Playdate
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Panic's upcoming Playdate handheld will cost $179 but arrive with more games
Panic increases Playdate price and will hold a video showcase event on June 8th.
Playdate's mirror app links the handheld to a PC for streaming and control
When Panic's Playdate portable console ships, you'll be able to plug it into a PC to mirror the screen for streaming, or control it from the computer.
2021 could be a great year for 'alternative' consoles
Despite the pandemic, it’s been a pretty great year for video game hardware. Microsoft launched the Xbox Series X and the smaller Series S. Sony, meanwhile, released the PlayStation 5 and a cheaper Digital Edition that doesn’t come with a disc drive.
$149 Playdate handheld is 'ready to go,' orders start in early 2021
“Playdate is almost done.”
Here are some of the games in development for Panic's Playdate handheld
With so much attention focused on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, you might have forgotten about the Playdate. The pint-sized handheld, which has a monochrome screen and a tiny fold-out crank for controlling select games, is “hopefully” coming out this year, according to the official Playdate Twitter account. Well, creator Panic — a software developer and publisher of games like Firewatch and Untitled Goose Game — has teased a bunch of third-party titles on Twitter.
Panic's quirky Playdate handheld will be available for developers soon
Several months ago, Panic unveiled the Playdate, a tiny gaming handheld with a crank that is perhaps the most adorable gadget we've seen this year. As cute it is, however, it's not quite ready for pre-orders just yet. But the hardware itself is effectively done. That's why Panic is announcing a new preview program where developers can get their hands on one early, so they can start creating games for it.
Playdate's tiny hand-held with a crank is big on charm
Three months ago, Panic Inc. revealed that it's been working on a curious product: a hand-held game system called the Playdate, priced at $149. You may recognize Panic as the company behind popular Mac software like Transmit and Coda, or perhaps as the publisher of indie games such as Firewatch and Untitled Goose Game. At first, the Playdate might seem unremarkable; it's a tiny console with a black-and-white screen, a pair of buttons and a D-pad. But, it also has ... a crank. No, the crank isn't meant to power it up; it's actually meant as a game controller. Yes, really.
Mark Zuckerberg apparently tried to buy Panic, the creator of Playdate
Buried in Edge Magazine's exclusive feature on Playdate, is an interesting revelation. Apparently, Mark Zuckerberg once expressed interest in buying Panic, the developers behind the new handheld, hand-cranked console. Perhaps even more intriguing, Panic co-founder Cabel Sasser didn't respond. He didn't want to be part of another Silicon Valley software company gobbled up by a giant.
'Firewatch' publisher's Playdate gaming handheld has a crank
Now here's an entrant in the game console wars that you didn't see coming. Veteran software developer Panic (best known for writing Transmit and publishing Firewatch) has unveiled a handheld game system, Playdate, that aims to break the rules of game consoles. Most conspicuously, it has a hand crank -- you'll have to treat your system like a fishing rod to play some titles. It looks silly, but Panic is clearly betting that the added whimsy will help it stand out. There's a black-and-white screen, too, so the creators (including Teenage Engineering) are undoubtedly counting on a bit of Game Boy-style nostalgia for simpler times.
ICYMI: How cancer travels, true hoverboard and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-226789{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-226789, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-226789{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-226789").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: MIT researchers discovered that cancer cells can unclump to squeeze through teeny capillaries, then reassemble as cancer clumps on the other side. Zapata Racing has a prototype of a real hoverboard that can fly just like the Green Goblin's, but only for 10 minutes at a time. And a smart toy for pets called PlayDate will let you play with your cat or dog remotely, by moving the ball around through an app and watching your pet's reaction. We also wanted you to see the video of some construction equipment in a Transformers-like battle, after the humans operating them got into some sort of argument and decided to settle it like Gladiators of road construction. As always, please share any great tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
Play with your pets from anywhere with PlayDate's smart ball
We've seen connected food dispensers and health trackers for pets, but we're still waiting for the first truly great smart pet toy. That's what PlayDate is aiming for with its smart ball, which resembles Sphero's devices and LG's upcoming Rolling Bot. It can be controlled remotely and has an integrated webcam, so you can use it to keep an eye on your furry friends throughout the house, as well as give them something to chase. And of course, it also lets you snap photos and videos of their playtime. PlayDate is launching an Indiegogo campaign today to raise $60,000, and you can snag an early engraved model for $129. That price jumps to $149 for the "Indiegogo special," which is still less than the proposed $249 retail cost.
Playdate: Giving away the Force
It's been a long wait, but today's the day: Star Wars is back in theaters. We've seen it. No, we're not going to talk about it (well, not much. Spoilers, you know) -- but we are celebrating its release by playing our favorite games from the series now-defunct expanded universe. We're closing out our Star Wars week with games from the Dark Forces and Jedi Knight franchises, the Star Wars: Force Unleashed games as well as the past and present of Star Wars: Battlefront.
Playdate: 'Star Wars' week celebration, episode two!
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is nearly upon us, and Engadget's gaming crew can barely contain itself. Life for Sean, Tim and Jess has been a constant struggle between the pain of being patient and the fear of encountering spoilers out there on the internet. How does one cope with such stress, such anticipation? By playing old Star Wars games, of course! Today we'll be taking a look at the PlayStation 4 ports of Star Wars: Racer Revenge and Super Star Wars, as well the classic Tie Fighter space sim on PC and, if there's time, the cinematic adventure of Rebel Assault II.
Playdate: 'Star Wars' week celebration, episode one!
Get ready for a week almost 40 years in the making: over the next five days, Engadget Playdate is all about Star Wars. The movies, the toys and, most of all, the video games. Join us as we trip over our nostalgia in preparation for The Force Awakens. We'll be revisiting the best of Star Wars gaming in chronological order, starting with the prequel trilogy's Republic Commando and Star Wars: Starfighter
Playdate: Breaking the sound barrier in 'Fast Racing NEO'
Nintendo's seemingly forgotten about the futuristic, hyper-fast racing series F-Zero when it comes to a Wii U release, but developer Shinen hasn't. We first caught a glimpse of Fast Racing Neo at PAX this year and came away incredibly excited, so of course we're streaming it today. But that's not all: We're also going to spend some time with the troubled The Devil's Third from Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive mastermind Tomonobu Itagaki. Join myself and Sean Buckley as we broadcast two hours of Wii U games starting at 6 PM Eastern / 3 PM Pacific.
Playdate: Going to war in 'Dragon Quest Heroes'
There are lots of ways to enjoy the button-mashing guilty pleasure of a Dynasty Warriors game: the trappings of the original series in ancient China, the robot-smashing action of Gundam Reborn and even a foray into the Legend of Zelda universe. Not enough? Okay fine. Here's one more: 'Dragon Quest Heroes.' Join Sean and Tim at 6PM ET / 3PM Pacific on Twitch as a venture into a mash-up created from games neither of them have played. Check us out here on this very post, the Engadget Gaming homepage, or, if you want to join us in chat, Twitch.tv/Joystiq.
Playdate: Breaching and clearing with 'Rainbow Six: Siege'
Rainbow Six: Siege hit a few bumps on the road to release, but now it's out in the wild and folks are breaching doors and clearing rooms with a righteous fury. Not us. We're going into the game pretty blind, and that's not because someone tossed a flashbang into the room. How will Sean take to the multiplayer-only tactical shooter? Considering his disdain for tutorials, probably not too well! However, you can find out for yourself starting at 6 PM ET / 3 PM Pacific as we broadcast live on Twitch. Check us out here on this very post, the Engadget Gaming homepage, or, if you want to join us in chat, Twitch.tv/Joystiq.Update: For reasons unknown to us, Rainbow Six: Siege refused to play nice with our streaming setup. Instead, we went down memory lane and played Mario 64, Punch-Out, NES Remix 2 and Ducktales Remastered)
Playdate: We're playing with fire in 'Just Cause 3'
It's really hard to not smile when you're causing massive amounts of mayhem in a video game, and what I've played of Just Cause 3 so far has me grinning ear to ear. Now it's time to share that joy with you, our lovely Playdate viewers on Twitch. Join myself and Jessica Conditt as we explore the game's lush Mediterranean island in the sun starting at 6 PM Eastern / 3 PM Pacific as we broadcast two hours full of good-natured mayhem and destruction either here on this post, the Engadget Gaming homepage, or, if you want to chat along, Twitch.tv/Joystiq.
Playdate: Slashing through 'The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing'
Creatures that go bump in the night, beware: Van Helsing lives. But just how "incredible" are the monster hunter's adventures, especially if he isn't played by Hugh Jackman? Find out with Sean Buckley and myself as we trudge through The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, which is part of Xbox One's free Games With Gold promo for December. As always, you can catch us starting at 6 PM Eastern / 3 PM Pacific as we stream for two hours on Twitch. Either tune in on this very post, the Engadget Gaming homepage, or, if you want to chat along with us, Twitch.tv/Joystiq. How weird will horror in December be? There's only one way to find out.
Playdate: Exploring a new world in 'Xenoblade Chronicles X'
So you want a big, open-world adventure with stunningly huge maps and a plot that revolves around the extinction of the human race, but Fallout 4 isn't available for the Wii U? Monolith Soft has you covered. Sort of. Xenoblade Chronicles X takes those same themes and applies them in a wildly different manner -- putting the last of humanity on a gorgeous, lush planet somewhere in the depths of space. Join Tim Sepala and me as we look at Nintendo's take on open world gaming and, quite honestly, marvel at how gorgeous this game is despite the Wii U's less powerful hardware. The fun starts at 6PM Eastern / 3PM Pacific right here in this post, on the Engadget Gaming homepage and, if you want to join us in chat, at Twitch.tv/Joystiq.
