Decided to try sharing that post I wrote on /r/gaming. Immediately got banned for a week for.. *checks notes* not labelling my post correctly… so I have time to think about this concept before trying again.

Exploring this idea more, I realized this device could be a neat way to sorta keep that physical presence in retail stores, while accepting the digital reality of games. I am literally the poster child for physical media, but I’m not an idiot. The digital future is coming whether I like it or not.

So for this system games could release digitally like normal, but they can offer a unique retail presence with a bundled module if it offers a unique control style. Or simply a cool custom theme on a blank or whatever. That way it wouldn’t just be an empty box with a download code, there would be something tangible in there for somebody. Instead of a normal game box it could be a smaller little box too (occupying less retail space, in my design you could even hang it!) and with the modules being relatively cheap to make and without game cartridges or media being produced, it wouldn’t be THAT expensive.. hell, this could end up like amiibos if marketed right. “Gotta collect em all!”

I’d imagine if this was a Steam device most games would just be bought on that platform, but it’d finally be able to have a retail presence with games that offer module packs. Right now the only Steam thing you see in stores is the steam gift card things that nobody buys… because why wouldn’t you just buy it directly online…

Basically it’d also have a little slip with a QR code to start the download. A neat little aspect of my idea is one side could have art on it that’d work as a sorta background to the module that would be visible through the plastic. The flip side would have a little bit of info and a QR code. You’d be able to use the built in camera to scan it and be taken directly to the game on the storefront. Perhaps they could include a license key as well, but in general games are prolly just easier logistically to buy directly on that platform… Sucks for the used market, but that’s just how the industry is going. I’m not a fan of Nintendo’s game card concept… If these are digital games anyway I at least want the convenience of being able to switch to other games without needing to swap out cartridges that don’t even have the game on it and are literally only a license handshake. We just gotta accept the digital reality.

The four modules that come with the system would work for like 99% of games, but like say a RTS game comes out, well it could be played with typical console analog control OR they could release a touchpad module that would have a retail presence. Atari releases an arcade compilation? Boom retro dial “paddle” module. Maybe the new Call of Dooty game could come out and their retail presence has a “pro deluxe brogamer” version with professional level joysticks or whatever. I dunno.

This is just a drawing concept I have. I’m sure there’s considerations in cost and stuff, so perhaps my design for the retail packaging wouldn’t be feasible, but I think the goal there would be a similar size and the module part be visible. That way it’d have a strong retail presence, and instead of being disposable it’d be good to have it be used like a little case for the module so folks can keep it on their shelf or whatever. With most releases being on a digital storefront, these would only be special exceptions; but considering the extra $$$ folks pay for deluxe editions of games, amiibos, etc. I totally see developers like Atari jumping all over this (it would be the logical next step for them from those crappy plug n’ plays…) and popular games that use standard controls could just release neat themed buttons/sticks/etc to shill along with whatever nonsense deluxe version stuff they’re peddling. I’d bet Gamestop would be thrilled to have something tangible to sell other than download codes and Pop Figures.

Like I said, 99% of games will work fine with the included modules and be digital, but the option for this is there.

*pokes Gabe Newell with stick* come onnn… you already have these control inputs on the Steam Deck… just make them configurable and blow peoples minds by being both the destroyer and savior of physical retail gaming.

… what if a flight simulator game came over? Shit, why not a little joystick or throttle thing? Okayokay I’m getting a bit silly here. I’ll stop.

No lie.. I’m kind of addicted to designing these little modules lol.

-K

New console launches are fun, and the Switch 2 is one I’m eagerly awaiting. I’m quite happy Nintendo decided to give it a decent power increase and I like most things about the device, but one aspect that I miss is when portables used to be… well portable. You can’t throw these PC Handhelds or even a Switch Lite into a pocket and mobile games suck. Outside of Balatro, I don’t play games on my phone much. Accessories like this are promising, but I just miss the era of small dedicated gaming handhelds. The last good one was the Vita and regular size ‘New’ 3DS. Not interested in those emulation devices personally.

So for fun I imagined my dream handheld. Screen size of 5.4″ would be slightly larger than the Playstation Vita, but not by much,  and with a resolution of 720p it’d still have nearly the same PPI as the Switch 2, but due to pushing a smaller resolution without any 4k docked expectations it’d have a huge advantage. OLED and 120hz would be nice to haves which would make the picture gorgeous and VRR would be super helpful. Probably my favorite feature of the Switch 2 is the 120hz panel they use with VRR. Anyway… if this had similar power to the Switch 2 or Steam Deck, it could push some seriously impressive visuals with the lower resolution requirement.

The other ‘dream’ features would be typical analog triggers with digital ‘bumpers’ above it.. I just miss that in general on Nintendo devices…

…but the unique one that’d be a selling point I think and something I would love to see made commonplace is reconfigurable button/stick modules that sorta ‘snap’ in and are extra secured with magnets, but can be popped out fairly easily if you lift from a corner indent. 

The D-Pad is most comfortable for platformers at the top left, but for shooters and 3D games what if ya want asymmetrical sticks? Boom swap em. 

Want two sticks on the side and use the device vertically so you can play SHMUPS with a stick to move and a stick to aim and shoot? Go for it. 

Hell, maybe you’re playing 2D games and just want the D-Pad and not see the sticks at all. There could be ‘blanks’ to fill the spot with a plain plastic piece matching the shell. While my doodle concept is yellow, I’d imagine it’d prolly be more cost effective to just make the modules all one color like black or whatever so perhaps the chassis would be the same to match…

Anyway your sticks worn out? Easily replace em now. Or upgrade them to something fancier with more travel or something. Or hell they could just make whole new input module ideas for that spot and release them as a peripheral.

Touchpad maybe? Larger arcade unit style buttons? Maybe two larger in one spot or just one big button. Want to be weird and have face buttons on the left side? Sure why not. It’d just be an input module, so the possibilities are literally down to your imagination.

I think buttons on the back like you see with those pro controllers and the Steam Deck would be useful for the weird stick layouts, like the dual stick vertical orientation for shmups. In that position they’re sorta like triggers you’d use with your index finger.

While it’s a small device, it’d have a bit of a body to it for comfort so it wouldn’t be uncomfortable to hold like a joycon. Thin enough to pocket, but not so thin it’s annoying. Think Vita/PSP with a slightly added thickness for ergonomics. The slightly added booty would help with cramming in the performance as well. So thick for a handheld when compared directly, but still pocketable and dramatically smaller than even a Switch.

I think it’s pretty much at the limit of being pocketable. In my imagination it’d be roughly the size visually of two iPhone 13 Pro Max’s (my phone…) stacked on top of each other. Might be able to improve it with a better more rounded design like the Vita, this is literally a single pass on an idea that’s been pestering me, but I would want it to stay a bit thicker to accommodate a more ergonomic grip in your hands. Plus it’d allow a bit more space for hardware. Obviously somebody more talented than me could design this better.

Anyway I figured a little camera and mic would be easy and fun to include, gyro controls are so nice in gaming these days, and 3D rumble would be neat. SD Express expandable storage and of course the usual stuff like USB C. Perhaps a Magsafe coil in the back would be cool. Would be able to use charge pads and any kind of phone pop socket kickstand thingy could be used in the back. That would be particularly useful for comfort when using the device in vertical mode.

To keep it pocketable I’d have the default sticks be like the 3DS circle pads, but offer ‘Pro’ stick modules that are more like regular controller analog sticks.

With the performance aim of roughly a Switch 2 and Steam Deck with it being released in early 2026, I think it’d be possible to release this sorta device for less than $449. Yeah it’s a lot smaller, but there’s no docking expectations (or such hardware to produce) and it’d have another year of tech advancement behind it. I think they could make such a device for a similar price as the Switch 2. The screen being smaller and lower resolution would be cheaper at least. I think the magnetic joycon setup would cost a similar amount as the configurable modules to make. And the modules themselves would be muuuuch cheaper when sold separately, as they’re literally just buttons, or a stick, or a d-pad, etc. So they could release each of em for like $20 and the high end ‘pro’ ones for like $30. Where like Playstation and Xbox ‘Elite’ controllers are like $200 you could get a pro pack that bundles two sticks, buttons, and d-pad modules all with better materials and hall effect sensors and such, for like $100. Or just buy each part individually for $30. Maybe ya don’t want the d-pad. Save a little getting them all together, but you don’t HAVE to get them all.

…that is assuming the world economy doesn’t take a nose dive by then. In that case my bad estimations are even more bad.

Anyway seeing how mini phones are dead these days and everything is jumbo size, I unfortunately don’t see a device like this being made… but a man can dream.

Okay I’ve explored the very depths of this rabbit hole and need to climb out before I start boring myself with my rambling. If you’ve read all of this, god help you. And if by some microscopic chance you have some kind of influence or whatever in the hardware game, be it with the PC handheld scene, or even Sony and Nintendo.. Microsoft, I saw that handheld you’re doing with ASUS. It’s.. Okay… Anyway my point here is feel free to steal this idea. I want configurable input modules for my gaming stuff. That’d be neat. My dream of a small handheld is a pipe dream, but I really do think the configurable input module idea would be a hit. Do that please. Thanks.

-K

While playing some Pokerman I was thinking about how they casually just send out a ten year old kid. On their own. Just… ya know… seems a bit sketch. Maybe it’s totally safe in Japan, but I figured if it took place in America things would be a tad different.

Also the idea of parodying this scene of Straight Outta Compton with Officer Jenny cracked me up. For those who aren’t Pokemon nerds Ryme is a rapping gym leader from the most recent Scarlet/Violet Pokemon games. Seemed appropriate.

-K