The Playdate is a console built in the Kedah, Malaysia factory by Panic. This console focuses on simple gaming with a 1-bit monochrome screen, control with a crank and a battery life of up to 8 hours. The price of games and applications for Playdate is from RM0 to around RM62 only. In this article, I share an interview with Greg Maletic who is the Head of Playdate Special Projects at Panic.
Question: Why is it only this year that Malaysian users are allowed to buy Playdate?
It's no longer a secret that Playdate is built in Kedah and we can't sell it directly because of tax issues. But it took a long time to find a way to offer this unique mobile game console because it wanted to ensure a strategy that did not cost a lot.
After failing to find a Malaysian distributor who agreed to sell Playdate, we chose to sell directly on the website by shipping every order from the United States directly to Malaysia. This strategy is simpler and the operating cost is more affordable compared to sales in other Asian countries.
Question: What is the target of Playdate in Malaysia with the Nintendo Switch already available for purchase at a more affordable price?
We never thought of this Playdate as a competitor to the Nintendo Switch. We even like the Switch because it's an interesting console. But we want to sell Playdate to other console users to try playing with unique controls like with the crank on the side and enjoy interesting games that will not be offered on other consoles.
Question: Will Panic come with a Pro model or other color options or a model with a color screen?
The advantage of building a new product with obsolete technology is that it won't become obsolete anytime soon. Playdate on the other hand is planning to take care of older updates. Because of that, we don't plan to come with other models or other colors at this time.
Question: How many years will Panic keep the Playdate software updated?
We have never discussed supporting the Playdate software until a certain date. But we intend to support Playdate for a few more years.
Question: Why choose a factory in Malaysia, when other companies often choose Chinese factories?
This is because our advisors have used the Malaysian factory service many times and received a good experience. The products produced in Malaysian factories are also of high quality and there are many talented individuals who are fun to work with. In Malaysia, business dealings also have no language barriers like other Asian countries. I personally really like Malaysia like the atmosphere and scenery and local food.
I was not surprised when Maletic told me that there are no distributors interested in selling Playdate in Malaysia. This is because the reception of consoles like this is not very strong even though the price of the game is cheaper than the Nintendo Switch. With a selling price starting at around RM1200, Playdate is a relatively expensive console for simple games. There is no denying the quality build, the unique design and the playing experience is exciting. But it gets bored easily and is less challenging than other consoles.
Would you buy a Playdate?