"For those of us born a few decades ago, toys like the Gameboy signifies simpler times; a period when digital devices had a single - maybe two - functions and were less implicitly demanding of our constant attention. The Gameboy came with a whole host of programs, a color camera with an attachable printer, but not much else. The Tamagotchi did require our attention but at a pace more aligned with fundamental human interaction."
"The pocket-sized device - rendered in an era-appropriate "joy-sparking" yellow - comes with an analog hand crank that helps power up the distinctive black and white screen. The near neotenic cross, "A," and "B" buttons couldn't be more reminiscent of this not-so-far past, nor does its beveled edge shell. A cover - ensuring game play doesn't inadvertently start up - perfectly snaps across the face of Playdate. This feature comes in an equally 90s-esques purple and aquamarine green."
"The swing open function recalls the flip phones of the day, even if the intent here is to take us away from the overstimulation and endless modality of today's "highly advanced" technology. With Playdate, the user can only do one thing at a time. There's no impulse to frantically and exhaustively switch between different apps. With this device, the player only plays one game at a time."
Playdate is a compact handheld gaming device that prioritizes focused, single-task play and nostalgia. It uses an analog hand crank to interact with and power a distinctive black-and-white screen, and includes simple A and B buttons, a beveled shell, and a snap-on cover to prevent accidental startups. The color palette and flip-open cover evoke 1990s devices and aim to reduce overstimulation from modern multi-function gadgets. Games are delivered in a season-style model with 24 free titles, and the platform enforces one-game-at-a-time play to discourage constant app-switching and emphasize simple mechanics and attention at a human pace.
Read at Design Milk
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