Ep 6: Valve tell us how they made the Steam Deck (and what's next)

Friends Per Second

Welcome back to Friends Per Second! This week we're joined by one of Valve's senior designers, Lawrence Yang, who has played a pivotal role in the design and launch of the Steam Deck. We learn about the origins of the project, the roadblocks they had to overcome and what Valve are planning next for their breakthrough device. Also, how about those Embracer acquisitions? Turns out they own Gandalf now :/ We finish up with a look at the biggest games from the past fortnight including top-tier offerings like Rollerdrome and...not top tier stuff, like Saints Row :/
Shoot us an email! We'd love to answer your questions. Hit up [e-mail]. Make em weird but not *too* weird. You know what I'm talking about.
00:00:00 - Intro
00:02:35 - Embracer
00:19:51 - Knights of the Old Republic Remake
00:22:16 - Opening Night Live announcements
01:00:58 - Steam Deck interview
01:50:29 - Rollerdrome
01:59:33 - Kirby’s Dream Buffet, Cursed Golf, Midnight Fight Express
02:07:01 - New Super Mario Bros, Quest 64
02:11:04 - Saints Row
02:27:30 - QnA section
02:32:09 - Game Anniversaries
02:35:36 - God of Work
02:42:32 - Outro
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Let's meet our hosts:
- Jake Baldino (aka the Before You Buy Guy) is pretty much the most watched reviewer on YouTube across both Gameranx and his personal channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/JakeBaldino). If you're obsessed with Delorians, The Mummy and Pizza you can discuss that stuff with him directly over on Twitter: @JakeBaldino
- Lucy James is a Senior Producer at Gamespot and a Creative Producer at Giant Bomb. She's actually, like, experienced and credentialed and has real life skills and stuff, while the rest of the gang would be funemployed if the YT algorithm didn't kiss them for random, inexplicable reasons. Oh, and she streams, too: https://www.twitch.tv/lucyjamesgames
- Jirard (aka The Completionist: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThatOneVideoGamer) has been doing YouTube since before Noah wore short pants. Over the course of more than a decade, Jirard has completed HUNDREDS of games to bring you the quality of review that almost no other reviewer dare bring you, getting the 100% completion trophy for every title before putting pen to paper. Jirard has a let's play channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/superbeardbros). He's a host on the newly re-launched X-Play (https://www.youtube.com/c/xplay) and in his spare time he fires off the occasional hot-take over on Twitter: @TheCompletionist
- Skill Up used to work at McDonalds but he got fired for skimming too many chicken nuggets. He says he regrets it since he's never had a better job since.
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