I really wish I had an IRL friend that was into retro handhelds just like I am.

We could sit on the couch, hang out and play and show off our games and devices to eachother. Show how we’ve progressed in our games. Infodump about the weirdest facts related to Gameboys, DSs, emulator handhelds and so on.

But, I don’t have any IRL friends who are at all interested in this stuff.

I’m sad :(

  • SnailMagnitude@mander.xyzEnglish
    231·
    1 month ago

    Be careful out there.

    My ex claimed to be super into retro gaming and I even spent while putting together a nice setup so she, and me, could play on the couch like in the TV show Home & Away.

    But it was all lies. All she was interested in was sex, drugs, rock & roll, and Netflix shows about complete wankers.

    Thankfully her son smashed up his ps4 in a ragequit and then spent several months addicted to old retro games until he got a new one.

  • DominusOfMegadeus@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    5·
    1 month ago

    I would be into this maybe, but I was always terrible at Mario and stuff like that. I’ve been trying to get back into games, and nothing is grabbing me, sadly.

  • Strider@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    1 month ago

    Hey, you might have luck with retro clubs or something. For Germany I could maybe help with that but I think you’re likely in the US.

  • fixmycode@feddit.clEnglish
    3·
    1 month ago

    what about finding them? you can start a meetup on a local library or cafe. print flyers, hang them around. commit to show up even if no one shows up, it’s just the first one. drink your coffee, go home, try again in a couple of weeks.

    I walk my town with my 3DS on in the hope that our there, some freak is doing the same and we find each other in street pass.

    maybe there’s someone out there trying to find you, but with a little less initiative. you already show some, by posting this.

    good luck! don’t lose a kidney.

      • fixmycode@feddit.clEnglish
        2·
        1 month ago

        ah, it’s alright. I thought the situation was you opening up to new opportunities. and it’s OK not to be ready for that, take whatever time you need, they will still be out there.

        I lived a similar situation in the past, and I was certainly reluctant to open up to new friendships in my late thirties, but one day I took a chance on a local message board, and ended up meeting a very nice group of people that enjoyed my hobby and now I have monthly to bimonthly meetups with them, and through those we’ve meet each other’s families, travel together, helped each other move, birthdays, and funerals.

        It’s great to have friends again, makes me really happy.

  • PerfectDark@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    1 month ago

    Hey there, kuiskaaja!

    I know this isn’t the ‘IRL’ part of things, but I had a couple people who I chatted to a bunch who desperately wanted the same thing, except…online. After recommending a bunch of options, in the end I revived an old (and abandoned) Discord server we had, and invited all my friends from the retro handheld scene there.

    • Russ (RGC)
    • Gamma (GammaOS)
    • WhatCookie (RPCS3)
    • Mothrip (Cocoon)
    • ChrisCovers (Retroid)
    • Camille (Eden)
    • Nathan (iiSU)

    …and just so, so, so many more. All the developers and creators I know joined in. So if you do want a (very small!) space to chat about handhelds with others, send me a DM and I’ll send you an invite :)

  • abbadon420@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    31·
    1 month ago

    My IRL friends are inerested in soccer. I don’t have many friends, but almost all of them have have a thing for soccer. So I’m fine pretending to like soccer every once in a while.

  • JohnnyEnzyme@piefed.socialEnglish
    2·
    1 month ago

    It’s the age of the WWW! There are literally forums & communities full of like-minded folks who enjoy doing exactly as you describe, just online.

    I mean, sure it’s always nice when such buddies can physically hang out, but headsets and cameras can at least help with that, and there’s various retro games that can be played together online.

    I find modders and builders fascinating, too:
    https://www.benheck.com/