HN readers who can write a console game before bedtime are not the target audience. A handheld device that Just Works and creates an authentic experience is worth a lot.

For a college class, a $200 textbook isn’t out of line (the ones people still buy…), which makes this a very reasonable investment in one’s education.

Are there other, cheaper routes? Of course. For an introduction? Fewer, and nobody wants to be told to use learn the principles using Scratch - even if that can actually work.

Making something real is inspiring, and this feels real.

The only downside is that there are still relatively few people with Playdates, and that puts an upperbound on how many people get to play your games.

God knows how much I wanted to use and love it but it just started gathering dust in a closet after a week because of this.