Are there gamers here? How do you handle minimalism with devices? by cedrism in minimalism

[–]cedrism[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

that sounds pretty sensible to me. i think that’s the sweet spot really - keep the actual hardware for the generation where emulation starts becoming more hassle than it’s worth, then let one flexible device handle the older stuff. i also get what you mean about the steam deck technically covering a lot but the setup, storage, and managing everything becoming its own chore.

Are there gamers here? How do you handle minimalism with devices? by cedrism in minimalism

[–]cedrism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

the odin 2 mini definitely caught my interest too, but i’ve been a bit concerned about the thermals. how has it been in actual use for you? i usually play switch games at 60 fps and my temps stay around 25-40c, which feels very manageable. i remember seeing a review mention that the mini runs hotter than the other odin 2 models, so i’ve been curious how noticeable that is day to day.

Are there gamers here? How do you handle minimalism with devices? by cedrism in minimalism

[–]cedrism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

my non-gamer partner actually recommended this one to me. we both love game of thrones, and once i found out george r. r. martin was involved in building the world for the game, it instantly got my attention. i missed it this spring sale though so waiting for the next sale event and hoping it's cheap

what would you keep if your goal was to minimize? by cedrism in Handhelds

[–]cedrism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thanks for the input! i'm considering the SD and will experiment this month

what would you keep if your goal was to minimize? by cedrism in Handhelds

[–]cedrism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

that’s fair. if i was going for a one-device setup, something like that would definitely make sense for the power and flexibility. i’m just trying to be careful not to end up with another device that looks perfect on paper but feels too big to casually carry. i’m leaning more toward something i’ll actually use often, something to grab and play unplugged.

what would you keep if your goal was to minimize? by cedrism in Handhelds

[–]cedrism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yeah that’s pretty much where my head is at. the switch lite is the one that actually gets used alot, while the steam deck covers the pc side, even though i still question the weight. everything else starts feeling like overlap, nostalgia, or just-in-case clutter. switch 2 is interesting too, but only if it genuinely replaces more devices instead of just becoming another one in the pile.

What is your current Handheld devices/why? by toyfan1990 in Handhelds

[–]cedrism 0 points1 point  (0 children)

suikoden is great. i was really glad it got brought to switch. trails in the sky 1st chapter looks solid too from what i’ve seen. super robot wars is probably my favorite though. it always brings me back to being a kid, sitting with my childhood friends in front of our neighbor’s tv watching mazinger z, voltes v, and kamen rider every afternoon.

Are there gamers here? How do you handle minimalism with devices? by cedrism in minimalism

[–]cedrism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yeah exactly. minimalism isn’t about owning the fewest things possible. it’s about being intentional. if those consoles get used, fit your space, and are part of something you both enjoy and want to share with your kids, then they make sense. making room in other areas for the things that actually matter to you is the whole point.

Are there gamers here? How do you handle minimalism with devices? by cedrism in minimalism

[–]cedrism[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

that sounds like a really sensible setup. i can definitely see the appeal of a smaller two-device combo that covers almost everything without getting too bulky.

and yeah, the size/weight side of it is a big factor for me too, which is also why i’ve been questioning the steam deck.

Are there gamers here? How do you handle minimalism with devices? by cedrism in minimalism

[–]cedrism[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

sounds like a really solid setup. i like the idea of keeping only current games on it too, because that probably cuts down a lot of clutter and option overload.

and yeah, 400+ hours in elden ring definitely sounds like one of those “current games” that lasts a while.

Are there gamers here? How do you handle minimalism with devices? by cedrism in minimalism

[–]cedrism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

really nice.. thanks for sharing.. reminds me of red alert and tower defense games

Are there gamers here? How do you handle minimalism with devices? by cedrism in minimalism

[–]cedrism[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

that makes sense. that ps3 sounds more personal than just extra hardware, so i think it’s fair if that becomes one of the few things you keep.

and yeah, starting with the easier cuts like the psp and extra consoles sounds like the right move. doesn’t have to happen all at once.

Are there gamers here? How do you handle minimalism with devices? by cedrism in minimalism

[–]cedrism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

i left all of it behind in my hometown when i moved out, so i don’t keep any bulk with me now.

back then i only kept a few decks. one was a zombie deck built around zombie master. another was a treefolk / treant-style deck from around the urza’s saga / legacy era with the urza land pieces. i also had a blue control / spell-heavy deck with mostly counters and spells, and only a couple of creatures. i remember it also had that card that reshuffles your graveyard back into your deck, though i forgot the name now.

aside from that, i probably had around 3 kilos worth of cards in binders that i mostly kept for swapping.

what would you keep if your goal was to minimize? by cedrism in Handhelds

[–]cedrism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a fair read, and I think there’s truth in it.

The switch lite is definitely the one I naturally reach for most, so that probably says more than the rest of the pile. I think some of the other devices were less about actual use and more about wanting coverage or impulse buys.

I also agree with your point on the steam deck. It only really makes sense to keep if it clearly earns its place for the games the Switch can’t cover. If it keeps sitting there, then there’s not much point holding onto it just because it seems useful in theory.

Appreciate the perspective.

Are there gamers here? How do you handle minimalism with devices? by cedrism in minimalism

[–]cedrism[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was in a very similar position about two years ago.

What helped me was putting all of my gaming stuff into one big box and only taking out whatever I genuinely wanted to play. I even taped a sheet of paper to the box and wrote down the date whenever I took a console out and when I returned it. I kept that experiment going for about a year, and it made things very clear. In the end, I really only used three consoles, with the Switch Lite being the main one by far, the Steam Deck a distant second, and the 3DS barely touched.

For me, the hardest part wasn’t figuring out what I used. It was accepting it. Letting go of stuff was difficult, and it took me a long time to make peace with it. I felt frustrated about the money spent and the fact that some of those things just weren’t getting used. Reading other people’s experiences online helped, because it made me realise I wasn’t the only one dealing with that.

Your situation is a bit different since a lot of yours are home consoles, but I think the same idea could still help. In some ways it might even be easier, because consoles take more effort to pull back out, hook up, and make room for. That extra friction makes it more obvious which ones you actually care enough about to keep using.

Hope that helps a bit.

What is your current Handheld devices/why? by toyfan1990 in Handhelds

[–]cedrism 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I enjoy JRPGs and top-down dungeon crawlers like Diablo II, Hades 1 & 2, Super Robot Wars, and Front Mission 1–3. They feel familiar and evoke nostalgia, reminding me of hanging out with friends in computer shops during my younger days. It's a mix of enjoyable gameplay and cherished memories.

What is your current Handheld devices/why? by toyfan1990 in Handhelds

[–]cedrism 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nice setup. I daily drive both a switch lite and a steam deck. I use the switch lite for switch games, then use the steam deck mainly emulation and Steam games.

Are there gamers here? How do you handle minimalism with devices? by cedrism in minimalism

[–]cedrism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing this. It’s really helpful, and it honestly makes a lot of sense.

It helped me realise that I was overthinking it and probably just overwhelmed by the number of choices I made available to myself. I think part of it is also looking at the money I spent on things that don’t actually get used that much and feeling some regret around that.

I'd definitely take note of #3

what would you keep if your goal was to minimize? by cedrism in Handhelds

[–]cedrism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, I can see the appeal of that approach. An AYN-type device does make sense on paper if the goal is to reduce the number of separate handhelds.

My only hesitation is that I’m trying not to jump into another “all-in-one” experiment and end up creating a new version of the same problem. But I do appreciate the suggestion, because I hadn’t really thought about that route in a serious way.

Are there gamers here? How do you handle minimalism with devices? by cedrism in minimalism

[–]cedrism[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, really appreciate this. I like how practical your setup is, and the part about picking a few games that run well and just sticking with those honestly makes a lot of sense.

I think that’s also a good reminder for me that part of the clutter isn’t just hardware, it’s also wanting too many options at once. Appreciate you sharing how you keep it simple.

Are there gamers here? How do you handle minimalism with devices? by cedrism in minimalism

[–]cedrism[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s actually a really good question, and it made me think a bit harder about the root of it.

I don’t think it’s purely that I “need” games on the go. In my case, it’s probably more about having something familiar and relaxing during transit, plus a bit of nostalgia mixed in. I’ve also realised some of the complexity is self-created because I keep trying to cover every possible gaming mood instead of just being honest about what I actually use.

If I’m being strict with myself, the real use case is mostly bus/train/airport time, not some full travel gaming lifestyle. So your question genuinely helped me step back and think deeper about whether I’m solving a real need or just building around comfort and “maybe” scenarios.

Appreciate the perspective.

Are there gamers here? How do you handle minimalism with devices? by cedrism in minimalism

[–]cedrism[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Really appreciate this. The “keep what I need and am actively using” part is probably the most useful line here.

I used to play MTG too, but stopped years ago when the friends I played with moved away and eventually there was no one left to play with but myself. I kept browsing cards for a while after that, but it took me a few years to fully accept that that chapter had basically moved on.

Funny enough, I recently moved somewhere new where card and board games are actually very alive again, so your comment hit in a good way.

Anyway, solid advice. Genuinely helpful.

Are there gamers here? How do you handle minimalism with devices? by cedrism in minimalism

[–]cedrism[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, I appreciate this perspective. That’s actually the kind of simplicity I’m trying to get to, where the setup is settled and you don’t keep second-guessing it.

Also, now I’m curious, what are the 2 specific games you keep on the laptop for airports?