Stereo Backpack

Hi everyone,

Never posted anything like this, so bear with me please :blush:

Along the same line as @tom brilliant Oneil camera, this is hardware, and not actually a game. Hope it can find a home here nonetheless!

Also, to the team at Panic, if you happen to see this, thanks for how approachable the playdate is. Especially with audio. A lot of this stuff happens simply because it's fun to create for the playdate.

To the thing ...

In waiting for the official stereo dock (it's what made me think of this in the first place) I've created a handheld stereo backpack using 3D printing and parts from Adafruit. Thought people here might enjoy seeing it.

Really missed stereo speakers and a sense of space, and also wanted to make something fitting the portable nature of the Playdate.

Happy to share v1 models and part links if there's interest. The electronics for this first gen is all available online. Very accessible. There might also be better choices Iā€™m unaware of. Do let me know, I love it when friends add to projects along the way.

I have plans for a second version with more separation of the speakers and an improved assembly process, but happy to hear thoughts and or anything else you'd like to see.

Be well,
Per





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i just stumbled on this, and was like "how has nobody commented on this?!" before i realized it was only posted like 7 minutes ago :laughing:
this looks super cool!! i always love seeing supplemental hardware stuff like this for the playdate, it's a super cool vibe and reminds me of all the accessories you could slam onto the original game boy. the design looks super sleek as well
it's kinda funny; cuz the stereo dock was actually originally (at least in part) meant to be a portable, snap-on stereo speaker pack just like this before it became a desk stand. (i think they talk about it more in the first episode of the playdate podcast)

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That is too funny :sweat_smile: Thanks for the kind words!

I had no idea there was a podcast, will check it out. I could only imagine they must've discussed a more portable version. Easy to take on too much with hardware though.

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+1 for the podcast in general ā€” it's super good!
iirc the stereo dock was actually originally two add-ons ā€” a snap-on stereo set, and a separate, larger snap-on battery pak. but after some thought they eventually dropped the battery and it became a speaker + desk stand. that's why they have that seam in the middle, though, just behind the side speaker grills ā€” it's a remnant from the two separate ideas of the past, because they thought it looked cool

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Just reading the title I thought it would be something attached on the back of the Playdate. An alternative title could be "Stereo Hat," hehe

Jokes aside though it looks great! This is such a cool idea and I love the name!

Thanks! It's a fun, puttering project.
Hat connotation noted. Open to more ideas for future iterations too.

I love it! When I first saw it I thought, "is that a gameboy camera?" Nope, it's an adorable backpack for the playdate! We need more hardware updates for this device.

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well done ! nice product photos too :slight_smile:

cool and weird unofficial accessories are what I remember most from the gameboy era, and with the playdate there's so much potential for that.

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I agree Tom, a lot of fun to play with new accessories for such a playful and accessible platform.

I see now, you made the camera I tagged in the post right? Really nice work. Are you exploring anything at the moment.

Thanks for the compliment, happy to hear any other thoughts since Iā€™m still puttering on a second version. Have the speakers already, but some other ideas are taking upper hand, and of course, a little game halfway in the making.

Well for v2 if you could figure out some kind of lip above the screen with a couple of LEDs to light it up, (kind of like a modern reimagination of the "handy boy" accessory by joyplus) I bet it would get some traction :wink:

Edit: adding a fat-fingered illustration of what I mean because I realized it might not be very clear

I'm working on Arduino stuff at the moment but unrelated to the yellow console :wink: I might half finish a game at some point too, who knows.