Difference between revisions of "Playdate"

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{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left: 10px;"
{| class="wikitable" style="color:white; float:right; margin-left: 50px; border:none; background: none;"
!colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | Playdate console
!colspan="2" style="text-align: center; background:none; border:none;" | Playdate
|-
|-style="color:black;border:none;background:none;"
!colspan="3" | [[File:Playdate_Front.png|frameless|center|border|The front of the Playdate.]]
!colspan="3" "text-align: center; background:none; border:none;" | [[File:Playdate_Front.png|frameless|center|border|The front of the Playdate.]]
|-
|-style="color:white; border:none;background: #303133"
| Release Date:  
| Release Date:  
| Late July 2021 (Preorders)<br>
| April 18, 2022
Late 2021 (Shipping)
|-style="color:white; border:none;background: #303133"
|-
| Developers:
| Developers:
| [[Panic]] <br> Teenage Engineering
| [[Panic]] <br> Teenage Engineering
|-style="color:white; border:none;background: #303133"
| Codename:
| Asheville
|}
|}


The '''Playdate''' is an upcoming console by [[Panic]]. Preorders will open in July of 2021, with consoles to ship to buyers an indeterminate amount of time after. It will cost $179 USD, with extra for shipping and taxes.  
The [[Playdate]] is a handheld video game console by [[Panic]].


== Games ==
== History ==


The Playdate includes the [[:Category:Season 1|first Season]] of games for free with the purchase, with 24 games being included. They will be released at a rate of two games per week for three months from when the Playdate is first powered on. These games will be provided over the built in Wi-Fi.  
The entire history of the '''Playdate''' up to the launch of the console was summarized by the [https://podcast.panic.com/#episode006 sixth episode of Panic's podcast].


Further official game releases are undetermined at this time - Panic has said they want to see the response to the Season model before they decide what to do next.
Preorders for '''Playdate''' opened on July 29th, and the first 20,000 units sold out within 17 minutes.<ref>https://twitter.com/playdate/status/1421200351001157634</ref>


Games can also be developed, shared and loaded on the Playdate's internal memory from a PC using the included USB cable with no "jailbreaking" or other such methods being required.
== Games ==
 
All Playdate games to date are singleplayer, but Panic plan on adding multiplayer functionality to the [[Playdate SDK]] some time down the road.


== Accessories ==
The [[Playdate]] includes the [[:Category:Season 1|first season]]<ref>https://help.play.date/games/season/</ref> of games for no extra cost. These season games are distributed at a rate of two [[:Category:Games|games]] every Monday for twelve weeks<ref>https://help.play.date/hardware/get-started/</ref> starting when the individual Playdate is first powered on. The first two games come preinstalled while the rest are provided over the built in Wi-Fi.


The Playdate has two official accessories; the [[Playdate Stereo Dock|Stereo Dock]] and the [[Playdate Cover|Cover]].
Additional games are available through the official [[Catalog]] storefront. Games can also be [[:Category:Sideloaded|sideloaded]] via the Playdate website or over USB.


== Development ==
== Hardware ==


Every Playdate console serves as a development system; as long as you have a PC with a copy of the [[Playdate SDK]], you'll be able to use it to develop, test and play Playdate games. These games can then be shared across the internet (free or paid) and played by other players.
Because of a parts shortage during the manufacturing of pre-ordered Playdate devices, two hardware revisions of the Playdate exist, Rev. A and Rev. B.


The [[Playdate SDK]] supports both the Lua and C programming languages, with a series of Lua-specific Playdate libraries included with the SDK in order to help development in that language. It also has a simulator for the Playdate that can be used to test games.
There are a few differences between them, the most notable being that the Rev. B hardware's RAM is slower to access. This can lead to slightly worse performance on Rev. B devices in some performance-intensive cases like rotating or blurring an image.<ref>https://devforum.play.date/t/performance-of-graphics-image-drawblurred-method-on-rev-b-hardware/13815/11</ref>


There will also be a secondary development system, [[Pulp]], which allows for simple, tile based games to be developed for the Playdate entirely via a web browser.
Learn more about the Rev. A hardware by looking through the [https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Playdate+Teardown/143811 iFixit teardown].


== Specifications ==
=== Specifications ===


* 76 x 74 x 9mm size, 86 grams in weight.
* 76 x 74 x 9mm size, 86 grams in weight.
* 180MHz Cortex M7 CPU.
* 180MHz Cortex M7 CPU (Rev. A: STM32F746, Rev. B: STM32H7B0), 16MB of RAM.
* 16MB of RAM with 32KB of L1Cache.
* 4GB Flash storage (3.5GB usable). The [[:Category:Season 1|first season]] of games are approximately 1GB total, leaving plenty of room for other titles.
* 4GB Flash storage (3.5GB usable).
* 2.7 inch 400 x 240 (173ppi) highly reflective monochrome (1-bit / black and white) display with no backlight. The screen is a SHARP Memory LCD, giving the screen great readability in most light levels and an extremely wide viewing angle.
* 2.7 inch 400 x 240 (173ppi) highly reflective monochrome display with no backlight.
* Built-in mono speaker with 3.5mm stereo headphone jack. Bluetooth audio is supported for the [[Playdate Stereo Dock|Stereo Dock]].
* Built-in mono speaker with 3.5mm stereo headphone jack.
* Condenser microphone with TRRS mic in.
* Condenser microphone with TRRS mic in.
* D-Pad & A + B buttons, Sleep + Menu button and Power button on top.
* D-Pad & A + B buttons, Menu button, and Lock button on top, with a physical hardware crank that can be tucked in the side of the [[Playdate]] when not needed.
* Physical hardware crank that can be tucked in the side of the Playdate when not needed.
* 802.11bgn 2.4GHz Wi-Fi for downloading games & Bluetooth for audio capabilities.
* 802.11bgn 2.4GHz Wi-Fi & Bluetooth.
* 740 mAh [[battery]]<ref>https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Playdate+Teardown/143811</ref> with 8 hour battery life & up to two week standby time.
* 8 hour battery life, two week standby time.
* 3-Axis accelerometer.
* 3-Axis accelerometer.
* USB-C for charging and data.
* USB-C port for charging and data. A USB-C cable is included in the box.
* Color: Pantone 1235C<ref>https://twitter.com/playdate/status/1430932649141432321</ref>
 
=== Screen ===
The screen of the Playdate is a Memory LCD manufactured by Sharp (LS027B7DH01) which offers very fast pixel switching with near zero power drain while maintaining pixels. The display is monochrome, with an OFF (black) and ON (white) state. There are no grid lines, no blurring, the screen is extremely sharp and clear. The screen is made of glass<ref>https://discord.com/channels/675983554655551509/675983555209330691/879466198620860486</ref>.
 
The screen does not have a backlight, but it is highly reflective and boasts high visibility in low light situations.
 
=== Inputs ===
 
==== Standard Inputs ====
The Playdate has a standard directional (D) pad with up, down, left and right buttons, as well as a standard A and B side-by-side inputs. There are no shoulder buttons. the A and B button are pad printed with white letters denoting the button.
 
In the upper right corner of the screen, there is a circular button which activates the Playdate's system menu function. Along the top edge of the Playdate, there is a lock button. Below the menu button is an oblong mono speaker.
 
==== Crank ====
The crank is a rotary analog input that flips outward from the side of the Playdate. When tucked into the Playdate, the handle of the crank is obscured and out of the way of use or storage. The rotation of the crank can be read from the device as a delta (change) in rotation per frame, or as an absolute rotation angle from 0 - 359 degrees.
 
==== Accelerometer ====
The Playdate is also equipped with a 3-axis accelerometer. Not to be confused with a gyroscope.
 
==== Additional Sensors ====
The Playdate also includes a sensor on the crank handle dock to detect when the crank has been docked. This sensor can trigger game logic and has the potential for use as an additional input in some instances.
 
==== Bluetooth ====
Bluetooth connectivity is coming soon and will be used to connect to the [[Playdate Stereo Dock]].
 
==== Wifi ====
Wifi communication offers device networking with Playdate servers for game downloads, as well as limited networking for online leaderboards in some games.
 
== Package Contents ==
The Playdate comes packaged with:
 
* Playdate Console
* USB-C to USB-A cord
* User Guide
 
Playdate comes installed with the Playdate console operating system as well as:
 
* A few pre-installed games
* Rolling release of 24 [[Category:Season 1|Season One games]]
 
=== Accessories ===
 
There are no accessories that ship with the Playdate, but Panic offers 1st party accessories which complement the device and there are other accessories created by the community. See [[Accessories]].
 
== Credits ==
Created By [[Panic]]
In Cooperation with Teenage Engineering & Metric Designworks
 
See [https://play.date/credits/ Playdate Credits] for up to date credits
 
== Images ==
 
<gallery mode="slideshow" showthumbnails>
Playdate-large.png | Playdate console
Playdate-layers.png | Playdate internals
Playdate-package-large.jpg | Playdate packaging
</gallery>
 
== References ==
{{reflist}}

Latest revision as of 05:50, 24 April 2024

Playdate
The front of the Playdate.
Release Date: April 18, 2022
Developers: Panic
Teenage Engineering
Codename: Asheville

The Playdate is a handheld video game console by Panic.

History

The entire history of the Playdate up to the launch of the console was summarized by the sixth episode of Panic's podcast.

Preorders for Playdate opened on July 29th, and the first 20,000 units sold out within 17 minutes.[1]

Games

The Playdate includes the first season[2] of games for no extra cost. These season games are distributed at a rate of two games every Monday for twelve weeks[3] starting when the individual Playdate is first powered on. The first two games come preinstalled while the rest are provided over the built in Wi-Fi.

Additional games are available through the official Catalog storefront. Games can also be sideloaded via the Playdate website or over USB.

Hardware

Because of a parts shortage during the manufacturing of pre-ordered Playdate devices, two hardware revisions of the Playdate exist, Rev. A and Rev. B.

There are a few differences between them, the most notable being that the Rev. B hardware's RAM is slower to access. This can lead to slightly worse performance on Rev. B devices in some performance-intensive cases like rotating or blurring an image.[4]

Learn more about the Rev. A hardware by looking through the iFixit teardown.

Specifications

  • 76 x 74 x 9mm size, 86 grams in weight.
  • 180MHz Cortex M7 CPU (Rev. A: STM32F746, Rev. B: STM32H7B0), 16MB of RAM.
  • 4GB Flash storage (3.5GB usable). The first season of games are approximately 1GB total, leaving plenty of room for other titles.
  • 2.7 inch 400 x 240 (173ppi) highly reflective monochrome (1-bit / black and white) display with no backlight. The screen is a SHARP Memory LCD, giving the screen great readability in most light levels and an extremely wide viewing angle.
  • Built-in mono speaker with 3.5mm stereo headphone jack. Bluetooth audio is supported for the Stereo Dock.
  • Condenser microphone with TRRS mic in.
  • D-Pad & A + B buttons, Menu button, and Lock button on top, with a physical hardware crank that can be tucked in the side of the Playdate when not needed.
  • 802.11bgn 2.4GHz Wi-Fi for downloading games & Bluetooth for audio capabilities.
  • 740 mAh battery[5] with 8 hour battery life & up to two week standby time.
  • 3-Axis accelerometer.
  • USB-C port for charging and data. A USB-C cable is included in the box.
  • Color: Pantone 1235C[6]

Screen

The screen of the Playdate is a Memory LCD manufactured by Sharp (LS027B7DH01) which offers very fast pixel switching with near zero power drain while maintaining pixels. The display is monochrome, with an OFF (black) and ON (white) state. There are no grid lines, no blurring, the screen is extremely sharp and clear. The screen is made of glass[7].

The screen does not have a backlight, but it is highly reflective and boasts high visibility in low light situations.

Inputs

Standard Inputs

The Playdate has a standard directional (D) pad with up, down, left and right buttons, as well as a standard A and B side-by-side inputs. There are no shoulder buttons. the A and B button are pad printed with white letters denoting the button.

In the upper right corner of the screen, there is a circular button which activates the Playdate's system menu function. Along the top edge of the Playdate, there is a lock button. Below the menu button is an oblong mono speaker.

Crank

The crank is a rotary analog input that flips outward from the side of the Playdate. When tucked into the Playdate, the handle of the crank is obscured and out of the way of use or storage. The rotation of the crank can be read from the device as a delta (change) in rotation per frame, or as an absolute rotation angle from 0 - 359 degrees.

Accelerometer

The Playdate is also equipped with a 3-axis accelerometer. Not to be confused with a gyroscope.

Additional Sensors

The Playdate also includes a sensor on the crank handle dock to detect when the crank has been docked. This sensor can trigger game logic and has the potential for use as an additional input in some instances.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth connectivity is coming soon and will be used to connect to the Playdate Stereo Dock.

Wifi

Wifi communication offers device networking with Playdate servers for game downloads, as well as limited networking for online leaderboards in some games.

Package Contents

The Playdate comes packaged with:

  • Playdate Console
  • USB-C to USB-A cord
  • User Guide

Playdate comes installed with the Playdate console operating system as well as:

  • A few pre-installed games
  • Rolling release of 24

Accessories

There are no accessories that ship with the Playdate, but Panic offers 1st party accessories which complement the device and there are other accessories created by the community. See Accessories.

Credits

Created By Panic In Cooperation with Teenage Engineering & Metric Designworks

See Playdate Credits for up to date credits

Images

  • Playdate console

  • Playdate internals

  • Playdate packaging

References

  1. ↑ https://twitter.com/playdate/status/1421200351001157634
  2. ↑ https://help.play.date/games/season/
  3. ↑ https://help.play.date/hardware/get-started/
  4. ↑ https://devforum.play.date/t/performance-of-graphics-image-drawblurred-method-on-rev-b-hardware/13815/11
  5. ↑ https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Playdate+Teardown/143811
  6. ↑ https://twitter.com/playdate/status/1430932649141432321
  7. ↑ https://discord.com/channels/675983554655551509/675983555209330691/879466198620860486
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