My job has a lot of downtime, so I'm playing a lot of older emulated games on my phone, but the controls are trash, so I'm considering investing in a handheld gaming device.
I like platformers, I like zelda, although I've only ever played links awakening on the GBC and that n64 one. I also like pokemon, so if I can play both on a device I would be happy with that, but I'm mainly a PC gamer.
I'm considering the switch, but are there other types I should go for instead?
Just get that new steam deck when it drops.
literally why would you buy a steam deck when you can just buy a laptop
Gaming on a laptop is the most ass experience there is bar none.
Hmmmm if you like zelda and mario and pokemon than switch is the obvious choice, yes? I bought mine this year and I'm enjoying it. OLED model. You could go for the cheaper switch lite. Be warned that switch games don't go on sale often.
If you wanna play those nintendo games you mentioned but are primarily a PC gamer I recommend either an ROG Ally or a Steam Deck. Emulation machines and PC games
I'll check those out
How expensive are they? How does it deal with older titles, like the ones I mentioned?
That handelds are scams, they are too small for adult hands, bad ergonomic, terrible lcd screens, propietary batteries and need complex steps for add games and firmware
If you only want to emulate, and the steamdeck is too big or expensive for you, you can get one of the tiny emulation handelds. (some are literally gameboy clones but can emulate lots of consoles) Check out some specialized channels on youtube, I suggest retro game corps or retrododo
deck oled
What's the advantage of that if the pc games I play are FPS or RTS? Does it allow emulation, or is it for steam only?
Specially I'd want it to play casual fun stuff.
It's literally just a linux PC but a handheld device so you can get any emulator you want right out of the box and play PC games on it. You will not emulate on a deck so you lose access to all those PC games and emulators you want to play with. The deck can also easily emulate switch games so even if it's double the price you just end up saving money when factor in buying 5 games or so with a switch + the online fee.
I've been enjoying my Switch since I got it a few months ago. I mostly play Splatoon and Mario Kart.
There is a monthly fee to play online I've read, is it expensive and is it necessary?
I think it was about 20 bongs for a year. A quick google would answer that but nah. You get a few fun things with it like access to NES/SNES/GB games on your Switch (Super Mario World and Super Metroid are dope), plus other stuff like Tetris 99. Online is necessary if you want to play games online. I dunno what to tell you lmao.
As for how it feels, everything feels great and solid enough. I have the OLED model and the one thing I will say is sometimes when the joycons vibrate while attached to the Switch itself it makes a weird almost hollow sound. I dunno how to describe it, but it's not really a deal breaker. It's not noisy in the least to use. The buttons have a nice satisfying click to them. Battery life is around 5-6 hours I'd say which is still great in my book. Joycons apparently last 20 hours on a single charge, I've never had an issue with them dying. Not actually sure when I last charged them, I'll do that tonight (they just charge passively while on the Switch).
The OLED screen is nice and bright, everything is a smooth 60fps. Dunno what else to tell you, it's just been great since I got it. Just don't go buying games you won't enjoy or get much use out of. I've personally fucked off Zelda and Mario because I know I won't enjoy them.
Thanks, I appreciate your details. At work right now so research is hard. Do you habe to pay for those older games?
So I can play switch games on the new steam deck? Are you sure about that? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of the switch?
No, the NES/SNES/GB games come bundled with the online. Not all games are there because of licensing, but all the Nintendo games are there at least which is most of what you'll want since they're more or less the best games.
There's an expansion pack you can get for the online that's around another 20 bongs for me I think. I don't have it, but it gives you access to N64 and GBA games too. I don't know if that expansion pack is the same thing, but there's extra DLC Mario Kart tracks I haven't paid for, but when I play online I can still play on those tracks just fine.
I'm a pretty cynical guy about most things these days and haven't really enjoyed the games on my PC for the longest time, but since getting a Switch I've been enjoying casually playing dumb games. If you're curious, I only have 5 games, which are
>Mario Kart
>Splatoon 3
>Animal Crossing
>Smash
>Monster Hunter
I was considering Metroid Dread but since I have access to Super Metroid that I haven't complete yet, why bother?
Oh and if you were asking about the Switch's noise level as in fans spinning up when it heats it, I'm not actually of mine ever doing that. While using it handheld I've felt the back of the system and it's been cold as fuck. The thing generates zero heat. I checked online how much power the thing actually uses and it's like 6W. For comparison, apparently a PS5 uses 350W.
>bongs
is really hard write "American Dollars" ?
Also, how does it feel? If its noisy to play on, as in all the buttons click loudly I'll have to skip it.
it feels fine and the buttons are not loud at all. Expect first party nintendo games to be 60 but i got most of mine sealed on ebay.
*sealed for 3 ish on ebay
Annoying, but I can just buy one every now and again.
would recomend either zelda for something lengthy, and mario kart for something casual and easy to play any time you don't have the energy to sink your teeth into something seriously. you also have a number of wii u ports like DK tropical freeze. the new mario is good and mario oddysey is a great 3d mario game.
get a psvita and a new 3ds and your set for life
I want a job with downtime so fucking badly. I want a job where every ten fucking minutes isn't counted and measured. God.
Im semi neet, so I wage maybe 12 hours a week, and government gives me neetbux as well.
Job is piss easy too.
The reason your employer has to count and measure your time is because of lazy people who don't want to work, ie. people like you who'd just slack off the moment your time isn't being counted and measured.
Why would you buy an end of life handheld that never got any price drops? Any UMPC would be better.
To be fair, the purpose of the thread is to hear out different options.
Ok. Just to confirm, you purchase normal games for a one time fee and have them permanently, but older games you need to pay the monthly fee?
I think I might just do for the switch, like you I'm too cynical to enjoy pc stuff anymore. Too old for multi player games, and played all the other good games too much.
>Ok. Just to confirm, you purchase normal games for a one time fee and have them permanently
Correct, game cartridges work the same as 30 years ago.
>but older games you need to pay the monthly fee?
Just to confirm for you, the 20 bongs I paid was an ANNUAL fee. But yes. Honestly, just play Mario Kart a bunch, you'll have fun you didn't even know you were capable of.
>playing to have fun
Haven't done this in at least a decade. Playing try hard bullshit ruined me. If I'm not dominating the scoreboard and having people seethe at me for shitting on them, it's a waste of time.
Thanks for the recommendations.
The other anon never got back to me, be he seemed to indicate that you could emulate or play switch games on the steam deck, either of you know if that's true?
Apparently it is true yes. I don't own one but it's often said so yeah probably
steam deck can generally emulate switch in handheld mode yes (docked mode is a waste of time and graphical power, screen is 800p)
So when emulating switch games, do you purchase it like a normal game or do you need to install emulation software?
Kek, I'll have to factor that in.
It is tempting, but I havent played a ton of nintendo titles so they would be a great reason to try the switch. Also the price tag.
>So when emulating switch games, do you purchase it like a normal game
whose grandpa is this? how did he find his way to this shithole?
>purchase
do you seriously not know? every single game can be downloaded for free.
To download console games without paying for them, you would have to jailbreak the console.
I don't know anything about handheld devices, including how you can apparently just use the steam deck to play exclusive nintendo titles, or how you're able to do so.
Deck is just a PC running Linux and Steam. If you're that clueless just stick to Switch.
So I'd have to install a 3rd party emulator I take it.
Its interesting, beucause you still can't emulate PS3 games properly on the PC, yet apparently current handhelds can effortlessly emulate other modern handhelds.
>beucause you still can't emulate PS3 games properly on the PC
You absolutely can, especially the lower spec stuff like Demon's Souls which runs on Deck.
Maybe my Information is out of date.
Are you saying I can play RDR 1 on my PC now?
Yes. In fact, the Switch port made it even easier to do it, before that the 360 emulation was the most performant way to play it.
Since you're completely tech illiterate I take back the deck recommendation, switch would be a better choice.
No need to get all cunty just because you don't know shit.
How much effort does this require?
Stating the truth is not being a cunt, so you are tech literate? If you understand tech then get a deck, from the shit you are saying you're not comfortable with tech so get a switch.
It's not about being tech literate you obnoxious cunt, it's about the fact I've never used a modern hand held, as I have a beefy gaming PC that I primarily play on, so obviously I can't know in the intricacies of different hand helds.
Fucking sperg.
using a handheld has nothing to do with thinking you have to buy games in order to emulate them or that you have to jailbreak a console to download them. you're getting offended at being called tech illiterate but its actually very important that you're comfortable fucking around with pcs before you get a deck.
I've said multiple times I'm a PC gamer, I have invested a lot of money in my PC, so why are you assuming I'm not comfortable fucking around with PC's?
I'm not offended at being called tech illiterate, I'm offended by your cunty attitude in a thread where I'm specifically asking questions regarding stuff I don't know about.
For all I knew, Nintendo allows a limited license for other hand helds to play some of their titles.
Sometimes it's not about playing a game in the abstract, it's visceral. It's about having a real physical game cartridge inside a real physical game system that you bought from a real physical store. It just makes it more fun.
To an extent.
Why not just get a refrigerator?
steam deck ($300-$700 depending on model, PS3 + Switch, modern PC games at around 30FPS)
retroid pocket 2S ($100, gamecube, some PS2)
miyoo mini or anbernic RG35XX ($60-$65, DS, PS1)
700 USD, damn. Why not just get a gaming laptop then lmao.
$650 model has an OLED screen and 1TB SSD, is still going to be stronger on average than a similarly priced laptop
Switch OLED if you have friends and a girlfriend, Deck OLED if you don't.
just get a deck, it plays every pc game up to the 360 era perfectly and 95% of games after that point with lowered settings, it emulates everything up to and including ps2 era games (possibly switch too, I dont know since I have a switch for that).
The only reason not to get a deck is the size.
oled switch but get the mumba grip for it, the ergonomics of the switch are trash
Emulate the Switch.
Only actual autists think that it's about playing the game in the abstract.
What is it about, then?
More than just buying a Switch, but less than the hours of work that you would need to put in to pay for the Switch and its games. You also get better performance, the ability to install mods easily, skip grinding, etc.
>What is it about, then?
Holding a physical object is more fun than double clicking an icon.
Some games are more fun on PC, but other games are more fun on a console. BOTW and TOTK are more fun on PC.
In your position (and assuming I could easily charge it or bring a good batter pack), I'd personally get a steam deck or one of its clones. From what I understand it's basically ideal for your use cases.
The switch would be far too limiting for me. Plus it's infuriating that they released an OLED switch and didn't add HDR.
if you only play handheld go for a switch lite, it is the only true portable console now.
if you are interested in old games just buy a chinese emulation device, like anbernic or retroid
I'm not just interested in older games, as I'd be limited to the couple I already have on my phone.
Exploring nintendo titles would keep me occupied for a while, as I've always enjoyed them but rarely played them, so a device that allows me to play them would be great.
I am now increasingly considering the steam deck oled, but I can see I'll have to wait another week before orders will be available. Annoying I can't just pre order it now tbqh.
Just get a Deck OLED
The trackpads are fantastic for a lot of PC games and performance is plenty for emulation up to Switch/PS3 (mixed results with those) and almost all PC games.
Yeah the more I look into it, the more that seems to be the best option.
What concerns me about the switch now is that literally every single game is fucking 60 europes. Is there really that much content in one hand held game to justify that price tag?
Looked at the lite switch to see if it was worth buying it just to test out the cheapest option first, but I need to pay like 100 europes more just to not have it in an obnoxious color, what the fuck.
>Is there really that much content in one hand held game to justify that price tag?
sometimes yes, most times no. switch games retain their value because nintendo makes proprietary cartridges for their games.
forgive my ignorance, it actually uses physical cartridges, you don't just download the games to the device?
you can do both. digital prices aren't much cheaper however.
>60 europes
Stop buying brand new games and go to places that sell used copies.
Deck is better but if your on a budget buy a first gen switch off Amazon for 100$ and pirate switch games. I have both, switch sucks ass unless you like playing kids games
>unless you like playing kids games
I like playing kids games I played when I was a kid
I like platformers in general, and the benefits of the switch, as far as I can tell are its initially cheap up front price, exclusive games of decent quality and ability to buy used games
The Steam deck, while more expensive, would allow me to emulate the games I want for free, although there are no guarantees the emulation would work flawlessly, but it would also allow access to my steam library on the go, which is quite tempting in and of itself.
honestly, the switch is great. Can't go wrong there