Backed the Smach Z (portable steam game handheld) which comes out April 2017, wondering if anyone else did? Also looking forward to Nintendo switch… Still don't have a ps4 yet but when Ni no kuni 2 comes out will be tempted to buy (last guardian and final fantasy too!)
Also - What else are you looking forward to?
Hadn't heard of the first 4 you talked about, need to be able to play my steam library and be portable, looked at the nvidia shield tablet but it can't play steam Games without streaming? I am getting a Nintendo switch.
Edit - just had a look at all those suggestions, closest to what I need would probably be the GPD, but don't see the appeal over the smach Z. Just wondering why you think the Smach Z is so bad (I already have a good gaming pc hooked to my TV for those times, new 3ds, wii u, still playing ps3) so the thing I am really missing is steam Games on the go
Because it's just marketing bull.
There are FOUR ways to play PC Games in the hand/mobile:
- A screen and controller that is cable-connected to your laptop that plays the games
- Streaming the games from the internet like PS Now (bad latency on your 3G SIM connection though)
- Streaming the games from your Gaming PC to your portable using your Wifi router
- Natively gaming from a portable device that is compact, powerful, and has lots of battery life.
Right now, the last option is NOT AVAILABLE to us.
The technology is NOT THERE. It is NOT POSSIBLE.
You can build/have a portable that will have enough performance and battery life… but it will just be a Gaming Laptop (or larger).
You can build/have a portable that will have enough performance and be portable… but battery life will be atrocious (like <40min).
Or you can build/have a portable that will have enough battery life and be portable… but it WON'T be fast enough.
You will be limited to emulators, indie games, and AAA titles from <2005.
Just look at the specs of the Smach Z.
It's not as efficient as Nvidia's Pascal architecture, and it isn't as efficient as Intel's Core processors.
So we already know the battery life will be shtit, my professional expertise says <3 hours in practice.
And let's talk about performance.
meh is the word that comes to mind. This thing is almost as powerful as some high-end ARM chips out there like QSD 820 and Apple A8X.
But its still surpassed by other ARM chips like the QSD 821, Apple A10.
Not only that, you gotta think about thermals.
Will the device be thermal throttled? You betcha!
And not only that, would you want that level of heat generation in your fingers??
Also… I should say the the dual-trackpads on the Smash Z are a joke, PHYSICAL joysticks on the GPD Win is HEAPS better.
So despite their great marketing, you've essentially been duped.
The Smach Z is the equivalent of No Mans Sky…. I saw right through both bs campaigns.
So take my word for it, and get a GPD Win.
It is as efficient, is smaller, runs cooler, more portable, and has an ACTUAL long battery life.
And stick to emulators (Atari, Sega, SNES, GBA, N64, PS1) (lower graphic PS2, Gamecube)
And stick to indie titles. And stick to AAA titles <2005/less-demanding ones (like South Park: SoT).
The GPD Win can also do Steam… and it can do the full Steam library through Windows 10… but most titles won't be playable.
The titles the GPD Win cannot play acceptably will not be playable on the Smach Z as well.
However, the titles that are playable should perform equally between the GPD Win and the Smach Z.
The Smach Z's SteamOS is much more limited, just fyi.
So why would you RISK your money on this campaign?
No reason.
Why would you WAIT so long for your unit?
No reason.
Why would you PAY MORE for this?
No reason.
So get the GPD Win, or wait for a portable x86 successor.
ARM devices can have even better graphics than the GPD Win for two reasons:
- better efficiency processor
- better optimised games
….that is why I recommended the PS Vita, Nvidia Shield Tablet, and the iPad Air/Mini 2.
….the limitation with those devices is that you can only play games in their respective App Stores, unlike the Windows ecosystem.
At the end of the day, it is your money.
I am only stating what I know to be as facts.
Good luck.
Wow long reply, I see where you are coming from. Worth the risk for me since most of the games I play are small Indie ones that I would much prefer in my hands, I have all the other options already but would be nice to play while breastfeeding in bed etc, don't need long battery life as not planning to play for hours on end without a recharge… Ain't hot time for that. Will let you know how it goes since I have already backed it.
Or the JXD 7800b.
Or the JXD Singularity S192 if you can find it ;)
They raised half a million euro? The skeptic in me says the tooling alone for casting ABS would cost 100k+ of that. That's not a huge budget and only 1200 backers is a small production run.
It would genuinely be cheaper to CNC an aluminium case/bidy than injection moulded ABS :) The 'mod' vacuum formed cases are junk, if that is the plan.
My bet is: not enough testing and will have Ouya-esque case-controller quirks.
Kickstarter doesn't mean that's their own form of capital. They could have investors on top of this.
Yep, you are right. The failed Ouya experiment had investors on top of their Kickstarter :p
No, just no.
Go and get a GPD Win.
Or get a GPD XD.
Or the JXD 7800b.
Or the OG Nvidia Shield (portable).
Or you can go and get a PS Vita, Nvidia Shield tablet (Tegra K1), or an iPad (Air/mini 2).
Or you know… wait and see what the Nintendo Switch (N-Swtch) is all about.