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The Steam Deck is software-freedom friendly

(isomorphism.xyz)
305 points todsacerdoti | 2 comments | 03 Apr 25 11:12 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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danso ◴[03 Apr 25 13:01 UTC] No.43568982[source]▶
Sounds like the Switch 2 might be a bit more powerful and similarly priced to the 3-year-old Deck. But even if Switch’s hardware feature set was substantially better, Steam’s much cheaper (and more expansive) library is still the killer feature. I don’t think the Switch 1’s Zelda launch title has ever been discounted lower than $40 despite being 8 years old. On Steam, virtually every top title will be 50% within 2 years, if not 1.
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tossandthrow ◴[03 Apr 25 13:04 UTC] No.43569021[source]▶
My impression is that the general quality of games on steam is sub par the quality of, eg., Zelda.

Even with a steam deck, I am probably going to get the Switch2, mostly because I can lower my head on in-game profiteering, which is increasingly prevalent on steam games.

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lawn ◴[03 Apr 25 13:29 UTC] No.43569321[source]▶
> My impression is that the general quality of games on steam is sub par the quality of, eg., Zelda.

An impossibly high bar given that the Zelda games are some of the most critically acclaimed games of all time.

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1. butlike ◴[03 Apr 25 13:59 UTC] No.43569777[source]▶
It's not impossible... it happened once already, in 1986 with the release of Legend of Zelda 1. And it keeps happening with every new Nintendo console release where a new Zelda comes along.

You can absolutely make a game to the quality of Zelda as an indie developer.

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2. johnnyanmac ◴[03 Apr 25 14:35 UTC] No.43570301[source]▶
Can you really? Maybe, but I don't think it's cost effective. It requires a flawless art and tech pipeline, alone side masterful game design. You see how Nintendo can spend 2 years alone perfecting Mario's Jump and you realize the budget for that level of polish is enormous.

Not as enoirmouus as paying a studio in California to make a failed GaaS shooter service. But still a large step past a AA budget.

I'd say at the bare minimum you need a very solid staff of 5 to pull it off though. Hollow knight did it with a rough core of 3 devs + composer (and other support, of course). The very ambitious Toweers of towers of aghasba was reportedly 6 devs IIRC, but that's TBD and might have scaled up.