdzWPOAv3Y. Last accessed 24th May 2019.

5.    Nintendo Wiki. (2019). Game Boy Colour. Available: https://nintendo.fandom.com/wiki/Game_Boy_Color. Last accessed 24th May 2019.

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9.    Playdate. (2019). Available: https://twitter.com/playdate/status/1131307504116174848. Last accessed 24th May 2019.

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