Hi Deck lovers! I ordered the 512gb OLED on Friday and it is arriving today. I am hoping to wait until Christmas to boot it up, but am unsure if that is the best idea given the 30 day return policy.
My main concern is I previously bought a gaming computer and elected to return it ~3 days after getting it because I find I am not super intelligent when it comes to setting things up on a computer. I have an Xbox Series S and a PS5, and I just find those to be much easier in terms of use. Hell, I work on a computer every day in my office and am the “tech guy”, but that’s mainly because I know how to download Slack or a new browser.
I am getting the deck for gaming on the go, remote playing my PS5 when my wife wants the TV, and emulating old Nintendo games that I never got the chance to play. I know there are guides and walkthroughs for all of these things (aside from gaming on the go because it is simply buy game, play game) but am worried about my lack of knowledge leading to me getting overwhelmed and not enjoying the deck as intended. Any advice?
Anyone else a dedicated console gamer who bought the deck and can speak to how you’ve handled all of this? Should I pop it open today when I get it to get a feel for it and just have my wife re-wrap it on Christmas morning?
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Honestly, I’m not computer proficient at all. The most I’ve had to do anything on the “computer” side of the Deck was to set it up the first time, and when I installed the 1TB SSD upgrade to the LCD Deck. If that’s the most I have to do to play games, then I’m happy.
I’ve never once had to go into desktop mode to do any tweaks or tricks, but I’m sure there is a crowd of people who say you will come across it.
Do I suggest you need to check it out early before Christmas? Yes and no. If you plan on returning it, yes. However, Valve is great with making sure any technical issues get resolved if you wait until after. So, they’ll try to give you the best technical experience (personal experience is all on you, though)
I have seen in this subreddit that Valve seems to have great customer service. Maybe I will be able to hold off until Christmas in that case, as I am all but certain I will be keeping it.
but am worried about my lack of knowledge leading to me getting overwhelmed and not enjoying the deck as intended. Any advice?
the real question is if you want to learn or not. realistically you will learn the best through trial and error while the internet will only teach you the very basics. most people here don’t understand most of what the device can actually do and get by with only that basic knowledge though. if you want to do something such as modding though then using google really isn’t the best resource and will make it seem far more of a challenge than it actually is.
You don’t need to be proficient at all to play Steam games on gaming mode. It just works like a console for that. It’s much easier to use than a Windows handheld (which is probably what you had before).
If you want to play non-Steam games or emulators you’ll have to do some learning, but you really don’t have to.
The vast majority of games work as they come.
Steam tells you whether a game is supported and will work without issues, or whether it’s “playable”, in which case it will tell you the game’s problems. For example it might say “the game’s launcher needs to use the touchscreen and not the controller”. Very minor details.
Stay away from “unsupported” games. They will work but often require tinkering.
It’s easy to enter and slowly begin tinkering as you learn how to use the thing. It works amazingly out of the box.