Comment on Gaming handheld prices are out of control, except for the Steam Deck
Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 16 hours agoI would love to see a lower powered and low budget focused one. Powerful enough for locally running a web browser, normal Linux stuff like SSH and some low spec games like CDDA. Otherwise most games would be played by streaming it from your desktop.
I just want something that runs Minecraft so I don’t have to keep up to date with workarounds on the Switch that Nintendo keeps trying to block
also fuck bedrock edition
my switch exists primarily for Minecraft. I don’t use it much because the experience is terrible. if there was something that did the same thing but for Java, I’d buy it
There are loads and loads of really cheap Android-based emulator handhelds. The YouTuber TechDweeb does lots of reviews of these devices. These things have effectively spawned their own retro gaming ecosystem around them.
An alternative is to pick up a used New Nintendo 3DS (New being part of the name, distinguishing it from the original 3DS which is way less powerful). This device can be hacked to run many different emulators and play thousands of games. While the screens are not as good as the best Android handhelds, the form factor is ideally suited for running DS and 3DS games (which obviously run natively on the device) while still being great for older single-screen systems (the unused touch screen is excellent for emulator controls such as pause/resume and save/load state).
A used PS Vita would be better I feel. Similar size, and just as hackable (Emu4Vita). Except a Vita has:
The only advantage a 3DS has is that it has 3DS and DS games, but the Vita has PS Vita games, PSP games, and PSX games to its advantage.
My N3DS runs PSX games just fine via RetroArch.
The Bluetooth audio sounds really nice though.
I don’t know anything about the PSP or Vita libraries so I don’t know why I would want them. The DS and 3DS library is absolutely ginormous so that’s a big draw for me.
As for sleeping/power drain, I haven’t had too many issues since I turned the brightness down. I don’t have enough free time in a day to drain the whole battery and I plug it in to charge every night. Maybe the sleep issues with emulators have been fixed? I use RetroArch and it seems to work fine coming in and out of sleep.
What PSX games did you try? I tried Silent Hill and it was more of a sideshow than a game.
As for the power drain, I don’t always have time to charge every night and that’s when I see the problems. (Traveling and such)
PSP had an amazing library of games that I honestly miss and am glad to see some of them coming back soon in the way of spiritual successors.
Some of the tops for me were:
Monster hunter Cladun Dj max Patapon Loco roco Final fantasy dissidia Half minute hero Lumines Patchwork hero Holy invasion of privacy badman! What did I do to deserve this? Disgeae
Yeah, but I hate android and want to run steam natively so I can play indie games.
Where is my small Linux handheld for steam. Something not targeting the AAA games?
I believe a lot of the folks into these retro handhelds ditch the default Android system and install a community made distro specifically for running these retro emulators! TechDweeb talks about them.
In that form factor/size are the android handhelds better screens worth the trade-off of what I assume is better build quality from Nintendo (I’ve never used a ds so I assume the build quality is better)
I’m not sure actually. I’m into the hobby but I have only a New 3DS. I plan to get one of those handhelds at some point but I’m not there yet!
You want a linux psp, a media device that had a we browser too. The psp was som far ahead of its time.
So essentially a Steam Link/Moonlight thin client? Yeah, I like the idea of that.
I think a budget android handheld could work well for game streaming. TechDweeb and Retro Game Corps newest videos show android handhelds that cost less than 100€.
With google looking at locking down Android and preventing you from installing things on it I would rather not
The android console did not do do well. I mean it made a lot of money, but died not last long after release.
wry@piefed.zip 1 hour ago
This is a neat idea and contrary to what the other commenter said, I still think it's a valuable proposition because many folks, myself included, would rather have a Linux device rather than an Android one.