Every Monday will be a new "play date", hence the name.
The crank gameplay is also an interesting gimmick that could be fun and may help differentiate the Playdate with past handhelds.
Called Playdate, it looks like a Gameboy made for (or by) a Minion, doesn't have a color screen, receives new games weekly like a TV show and, yes, there's a weird mechanical handle on the side – but not for power.Panic has been cranking out (pun intended) software for Macs for over 20 years, with its flagship FTP application, Transmit, being a staple in many Mac-based web studios.
It's not as retro as it first appears though, coming with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C port, and a headphone jack.
As well as Keita Takahashi mentioned above, there's indie-game legends like Bennett Foddy (On the physical design side, Panic has teamed up with Swedish consumer electronics studio Teenage Engineering, creator of the Playdate is a small, near-square 74 x 76 mm (2.9 x 3 in), and is also very thin at only 9 mm (0.35 in).
I look every day for an update that they will be available for pre-order soon. And then there's that quirky crank on the side of the unit.You could be forgiven for thinking it is some kind of eco-power generator, like that found on Playdate comes with 12 games, or at least it will do, because they're not built-in.
Over 280,000 people receive our email newsletter. The company will start the pre-order process by the end of 2019, and the consoles will start to ship from 2020. The game will come atomically with what Panic Inc. calls the first season of games. Playdate is a new handheld console from Panic featuring a black and white screen, and crank.
Can the Playdate match that same success, especially since it will be competing against the Nintendo Switch, a handheld with the power of a home console?It is too early to tell, though it is hard to imagine seeing any handheld beat Nintendo. Instead games will be delivered weekly, one-at-a-time, via Wi-Fi, in seasons. Those familiar with Panic's history with software will be aware of its commitment to quality, with products unashamedly positioned at a price point that reflects that quality fairly.
They helped make Firewatch, an amazing game. Panic Inc. has made good games, but they aren’t Nintendo or Sony. The console will be available to pre-order starting later this year for $149 USD; shipments will start early next year if everything goes according to schedule. If you're interested, Panic recommends you sign up to the waiting list ASAP. However, ... comes the Playdate. Matt has been a technician in the RAAF, an illustrator, a magazine art director, a wine merchant, a web agency Creative Director, a search engine editor, worked in fine art/antique auctioneering and delivers furniture on weekends because he’s too tight to pay for a gym membership. You can also sign the email/waiting list to be informed when you can be one of the first to pre-order the Playdate.The handheld is expected to be released in early 2020 and will sell for 149.99 USD.
Playdate will be available to pre-order later this year, with shipping expected to begin in early 2020.
Instead Panic hopes that Playdate will be a fun, quirky, pocket-sized addition to existing gaming devices. The crank is a gameplay function for several games that will be available for the Playdate.Introducing Playdate, a new handheld gaming system from Panic. It is bright yellow, with a 400×240 black-and-white screen. He loves fixing junk he’s found by the side of the road and is the proud inventor the of term "freeniture".
Nintendo has essentially been the kings of the handheld consoles since the Gameboy. That being said, it's worth noting that your $149 also includes the entire season of 12 games – so, maybe not such a bad deal after all.