Playdate (console)

Playdate is an upcoming handheld video game console developed by Panic. It was first introduced on May 22, 2019 on the cover of Edge magazine.[3] The Playdate name is a reference to the fact that its bundled games will be delivered on a schedule. It was designed in collaboration with Teenage Engineering, a Swedish consumer electronics company.

Playdate


Playdate with the crank in an open position (above)
and with the crank tucked away into the side slot (below)
Also known asAsheville (code name)[1]
DeveloperPanic Inc.
TypeHandheld game console
Release date2021
Introductory price
System on a chipEspressif Systems ESP32[2]
CPUSTMicroelectronics STM32 F746 180 MHz
Memory16 MB
Storage2 GB flash storage
Display
  • 2.7-inch, 400 × 240 (173 ppi)
  • Sharp Memory LCD
Connectivity
Mass86 grams
Websiteplay.date

The device features a black-and-white 1-bit screen, 4 way directional pad, two game buttons, and a mechanical crank on the side.[4]

Technical specifications

The device will be an open system and allow sideloading of games that are not part of a season, without the need for jailbreaking.[5] Games are created using an SDK that includes a simulator and debugger and which is compatible with both the C and Lua programming languages.[6] The SDK is available for macOS, Windows and Linux.

The screen technology used is Sharp's Memory LCD, which possesses some properties of e-paper displays.[7] Each pixel can remember its state (black/white) without needing to be refreshed, resulting in faster refreshing and lower power usage, whilst also being “viewable in any light, from edge-of-vision darkness to brightest sunlight” and having a wide 170° viewing angle.[8]

Games

Games for the handheld will be released in 12-game "seasons", with a new game being sent over Wi-Fi each week. Each game's contents will be kept secret until the week it's released, and will be automatically downloaded. The first season of games are included in the price of the console.[9] Video games are produced by Panic as well as notable indie game developers such as Keita Takahashi, Zach Gage, Bennett Foddy, Shaun Inman, and Chuck Jordan.[3][10] Future game titles include Crankin's Time Travel Adventure, b360, Zipper, Executive Golf DX, Snak, and Sasquatchers.

List of Playdate games
Season Title Developer(s) Publisher Release date Ref.
1 b360 Panic Inc. Panic Inc. 2021 [11]
Crankin's Time Travel Adventure Keita Takahashi, Shaun Inman Panic Inc. 2021 [10][11]
Executive Golf DX davemakes Panic Inc. 2021 [11][12]
Sasquatchers Chuck Jordan Panic Inc. 2021 [10]
Snak Zach Gage Panic Inc. 2021 [10]
Zipper Bennett Foddy Panic Inc. 2021 [10][11]
Lost Your Marbles Sweet Baby Inc Panic Inc. 2021 [13]
Whitewater Wipeout Chuhai Labs Panic Inc. 2021 [13]

Ideals

In a developer survey, Panic stated that they were interested in including games by underrepresented developers and game makers, as well as stating that in season one, there was at least one game by a woman, as well as games by "queer/trans/enby" developers.[14]

Criticism

In May 2019, Panic came under criticism after details of an email they had sent to an indie video game event suggested that the organizers of the event, also named Playdate, consider tweaking or changing its name to avoid confusion.[15] The following day one of Panic's founders retracted the request, stating "My intention was always to find a way for our Playdates to co-exist [...] but we remain fine with you using the name Playdate."[16] On January 29, 2020, the team behind the event (now named "Playdate Pop Up") announced that Panic was joining the event as a sponsor, and would assist the event in petitioning for nonprofit status.[17]

References
  1. Guichet, Alex. "Playdate News Roundup: June 2019 - First Gameplay Footage, Processor Specs, and The Talk Show appearance". The Missing Quests. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  2. "Playdate's tiny hand-held with a crank is big on charm". Engadget. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  3. Edge Staff (May 22, 2019). "Playdate, a new handheld console backed by indie royalty, unveiled in new issue of Edge magazine". gamesradar. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  4. Fahey, Mike. "The People Who Published Firewatch Are Now Making A Game Console With, Uh, A Crank". Kotaku. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  5. @playdate (May 26, 2019). "It WILL be open. You will always be able to side load games onto it, no jail breaking required" (Tweet). Retrieved May 28, 2019 – via Twitter.
  6. "Playdate, a tiny game console with a big pedigree". Boing Boing. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  7. Mrgan, Neven [@mrgan] (May 25, 2019). "Believe it or not, the Sharp Memory LCD is quite expensive—much more so than a typical display today. But we like its unique look, and making something different is our motivation!" (Tweet). Retrieved May 28, 2019 – via Twitter.
  8. "Sharp Memory in Pixel Displays - Sharp". www.sharpsma.com. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  9. Webster, Andrew (May 22, 2019). "Playdate is an adorable handheld with games from the creators of Qwop, Katamari, and more". The Verge. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  10. Simpkins, Jen (May 23, 2019). "Small Wonder". Edge. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  11. @playdate (May 22, 2019). "But here's the trick: every game is a secret. They're all included with system, and they will be delivered to you each week, for a few months. Our dream is simple: that you wake up on new game day excited to see what you can play next" (Tweet). Retrieved May 28, 2019 – via Twitter.
  12. "This New Gaming Handheld Has a Crank (!!) And Looks Cool as Hell". Waypoint - Forum. May 26, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  13. Edge, 2020. Left Turn. (353), p.9.
  14. Gach, Ethan. "Crank Gaming Handheld's Creators Trying To Make Amends For Poorly Worded Email". Kotaku. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  15. Klepek, Patrick (May 28, 2019). "That Gaming Handheld With a Crank Asked a Queer Games Showcase to Change Its Name". Waypoint. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  16. Sasser, Cabel [@cabel] (May 28, 2019). "My intention was always to find a way for our Playdates to co-exist joyfully. I was worried we would overshadow yours. That sounded entitled — I'm sorry. I thought your idea to add "pop up" was great, but we remain fine with you using the name Playdate. Please, keep using it" (Tweet). Retrieved May 29, 2019 – via Twitter.
  17. The Playdate Pop Up 2020 Team (January 29, 2020). "Welcome to 2020 - The Playdate Pop Up Blog". Retrieved March 21, 2020.
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