While handheld gaming devices seem to be on the rise, many of them seem to adopt designs “inspired” by older products. Some try to look like the Nintendo Switch while others aim for a more retro Game Boy look. While these offer familiarity in terms of both controls and appearance, they seem to give the impression that there are no other innovations possible in this space.
The open source Playdate handheld gaming device challenged the status quo with a cute device with an interesting gimmick and a rather open platform to let imaginations go wild. Unsurprisingly, there have been many games, apps, and mods that tried to push the envelope of what’s possible, and one of the most eye-catching ones happens to turn it into an equally cute robot companion to brighten up your worktable.
Designer: Guillaume Loquin
Although it won’t boast the breadth of games that major gaming consoles have, the Playdate quickly rose to fame because of its accessibility, customizability, and novelty. That physical crank mechanism isn’t critical to enjoying games but it adds a new level of fun to the experience. It is also open to many mods, both software and hardware, quickly endearing itself to makers and tinkerers.
PlayBot is one of the newest mods to hit the scene, though it doesn’t mod the Playdate itself but supplements it. It’s practically a 3D-printed dock for the console, one that happens to have two wheels at its sides. With the right companion app installed, docking the Playdate starts up its robot “persona” represented by a pair of very expressive eyes. That on its own might already look interesting but that’s definitely not the only thing it’s capable of.
PlayBot has sensors inside the dock and also utilizes the Playdate’s accelerometer and microphone to “see” the world around it. This lets the robot react to certain events, like tapping its side to wake it up or rolling to the edge of your desk. It makes the robot feel smart and alive, especially as it responds with its digital eyes. And yes, it can move around, which is what the wheels are for.
The little robot is already an entertaining presence on your desk, but it also has some additional functionality that will make you want to keep it there. For one, it can charge the Playdate itself when docked, providing a convenient and playful home for your gaming handheld. It can also function as a desk clock, trying to improve your productivity when you need it and give you some stress relief when you want it. The catch is that you’ll have to make this multi-functional accessory on your own, and the designer has thankfully made the information available to the public.
