'Thumby' ~$20 micro-handheld kickstarter

[Reaperman]

Tiny circuits has a new kickstarter for an inexpensive handheld called Thumby.  It follows the Cybiko business model of having its users make most of the games, and the IDE is already up (here). I like small things, and the $19+5 shipping is in my impulse-buy territory, so they suckered me in.  They seem to have a history of tiny electronics kits, but I'd never heard of them before.

 

I actually heard about it when youtube seemingly randomly recommended me this:

 

[Ninjabba]

I got this one, though I'm afraid the size of the buttons will make it feel a little gimmicky to play with it, still can't wait to try it out.

Also definitely going to make some games for it, I really like the idea in general!

[Reaperman]

Well, I think that makes you one of the biggest fish in that pool.

I'm surprised there's not more excitement here. 

 

I've got a little dot-racing game that might work okay on it

 

Maybe this LGR vid will boost interest:

 

[+jgkspsx]

I backed it. My optometrist be damned.

[Ninjabba]

I guess the trick would be to create games that use one or two buttons at most or don't need any reaction time.

Anything that requires precision and timing would be a waste on that device.

 

On 10/12/2021 at 5:32 PM, Reaperman said:

 

I've got a little dot-racing game that might work okay on it

 

That would be fun to see working out! Though I do see a problem using the d-pad for steering.. maybe A for gas and left-right to steer could work?

Edited October 14, 2021 by Ninjabba

[0078265317]

This is cool.  Now we just bluetooth controller support and a micro hdmi port for tv output.

[justclaws]

I just missed the Kickstarter, but when the Indiegogo started, I backed it there.
The latest update, despite all the problems with supply chains etc., first ones are shipping.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/thumby-the-tiny-playable-keychain/x/18860080#/updates/all

[justclaws]

Also, as there was discussion about making a game for it, these should be interesting to others here!
 

...and another game written using the IDE.

 

 

[Leonard Smith]

Forgive me for being cynical, but how is thing actually PLAYABLE?

The screen is tiny.  The controls are miniscule.

What is the point of this?  

[Reaperman]

4 hours ago, Leonard Smith said:

Forgive me for being cynical, but how is thing actually PLAYABLE?

The screen is tiny.  The controls are miniscule.

What is the point of this?  

It's a small thing to goof with, and priced low enough for a quick laugh--and I'm pretty sure that's the start and end of it.

 

Sometimes having limitations can be oddly freeing, as it's less to think about. I think that's the reason the 'Basic ten-liner' contests are so popular. It's more about discovering what fun can happen within strict limitations --that was my hope with thumby anyway. 

 

Assuming thumby doesn't have a USB host, I'd tentatively planned on hacking in a neo geo joystick port for extra comic effect. My hands might not be steady enough, for this one, though.

Edited January 13 by Reaperman

[+jgkspsx]

On 1/12/2022 at 6:22 PM, Leonard Smith said:

Forgive me for being cynical, but how is thing actually PLAYABLE?

The screen is tiny.  The controls are miniscule.

What is the point of this?  

I almost beat GG Aleste II on a micro-sized Sega Game Gear. I personally want to see if I can succeed at something even smaller.

 

 

[Reaperman]

I got my thumby today, and holy jeez is it small. actuation the d-pad does work, but it takes thought and deliberate coordination.

It's got a bunch of games built in.  I very briefly tried the tetris-em-up and the dungeon crawler. Tetris didn't handle half bad, but on the dungeon crawler I kept walking in unintended directions until I started using my fingernail on the d-pad.

 

Will try more later, it's a busy time.

[Reaperman]

also forgot to post pic. It is, indeed, 'widdle.'

 

 

Edited January 23 by Reaperman

[Ninjabba]

Thats a cool little looking package though! I'm a sucker for presentation..

Edited January 23 by Ninjabba

[Tanooki]

Wow that looks almost functionally useless unless you have really small fingers.  That Gameboy game puts it into real perspective.

[+jgkspsx]

I got mine. High score on Tinysaur Run so far was 579 but I hit the button before I could get a photo.

 

 

Can you beat 5239 in TinyBlocks?