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VGC’s Platform of the Year is Nintendo Switch
(www.videogameschronicle.com)
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this post was submitted on 18 Dec 2023
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They listed reasons why the PS5 and XboS were not the platform of the year, but nothing about the Steam Deck. It seems like the reason they claimed the Switch was the platform of the year was due to exclusives, so I suppose if that’s their only metric I guess the Switch wins out by a longshot. But I gotta say in any other metric except maybe raw usability (due to some UI bugs) the Deck wins against all other current platforms.
My main problem with the steam deck is probably portability and battery life. I have used it very seldom on the train to work, but I imagine it would be very cumbersome.
I will try it again when I am finally done with TOTK on my switch.
And then there is always the question: Is the steam deck really an unique gaming platform when it's really just a small laptop.
If you ask me, the Steam Deck’s battery is its biggest weakness, however it completely depends on what you’re playing. I can play Cyberpunk 2077 on the Steam Deck graphics preset for roughly 90 minutes but I played Arkham Knight for 30 minutes and lost only 10% of the battery. Dead Cells takes only 5% in 30 minutes. That is to say battery life is completely dependent on the game you choose to play, but at least you have the choice, whereas many crossplatform AAA games just aren’t on the Switch.
The portability difference is also notable. The Deck is a chonky boi, though imo it’s not as big a difference as some people would say. They both fit well in a backpack.
However, I completely disagree with you saying that the Deck isn’t a new platform. Nothing has existed like the Deck before because yes, it’s a gaming laptop that’s dramatically more portable and more gaming-oriented than any gaming laptop ever before. The control options alone make it the best controller ever invented (here’s hoping for a Steam Controller 2.0) and the flexibility to plug anything in via that USB C connector is fabulous.
Sharing my Steam library between my PC and my Steam Deck is just the icing on the gravy.
Love love loved my steam controller. I wish I bought 50 when they were 5 bucks.
The deck doesn't feel right in my hands, im glad I was able to sit down and use one before I spent the money.
I would love a Steam Controller 2.0, or even just another run of the original.
I still use my Steam Controller fairly regularly. It’s so handy and I love the dual track pads.
I really want a 2.0 because as much as I love the trackpads, having only one stick for something like a driving game just doesn’t work well. I also can’t get over how nice it is being able to have a full 16-button controller PLUS buttons that can invoke keyboard shortcuts like alt-tab or move the mouse if focus gets lost or something.
I’m surprised you don’t like the feel of the Deck. It’s honestly the most comfortable any controller has felt sitting in my hands. It beats the ergonomics of the Switch by a mile too
Something about the travel of the analog sticks was immediately and immensely off putting to me. Not the feel of the plastic surface that your thumbs rest on, but the physical feedback of moving the sticks.
I dunno it's parhaps a nitpick but I went from 'holy shit I need this' to 'eh it's a cool device' within 30 minutes of play time.
Lol I can respect that. Everyone’s got their preferences.
I do think it’s funny that at first I was like “eh, it’s cool” then I bought into the hype, got one, and touched it maybe a dozen times the first year I had it. But now the more I use it the more I fall in love lol