My extreme Steam Deck FOMO nonetheless will not let me take the hand-held PC plunge
On: December 23, 2022
Final 12 months, in opposition to my higher judgement, I reserved a Steam Deck. Then this 12 months, in opposition to my higher judgement, I cancelled that reservation. Regardless of everybody who had obtained theirs earlier than me singing its praises, telling me how badly I used to be lacking out and the way a lot they have been having fun with crunching via their backlog from mattress, I nonetheless could not carry myself so as to add yet one more gaming machine to my assortment. Now, 5 months after declining to observe up on my buy, do I remorse my resolution?
Truthfully, kinda! Do not get me unsuitable, I really like gaming at my PC. I’ve spent a very long time nurturing my setup, tweaking issues just like the chair I sit in or slotting an additional laborious drive into my rig so I can set up extra video games. I’ve received what I might take into account to be a reasonably nice gaming house going at this level. It is snug, well-lit and never solely do I spend all my time there doing this job, however I spend chunk of my evenings enjoying video games in the identical spot.
That is form of the issue. If I feel too laborious about how lengthy I spend at my desk withering away I get coronary heart palpitations. Once more: love my setup, love my little space. However expensive god generally I really feel like I gotta contact grass extra. It is tough when work at home encroaches your leisure house too, and I’ve made a aware resolution to easily spend much less time at my PC in 2023. I nonetheless need to have the ability to play video games, I simply do not wish to be tied to my desk to do it anymore.
(Picture credit score: Future)
That is actually the shining level of the Steam Deck, is not it? The flexibility to take all of those video games you desperately wish to play and supplying you with the power to do it wherever you rattling please. I’ve needed to sit there as colleagues at work rave about having the ability to end up work for the day after which take their Steam Deck to mattress or to their couch to play no matter they like with out having to proceed mithering round within the space they simply spent the final eight hours writing. Nice Steam Deck video games like Vampire Survivors, Persona 5 Royal, Return to Monkey Island, Into the Breach. All ones that have been launched this 12 months and I might completely have extra time for in the event that they got here with the portability the Steam Deck gives.
All arms on Deck… besides mine
However on the identical time, regardless of all my FOMO and my checking account quietly crying anytime my mates begin speaking in regards to the Steam Deck, I can not carry myself to purchase one. I am undecided precisely what it’s. The worth level is certainly one among them. The three decisions aren’t wildly costly by videogame requirements, however I am all the time extra hesitant to dump a big chunk of cash right into a handheld than I’m a PC or full house console. I feel it is some perceived bias I’ve developed through the years about handhelds having a shorter lifespan than consoles or PC, regardless of getting years and years out of portables like my Vita, DS and Change.
In addition to, when I’ve all of these handhelds at my disposal, do I actually want a Steam Deck? It virtually feels wasteful when I’ve so many different issues I can go and play if I actually do not wish to sit at my desk to game. My Nintendo Change is usually uncared for and I ponder if my Steam Deck would endure the identical destiny. With so many decisions of how and when to play, it appears grasping to wish to add to that. That does not imply I would not stay infinitely envious of all my Steam Deck havers, although.
I do know that Steam Decks at the moment are freely out within the wild, out there for me to snag anytime. However regardless of my intense need to go away the shackles of my desk behind, I nonetheless cannot carry myself to dump an enormous chunk my month-to-month paycheck into one. I nonetheless have that concern of investing in one thing that could be redundant in a number of years. I feel when Valve releases its subsequent iteration I am going to take the bait and at last free myself from my massive cumbersome rig. Typically it pays to be affected person and moreover, would a Steam Deck really assist me nail my 2023 aim of spending extra time doing different hobbies? In all probability not.
