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The Sims on the New Steam Deck?
Calico45
Posts: 2,038 Member
So I had heard rumors about this thing for a bit and just sort of let them fester in the back of my mind. Now it has officially been announced and preorders begin tomorrow (or later today for some). I am actually really interested in it, more than I thought I would be during the initial rumor phase.
I love handhelds, and being able to play regular PC games on the go sounds pretty great. For the record, laptops never felt as portable as they were made out to be for me. I despised having to set up, pack up, and lug around mine for classes. It was not anything special to be especially heavy, either. Laptops have ended up a PC for a non-traditional setup for me. Aka, I rarely have access to a proper desk or equivalent hard surface so a traditional desktop does not really work for me (and I have set desktops up on a coffee table). Bare minimum portability is exactly that, bare minimum, and something beyond that I find enticing.
So the idea of a super portable Steam library is fairly appealing to me. Plus it has much more storage than the Nintendo Switch at the base level and, as a PC equivalent, allows the use of Epic, Origin, Microsoft, etc. games on top of Steam. You can even download windows and what not, browse the web, etc. That means the Sims 4 should play on this thing.
Now, I am not typically into Sims mainline UI with console controls, but for the portability I think it will be a decent compromise. Especially with those touch pads acting as a laptop track pad. It seems like it will pretty well define flexibility as a handheld in usage, you just will not be able to upgrade parts beyond SD cards (something not foreign to the console market).
So what does everyone else think of this? Would you want to play Sims on a PC portable like the Steam Deck? I personally think it suits it more than a Switch port that would eat up my storage space. Plus, it would not have to be ported at all. Steam Sims players will just find the game in their Steam library upon launch. Even the pricing does not seem that prohibitive, not compared to buying a new PC or console. $400 base model is only $100 more than a Switch, which is fairly old hardware. Just $50 more than the new OLED model which is old hardware with more storage (though the same than the base Deck) and a better screen.
I love handhelds, and being able to play regular PC games on the go sounds pretty great. For the record, laptops never felt as portable as they were made out to be for me. I despised having to set up, pack up, and lug around mine for classes. It was not anything special to be especially heavy, either. Laptops have ended up a PC for a non-traditional setup for me. Aka, I rarely have access to a proper desk or equivalent hard surface so a traditional desktop does not really work for me (and I have set desktops up on a coffee table). Bare minimum portability is exactly that, bare minimum, and something beyond that I find enticing.
So the idea of a super portable Steam library is fairly appealing to me. Plus it has much more storage than the Nintendo Switch at the base level and, as a PC equivalent, allows the use of Epic, Origin, Microsoft, etc. games on top of Steam. You can even download windows and what not, browse the web, etc. That means the Sims 4 should play on this thing.
Now, I am not typically into Sims mainline UI with console controls, but for the portability I think it will be a decent compromise. Especially with those touch pads acting as a laptop track pad. It seems like it will pretty well define flexibility as a handheld in usage, you just will not be able to upgrade parts beyond SD cards (something not foreign to the console market).
So what does everyone else think of this? Would you want to play Sims on a PC portable like the Steam Deck? I personally think it suits it more than a Switch port that would eat up my storage space. Plus, it would not have to be ported at all. Steam Sims players will just find the game in their Steam library upon launch. Even the pricing does not seem that prohibitive, not compared to buying a new PC or console. $400 base model is only $100 more than a Switch, which is fairly old hardware. Just $50 more than the new OLED model which is old hardware with more storage (though the same than the base Deck) and a better screen.
The Sims on the New Steam Deck? 57 votes
I am interested in the idea of PC handheld Sims and would like to try it.
21%
12 votes
I am interested in the idea of a handheld Sims, but would not be interested in trying it on the new Steam Deck.
5%
I am not interested in the idea of a PC handheld Sims, but might like it for other games.
12%
7 votes
I am not interested in the idea of a PC handheld Sims and would not be for any other games.
56%
32 votes
For reasons I am listing below, a Sims Nintendo Switch port is actually better than playing on a PC portable.
3%
2 votes
I like the idea of PC portables, but I do not know which one is right for me. I think I would want to see if it becomes mainstream for the hardware options.
1%
1 vote
1
Comments
I play video games.
if i go out of house?
I go out of house.
bring humans to my home when i video game?
bad idea.
bring my video game with me in places with other human?
equally bad idea.
I just am very much one task at time human and i like to immerse in whatever I'm doing at the moment
and if im out of house its certainly to do other stuff than play video games
steam deck in specific?
no interest for I don't even use steam to begin with
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There is also the OS it runs, it would mean running a version of Proton for windows games, this includes TS4 and at the best of times Origin is extremely resistant to being operated by Linux emulators or emulator like software like WINE, Lutris or even Proton, so this will require the compliance of EA to make their DRM platform more easier to work with for TS4.
The specs aren't well known and neither do we know the controls are compatible with TS4 or for that matter any EA title on Origin outside of Steam. Too many unknowns and not enough information at this point.
As it is i'm not remotely interested to consider getting one.
@Hoverael Really? I 100% get handhelds not being your thing, but I've watched several interviews and read on the reservation page and there seems to be a fair bit of information now: AMD APU processor, Zen 2 4c/8t 2.4-3.5 GHz CPU, 8 RDNA 2 CUs 1.0-1.6 GHz GPU, 4-15W APU Power, storage depends on which of the three models you buy (64 GB eMMC - 512 GB high speed NVMe SSD), and 16 GB RAM. Not to mention all the control inputs. The battery life was said to be 2-8 hours, but yeah, I'm betting 4 for normal play like you.
As for proton, I haven't had a linux machine prior so I'm just going to assume you know more about the compatibility than me. There are claims that this is a new version of their OS that will be more compatible with foreign games and that the OS isn't locked so you can download Windows, but I cannot exactly speak to that either. So I am going to defer to you there and say it is more useful if you already have connections to the Steam ecosystem.
Personality,depth,humor,consequences,lore,customization.
That is for sure something I would not ever consider getting, the sims would be the size of ants.
And, when I play, I close my door and lock the outside world out, so portability is not something I would need. When I am not home, I obviously have some errands to do or I'm visiting friends and family, going out to eat, etc. And, I'm not so obsessed with the sims (or gaming in general) that I would be having withdrawal symptoms from being away from my pc and game. If I need to get online for something, I can do that with my phone, so I would have no need for a teeny tiny hand held personal computer.
Money for gaming will go towards upgrading the desktop PC.
I don't play enough games to warrant it, and of what few things I have played, outside of sims I mush prefer access to a mouse and keyboard so I can set up a ton of keybinds and move / turn rapidly. Those are not options with 'controllers'.
For Sims, that looks like something where my mods would not be available to me, which if so would make it a non-starter.
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But I 100% understand the majority of skepticism. Plus if a handheld is not your thing, it just isn't. Though I do remember a subsection of the community wanted a Switch port, and I am surprised that they would not somewhat be interested in this instead. I love my Switch, but it is weaker than this and requires proper porting.
Anyway, I am curious how popular it turns out to be. I have seen some speculation that casual players will lap it up, but, honestly, I don't think they'd touch PC portables until they become established.
I am an older gamer, with very old parents, and I help them a lot, including taking them to doctors appointments. I use my switch to pass the time, but being able to just have one copy of a game I love and being able to take my save game with me will be cool. I asked my husband what he thought, and he said, "Merry Christmas!"
I have Stardew Valley on both the PC and Switch and though I do enjoy having it on the Switch since I can play it when not at home, there’s a meaty selection of mods available for the PC that boost its playability. Want a tractor to ride? PC only. Want a totally new map to play? PC only. Anime style bachelors? PC only. (Though I’m totally fine how Harvey looks.)
This does do mods, though. It is a PC, not a console.