LoL I definitely read that in Pepper's voice from Endgame :p I still have my retro consoles ALSO in a box, but I do leave one or two out to play cartridges on occasion, but they're like the Analogue systems so I can play more easily via HDMI ya know?
I'm feeling the same with Legion Go, I still playing RTS in desktop but everything that can be played with controller I rather go portable and erase the installation from my desktop PC.
I mean it's a BEAST for emulation and it's one of my favorite uses for it! PSP games in particular are always a blast because man I LOVED that system back in the day and it's so convenient playing a bunch of the games I still collect physically on the Deck :)
I'm glad you appreciated it, Martin! :D There's just something about it that consistently gives me that home-y sort of feeling. Like the first time I played a PS2 game or something :p
Right? I mean it sounds a little hokey but honestly it's just this great, condensed view at most of my own gaming history and I love being able to take that with me just about anywhere or just diving into old console classics without having to haul out the original hardware necessarily :) Glad you get the same vibe from it!
I know right?! I know I'm 'only' 40 but it makes me feel like I'm 100 or something :p And SAME- my dad's in his 60s now and still playing PS5 and Xbox on a regular so I'm guessing there's no hope for me 😂
Oh nice! I've seen more than a few people who felt the same way, seeing the Deck as a chance to consolidate their gaming hardware and lean harder into digital game! As a physical collector myself it's a little bittersweet but hey, digital certainly has its advantages as well :)
@YourPlayer2 it just has everything I need, like you said in the video - from retro games emulated, to newer games. And the games are so much cheaper than on consoles too with all the sales that go on. Best purchase I made this year by far! 👍🏻 keep up the great videos, look forward to seeing more in the new year!
@@YourPlayer2 Thanks! finally got the chance to replay one of my all time favorites, GTA IV! and it runs so good on the sd. but also I'd recommend; Ballionaire, Live a Live, Thank Goodness You're Here! and MULLET MADJACK (with gyro)
I’m praying that the deck starts proving to developers that graphics, while nice, do not make a game worth playing and should be a secondary focus to making the game’s story, gameplay, and general operation as good as possible.
Oh I think more and more devs are definitely getting that message. Don't get me wrong I respect the technical prowess of big, beefy titles for sure. BUT, the ARTISTIC presentation and how well it compliments a narrative and gameplay is just as important and PERFECTLY capable of solidifying a game as a masterpiece in the hearts and minds of gamers everywhere :)
Again a great video, I really love the steam deck for what it is. Since I have the steam deck I dont even tend to use my pc that often cuz I can do nearly everything on my steam deck. Its also a great device to experiment with. Best device I have ever bought. And dont let me start talking about the price, this is unbeatable!!!
Appreciate it, Demi! And same- I still use my gaming rig for playing with friends for planned multiplayer sessions, but most of my PC gaming outside of that is done on the Deck and I LOVE that I can hop into some original Mario Kart as easily as I can something like Death Stranding or Spec Ops :p And yes, tremendous value what with the constant Steam sales and 3rd party sites that usually run their own sales as well :)
The Steam Deck is crazy when it comes to it's capabilities. I was even able to emulate Windows 98 SE and play some of the games I had when I was 8 years old (I'm 36 now). Games that I never even thought I'd even see again, yet alone play again, and all in the palm of my hands.
Oh wow I never even THOUGHT about emulating older versions of windows! Probably because typically if I want to re-visit a classic like Willie Beamish or the original Star Control I tend to fire those up in a web browser at one of those abandonware sites. That's pretty slick, Amit! If there are any games from that era you fondly remember I'd LOVE to hear what you were playing back then!
@YourPlayer2 Yeah, I emulated Windows 98 on there using an app called PCem. Some of my old favorites I got on there are The Journeyman Project Turbo, 3D Ultra Pinball Thrillride, Spiderman Cartoon Maker, Myst, and even a game I played in elementary school called Treasure Mathstorm lol.
@ I have opted for the Original mainly because of how impressively low the price was and Ive got quite a few games in mind those being, Helldivers 2, Cyberpunk, Elden Ring, Infinity Blade, No Mans Sky, Valheim, Vintage story and a ton of games in my backlog that I want to get through with this machine!
Great job, totally agree with your thoughts! Speaking for myself I was never a big gamer, a lot of that due to the hardware necessary and the form factor but I always enjoyed handhelds (my favorite before the deck was my old PSP, I played that thing a ton and found that a portable system fit my lifestyle better, I couldn't just isolate myself in a room with a console or a pc for hours I would have to play in small bits of time). When I read about the steam deck 2 years ago I was immediately hooked and I will say ever since I got my first one - the LCD and now the OLED - I am a gamer and do 100% of my gaming on the deck and love it.
Appreciate you, Jeff! Oh man, I remember being in college when the PSP first dropped and I was THRILLED to play games like Lumines on it. Which is funny because I almost didn't get that game and then it became like my FAVORITE puzzle game! But I hear ya on the flexibility of switching up your environment with a portable. Granted the PSP's easier to slide in your pocket but hey, I can deal with the Deck at least fitting comfortably into a small bag of backpack :) Gah, you're making me wanna splurge on the OLED particularly since they have those refurbished ones available for cheaper now!
@YourPlayer2 Ha! Yeah one of my kids asked to borrow my Deck and I was thinking well I love you but... Lol! I just remembered the first game I ever completed was the God of War for PSP I was playing and credits started rolling and I was like ok what the heck is this?! I had no idea what happened when a game was finished. Ah good times 😂
@@jeffrodrequez LOOOL I admire that you have your priorities straight 🤣 Oh man, I was SHOCKED at how well that thing served up a legit God of War experience despite only having that analog nub and all!
Couldn't agree more. Love the deck. Thanks as always for the vids throughout the year. Love your style, mate, and have a very Merry Christmas (or end of your Gregorian calendar year if you don't go in for such things).
Glad you enjoyed it, Wil, and hope you've been well! And really appreciate your always dropping something encouraging here and hope you also have a very Merry Christmas as I'll certainly be doing the same, hopefully with some downtime to just play some games for fun :p Take care, dude! 🎄🎅
I was so intimidated to emulate on my deck, but I’m super glad I did. I have all the PS2 games from my childhood and pre teen hood all in one portable package, plus some PS2 Games I never played but always wanted to play (the sly cooper series and some others) 9 year old me would freak out if I knew in the future I’d be able to play all my favorite PS2 games portably and on the go!
SO glad you took the leap! It really as great being able to hop into old games, particularly those that remain locked to the PS2 and all :) Although most recently it's pretty rad seeing some titles get modern remasters like The Thing last month!
Glad to hear you dig it, kdub! Sounds like you 2 have a great set up for multiplayer and it's SO nice that Valve lets you share with people like that :)
This was a fun watch. So. I got my OLED in this week, my thought was I should just leave my LCD one docked and keep the OLED for handheld. But that’s way more extravagant that I normally am, so as I had upgraded to a 1TB SSD on my LCD (sorry for all the abbreviations) I think what I’ll do is simply swap SSDs (OLED came with 512) sell the LCD model and just enjoy the heck out of the OLED. My only minor gripe would be I find myself spending more time tinkering and not enough time gaming. But it is all fun I suppose. Thanks
I'm glad you enjoyed it, Stuart! Kinda new territory for me since I don't do a ton of opinion pieces but it was fun and if it does well I'll probably do more in the future :) Bwahaha I don't mind the abbreviations at all! Sounds like a good approach although I myself MAY end up getting the OLED for personal and just leave the OG docked up for content creation and testing purposes. And hey, to be fair the tinkering is sort of it's own kind of meta fun with the system, even if it DOES come with the occasional frustrations ya know? :p
Bought the switch day 1, bought 2 steam decks day 1…… the switch has been “home” since I got it……. Played my Steam deck on and off since I got it but, it was my secondary console cuz I’m a very casual gamer….. I know everything about gaming but I don’t play games as much…… then this holiday season, I bought “the gunk” for $4……. Dear Nintendo….. Good Luck on your future….. not sure how you’re gonna compete in this new hybrid handheld pc reality but……… let’s sit back and enjoy the show! Either way, the gamers win . ❤
Hehehe I try to be on the cutting edge myself but I'm glad to hear that the Deck works well for you! As for Nintendo, that first-party stable of IPs they have is IMPRESSIVE but you're right, whichever way it goes the gamers ultimately win out as top publishers and hardware manufacturers compete :)
Yeah, that is pretty much spot on... Steam has been my most consistent place to get games for the last 15 years (almost to the day, looks like Christmas 2009 was when the steam sale got me to mothball my pirate hat 😅 I got several Prince of Persia games, the Witcher 1, ghostbusters and Torchlight... Some real bangers), and I'm almost at 1000 games in my library. It's pretty amazing that most all of those can be played on the deck. I've also started following several UA-cam channels because of the deck (you, fan the deck, nerd nest and more), I'm in a forum topic about it a lot on a local forum... It really is like a community. I do also love gaming on my big game pc, but some of my most enjoyable gaming has been with the deck curled up on the couch... My own couch or across the country at my mom's when I visit (since we both like to do our own thing for part of the day and it's great to be playing whatever awesome game on my deck while she's on her iPad or doing crafts). It's just a very cozy device 😊
At first it WASN'T that for me since I've largely been a console gamer for most of my life (World of Warcraft notwithstanding :p), but aside from PS5 exclusives out of the gate I spend the vast majority of my time here. Oh that's awesome! Glad you found some other channels focused on the Deck that resonate with you and while I've only talked to him once or twice, Jimmy from Deck Ready is a solid dude! And I feel ya on the couch time- that's my favorite way to play even if I don't get as much time to do so as I'd like and the coziness factor is a BIG part of it! Cool that you can both do your own thing like that as well while still enjoying time together :)
LoL welcome to the club! :p And glad you felt the same way, Tyrone :D It's just really rad having SO much gaming history at my fingertips and all of the nostalgia that brings with it ya know?
I had a switch I used when I was on te road (much like I did with a PSP). Switch worked best for me connected to a TV. Once I got my deck I gave the Switch to my kid. I used the deck again connected to a TV... Once I got the Stylth Grip it was more comfortable in the hand... Opening my world... Playing in the airport, plane, or on the couch while the wifey watches TV I'm not into
I just got home from work, took a shower and now I'm waiting for dinner, I really regret selling my Switch but the possibilities of getting the new Nintendo console are high. I will try to play a little Silent Hill 2 tonight, Batman Arkham Asylum is a great Game specially when you unlock inverted takedowns (I think that's the correct name?). One of the greatest games ever created for sure.
Oh yeah, I'm sure with all the rumors swirling the Switch's successor can't be THAT far off so hang in there! And yes, I think you can pull those off when enemies walk underneath you and it's pretty fulfilling to catch them unaware :p
@@YourPlayer2 I hope they announce the console soon but I will wait. I love those takedowns because the enemies start to get nervous and sometimes they say: "stupid boiler!" XD It's super funny. :)
@@YourPlayer2 Indeed. :p I remember when I played the Game for the first time but at that time I was confused because I didn't know if the Game was Action or Comedy. XD One of the best Games ever created for sure. :)
Just ordered a steam deck oled a few days ago cant wait to play. I bought rdr2, hogwarts legacy and okami for now on sale. Also cant wait to play hades on a handheld
Oh very nice, Coop! I'm still on-the-fence about pulling the trigger on the OLED myself but every time I see a comment about it I'm more tempted :p Red Dead plays quite well and same for Hades! Hogwarts needs to be scaled back a bit for a smoother experience but hey, I'm sure you'll have a whole WORLD of games to check out once it arrives :D
@YourPlayer2 yeah I used to be a PS5 gamer since release but I sold it and took 1-2 years gap from gaming since I didn't have time but the deck will be a blast I'm sure
I still need to finish it! A buddy of mine let me borrow it for Xbox almost 20 years ago and I only dabbled but hoping to finally check it out this year more fully :)
The only thing missing is Plug and Play Emulation would be great ! Beside Installation and Files. For example plugging a Disc with a Discdrive on Steam Deck and that running and without Player 2 Set up. If thats given then i truly think its the Ultimate Game Console in Gaming History.
Oh man, that would be slick and I'd absolutely LOVE to just pop in an actual PS1 disc from my collection and have it be playable in docked mode configuration on the Deck :)
LoL well in my defense some of this was older footage but ALSO I'm at LEAST signed up for it, just keep forgetting to sign in and actually achieve anything! But more emulation content coming in 2025 so I'll make it a point to see if I can't at least get AN achievement :p
My ps5 hasn’t been touched since I got my deck a few months ago. I’ll probably just use it for big AAA releases and exclusives and the deck for everything else 😂
I absolutely can! Those would be Aloft and Stone of Madness, both forthcoming releases for January and I'll be talking about them a bit more in an upcoming video :)
I loved my SD. But i had to get rid of it. no support for major games due to anticheat and it ran emulation games like xbox, ps2,ps3,xbox 360 games terribly. Meanwhile my ally x is handling it almost flawlessly. Valve made a statement saying they wont release a SD 2 until it make sense. imo it makes sense like now. these new handhelds are way better.
Ah I gotcha- I can't remember when but there were definitely one or two instances where anticheat reared its ugly head and I had to cancel out of a game. Odd to hear emulation didn't work well for you though? Generally it's been a good experience for me except for PS3 where it was SUPER hit-or-miss but maybe one day I'll get better at optimizing it. As for the Ally X I only have the...original Ally and it was MUCH better at playing beefier triple-A games! As for an SD2 I think I could go either way on it honestly, but I think it depends on what games are most important to you. Like I LOVE playing games like Spider-Man and they DEFINITELY do better on the Ally. But the MOST games I play tend to be games that ride that line between the 7th and 8th console generations which typically run quite well on the Deck :)
Bwahahaha, that's an interesting observation! I wouldn't say it felt 'wrong' for me necessarily, but I think it was when I started playing PS3/360-era games like Spec Ops or Sleeping Dogs and having them play flawlessly on a handheld (where I'd had similar era ports perform so-so on the Switch) that it really started to feel magical :)
I don’t own any current gen consoles and nor do I have a high end PC. Literally all I have for gaming is a Steam Deck, Game Pass & GeForce Now subscriptions and I genuinely don’t feel like I need anything else.
Ah, right on! I think that's a really high-value setup and while I used to say Game Pass was the Netflix of gaming, in a weird way the Deck sort of feels like its HARDWARE equivalent. Not the most powerful or the most comfortable necessarily, but pound for pound it strikes a great balance between performance, flexibility, comfort and as you've pointed out, value :)
And because I’ve never had anything high end, I am not longing for graphical fidelity that I have never experienced before. I never play anything and think “man, I wish this looked better”. I played Cyberpunk 2077, Baldur’s Gate 3, A Plague Tale: Requiem and most recently Indiana Jones and the Great Circle all on the Steam Deck via GeForce Now, sat either on my sofa or in bed and they were all fantastic experiences! I don’t want to game any other way. Even more so when you factor in I have a 5 year old boy. The way the Steam Deck fits into Dad-life is unmatched.
@@chrishoward8500 Oh that's a good perspective! And you'd be surprised how many parents I hear from that love the Deck for how it excels at letting them squeeze in some sessions here and there in-between the chaos of raising children :p
Well, I mean it's certainly BETTER at some things (not the least of which is raw power which made for some great handheld Spdier-Man sessions) and it's a bit more comfortable (which I didn't expect given those angular palm rests but they work great!), but it's also pricier and Windows on portable is a bit of a pain for me. Once you're in game it's wonderful, but I've found the Deck to be better with things like battery life and user experience- Well, when it's in game mode at least. Again, I'm a Mac/Windows guy :p
i liked my steam deck. sold mine after a year. something about holding 550 dollars always in my hands was extremely off putting. much more comfortable gaming in front of a monitor with a 60 dollar controller instead.
LoL understandable- I kind of felt the same way about the ROG Ally! Great system for beefier titles but I felt the need to be more delicate with it somehow?
Streaming would be good if games did not look awful and the servers for most streaming services are just not great also they cut out a lot even if you have good internet
Oh I mean it's not PERFECT but playable generally depending on your connection at least. Certainly wouldn't be my first choice but for sampling games in a pinch or some lightweight progress in a beefier title? I don't mind :p
As much as I love the steam deck, let’s be honest. This thing is not comfortable to use by any means due to the weight and size unless it’s hooked to a tv.
Oh it is a BEEFY boy, to be sure! But you're right- Docked mode certainly negates the comfort issue a bit. Also I've found that playing it on my couch with a pillow in my lap and resting my arms on THAT has been helpful as well. I have to be careful with portable devices because of a degenerative disc issue in my neck so ergonomics/comfort is more important to me since I'm a hundred now and all :p OH! Also if you haven't tried AR glasses with a portable device, there's a range of manufacturers making them (I've only used Viture so far though admittedly) and these were a GODSEND for me since I could stare straight ahead instead of angling my neck down to play the Deck and then it really just became a larger-than-normal controller that I could let it sit on my legs while I played pretty comfortably :)
Thanks, Josh! * Why Emulation is King* 1. Access to Out-of-Print Games: - Emulation allows you to play games that are no longer in print and from developers that no longer exist. These timeless classics can be enjoyed once again without scouring second-hand markets. 2. Affordable Gaming. - Many retro games have become exceedingly expensive and hard to find. Emulation makes these games accessible to everyone, avoiding high collector prices. 3. Space-Saving Solution. - Without the need for physical hardware and media, emulation saves valuable space. No more shelves filled with old consoles and cartridges; everything is digitally stored and easily managed. 4. Cross-Platform Gaming. - Missed out on a game because you owned a competing console? Emulation lets you play games from various platforms, providing access to an extensive library that you might have missed. 5. Preservation of Gaming History. - Emulation helps preserve gaming history by ensuring that classic titles remain playable, even as original hardware becomes obsolete or fails over time. 6. Convenience. - With emulation, you can have multiple systems and games on a single device. This convenience is unmatched, allowing you to switch between your favorite retro titles effortlessly. 7. Enhanced Features. - Many emulators offer features like save states, cheats, and improved graphics that weren't available on the original hardware. These enhancements can make the gaming experience even more enjoyable. 8. Community and Support. - The emulation community is strong, offering support, updates, and new features. This collective effort helps keep older games alive and accessible to new generations of gamers. So, whether you're looking to relive your childhood favorites or discover retro gems for the first time, emulation truly reigns supreme. The Steam Deck is an emulation BEAST! Been loving it for emulation since I first got mine!
You're most welcome and good to see ya, Steve! Solid reasons all around and as much as I ADORE physical collecting and my digital collection in fairly equal measure, emulation is GREAT at filling the gaps between those formats. Like when a great or niche title is (even if it's only temporarily) locked to an older platform like the PSP or Vita, being able to get to them on modern hardware is SO Great and often in better quality and with the enhanced features you've mentioned!
Oh man it is WAY better for me in terms of navigation, mostly because Linux is still a little obtuse despite its best efforts to get more user-friendly over the years. And you're right- Windows is definitely the gold standard for game compatibility!
the only issue is games with kernel anticheats thst the company choose to not support steamdeck. But these are not really games I would want to play in a handheld anyway (some fps, etc)
deck sucks rotted in my drawer till rog ally came out when i sold it. big heavy cumbersome linux more trouble than its worth. mb if all i did was play steam games on my couch id like it
Gah, sorry to hear it didn't work well for ya! And I can't deny the Ally was DEFINITELY easier to hold from an ergonomics standpoint. Was there anything in particular that gave you issues with Linux? I mean as a Mac/Windows guy myself it's not as intuitive as I'd like, but I've at least been able to tackle SOME desktop mode operations for fine tuning emulation and whatnot.
Once I got my steam deck, I put all my old consoles in a box. They can rest now
LoL I definitely read that in Pepper's voice from Endgame :p I still have my retro consoles ALSO in a box, but I do leave one or two out to play cartridges on occasion, but they're like the Analogue systems so I can play more easily via HDMI ya know?
Well you remind me of my rusty ps5 , I guess I will put it in the box when I got home so it's doesn't become dust collector
@@engagex1 I mean I love those PS5 exclusives but even those are making it to PC now on a long enough timeline!
They can be display pieces now! 🙂
I'm feeling the same with Legion Go, I still playing RTS in desktop but everything that can be played with controller I rather go portable and erase the installation from my desktop PC.
I left my Steam Deck on an airplane and it felt like a friend died. I got it back though!
Oh man I would've PANICKED if that happened! Glad to hear you were able to get it back safely :D
Steamdeck is officially my gaming hub. Im emulating nintendo switch, ps1, ps2, psp, ps3 & enjoying repacks.
I mean it's a BEAST for emulation and it's one of my favorite uses for it! PSP games in particular are always a blast because man I LOVED that system back in the day and it's so convenient playing a bunch of the games I still collect physically on the Deck :)
What an awesome smart way to say what we're all feeling
I'm glad you appreciated it, Martin! :D There's just something about it that consistently gives me that home-y sort of feeling. Like the first time I played a PS2 game or something :p
That's the perfect description of the feeling I have for the steamdeck, it feels like home indeed
Right? I mean it sounds a little hokey but honestly it's just this great, condensed view at most of my own gaming history and I love being able to take that with me just about anywhere or just diving into old console classics without having to haul out the original hardware necessarily :) Glad you get the same vibe from it!
Just got my Steam Deck 2 weeks ago. I have played more in 2 weeks than the last 2 years.
LoL that’s tremendous, Jimmy! Here’s hoping you get many more years of use out of it and have some solid titles lined up to check out this weekend :D
Leveled up to 40 recently here too. It’s crazy to think I’ve been gaming over three decades now. There’s no end in sight though lol😂
I know right?! I know I'm 'only' 40 but it makes me feel like I'm 100 or something :p And SAME- my dad's in his 60s now and still playing PS5 and Xbox on a regular so I'm guessing there's no hope for me 😂
Steam Deck is now the only console I own, and I don't think I could ever go back!
Oh nice! I've seen more than a few people who felt the same way, seeing the Deck as a chance to consolidate their gaming hardware and lean harder into digital game! As a physical collector myself it's a little bittersweet but hey, digital certainly has its advantages as well :)
@YourPlayer2 it just has everything I need, like you said in the video - from retro games emulated, to newer games. And the games are so much cheaper than on consoles too with all the sales that go on. Best purchase I made this year by far! 👍🏻 keep up the great videos, look forward to seeing more in the new year!
Got mines for Christmas. Can’t wait to join the community
Well congrats, bobbie! And welcome aboard :D Anything you're most excited to play on it? :)
got mine like 10 days ago and this describes it perfectly!
Oh that's awesome! Congrats on the new Deck and I hope it's serving you well! If you have any particular games you'd recommend please let me know :D
@@YourPlayer2 Thanks! finally got the chance to replay one of my all time favorites, GTA IV! and it runs so good on the sd. but also I'd recommend; Ballionaire, Live a Live, Thank Goodness You're Here! and MULLET MADJACK (with gyro)
I’m praying that the deck starts proving to developers that graphics, while nice, do not make a game worth playing and should be a secondary focus to making the game’s story, gameplay, and general operation as good as possible.
Oh I think more and more devs are definitely getting that message. Don't get me wrong I respect the technical prowess of big, beefy titles for sure. BUT, the ARTISTIC presentation and how well it compliments a narrative and gameplay is just as important and PERFECTLY capable of solidifying a game as a masterpiece in the hearts and minds of gamers everywhere :)
Thanks. Your videos help settling in to gaming choices.
Glad to hear it, Michael! Definitely appreciate the feedback :)
Again a great video, I really love the steam deck for what it is. Since I have the steam deck I dont even tend to use my pc that often cuz I can do nearly everything on my steam deck. Its also a great device to experiment with. Best device I have ever bought. And dont let me start talking about the price, this is unbeatable!!!
Appreciate it, Demi! And same- I still use my gaming rig for playing with friends for planned multiplayer sessions, but most of my PC gaming outside of that is done on the Deck and I LOVE that I can hop into some original Mario Kart as easily as I can something like Death Stranding or Spec Ops :p And yes, tremendous value what with the constant Steam sales and 3rd party sites that usually run their own sales as well :)
The Steam Deck is crazy when it comes to it's capabilities. I was even able to emulate Windows 98 SE and play some of the games I had when I was 8 years old (I'm 36 now). Games that I never even thought I'd even see again, yet alone play again, and all in the palm of my hands.
Oh wow I never even THOUGHT about emulating older versions of windows! Probably because typically if I want to re-visit a classic like Willie Beamish or the original Star Control I tend to fire those up in a web browser at one of those abandonware sites. That's pretty slick, Amit! If there are any games from that era you fondly remember I'd LOVE to hear what you were playing back then!
@YourPlayer2 Yeah, I emulated Windows 98 on there using an app called PCem. Some of my old favorites I got on there are The Journeyman Project Turbo, 3D Ultra Pinball Thrillride, Spiderman Cartoon Maker, Myst, and even a game I played in elementary school called Treasure Mathstorm lol.
@@YourPlayer2 I had games like The Journeyman Project Turbo, Spiderman Cartoon Maker, 3-D Ultra Pinball Thrillride, all sorts lol
I should get my Steam Deck tomorrow, excited to give it a go
Heyyy, congrats on the new Steam Deck, dude! Anything in particular you're most excited to play? Did you go OLED or the original? :)
@ I have opted for the Original mainly because of how impressively low the price was and Ive got quite a few games in mind those being, Helldivers 2, Cyberpunk, Elden Ring, Infinity Blade, No Mans Sky, Valheim, Vintage story and a ton of games in my backlog that I want to get through with this machine!
@ Very cool! Elden Ring was WILD in a handheld! :D
@ Still mind blowing to me this is possible, this is gonna remind me a lot of my Vita and I used to love that thing
Ya know I haven’t really done much Vita emulation- I should look into that! Might be fun to revisit Golden Abyss or something :)
Great job, totally agree with your thoughts! Speaking for myself I was never a big gamer, a lot of that due to the hardware necessary and the form factor but I always enjoyed handhelds (my favorite before the deck was my old PSP, I played that thing a ton and found that a portable system fit my lifestyle better, I couldn't just isolate myself in a room with a console or a pc for hours I would have to play in small bits of time). When I read about the steam deck 2 years ago I was immediately hooked and I will say ever since I got my first one - the LCD and now the OLED - I am a gamer and do 100% of my gaming on the deck and love it.
Appreciate you, Jeff! Oh man, I remember being in college when the PSP first dropped and I was THRILLED to play games like Lumines on it. Which is funny because I almost didn't get that game and then it became like my FAVORITE puzzle game! But I hear ya on the flexibility of switching up your environment with a portable. Granted the PSP's easier to slide in your pocket but hey, I can deal with the Deck at least fitting comfortably into a small bag of backpack :) Gah, you're making me wanna splurge on the OLED particularly since they have those refurbished ones available for cheaper now!
@YourPlayer2 Ha! Yeah one of my kids asked to borrow my Deck and I was thinking well I love you but... Lol! I just remembered the first game I ever completed was the God of War for PSP I was playing and credits started rolling and I was like ok what the heck is this?! I had no idea what happened when a game was finished. Ah good times 😂
@@jeffrodrequez LOOOL I admire that you have your priorities straight 🤣 Oh man, I was SHOCKED at how well that thing served up a legit God of War experience despite only having that analog nub and all!
Couldn't agree more. Love the deck. Thanks as always for the vids throughout the year. Love your style, mate, and have a very Merry Christmas (or end of your Gregorian calendar year if you don't go in for such things).
Glad you enjoyed it, Wil, and hope you've been well! And really appreciate your always dropping something encouraging here and hope you also have a very Merry Christmas as I'll certainly be doing the same, hopefully with some downtime to just play some games for fun :p Take care, dude! 🎄🎅
I was so intimidated to emulate on my deck, but I’m super glad I did. I have all the PS2 games from my childhood and pre teen hood all in one portable package, plus some PS2 Games I never played but always wanted to play (the sly cooper series and some others) 9 year old me would freak out if I knew in the future I’d be able to play all my favorite PS2 games portably and on the go!
SO glad you took the leap! It really as great being able to hop into old games, particularly those that remain locked to the PS2 and all :) Although most recently it's pretty rad seeing some titles get modern remasters like The Thing last month!
The steam deck has been a blast I even purchased my wife one and some co op games for us to play besides being able to share my library with her .
Glad to hear you dig it, kdub! Sounds like you 2 have a great set up for multiplayer and it's SO nice that Valve lets you share with people like that :)
Excellent, sir!
Many thanks, Yog! :)
This was a fun watch.
So. I got my OLED in this week, my thought was I should just leave my LCD one docked and keep the OLED for handheld.
But that’s way more extravagant that I normally am, so as I had upgraded to a 1TB SSD on my LCD (sorry for all the abbreviations) I think what I’ll do is simply swap SSDs (OLED came with 512) sell the LCD model and just enjoy the heck out of the OLED.
My only minor gripe would be I find myself spending more time tinkering and not enough time gaming. But it is all fun I suppose.
Thanks
I'm glad you enjoyed it, Stuart! Kinda new territory for me since I don't do a ton of opinion pieces but it was fun and if it does well I'll probably do more in the future :)
Bwahaha I don't mind the abbreviations at all! Sounds like a good approach although I myself MAY end up getting the OLED for personal and just leave the OG docked up for content creation and testing purposes. And hey, to be fair the tinkering is sort of it's own kind of meta fun with the system, even if it DOES come with the occasional frustrations ya know? :p
Cant wait for the future of handhelds, did you see the lenovo legion go 2?
Same here! And nope, I've only had experience with the original ROG Ally and the Steam Deck so far :) Looking promising?
Unique video, great job.
Glad you dig it, James, and appreciate the kindness :)
Bought the switch day 1, bought 2 steam decks day 1…… the switch has been “home” since I got it……. Played my Steam deck on and off since I got it but, it was my secondary console cuz I’m a very casual gamer….. I know everything about gaming but I don’t play games as much…… then this holiday season, I bought “the gunk” for $4……. Dear Nintendo….. Good Luck on your future….. not sure how you’re gonna compete in this new hybrid handheld pc reality but……… let’s sit back and enjoy the show! Either way, the gamers win . ❤
Hehehe I try to be on the cutting edge myself but I'm glad to hear that the Deck works well for you! As for Nintendo, that first-party stable of IPs they have is IMPRESSIVE but you're right, whichever way it goes the gamers ultimately win out as top publishers and hardware manufacturers compete :)
Yeah, that is pretty much spot on... Steam has been my most consistent place to get games for the last 15 years (almost to the day, looks like Christmas 2009 was when the steam sale got me to mothball my pirate hat 😅 I got several Prince of Persia games, the Witcher 1, ghostbusters and Torchlight... Some real bangers), and I'm almost at 1000 games in my library. It's pretty amazing that most all of those can be played on the deck.
I've also started following several UA-cam channels because of the deck (you, fan the deck, nerd nest and more), I'm in a forum topic about it a lot on a local forum... It really is like a community.
I do also love gaming on my big game pc, but some of my most enjoyable gaming has been with the deck curled up on the couch... My own couch or across the country at my mom's when I visit (since we both like to do our own thing for part of the day and it's great to be playing whatever awesome game on my deck while she's on her iPad or doing crafts).
It's just a very cozy device 😊
At first it WASN'T that for me since I've largely been a console gamer for most of my life (World of Warcraft notwithstanding :p), but aside from PS5 exclusives out of the gate I spend the vast majority of my time here.
Oh that's awesome! Glad you found some other channels focused on the Deck that resonate with you and while I've only talked to him once or twice, Jimmy from Deck Ready is a solid dude!
And I feel ya on the couch time- that's my favorite way to play even if I don't get as much time to do so as I'd like and the coziness factor is a BIG part of it! Cool that you can both do your own thing like that as well while still enjoying time together :)
I leveled to 40 as well. And yes the steam deck feels like home.
LoL welcome to the club! :p And glad you felt the same way, Tyrone :D It's just really rad having SO much gaming history at my fingertips and all of the nostalgia that brings with it ya know?
I had a switch I used when I was on te road (much like I did with a PSP). Switch worked best for me connected to a TV. Once I got my deck I gave the Switch to my kid. I used the deck again connected to a TV... Once I got the Stylth Grip it was more comfortable in the hand... Opening my world... Playing in the airport, plane, or on the couch while the wifey watches TV I'm not into
I bet your kid really appreciated that! Glad to hear it serves you well and I’ll have to look into that grip as I’ve never heard of it! :)
I just got home from work, took a shower and now I'm waiting for dinner, I really regret selling my Switch but the possibilities of getting the new Nintendo console are high. I will try to play a little Silent Hill 2 tonight, Batman Arkham Asylum is a great Game specially when you unlock inverted takedowns (I think that's the correct name?). One of the greatest games ever created for sure.
Oh yeah, I'm sure with all the rumors swirling the Switch's successor can't be THAT far off so hang in there! And yes, I think you can pull those off when enemies walk underneath you and it's pretty fulfilling to catch them unaware :p
@@YourPlayer2 I hope they announce the console soon but I will wait. I love those takedowns because the enemies start to get nervous and sometimes they say: "stupid boiler!" XD It's super funny. :)
LoL I mean, if some vigilante was snatching my friends into the darkness I'd be on edge too 😂
@@YourPlayer2 Indeed. :p I remember when I played the Game for the first time but at that time I was confused because I didn't know if the Game was Action or Comedy. XD One of the best Games ever created for sure. :)
Just ordered a steam deck oled a few days ago cant wait to play. I bought rdr2, hogwarts legacy and okami for now on sale. Also cant wait to play hades on a handheld
Oh very nice, Coop! I'm still on-the-fence about pulling the trigger on the OLED myself but every time I see a comment about it I'm more tempted :p Red Dead plays quite well and same for Hades! Hogwarts needs to be scaled back a bit for a smoother experience but hey, I'm sure you'll have a whole WORLD of games to check out once it arrives :D
@YourPlayer2 yeah I used to be a PS5 gamer since release but I sold it and took 1-2 years gap from gaming since I didn't have time but the deck will be a blast I'm sure
Ohhhhh I have fond memories of Cold Fear.
I still need to finish it! A buddy of mine let me borrow it for Xbox almost 20 years ago and I only dabbled but hoping to finally check it out this year more fully :)
The only thing missing is Plug and Play Emulation would be great !
Beside Installation and Files.
For example plugging a Disc with a Discdrive on Steam Deck and that running and without Player 2 Set up.
If thats given then i truly think its the Ultimate Game Console in Gaming History.
Oh man, that would be slick and I'd absolutely LOVE to just pop in an actual PS1 disc from my collection and have it be playable in docked mode configuration on the Deck :)
@@YourPlayer2 Imaging playing a PS1 Game with Player 1 with Nunchuck other with N64 other with Xbox Controller on a PC haha.
@@animationmann Bwahahaha what a monstrosity that would be :p
Hey buddy, I still see you emulating them retro games and not getting them retroachievements!!! Got to get on that!! haha
LoL well in my defense some of this was older footage but ALSO I'm at LEAST signed up for it, just keep forgetting to sign in and actually achieve anything! But more emulation content coming in 2025 so I'll make it a point to see if I can't at least get AN achievement :p
My ps5 hasn’t been touched since I got my deck a few months ago. I’ll probably just use it for big AAA releases and exclusives and the deck for everything else 😂
I hear that a LOT and for me it was Switch gameplay that took the biggest hit :p
can you tell what are those games you have at the end of the video I would to check them out
I absolutely can! Those would be Aloft and Stone of Madness, both forthcoming releases for January and I'll be talking about them a bit more in an upcoming video :)
I loved my SD. But i had to get rid of it. no support for major games due to anticheat and it ran emulation games like xbox, ps2,ps3,xbox 360 games terribly. Meanwhile my ally x is handling it almost flawlessly. Valve made a statement saying they wont release a SD 2 until it make sense. imo it makes sense like now. these new handhelds are way better.
Ah I gotcha- I can't remember when but there were definitely one or two instances where anticheat reared its ugly head and I had to cancel out of a game. Odd to hear emulation didn't work well for you though? Generally it's been a good experience for me except for PS3 where it was SUPER hit-or-miss but maybe one day I'll get better at optimizing it. As for the Ally X I only have the...original Ally and it was MUCH better at playing beefier triple-A games! As for an SD2 I think I could go either way on it honestly, but I think it depends on what games are most important to you. Like I LOVE playing games like Spider-Man and they DEFINITELY do better on the Ally. But the MOST games I play tend to be games that ride that line between the 7th and 8th console generations which typically run quite well on the Deck :)
For some reason, when I bought my SD it felt wrong for a long time... And then I played Fallout 3 and something clicked ;)
Bwahahaha, that's an interesting observation! I wouldn't say it felt 'wrong' for me necessarily, but I think it was when I started playing PS3/360-era games like Spec Ops or Sleeping Dogs and having them play flawlessly on a handheld (where I'd had similar era ports perform so-so on the Switch) that it really started to feel magical :)
King Steam Deck, Lord Gaben 👑😂
All hail! 🤴🤣
I don’t own any current gen consoles and nor do I have a high end PC. Literally all I have for gaming is a Steam Deck, Game Pass & GeForce Now subscriptions and I genuinely don’t feel like I need anything else.
Ah, right on! I think that's a really high-value setup and while I used to say Game Pass was the Netflix of gaming, in a weird way the Deck sort of feels like its HARDWARE equivalent. Not the most powerful or the most comfortable necessarily, but pound for pound it strikes a great balance between performance, flexibility, comfort and as you've pointed out, value :)
And because I’ve never had anything high end, I am not longing for graphical fidelity that I have never experienced before. I never play anything and think “man, I wish this looked better”. I played Cyberpunk 2077, Baldur’s Gate 3, A Plague Tale: Requiem and most recently Indiana Jones and the Great Circle all on the Steam Deck via GeForce Now, sat either on my sofa or in bed and they were all fantastic experiences! I don’t want to game any other way. Even more so when you factor in I have a 5 year old boy. The way the Steam Deck fits into Dad-life is unmatched.
@@chrishoward8500 Oh that's a good perspective! And you'd be surprised how many parents I hear from that love the Deck for how it excels at letting them squeeze in some sessions here and there in-between the chaos of raising children :p
It was good but the rog ally is probably the best out of all the handheld pcs or the Lenovo legion go
Well, I mean it's certainly BETTER at some things (not the least of which is raw power which made for some great handheld Spdier-Man sessions) and it's a bit more comfortable (which I didn't expect given those angular palm rests but they work great!), but it's also pricier and Windows on portable is a bit of a pain for me. Once you're in game it's wonderful, but I've found the Deck to be better with things like battery life and user experience- Well, when it's in game mode at least. Again, I'm a Mac/Windows guy :p
4:09 Which Game is it ?
GunGrave ?
Yup! I was streaming Gungrave G.O.R.E. using Game Pass in that segment :)
@@YourPlayer2 Thank you so much
@@animationmann You're most welcome! :D
This is a comment, to show UA-cam engagement.
LoL and this is a response, to show eh, regular engagement :p
Ditto
Engaged
@@Beastw1ck Ditto!
@@elglowingjar Re-engaged!
i liked my steam deck. sold mine after a year. something about holding 550 dollars always in my hands was extremely off putting. much more comfortable gaming in front of a monitor with a 60 dollar controller instead.
LoL understandable- I kind of felt the same way about the ROG Ally! Great system for beefier titles but I felt the need to be more delicate with it somehow?
Streaming would be good if games did not look awful and the servers for most streaming services are just not great also they cut out a lot even if you have good internet
Oh I mean it's not PERFECT but playable generally depending on your connection at least. Certainly wouldn't be my first choice but for sampling games in a pinch or some lightweight progress in a beefier title? I don't mind :p
As much as I love the steam deck, let’s be honest. This thing is not comfortable to use by any means due to the weight and size unless it’s hooked to a tv.
Oh it is a BEEFY boy, to be sure! But you're right- Docked mode certainly negates the comfort issue a bit. Also I've found that playing it on my couch with a pillow in my lap and resting my arms on THAT has been helpful as well. I have to be careful with portable devices because of a degenerative disc issue in my neck so ergonomics/comfort is more important to me since I'm a hundred now and all :p OH! Also if you haven't tried AR glasses with a portable device, there's a range of manufacturers making them (I've only used Viture so far though admittedly) and these were a GODSEND for me since I could stare straight ahead instead of angling my neck down to play the Deck and then it really just became a larger-than-normal controller that I could let it sit on my legs while I played pretty comfortably :)
Thanks, Josh!
* Why Emulation is King*
1. Access to Out-of-Print Games:
- Emulation allows you to play games that are no longer in print and from developers that no longer exist. These timeless classics can be enjoyed once again without scouring second-hand markets.
2. Affordable Gaming.
- Many retro games have become exceedingly expensive and hard to find. Emulation makes these games accessible to everyone, avoiding high collector prices.
3. Space-Saving Solution.
- Without the need for physical hardware and media, emulation saves valuable space. No more shelves filled with old consoles and cartridges; everything is digitally stored and easily managed.
4. Cross-Platform Gaming.
- Missed out on a game because you owned a competing console? Emulation lets you play games from various platforms, providing access to an extensive library that you might have missed.
5. Preservation of Gaming History.
- Emulation helps preserve gaming history by ensuring that classic titles remain playable, even as original hardware becomes obsolete or fails over time.
6. Convenience.
- With emulation, you can have multiple systems and games on a single device. This convenience is unmatched, allowing you to switch between your favorite retro titles effortlessly.
7. Enhanced Features.
- Many emulators offer features like save states, cheats, and improved graphics that weren't available on the original hardware. These enhancements can make the gaming experience even more enjoyable.
8. Community and Support.
- The emulation community is strong, offering support, updates, and new features. This collective effort helps keep older games alive and accessible to new generations of gamers.
So, whether you're looking to relive your childhood favorites or discover retro gems for the first time, emulation truly reigns supreme. The Steam Deck is an emulation BEAST! Been loving it for emulation since I first got mine!
You're most welcome and good to see ya, Steve! Solid reasons all around and as much as I ADORE physical collecting and my digital collection in fairly equal measure, emulation is GREAT at filling the gaps between those formats. Like when a great or niche title is (even if it's only temporarily) locked to an older platform like the PSP or Vita, being able to get to them on modern hardware is SO Great and often in better quality and with the enhanced features you've mentioned!
Windows is just better because you can download anything and there are no limits the issue with the deck is it can’t play everything
Oh man it is WAY better for me in terms of navigation, mostly because Linux is still a little obtuse despite its best efforts to get more user-friendly over the years. And you're right- Windows is definitely the gold standard for game compatibility!
the only issue is games with kernel anticheats thst the company choose to not support steamdeck. But these are not really games I would want to play in a handheld anyway (some fps, etc)
Or you guys can use browser ites not same as emulator 😂😂😂
No doubt! I've re-visited more than a few old school Sierra games in browser and it's fantastic to jump into something from the DOS days so easily :D
deck sucks rotted in my drawer till rog ally came out when i sold it. big heavy cumbersome linux more trouble than its worth. mb if all i did was play steam games on my couch id like it
Gah, sorry to hear it didn't work well for ya! And I can't deny the Ally was DEFINITELY easier to hold from an ergonomics standpoint. Was there anything in particular that gave you issues with Linux? I mean as a Mac/Windows guy myself it's not as intuitive as I'd like, but I've at least been able to tackle SOME desktop mode operations for fine tuning emulation and whatnot.