Publisher Panic Inc. is jumping into the gaming hardware market with a new, quirky invention. Panic is known for being a mobile app developer, though they have had prior experience with the gaming industry through publishing 2016's hit indie game Firewatch, and are currently in the process of publishing the wildly odd Untitled Goose Game. Now, the company feels it's the perfect time to get into the hardware market by creating the Playdate, a small handheld gaming device. It bears a striking yellow shell and features a traditional layout of a D-pad and two face buttons. The screen is a 400x240 LCD, which Panic boasts as being "extremely sharp and clear", and outputs only in black and white.

What stands out the most about the Playdate is that there is a crank on the right side of the system. This oddity will be used as an analog input for games that "will put a whole new spin on games", as quipped by Panic. Launching in early 2020, the Playdate will cost $149, and will be in short supply. Twelve games are planned for launch, with Keita Takahashi (Katamari Damacy), Shaun Inman (The Last Rocket), and Bennet Foddy (QWOP, Getting Over It with Bennet Foddy) slated to be some of the developers working on titles for the system.

If anything, the Playdate is certainly a unique product. More information will be coming in the future, so if you're interested in the weird little yellow handheld gaming device that has a crank on the side, be sure keep an eye out for further updates.

Source

 

[CoolStarDood]

Seems interesting, but for $150? No way in hell im buying one

 

[KingVamp]

... I thought it was going be a hand crank charger.

 

[Chary]

It'll definitely make for a weird showpiece to one's collection. Since they have the developer from Katamari Damacy, and Getting Over it with Bennet Foddy, this seems like it's going to be a weird, weird system.

 

[Justinde75]

Sounds interesting, but for that price? 150 only gives you a tiny black and white screen? Sounds very overpriced to me

 

[CeeDee]

It feels like it's trying to be a piece of modern art in and of itself, not a game system you actually play.

 

[Rabbid4240]

That sounds... really stupid.

 

[osaka35]

i was thinking 30-60 bucks. 150 seems...optimistic on their part. looks like it'll be loads of fun, though.

 

[DANTENDO]

Just seen tht crank in action very original for playing games - wonder how long the crank will last though with an Olympics game

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That sounds... really stupid.

Go and watch the vid and it seems yr stupid

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Was I the only one that immediately thought of "PIKACHU" when I saw the picture?

 

[Edgarska]

A modern handheld with a black and white screen seems like an interesting gag gift for $25 or so.

 

[XDel]

Unless DOOM can be ported to it, I have no use.

 

[Clydefrosch]

I assume this will be marketed to pachinko/slot machine addicts.
And the 4 guys who still buy like Sega bass fishing games.
A crank seems otherwise useless for input, at least when the other input is so limited and the screen has no colors.


Now had it been a cheap device with crankable battery loading, I would've seen some use in certain countries, but like this?

 

[jurassicplayer]

Maybe....the crank isn't what you all think it is. Maybe it's a crank that charges the battery, so you can play games without ever needing a charging cable anymore, just like those cool flashlights.

 

[Edgarska]

I assume this will be marketed to pachinko/slot machine addicts.
And the 4 guys who still buy like Sega bass fishing games.
A crank seems otherwise useless for input, at least when the other input is so limited and the screen has no colors.


Now had it been a cheap device with crankable battery loading, I would've seen some use in certain countries, but like this?

I could see it working in a puzzle game, but then so would a regular stick, and that would be useful for any other game too.

 

[Excel Koushiroue]

>400 x 240p
is this the next 3DS

 

[coppertj]

This crank mentions nothing about charging.
I can't believe they're selling this for 149 dollars. Have they learned nothing from action 52? Quality over quantity of features. I mean, the product promo looks like a Atari game. What games are taking advantage of the crank? Haven't we had this before with the wii technically, actually they sold the fishing rod controllers I remember those.

That crank is a gimmick and it's attached to what looks like something that could be 3d printed.

If this was 20 dollars I'd be like ok cool looks interesting but 149? YEAH ok. Coleco chameleon anyone?

PROOF IT DOESNT CHARGE DEVICE:
https://play.date/media/

What is the crank for? Does it power the device?
Think of the crank like an analog stick — but one you can turn endlessly. It tucks into the device nicely and adds a new element to Playdate games that can’t be found anywhere else. It does not charge the device.

 

[Pleng]

Maybe....the crank isn't what you all think it is. Maybe it's a crank that charges the battery, so you can play games without ever needing a charging cable anymore, just like those cool flashlights.

Maybe.... Except it isn't

 

[raxadian]

New? I got a crappy fishing portable game that has something like this.

 

[pedro702]

150 for black and white console? hell no.