Originally posted by rokken
Portability, fine, but the Switch and by extension Steam Deck are rolling handheld design back to 2002 and aren't really even all that portable by even 2016 standards. The Steam Deck, sure, I understand, it has a Ryzen in it, but the Switch is ARM just like the 3DS. I have a regular size 3DS and it's about the perfect size for a handheld, I don't think I'd really be that happy even carrying around a 3DS XL. Maybe the Switch Lite might help, but it still has a big old screen and a pair of joysticks for you to hold in one direction through the friction of your pockets, and one good scrape with a set of keys is going to be enough to leave at least some score markings.
I guess this is just what happens when people want console-like games on the go, you need a big screen to be able to play it, you wouldn't be able to play Skyrim on a GBA-sized screen, hell even the PS Vita's screen was too small for console games, which was very clear when using it for Remote Play with a PS4
I do miss the clamshell design of the DSes, but for what it's worth, I always kinda hated the SP lol, I always thought its square design with its awful short dpad/buttons was a stupid compromise compared to the much more comfortable original model which wasn't even that much bigger
I did always prefer the smaller 3DSes, and didn't like the XL because it wasn't as pocketable and was so much bigger, but with the Switch I've just had to come to accept that the size doesn't matter too much for me now that I can't really pocket it anyway, though I do kinda wish I also had a Switch Lite (I couldn't use one as my main system though, it can't be docked or hacked)
I'm really excited for the Steam Deck despite its size, both because I'm excited for its abilities but also because a lot of its huge size comes from its ergonomics and comfort, I always found the Joy-Cons uncomfortable and my hands aren't even that big, I've 3D-printed my own fake Steam Deck and it seems like it's going to be very comfortable (though mine's way too light, I do worry a bit about the Deck's weight)
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