In the USA, we are preparing for Thanksgiving. To those in other parts of the globe, it is time for us to gorge ourselves on dense foods and watch football. For me, it is a great time to be with family and reflect on what to be thankful for.
For such a niche interest, I feel like the retro handheld community can have some drama or negativity in it. In reality, we are playing with plastic toys from China that can make us nostalgic for our favorite games when we were a kid.
Nitpicking small things constantly is the norm, but if you told me 3 years ago that I could be playing PS2 and GameCube games on a handheld with upscaled graphics, I would have given you a blank check. I think this year it is important to take a minute and reflect on what to be thankful for in the community.
The Devices You Already Own
Let’s take a step back and be thankful for the devices you already own. What device got you into this hobby? Have you spent time with it recently? What can your current device not do those upcoming ones can, and do you really need that?
We are currently at a stagnant spot in releases. Android is being pushed to the limits with the new AYANEO and AYN devices. We are kind of just waiting for Android to advance with new emulators at this point. You can ask yourself, “Do you really need an OLED screen to play retro games that were programmed for a CRT TV?”.
Don’t get me wrong, OLED is beautiful and so are these upcoming devices, but it is time to just be thankful for what you already have. The best retro handheld is the one you actually play (or spend hours tinkering with and setting up frontends). Dig out and do a playthrough on your current handheld(s) you have and enjoy what you have this holiday.
Having So Many Choices
It is always funny to poke that Anbernic has yet another XX device or AYN has 3 different Odin 2s, but can we also appreciate it as well? Yes, it can be overwhelming to keep track of, but also it’s nice as well. We finally have CHOICES! You don’t like a form factor, or do you wish the device had something else? Well, just wait a month and BAM, it will probably come out.
It is great to be thankful that these handhelds are available for everyone with every kind of preference. Vertical, clamshell, horizontal, mini, OLED, etc. Appealing to a wider audience is never a bad thing and it only helps grow the community and spread the word of how great these devices are. No one is forcing you to buy all of them, so just get what speaks to you!
CFW and Frontends
Let’s face it, a lot of the handhelds don’t release in the best state firmware-wise. We are so incredibly lucky to have a dedicated community of developers who take these handhelds and push them to such satisfying heights that we could not imagine.
We have so many different options that are all fantastic and bring something different to the table. MinUI, Garlic, Onion, GammaOS, ROCKNIX, ArkOS, muOS, and so much more. If I forgot one, I apologize, but there are just so many fantastic choices that it is hard to keep track of.
These devs pour their heart and soul into these projects and ask for very little to nothing in return. They are also very responsive and if you reach out, you will usually hear back from them to help you troubleshoot some issues you have.
The same can be said about all the great frontend options we have. Do you want a more console-like experience on your device? These are the way to do it. We should be more than thankful for all of them as they are what make this hobby even better.
Media
Who is responsible for educating, entertaining, or persuading you to buy things? That’s right, all these outlets have helped spread the gospel of retro handhelds. Going with choice, there is a YouTuber or other outlet that can match your style of what you want/like.
Here at Retro Handhelds, we have a huge variety of creators just for us alone with Stubbs, Zu, Todd, Ban, Mikey, and more. We are also lucky to have others like Russ, Rob, TechDweeb, Team Retrogue, and so much more. Talking behind the scenes with some of these creators, it is awe-inspiring to see the amount of work and passion that goes into this hobby.
Community
The biggest thing I am thankful for is this community. I have been in it for 3 years now and it is rare for me to stick with something that long. The reason for it though is the community. It has given me and others a place to fit in and talk about something we are passionate about and not just overwhelm our partners.
We have such an amazing community here and it is the beating heart of what drives Retro Handhelds. Our GotX program is so immersive and fun. Our paid channel (Owl Chat) has become a family. Logging in is the first thing I do every morning to check all the various channels.
Thank you, reader, and RH as a whole. I am most thankful for the amazing community built here and it is because of you. You are what makes this more than a hobby, but a passion for many of us. This holiday, pat yourself on the back and be thankful for all the great things we have.
The handhelds are great, but the community is the best part.
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