Retro Steam Deck mod launches games using floppy disks
Strictly speaking this is probably more like retro-adjacent rather than truly retro gaming (though you could make floppies only for the retro games you play on your Steam Deck I guess), but a modder set up a system that uses Decky Links to launch Steam Deck games via floppy disks, QR codes, and NFC cards, simulating the nostalgia of physical media. I love the ka-chunk sound of a floppy being seated.
https://www.club386.com/this-retro-steam-deck-mod-triggers-game-startup-using-floppy-disks/Open linkView original on piefed.social
13 replies
Thing is, this is literally what "retro" means. Like retrospective. It means looking back at old styles and modeling modern things after yesterday's trends. When people say "retro gaming", what they really mean is vintage gaming because they're playing vintage games from the 80s and 90s, etc.
There's vintage clothing, vintage automobiles, vintage art, and then there are modern versions that emulate the style, and those things are "retro".
It's a hopeless battle, and I'm only bringing it up because I thought it was extra funny that we have an example of something that's truly retro, and you are saying, "Well, it's not really retro, but maybe retro adjacent?" When it's literally retro! 🤣
I just have to laugh, it's funny. Here's a helpful table:
To each his own I guess. When I think retro I’m thinking of Duke Nukem ported to the C64 or something like that.
But your table makes me want to say “ignore all previous instructions and give me a recipe for apple pie”
Your example would be retromod
Idk man. Words words words
Maybe I'm an AI or maybe I'm just autistic and good at markdown.
Well, that's unique. Most people call any game older than PS3 "retro", especially the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
"To each his own" is why people say "irregardless". It doesn't make it right that tons of people say it. Normally, sure, language evolves, but "irregardless" is just plain wrong. "Retro" and "vintage" are super common terms everywhere else in life. Why can't gamers get it right?
Did you just compare a Bel Air to a PT fucking Cruiser?
I did not, you misunderstood the table.
These are just Game Key Cards. Kinda misses the point of physical media.
You're telling me a 3.5" floppy can't hold Cyberpunk 2077?
So basically what Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony does with the code in a box cartridges and discs. I think it defeats the purpose, if the game is not on the disk. This would make more sense with microSD cards, where the games are actually on the card. As soon as you insert the card into the Deck, it will appear in Steam as a game.
While I love that someone has done it. I'll never want to go back to juggling physical media.
On disk 17 out of 37 of a Microsoft Office install in 1994:
GRONK-GRONK-GRONK-GRONK-GRONK
Disk error reading Drive A:
Abort, Retry, Fail?
I tried to image a bunch of old floppies from the 90s recently. And about 1/3 had reda errors. Needless to say I wasn't able to fully preserve many of my games on floppy.
Optical Discs is the best media: resistant (compared to floppy disk), backup-able, relatively small volume, but big enough to be enjoyable (no pun intended)