Playdate News

MAGICAL BASKETBALL ACTION - The story of QUANTUM PHANTOM BASKETBALL

September 6, 2023

QUANTUM PHANTOM BASKETBALL IS LONG RANGE SHOOTIN’, HIGH FLYIN’, SLAM DUNKIN’, HARD SHOVIN’, PRE-RENDERED, BASKETBALL FIGHTING GAME ACTION! I grew up playing Midway arcade games and I wanted to make something that pays homage to that, but smarter!

Spencer playing hoops

My name is Spencer Garland and I’m the founder of BRENDA ARTS, an interdisciplinary media company that incorporates BIPOC youth into all of our productions. My goal is to show young Black and Brown people how culture, art, engineering, and imagination are all connected. Through the development of Quantum I was able to express what a Black game can look like and share it with my community.

The idea for Quantum was the extension of the original cartoon I made for Panic in late 2021.

I DM’d Panic about the Playdate after the EDGE Magazine cover in 2019 and built a relationship with Cabel as my career started taking off. He remembered me after I invited him to a showcase of my students’ work in March of 2020 and gave me the opportunity to make a cartoon, which I solo animated, for the device before it came out publicly. “HoopQuest” was about a Black boy and his ghost friend outrunning an existential crisis smog kaiju as they are just trying to play a pick up game. That was the inception of what would become my game.

I was really set up to win with my team which I dubbed the “‘23 Dream Team.” Panic paired me with Sweet Baby (Lost Your Marbles, Reel Steal), a narrative design company in Montreal, as producers and writers. Getting to meet and befriend Dbed, Sean, Kim, Will, Amy, and the rest of the babies was such a great experience, especially when I went to Canada earlier in the year. Cameron, Erik, and Brandon were friends I made in college or during my tenure as a music video director. I was stoked to be able to bring on my friends to this project. Andie, the chief engineer of Quantum, is the real MVP. Without them this game would not have been able to exist. I’m in awe of my teammates.

First Prototype GIF of QPB

First Prototype GIF

Final Game GIF of QPB, GIF

Final Game GIF

For the beginning of this project I knew I would become the “Hype Williams of Games.” I see the medium as lacking any new cultural references and I set out to change that. I’m not making a twee, cutsy, little mini-game. I’m making Black contemporary high art. Influences that melded themselves into Quantum are vast; gamically I wanted the kinetic energy of Marvel vs. Capcom and NBA JAM. The story of this game centers Black boys reconnecting during the Quantum Catacylsm, a paranormal event of world ending proportions, and finding ways to work together even if they fundamentally have changed due to existential crisis. What brings them together is the sport of basketball and their shared love of the game.

1989 Nike Air Jordans, Spike Lee Print Ad

1989 Nike Air Jordans, Spike Lee Print Ad

In-Game Loading Screen

In-Game Loading Screen

For the aesthetics I paid attention to 90s Nike ads, high fashion, and Aphex Twin to build out the world and characters. In my research, basketball media is very concerned with being “urban.” Very little thought is given to things being well designed. It utilizes corporate hip-hop and the Black American struggle as backdrops for the idea of making it to the league aspirational or liberatory. I wanted to abstract all of that fundamentally.

I reinterpreted the sport as expansive and not confined to the inner city. Starx, Reggie, and Horace play in the clouds and in forests. They aren’t fighting each other or others for resources like in Above The Rim or Hoop Dreams. The world of Neo Elsewhere has clean air, grass fields, black glass skyscrapers, and hot air balloons. The CGI cutscenes of my game feel more like Journey than NBA 2K. Quantum, for me, is the gamified version of a Telfar collection (I put Telfar in the original “HoopQuest’’ animation). What does it mean to make a game that is both cool and Black?

Oakland Juneteenth Festival

Oakland Juneteenth Festival

I recently gave a talk about my game at the Portland Art Museum which was really fun. A big component of that presentation was talking about the formation of a Black gamic language or Black games canon. In a similar way that Gordon Parks, Marvin Van Peebles, Spike Lee, John Singleton, The Wayans Brothers, Ava DuVernay, Cheryl Dunye, Boots Riley, and Terrance Nance developed what Black TV and movies can be, I hope to add my ideas into what Black games can be. What inherently Black game genres can be created? Who is adding a new found Black humanity into video games, a medium that largely has excluded us entirely both as developers and players. This is the first time in the history of the medium where this could be discussed and developed so I’m happy to be a part of the conversation. From showing this game to the aforementioned Boots Riley and Terrence Nance, along with Black gamers at the Juneteenth Festival in Oakland, CA, I made something that resonated with my community which feels amazing. I want players to take away the idea that Black game devs have something to say!

Spencer’s Socials

Twitter: @lonervision
Instagram: @lonesaucerboy, @brendaartsnw
Website: www.brendaarts.org
Role Title on Project: Lead Game Designer/Art Director/Animator
Pronouns: He/Him

Check out QUANTUM PHANTOM BASKETBALL in Catalog

Catalog Drops for August 2023

August 30, 2023

Put on your summer workout gear and run to Catalog—we’ve added a bunch of hot new games this month: 🍞 The Tartine’s Show, a theatrical performance put on after jumping out of a toaster. Of course. Made by Flying Oak Games. 🕳️ Crash Mole, a twist on the classic game of Whack-a-Mole. Made by Kait Sousa. 🧱 Soko, a polished sokoban game with over 400 puzzles, 7 unlockable characters, and the ability to import your own levels.

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Shoot ’em up in style: the making of Gun Trails on Playdate

July 18, 2023

Hello there, I’m Josh, sometimes known by my handle superfunc; I’m the designer and programmer behind Gun Trails, a bullet-hell shmup for Playdate. The game started back in October of 2022. I was living in Tokyo, had just quit my job, and was honestly having the programmer’s equivalent of an Eat-Pray-Love moment. Unsure if I’d continue programming professionally, spending most of my time playing Mushihimesama at the arcades in Akihabara, I was feeling a bit aimless.

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Catalog Drop 8

July 18, 2023

We hope you’re strapped into your beach chair today, because this drop features some action that will blow you away: 🚀 Gun Trails, a heart-pounding, buttery-smooth, bullet-hell shooter that pushes the Playdate to its technical ceiling, while testing the limits of your reflexes. Read more about its creation! Made by Yoyogi Games. 👻 Possessions, where you play as a restless spirit body-snatching poor, unsuspecting normals. Made by Moonbeam Games. 📻 Kicooya MP3 is a music player for Playdate, including a 5-band parametric equalizer and customizable UI A retro beauty!

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3 new Playdate Games in Development from Future of Play 2023

July 10, 2023

Hi there, Playdate friends! Jurge (George) [he/him] here from our marketing crew on Playdate, hope you’re all doing well on your side of the world. 😃 With the wet and wild Video Game Summer™️ upon us, all of us here working on Playdate wanted to join in on the fun and take a moment to show you some cool new things being worked on. Quickly we realized we are all very busy shipping out the rest of Playdate pre-orders, updating Catalog and other fun Panic + Playdate things.

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Catalog Drop 7

July 5, 2023

How’s everyone’s summer going so far? If it’s sunny where you’re located, why not jump into a hammock or a beach chair with your Playdate, open up Catalog, and snag some of these new titles: 🟡 Mash Gadget, a fidgety digital toy for button-pressing fiends. Made by Bipedal Dog. 🐦‍⬛ Cranky Bird, a flappy platformer where you’ll spread your wings across 30+ hazard-filled levels. Made by Jerry Verhoeven. 🐼 Bomber Panda is a level-solving puzzler that requires brains, but also bombs.

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A 3D Racer on Playdate?! Here's the story of P-Racing.

June 20, 2023

Hey! I’m Matteo, better known as RPDev, owner of Risolvi Productions. I’m an indie software developer and author of P-Racing, a pseudo-3D racing game. P-Racing delivers a pure racing experience pushing Playdate to its limit. P-Racing Once upon a time, there was a developer who really wanted to make a game but never had a chance to do that. He was focused mainly on programming and designing iOS apps.

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Catalog Drop 6

June 20, 2023

We’ve got an impressive crop of games today, featuring some platform firsts: 🏎️ P-Racing, a stunning pseudo-3D racer, with computer opponents, a photo mode, and…… racecar soccer!! Truly incredible. Made by Risolvi Productions. 🗒️ Pocket Planner is a suite of productivity tools: to-dos, calendar, voice memo, contacts. Get busy! Made by Hydra Softworks. 🌌 Stars of the Screen is a loving tribute to classic screensavers and small, pastime games. But look deeper and you made find there’s more to it…!

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Playdate OS 2.0 + Group 4 shipping

June 15, 2023

We have two important pieces of Playdate news for you today: Playdate OS 2.0 is out There’s an update to your Playdate’s operating system! You can get it by going into Settings > System. This improves a few things and lays a foundation for the future. One big change in Playdate OS 2.0 is the new list view on the Home screen. In addition to the big, expressive cards showing off each game’s “box art,” you can switch to a compact list view with icons.

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Catalog Drop 5

June 6, 2023

Five new titles today, covering a wide gamut of types and styles. Look: 🐍 Snoik! is a snake-like arcade game with a unique and trippy first-reptile perspective. Made by Ash K, Published by Strangest.io. 🤖 Shift, a deceptively simple match-four game guided by SAM-Y the droid. Made by Scenic Route Software. 🔼 PlayDaPon, an intense version of the classic match-three puzzle. Made by Lonely Star Software. ⏰ Playtime, a collection of fifty fun clocks, screen savers, and fidget toys.

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Catalog Drop 4

May 23, 2023

The Catalog Drops keep coming—we’ve got five new titles for you today. 🛋️ Generations, where you puzzle out how to arrange family portraits on the living-room wall. Made by Scenic Route Software. 🔁 Loopsy, an arcade race against the clock to build as many loops as you can. Made by Paul. 🧟‍♂️ NECROCRISIS, an on-rails zombie shooter set in a graveyard full of unimaginable horrors. Made with their trademark extreme touch by Strangest.

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Catalog Drop 3

May 9, 2023

Got an aqua-colored notification light on your Playdate? That means it’s time to open Catalog or visit our website and check out some great new games: 🪓 Legend of Etad, A first-person dungeon crawler, made by Gareth Williams. 📮 Post Hero, a mail-carrier simulator with magical details. Made by Scenic Route Software. 😼 Spike II: The Great Emu War, where the cat army battles the emu horde, made by Goloso Games.

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Catalog Drop 2

April 25, 2023

It’s that time again—we’ve got more excellent games in Catalog. Check your Playdate or head to our website and grab these new titles: ☕️ A Balanced Brew, the world’s premier combination of unicycling and espresso, from Robert Curry. 💥 Shining Gadget and Shadow Gadget, a pair of creature-collecting idlers where you capture g-g-ghosts?! From Strangest.io. 🟪️ Skwish, a charming and challenging puzzle from Pawprints. 🫧 Bub-O Collect, a romantic bubble-shooting puzzle from Gabboco Games.

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Catalog Drop 1

April 10, 2023

We have new games! Catalog has been updated today with these excellent additions: 🕳️ Core Fault, a survivors-like with a wicked fun game loop, from Playdate wizards SquidGod and davemakes. 🚀 Gravity Express, where you use your precision skills to battle gravity while transporting cargo through abandoned mines, from Nino van Hooff. 🀄️ Sparrow Solitaire, A beautiful new take on the tile-matching game mahjong solitaire, optimized for Playdate. Packed with layouts, options, and game modes, from Mac & Matt.

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Catalog Launch Titles

March 7, 2023

Here’s the lineup of games available now that Playdate Catalog has launched: 🎙️ Direct Drive, a silent-movie-musical game about being an intern in the music industry in 1927, from DAC Vector 🏂🏽 Carve Jr, where you’ll hit the slopes like never before, from Chuhai Labs 🎼 Playmaker, with six playful creative spaces where you can paint, compose, build, record, and dance, from Dustin Mierau ⚙️ Swap Machina, a fast-paced puzzle game made in the Pulp game engine by NaOH & Zion D.

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Playdate - $199 starting April 7

March 7, 2023

It’s a story we’ve all been hearing recently: costs are going up for parts, shipping… you name it. Panic is unfortunately no exception to these trends: our manufacturing partner recently gave us the news that the cost of building a Playdate is going up. And given our already tight margins, we’re at a point when we need to adjust Playdate’s price. We don’t take this lightly: we’ve always wanted Playdate to be as affordable as possible.

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Catalog is now out!

March 7, 2023

Playdate Catalog is now available for all Playdate owners! Arriving with the latest Playdate OS and also available at play.date/games, Catalog is our curated store for neat Playdate software. It’s launching with new games, and some previously released favorites. You can check these games out in the Catalog app on your Playdate (make sure it’s running the latest version of the Playdate OS.) You can also get them on our website; the games will be delivered wirelessly to your Playdate .

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Playdate Community Bundle of games

August 31, 2022

Six months ago, we released the Playdate SDK: a free, fun way to create games for our quirky 1-bit console with a crank. We find it incredible—frankly, quite shocking!—to see how many games have been made since then. As of today, there are over three hundred Playdate games available on itch.io, all ready to sideload wirelessly. There’s now a cool way to check out some of the neatest Playdate games: the Playdate Community Bundle by Playdate Squad.

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Some games being made for Playdate

April 28, 2022

As the first shipments of Playdate arrive in customers’ hands, we’re seeing some very cool games being developed for Playdate. Here’s a little roundup of ones that caught our eye! But first Sideloading these games onto your Playdate is very simple. Log in to your Playdate account at https://play.date, Go to the Sideload tab, Drag and drop a .pdx or a .zipped .pdx game file. It should download within an hour; or you can go to Settings > Games to download it now.

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Playdate is now shipping

April 18, 2022

Playdates in Group One will begin shipping… today. You’ll be emailed the moment your Playdate ships. We’ll ramp up our shipping volume every day to make sure all of our systems are working smoothly. We think we can get Group One out the door during the next month. And remember, your season of games begins when you set up your Playdate. (Yes, Group Two, you’re next. We’ll have more news for you in the future about estimates and details.

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The SDK is now available

February 28, 2022

As you know, last month we released Pulp, our easy-to-use Playdate game making tool. And today, as promised… it’s time for even more developer news. The full Playdate Software Development Kit is now available for free to all!! The full Playdate SDK is for folks already comfortable with coding — but we’ve worked hard to make it as easy and approachable as we can. It gives you two choices of languages: Lua, for a higher-level scripting language experience, or C, for improved performance.

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Pulp is now available in public beta

January 19, 2022

Playdate Pulp is now available in public beta!! Pulp is a super fun (and free!) game making tool for Playdate. With a few clicks, anyone can turn a game idea into Playdate reality. The best part: Pulp runs right in your web browser. You can work on any computer, anywhere, with no installation or worrying about moving files around. Everything is in one place, in one window. And with a few clicks, you can export an actual Playdate .

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