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Yes, you read that right. In a world of cloud streaming and teraflops, a gamer from New York is striving to release their own 8-bit home console with its own gaming infrastructure. Meet the GameTank, its simple controller, and its chunky cartridges that are looking to bring 8-bit gaming back

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[-] just_another_person@lemmy.world 16 points 9 months ago

It's cool as a fun project, but I don't see how this could possibly be commercially viable, especially with cartridges. The need for physical distribution alone is already a huge money burden on both the producer and the consumer.

[-] Nemo@slrpnk.net 12 points 9 months ago

Why does it need to be commercially viable? What's wrong with doing it for love of the game?

[-] markz@suppo.fi 4 points 9 months ago

It's a product for sale.

There are tons of people who are fine not profiting from their cottage industry projects, but it's not expected that someone wants to lose money on them.

[-] just_another_person@lemmy.world -2 points 9 months ago
[-] Nemo@slrpnk.net 18 points 9 months ago

no, this is earnest anti-commercialism

[-] just_another_person@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago

I don't think that's a great model for the maker who is clearly trying to SELL things.

Seems that might be a competing idea...

[-] caseyweederman@lemmy.ca 2 points 9 months ago

Depends on if they're trying to make a profit or just share their cool stuff

[-] Peffse@lemmy.world 7 points 9 months ago

I mean, we have Evercade and it's not failed yet.

[-] i_am_not_a_robot@feddit.uk 13 points 9 months ago

Evercade has the advantage of a huge software library to draw from (they have a few native games but the majority are emulated), whereas this will only run it's own software, which puts it at a disadvantage.

Mind you, the Playdate seems to be going well.

[-] ApollosArrow@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago

I think one of the things playdate has going for them is they are portable.

[-] MajorHavoc@programming.dev 2 points 9 months ago

Good point. With the specs fully open, hopefully we get a portable of this, at some point.

[-] just_another_person@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Evercade distributes digitally though.

[-] MurrayL@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago

No they don’t? The games are only sold on physical cartridges (or built-in in some models).

There’s no online store or downloadable games, besides the ‘game of the month’ trial thing they occasionally run.

this post was submitted on 08 Nov 2025
185 points (98.4% liked)

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