The things is that the 80M peoples who purchased a Switch didn't do it for the hardware, they did it for the Switch library that, at least officially, can only be played on Switch. That's the same with all other Nintendo hardware in recent memory.

Here it's a cool gadget, but that's kind of it, you can play all those games on better hardware not to mention that Proton is not perfect either so there might be compatibilities issues compared to a Windows PC. So while it will probably be a hit with more technical peoples who love this kind of gadget (e.g. for emulation, etc...) I am not convinced if mainstream users will really be that interested by it.

I bought one for my sons last Christmas, and the only game I've had to buy for the device is Minecraft. :) That game is plenty enough for them.

I've been toying with the idea of buying The Witcher 3 for Switch, just want to experience that "low-end" version of the game as well. It works surprisingly well, from what I've read.

Anyway, yeah, I'd rather not buy again Switch versions for most of the games for which I already have a PC version (e.g. on GOG or Steam), so I prefer devices that can run my PC games. Steam Deck might be ok for many of them. I guess the point is that if you already have oodles of PC games, you could play many of them on that kind of device, without having to rebuy games.

I agree with the rest of your message, though. I do like gaming laptops so that I can take my gaming (and other PC activities, including work) with me e.g. abroad or to our summer cottage, if needed, but I don't feel like "PC gaming" when travelling on a crowded bus or train. I am not quite that "obsessed" with gaming.

If I want to seriously play some game and dedicate hours of my life to it, I probably want some kind of desk (flat surface), and the ability to use a mouse, for it.

Anyway, it is good there are different kinds of options for different (gaming) needs.

The gpd win 2 is a laptop, just a small one, with built in controller. It has a USB port so you can attach a mouse, and a video out port to attach to a screen. The best use though is it’s a small handheld with controller, so games that are very controller heavy are great for it, platformer for example. Screen size is not bad, and fits in pocket.

Yeah I had my eye on it earlier. It does seem like an ultra-portable laptop (which includes an integrated gamepad), so in that sense it might make sense to many. And I do like its wealth of ports, including the HDMI.

As someone who doesn't use handheld consoles, I always liked the concept and design of the Nintendo Switch. It's small, compact, cute, the colors make it playful and it fits everywhere. This Steam Deck... I don't know. To me it looks ugly, chunky, heavy (670g), and for some reason reminds me of the old Game Gear. It's like buying a 17" laptop to work on the go, somehow the device doesn't fit its purpose as well as other form factors do. So I wonder whether this Steam Deck is going to sell well or whether it's going to be another example of Valve not succeeding at industrial design.

Hmmm all things considered, it's a tablet (looks 6-8 inches) with a fixed side connectors. True there's plenty of tablets out there and few are the same size/shape to put a controller on.

It isn't apparent which architecture it's running. But it's going to be either x86, or ARM. And the video chip is likely in line with five years or so ago at lower power making it actually viable; though the Ouya showed it had issues getting into the market.

The size of the controls looks like it would just annoy me quickly with the smaller buttons, almost like it was more designed for Japan. I got big hands, and i remember the Metroid Prime game for the DS, and it made my hands hurt trying to play it.

I really don't see the appeal. Tablets and handhelds at this point are mostly for Ebooks and less gaming. I think i don't need my fix of playing portal while on the bus or in the car getting 2x the car sickness from real motion mixed with non-motion my eyes see.

That was my first thought too.

Hmmm i'm reminded back when DOOM was the big thing, laptops showing DOOM as a demo on it in the 90's (Remember them? 500Mhz 32Mb and toting 256 color screens? And a whopping 700Mb drive). The tiny screen blurry image and having the blue nub in the middle of the keyboard to play your game for a mere $1,400.

It also feels like this is the same halfway niche of the Vita, where it would have been a controller for the Playstation3 and a gaming system. This is sorta going the same route.

There is still no mainstream portable for PC gaming though. Things like the GPD Win and Chinese handhelds are boutique-like devices IMO and will never further the cause of a mainstream handheld gaming device because they can never match the unit production of something like laptops.

Though most steam games don't work well on a controller, there are thousands that will be ideal to play handheld and I'm hoping this can be enough to push it into being the first mainstream handheld gaming device that gives users bios access.

I thought this was going to be a collectible card game :D

Anyway, I'm not interested. I can't imagine wanting to play PC games like this, with a controller, on a small screen. Why would I? It's nonsense.

Today is the first time I heard about this "handheld", and my initial response was the same as yours. My second response was "Christ, it's bigger than an Atari Lynx".

I'm sure there are people out there that can find a use for this and I hope they have fun with it, but I'm sticking to playing games on a desktop.

If I'm out and about, I'd rather read a book.

I'm with this guy, when I'm out and about i'd rather read the Dipylon inscription.



But really, this is a cool gateway from people who want that taste of PC variety but might not want that investment into static desktops are pricey smaller laptops. Plus with Linux stuff, I'm sure there's some magic to be had with the right people.

It's a cool move, though I'm sure some diehard forum user will tell us it sucks due to *modem dial-up sounds* it's not not talking about 'da gamers'

same book + music

Hardly. Any PC games you can reasonably play with a controller are console games as well. No one's going to buy this to discover Fallout, Disciples and Starcraft.

I mean this is simply just not true and you're also comparing a console (I assume not the switch) to a handheld? Let alone the fact a good deal of indie titles on Steam never come to console?


Unless you mean this, in that case fair enough! Uno on XBLA on the go!

This is not for me but I find it very interesting. I have a few family members on Steam, I may pick these up as a gift for them after some more hands on reviews.

Right now I have a Galaxy A51 running LineageOS 17.1 that I picked up for $40 with some Bestbuy points when it debuted and I use a MOGA XP5-X Plus with the claw that I got as a gift to game on it. Mostly PPSSPP, ReDream, DOSBoxTurbo, some stand alone android games and Stadia. I like the setup since I can fold it up easy and it's very light all around. It's also very clean and easy to maintain. I consider this a good setup for cramp traveling. If I'm traveling with more space then I just use my laptop.

I wonder what LAN parties would look like with these devices? Hmmm