So Steam Deck is like a tiny PC, lets you play PC games on a tiny monitor?

Why would you want that? vs buying a gaming laptop/desktop

Assuming you already don't have one... And well if you do, why would you buy this?

Sense more like a downgrade?

Would you like to spend money on a Nintendo Switch and their versions of the games you already bought on PC or a portable console that can play these already?

@stettdev no on the Switch in general

If you already own the game and played it on PC, why would you play it again on handheld? That's actually my medium question.

Only games I can think of with random replay value are racing and arcade where you can just pick it up to play a minigame.

@donuts it's probably more connected to the handheld convenience rather than the need to replay games. There are some titles people would like to take with them and play wherever (life sim, some more casual titles, etc.)
At least that's how I understand that. I'm personally more into strategies and tycoons so Steam Deck ain't for me really.

@stettdev yes but life sim, casual games don't need a gaming laptop in your pocket.

That's what smartphones are for.

I just can't imagine why you would play God of War...

Hm I guess maybe that's the answer... it's the new PSP.

So not replay but being able to play these big titles while you're outside and at home.

Personally, I'm interested in it purely as a mobile emulation machine, I think I'll barely even play games on it made after like 1990 or so. I mean, I already have every emulator and nearly every ROM under the Sun on my phone, but the fact is that playing games on a touchscreen when they weren't designed for a touchscreen is not a pleasant experience. But, gimme a Steam Deck, with real joysticks, and then my C64, Atari, Colecovision, Vectrex, Odyssey2 and Intellivision games will play considerably better. Being able to just kick back on the couch, or at the beach, or in a park, or wherever else, is a nice thought.

@fzammetti would need to inverter some homebrew custom OS though?

Not sure but probably could do it on like a Switch.

Though last console I ran homebrew on was the Wii.

I just googled though, you could just buy a controller for Android?

@donuts if you play any amount of mobile games on your phone, steam dick is already worth it since it has ergonomics from another level. Then the question becomes which handheld device you want, and steam dick makes a lot of sense.

You can hack switch to play downloaded games. And anyways, the switch is a handheld, made for mobile gaming, meaning gaming on the go. So yes, it’s made for people who want to play games outside of home. Tell me why I need a full blown laptop when I can play it in my hand lol

Portability? No? Laptop is an ergonomic nightmare.

have you not grew up with handhelds? I have a Nintendo DS and a PSP and I can absolutely appreciate any form of handheld gaming. Screen size does not even play a role in this. Once you're in the zone, it doesn't matter what the screen or resolution even is, you're just enjoying a game

@electrineer hm.... You watch a lot of porn on your phone? Or call a lot of ppl dicks?

@donuts I just think that's a better name

@electrineer ah... Thought it was autocorrect

@donuts I don't know how anyone could live with autocorrect enabled

Because I get wierd looks when I carry and try to setup my 27" monitor and NZXT H200 on the tram to work.

@donuts No, Steam Deck can run plain old Windows (and I assume Linux, though Windows has been stated). Just install Windows and all the emulators and ROMs you want, nothing to hack or make custom or anything like that. It's a supported configuration (or, at least, will be eventually: I think I read that it's delayed a bit).

Why would you buy it instead of a PC/laptop? because it is way cheaper. And you can plug it to a TV/monitor and external keyboard when you are at home or at a friend's house just like a laptop.

The downside is that you can't upgrade it and it isn't compatible with everything. But if you don't have a PC with better specs and you just want it for playing, it is not a downgrade.

@organic-ai actually you can upgrade it, somewhat