Gamescom, sensor upgrade and other nice news


I absolutely cannot wait to see videos of the prototypes in action and to hear feedback on the new nubs.
 
@TrashyMG does it make sense to make a thumb-oriented keyboard into a finger-based keyboard, especially because of the lack of shoulder modifiers there...? though if it turns out to be a decent layout for fingers, i'd be interested, for a portable mechanical keyboard solution...
 
@TrashyMG does it make sense to make a thumb-oriented keyboard into a finger-based keyboard, especially because of the lack of shoulder modifiers there...? though if it turns out to be a decent layout for fingers, i'd be interested, for a portable mechanical keyboard solution...
Prob not, but I already paid big money for the laser cutting my design and not doing it again.
 
Prob not, but I already paid big money for the laser cutting my design and not doing it again.
Personally, I'm interested in seeing your whole project progress on this start to finish if you're willing to write it up. I think it's freekin' cool.

I understand the whole 'project of passion' thing. Obcess on the details and spend the money to make it just so - not because someone else wants it that way, but because you do.
 
That clear pyra is giving me DMG gameboy vibes. I want it badly.:( shame I'm broke-r then a one legged man who fell down a mountain onto the worlds longest escalator.
 
That clear pyra is giving me DMG gameboy vibes. I want it badly.:( shame I'm broke-r then a one legged man who fell down a mountain onto the worlds longest escalator.

First thing I'm doing when I get a clear pyra is sitting it next to my Play It Loud! clear DMG and then posting said picture online for countless internet points. It shall be glorious.
 
Clear case gives me the cheap toy vibe.

So does my Pandora with it's eroded silver paint. My black case Pandora doesn't look as cheap.

I want a clear pyra because of its absurdity and uniqueness. Also with it people would really ask you. What is that thing?
Also if it looks cheap I doubt somebody is going to try to mug me with a 44 magnum for it.
 
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Correct, there is no paint this time unlike the Pandora.
 
Went to Gamescom today, so made some pictures (didn't take many, so I can't spoil any fun for visitors).
The booth had a nice LED display powered by a raspberrypi showing PYRA with fire effects, looked really nice.
There were multiple devices around. Seen a GameGear with the LCD upgrade and everdrive, the screen is really clear compared to the original.
Also the GPD (Android) and Open Pandora were around.
On the main stage (table next tot the booth) there were the Pyra and the GPD-Win, the GPD-Win had an additional battery pack as it ran out of power (also the Pandora could charge the GPD-Win).

Multiple Pyra prototypes were available, the gray unit was most working one. It booted, (touch)screen/keyboard/nubs all worked. I didn't do to much, started a browser and clicked around a bit.
My first impression is it looked and felt sturdy. It also reminded me a lot about my Pandora, which isn't that weird, it was in a comfortable way. It's newer, but it hasn't change that much that you're lost. I bet you'll notice when you switch back to a Pandora and you're missing the new features.
The keyboard backlight worked nicely, I was wondering how much it would bother me but it actually didn't do that at all. At first I didn't know it was on, the keys were clearly readable (and there was enough light already). When making it darker you noticed the keys kept being clearly readable, which is a really nice feature. The keyboard also feels nice.
There also was a clear case Pyra, this one didn't boot though, but the case was a bit more tweaked I guess as the triggers felt better and the nubs were really smooth.

The GPD-Win was also available. First impression was that it looked more shiny, which looks a tat more sleek then the Pyra, and it felt a bit lighter. When holding it I noticed it was a bit warmer then the Pyra was (didn't notice any heat from Pyra btw).
Steam was open and I notice that was hard to read from the display, but you could configure font size if you would dislike this. I noticed as I could read clearly from the Pyra screen (the unit still had the discolorating touchscreen) but not from the GPD-Win, but I guess that's fixable as both devices have 720p screens.
The keyboard is default lay-out, which in my case makes stuff easy to find, but it's so cramped it makes it hard to type. The keys did feel plastic-like, but worked. The triggers felt really flimsy (big plastic buttons that react late), while the Pyra ones felt they reacted faster and has less travel.

When walking around I've also seen a booth with the Smach-Z, the unit is really big compare to the Pyra (or even a GameGear I guess). It worked, had full steam-like controllers on there and full-size triggers.
So if anyone is visiting the Gamescom and wonders if it even exists, there is a working prototype to view. When seeing a Pyra and GPD-Win the device is a bit less impressive, but never the less it's nice if there a more (working) portable handhelds in the world.

Additionally, I could play around with some VR stuff (which everyone has this year, not only the people producting them, so you can actually try them). The Vive was pretty nice, I didn't see myself waving/walking around (just like fist-time seeing a Wii) a controller, but the impression was good. Shame you have to have a cable to the headset, and you can hit other visitors (or in my case the guy from the booth) in the face without knowing.
The Oculus Rift, yes it was my first time trying it on (I did use other HMD before though), was easy to use a felt like a good product. I didn't expect to see pixels, but I did. I guess you don't care if the game is immersive enough. Even so it did look good, nice big field of view.
And I played with a Samsung VR set (the one were you click on a phone as VR). This one had issues for me, as you need to tweak the images to create the best field of depth, but from experience you need some time to get used to the setting which wasn't so for the OR/Vive.
[doublepost=1471478074,1471475689][/doublepost]Some pics:

The GPD-Win (you've seen the Pyra, right?)
GPD-Win.jpg
Groupshot, my Pandora, the Pyra and the GPD-Win
groupshot_front.jpg
Need some more power GPD-Win? Did you know you Pandora can be used as a charger?
PandoraChargesGPDWin.jpg
From the top (the Pyra logo fell off)
groupshop_top.jpg
Showing the ports on the back (Pandora/Pyra/GPDWin)
groupshot_back.jpg

And a (very) short video:
[doublepost=1471478971][/doublepost]In case you ever wonder: Is it busy on Wednesdays?
This was the line when entering the north entrance at Kölnmesse for me today.
Unbusy.jpg
 
Maybe I like that get more than I thought.

Thanks for sharing everything. You answered a bunch of questions for me, and those pics are exactly what I was looking for.
[doublepost=1471480234,1471479960][/doublepost]How did the hinges feel compared to the Pandora?
 
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