Nicola Cocchiaro, a veteran developer, founded Synaptic Sugar in 2022 to create his own games for the Playdate platform.
Cocchiaro, alongside his wife Kimberly, is working on a Playdate exclusive game that emphasizes collaboration and learning in game development. He notes the platform’s openness has been beneficial despite some challenges.
The unique hardware of Playdate appeals to developers, allowing them to focus on gameplay rather than complex art pipelines.
“When I discovered the Playdate, I knew that its capabilities would leverage creativity.”
— Ludovic Bas, Founder of Lugludum
Bas’ first game for Playdate, set for release in 2024, is a collection of microgames that utilize the platform’s hardware features. His subsequent game continues this experimental approach.
Community Center
The Playdate community has thrived, supported by Panic’s strategy of weekly game rollouts, despite initial supply issues.
Fan engagement has led to the creation of print zines, community awards, and game jams, which are important for developers to showcase their work and earn support from the fanbase.
