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Bringing the Steam deck to the bar is a complex experience
For many, one of the main selling points of the Steam Deck is that it’s super portable. Valve says the gaming handheld can play top games anytime, anywhere. But is going to a bar or bar really as practical as we want it to be?
There are many factors that make me anxious about using gaming devices in public. Many of these are outright deal breakers, such as the necessity of using voice commands in certain games.If you’re reading from the US, you’ll probably never cringe horribly like those old Nintendo DS commercials – ie some Lady chatting with her imaginary dog on the bus.
Yes, that wouldn’t be me. I want my public gaming experience to be discreet, unassuming, and most importantly: quiet.
When I got my hands on Valve’s wildly popular gaming handheld, one of my main questions was “How loud is the Steam Deck really?” If it didn’t drown out the conversation of the person sitting next to me in the bar, maybe I Not having to play Elden Ring in my windowless ground floor apartment next month.
Meanwhile, I’ve fantasized about being laughed at in a bar and forever being labelled a sociopath for playing video games on Steam Deck instead of kicking back and forth at sweaty men on the big screen. Call. Then there’s always the possibility that I’ll make some new friends by wielding my favorite RPG in public.
“Today even people who like sports are gamers, maybe not so bad,” I consoled myself.
So, in the name of science, I took the steam deck to a local sports bar to see what would happen…that place was ups and downs. Manchester United supporters were scattered on all floors and everyone was waiting for my seat to get a better view of the clammy, mud-covered athlete projected on my head. I’m just sitting proudly pounding my little portable gaming PC.
Unsurprisingly, a curious group of friends followed me closely. We were there, me and an IT support technician who played Nintendo Switch, a former game journalist turned game developer, and a futile PS Vita 2 anticipator, all excited to experience the yet-to-be-released Steam deck. With everyone holding it, comparing the weight and ergonomics to their respective preferred platforms, there’s definitely a camaraderie between “oh” and “ah.”
Switch lovers immediately noticed that Valve had added a sweet UI sound to Steam Deck’s menu system, while PS Vita 2 hopefuls were impressed by how light it was compared to the power under the hood. Although her main comment was: “It works great with a pint of cider, but I wouldn’t recommend it for a sticky bar table.”
This brings up the most important point: If it were the laptop I brought to the bar, I would be more afraid of spilling a drink on my precious hardware. Laptops, despite their names, are generally supposed to be used with desks — even the best gaming laptops can overheat if you mute the fans. At least with the handheld, I can hold it above the table and stay away from sticky spills.
When you pull out a gaming laptop in a bar, there’s always a joke. Oddly, there are no reviews for the device we’re all staring at. The Steam Deck doesn’t seem to get much attention, and I don’t think it’s just because the loud bar atmosphere manages to drown out the high-pitched hum of the device’s fans.
It’s just a more subtle form factor than a gaming laptop. People seem to be getting used to handheld gaming devices by now, and it’s almost certain that someone will pull out one at some point in the evening, either in the form of a Switch, or their phone. As you probably know, it can make your company feel like… being left out.
If anything, it’s a social shield that reads: “Here I am, I show up, but don’t talk to me because I’ve been trying to beat this boss for weeks.”
It turns out that playing on the Steam deck at a social gathering isn’t the best way to create a public atmosphere.
I feel like my friend feels a little neglected. Sure, you can play Worms via the Steam deck, or huddle together to play Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, but it’s not really a device for socializing. If anything, it’s a social barrier, a little veil machine that says, “Here I am, I show up, but don’t talk to me because I’ve been trying to beat this boss for weeks.”
That being said, when you first introduce it to a group of like-minded nerds, Steam Deck does manage to bring about a sense of togetherness, at least in terms of encouraging people with different ideals and interests to come together and discuss new and interesting things.
Of course, once everyone gets used to it, that spirit will definitely go away. While the Steam Deck is quiet and subtle enough to not draw public ridicule, I definitely don’t go to social gatherings on a regular basis.
But you might find me rocking and relaxing on the corner sofa at the local bar by myself, keeping myself in shape, just as a way to get out of the house. For that, it’s a pretty spectacular little machine.