Posted February 07, 2020
low rated
I'm looking for a quality handheld/extremely mobile game console or equivalent geared towards a Western audience.
Requirements:
* Small enough to be used effectively while handheld, and designed to be stowed in a backpack without taking up a dedicated laptop pouch. Laptop computers do not count, partly because size and partly because mouse-aiming with a touchpad is downright clumsy.
* Built-in screen.
* Power-efficient, designed to be used on-the-go where you aren't guaranteed to have a power outlet. Battery (fully charged, brand-new) should last 2-3 hours minimum of constant use without being plugged in.
* Must have a selection of good premium games. App ecosystems dominated by gacha scams, highly duplicate knockoffs. "game-like object" shovelware (as loosely defined by Valve), low-quality crap, mobile annoyance timers, or pay2win features will be rejected.
* Offline games must be properly available offline. Multiplayer and internet connection should only be required in games that are specifically multiplayer (for example, an MMORPG). Streaming-only devices and frameworks will be rejected. Should preferably be close to what you would expect from premium laptop/desktop/console gaming.
* Geared towards a Western audience. I've typically had a bad experience with most Japanese and Korean games, and I refuse to run any software from China for security reasons.
* Platform must be actively supported. If a hardware product is discontinued, it must have a steady stream of successors.
Each product reviewed falls into 1 of 3 categories: "Rejected" (critically and unacceptably flawed with no significant foreseeable chance of redemption), "Probably No" (poor prospects although possibly salvageable under the right circumstances), and "Looks Promising" (something that isn't ready yet that shows concrete promise).
Here's what I've looked at so far:
Android (mobile OS). I can't think of a worse platform for games (compared to other modern supported platforms). Adware, crapware, and outright malware are rampant. Even if you manage to somehow avoid those, the vast majority of games on Android are shovelware, crappy knockoffs, or pvp/gacha cash grabs. Rejected.
iOS (App Store): Same situation as Android, without the adware and malware. Again, suffers from the fundamental problem that the vast majority of mobile games are trash. There are a few good premium games (mostly console and desktop ports) that I have on iOS, although nowhere enough for a full library. If I could get a lot more premium-quality games for iOS, that would be perfect since it means my phone could double as a game console. From what I've seen though, that's unlikely to happen. I've been looking into this for years, I would know. Overall, this option would be ranked as Probably No.
iOS (Apple Arcade): App Store gaming, premium edition. It's a subscription service for iOS that offers an ever-growing selection of premium indie games at a constant low monthly fee. I'm tentatively considering it, although the main barrier right now is that most of its games are simplistic, lacking the mechanical depth that I would prefer. Its starting selection also skewed heavily towards puzzles, point-and-click, and walking simulators (aka "game-like objects" with little or no mechanical depth). Another gripe is that I'd rather just buy games and keep them instead of renting via subscription service. Despite this, Apple Arcade remains potentially promising since I wouldn't have to bring a separate game console in addition to my phone. I'd wait on this and see if it gets better - Looks Promising.
nVidia Shield console: Turns out it's not a real console, instead it's designed for streaming games over a network. Mobile data requirements and costs would be prohibitive. Rejected.
Ouya console: Cheap piece of crap that basically runs Android games with all the problems of Android gaming. Also doesn't have a built-in screen. Rejected.
Nintendo Switch: Numerous problems. First and foremost, its game selection is heavily skewed towards the other side of the Pacific, although that's to be expected. That game selection tends to be geared towards lower production grade, mechanically inferior games at a lower price point (quantity over quality). The biggest deal-breaker is that Nintendo has a history of litigious asshattery, issuing takedown after takedown against fans who pose no real threat to their revenue stream. I'd rather not support a company that does this. Rejected.
Sony PlayStation handhelds: The PlayStation Portable was discontinued ages ago, and its successor (the PS Vita) was discontinued last year with no obvious followup announced yet. Also, its game selection skews significantly towards the other side of the Pacific, although not as badly as Nintendo platforms due to a burst of Western big-budget developer interest around 2012. It also seems to have a healthy Western indie game app economy if nothing else. I'd seriously consider buying a PS Vita if it wasn't a dead-end discontinued product with no announced successor or future. I'll rank this as Probably No, due to the off-chance that Sony announces a successor soon (after all, the Vita's only been officially discontinued for a year).
Dell Alienware UFO: This looks promising. It's basically a Windows 10 PC rigged into a handheld console form factor. Just a few problems: Right now, it's a concept (not actually available or planned for market any time soon), and there's no guarantee this UFO will actually launch (pun intended). I read the concept article and heavy power consumption seems to be an issue as well. I'd seriously consider getting one if it was a real commercially available product rather than a mere concept. Looks Promising.
Any better ideas?
Requirements:
* Small enough to be used effectively while handheld, and designed to be stowed in a backpack without taking up a dedicated laptop pouch. Laptop computers do not count, partly because size and partly because mouse-aiming with a touchpad is downright clumsy.
* Built-in screen.
* Power-efficient, designed to be used on-the-go where you aren't guaranteed to have a power outlet. Battery (fully charged, brand-new) should last 2-3 hours minimum of constant use without being plugged in.
* Must have a selection of good premium games. App ecosystems dominated by gacha scams, highly duplicate knockoffs. "game-like object" shovelware (as loosely defined by Valve), low-quality crap, mobile annoyance timers, or pay2win features will be rejected.
* Offline games must be properly available offline. Multiplayer and internet connection should only be required in games that are specifically multiplayer (for example, an MMORPG). Streaming-only devices and frameworks will be rejected. Should preferably be close to what you would expect from premium laptop/desktop/console gaming.
* Geared towards a Western audience. I've typically had a bad experience with most Japanese and Korean games, and I refuse to run any software from China for security reasons.
* Platform must be actively supported. If a hardware product is discontinued, it must have a steady stream of successors.
Each product reviewed falls into 1 of 3 categories: "Rejected" (critically and unacceptably flawed with no significant foreseeable chance of redemption), "Probably No" (poor prospects although possibly salvageable under the right circumstances), and "Looks Promising" (something that isn't ready yet that shows concrete promise).
Here's what I've looked at so far:
Android (mobile OS). I can't think of a worse platform for games (compared to other modern supported platforms). Adware, crapware, and outright malware are rampant. Even if you manage to somehow avoid those, the vast majority of games on Android are shovelware, crappy knockoffs, or pvp/gacha cash grabs. Rejected.
iOS (App Store): Same situation as Android, without the adware and malware. Again, suffers from the fundamental problem that the vast majority of mobile games are trash. There are a few good premium games (mostly console and desktop ports) that I have on iOS, although nowhere enough for a full library. If I could get a lot more premium-quality games for iOS, that would be perfect since it means my phone could double as a game console. From what I've seen though, that's unlikely to happen. I've been looking into this for years, I would know. Overall, this option would be ranked as Probably No.
iOS (Apple Arcade): App Store gaming, premium edition. It's a subscription service for iOS that offers an ever-growing selection of premium indie games at a constant low monthly fee. I'm tentatively considering it, although the main barrier right now is that most of its games are simplistic, lacking the mechanical depth that I would prefer. Its starting selection also skewed heavily towards puzzles, point-and-click, and walking simulators (aka "game-like objects" with little or no mechanical depth). Another gripe is that I'd rather just buy games and keep them instead of renting via subscription service. Despite this, Apple Arcade remains potentially promising since I wouldn't have to bring a separate game console in addition to my phone. I'd wait on this and see if it gets better - Looks Promising.
nVidia Shield console: Turns out it's not a real console, instead it's designed for streaming games over a network. Mobile data requirements and costs would be prohibitive. Rejected.
Ouya console: Cheap piece of crap that basically runs Android games with all the problems of Android gaming. Also doesn't have a built-in screen. Rejected.
Nintendo Switch: Numerous problems. First and foremost, its game selection is heavily skewed towards the other side of the Pacific, although that's to be expected. That game selection tends to be geared towards lower production grade, mechanically inferior games at a lower price point (quantity over quality). The biggest deal-breaker is that Nintendo has a history of litigious asshattery, issuing takedown after takedown against fans who pose no real threat to their revenue stream. I'd rather not support a company that does this. Rejected.
Sony PlayStation handhelds: The PlayStation Portable was discontinued ages ago, and its successor (the PS Vita) was discontinued last year with no obvious followup announced yet. Also, its game selection skews significantly towards the other side of the Pacific, although not as badly as Nintendo platforms due to a burst of Western big-budget developer interest around 2012. It also seems to have a healthy Western indie game app economy if nothing else. I'd seriously consider buying a PS Vita if it wasn't a dead-end discontinued product with no announced successor or future. I'll rank this as Probably No, due to the off-chance that Sony announces a successor soon (after all, the Vita's only been officially discontinued for a year).
Dell Alienware UFO: This looks promising. It's basically a Windows 10 PC rigged into a handheld console form factor. Just a few problems: Right now, it's a concept (not actually available or planned for market any time soon), and there's no guarantee this UFO will actually launch (pun intended). I read the concept article and heavy power consumption seems to be an issue as well. I'd seriously consider getting one if it was a real commercially available product rather than a mere concept. Looks Promising.
Any better ideas?
