A new handheld gaming device has just been announced and it is the oddest little contraption you have ever seen. Say hello to the Playdate, a tiny Gameboy like machine that features a D-pad and 2 face buttons. Ok, that sounds pretty standard so far so what’s so odd about the Playdate? Well for one it comes with a black and white screen in these modern times and two, it comes with a crank, yes, a crank. Now this crank doesn’t do what you might be thinking, it isn’t used to power the Playdate. No, this crank is intended for use in gameplay! The Playdate is being developed by Panic, know for there mobile games, as a way to offer a unique experience in today’s gaming world.
“Panic saw an opportunity for something truly different in the world of video games. Something small-scale that could deliver a dose of fun and delight to video game players who have otherwise seen it all. Something that could fit nicely in-between “regular” gaming sessions.”
Needless to say I think they got the unique part nailed down! The Playdate will come with one game included at time of purchase but over the course of a 12 week season new games will be added. Panic has stated that “Some are short, some long, some are experimental, some traditional. All are fun.” Panic has even gathered a number of developers to make exclusive games for the Playdate including the creator of Katamari Damacy, Keita Takahashi. The Playdate is expected to launch in 2020, at a price of $149.99, with pre-orders opening up later this year. It will definitely be interesting to see how the Playdate performs when it eventually launches and who is actually interested in the experiences it will provide.
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