I just found out the PSP Go was a thing and I really like the idea of having the screen slide up to reveal the controls. I think this would be a great way to make a more compact version of the Steamdeck. I don’t know about the low form factor joysticks though. I’ve never used anything like those before and I’m not sure how they’d feel to use. Maybe it would just be something I’d have to get used to. Regardless, I’d love to hear what other people think about this idea.

  • Björn Tantau@swg-empire.de
    0·
    10 months ago

    I think the main factors for the size of the Steam Deck and other similar handheld PCs are the size of the APU and heat dissipation. You’d get some serious performance degradation if you went much smaller. Even the Nintendo Switch is a similar size.

    • peanuts4life@beehaw.orgEnglish
      0·
      10 months ago

      I agree, but maybe it’s time for a Linux based Nintendo DS / PSP sized device? I mean, Nintendo has abandoned these truly pocketable consoles. Maybe with a die shrink they could fit something 70% as performant as a deck into that form Factor?

      I personally know a lot of people who miss the DS and don’t game anymore now that the platform was dropped. Casual gamer types.

      • Björn Tantau@swg-empire.de
        0·
        10 months ago

        Those already exist based on Raspberry Pis or similar SBCs. I once sold some pretty cheap (cheap, not low cost) ones with the intention of making enough money to be able to afford one for myself. Until I realised that it’s much cheaper to slap a controller on my phone and call it a day.

    • candyman337@sh.itjust.works
      0·
      10 months ago

      https://youtu.be/WdHF1x-jK4I?si=yZhogz0lVxeY3Nqw

      This thing is larger in size but is a similar form factor. For PC gaming I don’t see anything getting much smaller than this for another few years at least. This thing is really cool though, this to me looks like the most viable handheld for on the go PC gaming I’ve seen. Really short battery life tho.

      I think once arm starts to become more common, and/or other RISC based platforms gain mainstream traction, more games will work on ARM based processors, and in turn we’ll start to see smaller and longer lasting PC gaming handhelds with arm based chips. Or at the least, handhelds with PC graphic quality.

      But it will happen eventually, you’d blow someone from the 90’s mind if you showed them a 3Ds, it all just takes time.

          • conciselyverbose@kbin.social
            0·
            10 months ago

            Those keyboards are designed to be used with your thumbs while holding it from the side. They don’t really function any other way. You can’t reach the keyboard from the side because of the width of the controller. There’s no possibility whatsoever that the device will balance if you hold it from the bottom where your thumbs could theoretically reach, ignoring that your thumbs also don’t bend that way.

            It’s quite possibly the least ergonomic device ever made.

      • seatwiggy@lemmy.dbzer0.comOP
        0·
        10 months ago

        I agree. I didn’t think it would end up anywhere near the size of a PSP but I thought the sliding form factor would help a bit with compactness. It would help with portability too as you wouldn’t need a custom case or those sticky things to protect the joysticks.

        • Telorand@reddthat.com
          0·
          10 months ago

          As someone who has a Steam Controller, you’d still need to protect the joysticks and touch pads. They both wear out over time due to abrasion and the oils on your fingers.

          I’d much rather have some kind of mechanism built into the shell that improves ergonomics but can go compact for storing in the case.