In the last month, in the game community, only conversations that about Steam Deck. U Valve There was already an unsuccessful experience with game consoles: the sadly known Steam Machine , which was not even sold by a million copies. But in the case of the portable version, the situation may well work out differently: now there is only one device on the market from the eminent brand, and, moreover, with not the most advanced iron. Hopes that Nintendo will present a more powerful version Switch , They didn’t justify them-instead of it, the players slipped a slightly modified version with a slightly larger OLED screen and doubled the volume of internal memory. It is also interesting that in nature there have long been a PC of Chinese brands in the form factor of porting, offering plus minus the same thing as Steam Deck. Just mess with full -fledged Windows 10 Not everyone wants, because the main advantage of the consoles is just the simplicity of circulation. And, apparently, the platform from Valve with her Steamos will operate just on the principle of "pressed the button and play".

Since we are waiting for a new big player in the market of portable gaming devices, we decided to remember how the portable gaming was generally born and through what stages of evolution it went over the past decades.

The origins

Perhaps many will be surprised, but the history of portable consoles originates by no means from Game & Watch from Nintendo, well known in the post -Soviet space thanks to clones from "Electronics". The first pocket consoles were created back in the 70s-mainly one-reicing system, which could be called pocket with a stretch. The turning point was the release Microvision from MILTON BRADLYY , in which interchangeable cartridges were used. The console cost a tiny screen, had a battery slot, control wheels and 12 buttons without signatures. The context of the buttons was given by the cartridges themselves, comparable to the size of the console; Each of them included a processor that was absent in the Microvision itself.

Microvision

Due to the screen with the "cubes" you may have the impression that we have a distant ancestor "Tetris" , But the primitive Microvision graphics was compensated by individual image elements applied to a special lining, which was installed on top of the display. But the dimensions of the device itself did not correspond to the microscopic screen – to carry a console with you, I needed not a pocket, but at least a ladies' handbag. Nevertheless, the lack of competitors did its job, and Microvision has become commercially successful.

It is also interesting that the consoles from the Milton Bradley attribute another important innovation-D-Pad or, in other words, the cross as the control element. Later, the concept will be finalized by Humpai Yoku – one of the most talented Nintendo engineers and, part -time, the creator Game & Watch And Game Boy. The four -determined key familiar to any gamer has largely determined the appearance of not only subsequent portables, but also gamepads for stationary consoles and PC. D-Pad in his traditional sense was involved in Game & Watch Donkey Kong II Together with two displays in addition. This is where the engineers will subsequently draw inspiration when creating Nintendo DS!

Game & Watch

For context: controllers for gaming systems relevant at that time, as a rule, were either a plain semblance of a telephone tube, or a long stick with a pair of buttons. Yokoy was the first to realize that the portable is the portable to stay as compact as possible. Of course, without compromises, it was also not: all the elements of the graphics were previously painted on the display and activated at the right time, so the animation in the usual sense was virtually absent. But on the other hand, the image was a set of no cubes, but quite selective drawings. And in the conceptual plan of the game were much more diverse. Together with the availability and ease of use, this was done by Game & Watch is an incredibly successful device that paid the attention of the entire industry to portable gaming.

Game Boy I take with me

True, the next revolution had to wait quite a long time. Of course, there were separate and rather strange experiments like TOMYTRONIC 3D from Takara (console in the form of a helmet showing a stereoscopic picture) or Bandai LCD Solarpower (portables with a solar battery), but they did not gain success. The crisis of the gaming industry nearly buried a promising direction, but then Nintendo came to the rescue with Famicom , or Nintendo Entertainment System , As called in the West. Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda And a whole series of cunning franchises arose on this platform turned over the idea of ​​gaming, which (at least on consoles) at that time mainly consisted of ports with arca. And a new wave of hits showed that trivial entertainment dedicated to the conquest of rating tables could be turned into a fascinating and prolonged adventure.

Game Boy

Yokoy said that to create Game & Watch was prompted by a businessman who was traveling with him in the same car and, with nothing to do, began to entertain himself, pressing the calculator keys. With the Game Boy arrived in the late 80s, it became clear that the border between portable and stationary gaming could be erased, albeit adjusted to graphics and a simplified multi-platform. Now go to explore the huge world in Zelda or Final Fantasy it was possible without a TV at all. Competitors picked up the initiative, but technical superiority and unusual accessories (for example, a TV tuner for Game Gear from Sega ) did not help them overthrow the console from Nintendo from the throne.

TurboExpress

By the way, the first portable, in every sense, erased the line between home and pocket systems, became TurboExpress , In his native Japan, known as PC Engine GT. And all because Nec I rammed the iron iron PC Engine in a tiny case, providing full compatibility with original carriers. In the early 90s, the opportunity to play on the road to the same games as at home seemed to seem something incredible. Here are just games, truly worthy of attention, there were very few on the platform, and 6 AA-Batarech were devoured by iron in just 3 hours, powerful by the standards of those years. Of course, it was possible to buy a power supply to the console, but such an accessory automatically transferred the console into a category of stationary. And the bulk of the players, as usual, preferred to play in between classes or during travel by public transport.

To summarize, then the nineties from the point of view of the portal completely and completely passed under the banner Nintendo and Game Boy. However, neither new versions of the console, nor competitors who only did that they were dying one after another, not having time to really declare themselves, brought innovations. Except perhaps one.

Not one games

With the advent of mobile phones with built -in games, the question arose: are portable consoles required to remain only game devices? Remember how things were on the platforms using CD as a carrier back in the 90s. First, playing music discs, and then VideoCD using additional modules. There were even attempts to make a stationary console with the Internet, but the first platform to succeed in this field was only Sega Dreamcast , a millennium. But what about the portable?

Game.Com

If you leave aside the previously mentioned TV tuners, then turn the pocket console into something more tried Tiger In the second half of the 90s. The console was called Game.Com , She had a sensory screen with a stylus and had a set of simple, but useful in the field of software: a calculator, a calendar and a telephone book. And even knew how to go on the Internet, but only when connecting to a stationary modem. Unfortunately, the ideas of engineers were contrary to affordable technologies. Due to the touch screen (and even working with poor responsiveness), I had to save a lot on the quality of the picture-it was black and white and gave out the “loops” in animation. Few of the developers wished to create games for such an incomprehensible device, and even the versions known in narrow circles Resident Evil 2 And Mortal Kombat Trilogy were little -played. Now Game.COM is in demand among collectors, but then it was only another financial failure, albeit proposing several interesting ideas.

Game Boy Advance

The beginning of the XXI century, Nintendo decided to note the new generation Game Boy by the release. But if we approach Game Boy Advance From the standpoint of innovation, there was nothing special to boast of the portable. The main merit of the console is more likely that she did not let many popular series wake up. This is now in the order of things to reissue classics and pixel indie, and then the attention of the players completely switched to the sixth generation home consoles, and the GBA with graphics at the level of “a little better than 16-bit” from the very beginning of sales did not look as impressive as at one time His ancestor. On the other hand, sales supported the total absence of worthy competitors. Nevertheless, the alternative to the console from Nintendo still existed, and, by irony, just it flashed with innovative ideas.

GP32

Korean company Game Park , released the console GP32 Shortly after the release of Game Boy Advance, she relied on user software. Anyone could register on the official website and download the software package for free, which allows you to concoct any program at their discretion: at least a media player, at least an electronic book, even emulators. Alas, with commercial games the situation did not work out so rosy. And the explanation of this is simple: with such open for trouble in the form of pirate copies loaders – so there is nothing surprising in the fact that none of the venerable developers wanted to cooperate with Koreans.

The notorious N-gage from Nokia. A smartphone with advanced game functions or a console with a dialing function – let everyone decide for himself. It is important that the device worked for Symbian , What opened access to a huge number of applications that are far from games. With the latter, however, everything was not as bad as a competitor from Korea. Let's say there were quite good versions here Tomb Raider And Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, not much inferior to options for PS1 In terms of graphics. But this was not enough to persuade gamers to waste 300 dollars. In addition, as the N-Gage game console was far from the ideal due to the uncomfortable placement of buttons, coupled with a large number. In general, another (albeit less loud) commercial failure came out.

N-gage

The best of the two worlds

To friends the functionality of smartphones and game consoles so that none of the parties feel infringed, can only Sony. For the end of 2004 PlayStation Portable It was a real miracle: polygonal graphics that does not lag behind a whole generation from current stationary platforms, a pocket media player, and even a web surfing instrument in addition. Alas, SIM cards were supported by support, but in developed countries there were no problems with Internet access via Wi-Fi, say, at the station or in a cafe. It is impossible not to note the contribution of enthusiasts who stuck a lot of emulators, self-fed ports of DOS classics and motley applications. True, to start them, it was necessary to either sit on an ancient firmware with a loophole, or install a custom.

PSP

At the same time, it cannot be said that PSP offered experience, barely distinguishable from playing on stationary consoles. Yes, by the standards of the portal, the Sony system made a giant technological leap, but most of the multi -platform games were greatly simplified compared to senior versions. For example, megusp Need for Speed ​​Most Wanted I lost all its charm and individuality on PSP: there was no trace of the open world and driverships. And there are plenty of such examples. There were not so many high -quality exclusives, but there was simply no end to the platform from the competitor from them.

Nintendo DS She did not know how to reproduce multimedia content without amateur applications and was much weaker technically, but she offered a unique experience with two displays and touchscreen. As practice has shown, the opportunity to take a fresh way to take control in games and a large selection of hits, which were not on other consoles, clung much more than “PS2 in your pocket”. The hardware component of the successful GBA has become an important component of the success of DS. Sony also implemented program support for games from PS1, but later. Unfortunately, the list of compatible titles was not particularly long Davinci’s Gold sister sites, if not taken into account by custom.

Nintendo DS

When the time has come for a change of generations, the blow came from where even analysts wise experience wise experienced experience were unlikely. Android Smartphones due to open software and convenient sensory display offered users hundreds of casual and, most importantly, cheap (and sometimes completely free) games. As the technology grows, the quality of the graphics has also improved, and emulators, which until recently boasted portables and expensive devices on Symbian, have become commonplace. Of course, you should not forget about the audience of hardcore gamers who did not dissolve in the air and still longed for serious games, and not the simple early and clicks. And here Sony had every chance to persuade the scales of the scales in their direction, because games with graphics and gameplay level Uncharted: Golden Abyss At that time, there was not even on the flagship smartphones. But alas: about a sad fate PlayStation Vita We have already told in a separate material, so we will not repeat ourselves.

Fortunately for Nintendo, Sony quickly threw off the white flag, and on 3DS There were enough projects for the hardcore audience. Well, in general, from the example of 3DS, as well as the followed by it Switch, You can make an unambiguous conclusion that multimedia functions have ceased to be something important for the consoles of 2010s. Now even the most budget android smartphone can serve as a multimedia player, an Internet access tool, an e-book and navigator. Therefore, Nintendo acted as correctly as possible and released, in general, about what Vita was supposed to become: a console, which does not look like a very powerful portivation, which does not look like a very poor relative on the background of stationary platforms. At the same time, the Switch library is not replete with only exclusives and reprints with a failed Wii U – Most of the games are just a multi -platform, sometimes almost indistinguishable from versions for other consoles. And for those who wanted to play AAA on the road, the console has become a real dream.

Switch

Not a single smartphone with a gamepad attacked on it will offer you neither dental contractions with the participation of Dumgai, nor a trip to Tussent in Geralt. In addition, Switch can be used as a stationary system – although it is honest, such a function was implemented in the late PSP audits and in Chinese consoles on Android.

As for Steam Deck, then everything is ambiguous with it. Many journalists who managed to try out the prototype are mostly satisfied – there are only questions for performance, to put it mildly, not the cheapest device. For example, Andrew Friedman from Tom’s Hardware claims that with a two years ago Control The console copes only with the minimum graphics settings – and this is at 30 fps. It was only worth jumping to a higher preset, it sagged significantly. With this layout, Valve has every chance to get a blow under the breath from Nintendo, if she rolls the succession to Switch with a much more powerful iron through a year or two.

Steam Deck

On the other hand, while there is hope for optimization – plus behind Steam Deck a solid game library, many of which are not available on a competing platform. And if we take into account that Valve promised not to prevent the installation of long -term companies, gamers have every chance of getting the same “PC in your pocket”, which they dreamed of for several decades, albeit with a compromise in the form of simplified graphics. The absence of exclusives in this situation is no longer so important – it is, first of all, about the possibility of playing outside the house.

What portable consoles did you play? What remains the memories? Share in the comments. And at the same time tell us what you think about Steam Deck: Does the console have a chance to become at least half as successful as Switch?

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