It's Critter Time!

Has anyone here messed around with a Playdate? They are a lot of fun and pretty easy to make things for them.

I've wanted a Playdate since they were announced. From what I've seen, a lot of the games are really neat. The issue is the price. $230 is just so much for a game system that is so limited in its offerings. It's a real bummer because it seems super cool.

That $230 entry point makes me wanting to get one for myself very difficult to justify, but luckily I did end up buying one for my husband and thus have access to it!

It very much screams "developer's playground" since it's apparently extremely easy to start developing for it. I'm admittedly intrigued by that prospect but I wanna actually mess around with it more before committing to any of that.

It does look very interesting. Almost somewhere between an art project and a console, which probably also explains the price point. I can't say I've heard all that much about anyone developing for it, though?

d: we've been really interested in it (both to play stuff and to try developing on it), but we haven't been in a good spot to get one.

$230 is a lot of money for me, but it's definitely intriguing! It'd be fun to learn gamedev with it

I'd heard from a friend, however, that it's uncomfortable to hold and that cranking the crank strains your hand easily. Does anyone with experience with the console have anything to add or contest on that front?

Anyone who's got one picked up season 2? I've been obsessed with Blippo+. It's a whole livestreaming network of little mini TV shows that rotate every week, with a bigger overarching plot developing over the course of the whole thing. It's a very cool concept and I'm surprised how well live-action FMV works on that little 1-bit screen.

I've been waiting to buy season 2, but I'm really intrigued by blippo+

vurrsys wrote: Wed Jul 23, 2025 4:13 am $230 is a lot of money for me, but it's definitely intriguing! It'd be fun to learn gamedev with it

I'd heard from a friend, however, that it's uncomfortable to hold and that cranking the crank strains your hand easily. Does anyone with experience with the console have anything to add or contest on that front?

Hmm, it's not the worst thing to hold, but the edges are a bit annoying. I don't think the crank strains my hand but that's def something to ask more people about.

Panic emailed a $30 coupon code for the system+case bundle to people who bought season 2, so if anyone wants one just DM me and I'm glad to pass it along.

is there anyone outside of the US who bought one? i've honestly been interested in picking one up, but it seems like the only place to get one is through the official playdate store. i'm worried the shipping costs to the Netherlands will be insanely high :(

dog wrote: Sun Jul 27, 2025 1:32 am Panic emailed a $30 coupon code for the system+case bundle to people who bought season 2, so if anyone wants one just DM me and I'm glad to pass it along.

well, in case (ha) the above isn't true, i certainly wouldn't mind having that :)

e: oh gosh, shipping + taxes add an additional $100 to the price. you know what? i could still afford that, i think. coupon code would definitely be appreciated :O

e2: actually nvm, i don't have a credit card so i guess i can't order one in the first place. :(((

The main thing I remember from the Playdate is someone programming a proof of concept doom port where you used the crank to use the minigun. Dont think it was ever finished or released which is a shame.

I picked one up but didn't really dig into it much -- I'm often intrigued by peripherals/etc. that go beyond just like, dpad/stick/buttons, because I like seeing what types of gameplay they open up. It definitely had potential and it's been cool seeing what people have done with it. Ended up selling it to a friend who, as far as I know, really enjoyed it.

idadeerz wrote: Sun Jul 27, 2025 11:37 am is there anyone outside of the US who bought one? i've honestly been interested in picking one up, but it seems like the only place to get one is through the official playdate store. i'm worried the shipping costs to the Netherlands will be insanely high

dog wrote: Sun Jul 27, 2025 1:32 am Panic emailed a $30 coupon code for the system+case bundle to people who bought season 2, so if anyone wants one just DM me and I'm glad to pass it along.

well, in case (ha) the above isn't true, i certainly wouldn't mind having that

e: oh gosh, shipping + taxes add an additional $100 to the price. you know what? i could still afford that, i think. coupon code would definitely be appreciated :O

e2: actually nvm, i don't have a credit card so i guess i can't order one in the first place. ((

Aw, darn. :/ Really wish it were easier to buy stuff without a credit card! I live outside the US, but I'm in Canada which I feel like is still a little easier to get US shipping from.

I've been meaning to actually get started with developing for the Playdate. The tools seem to be very simple, which I greatly appreciate.

I've already started working on one particular game for the Atari ST, but it might actually work better on the Playdate after all.