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Why the name playdate?

From the linked Edge article [1]:

> Then there's the contemporary modus operandi that gives the console its name. Every Monday, via WiFi, owners receive a new game, the notification light on top of the case blinking to announce its arrival. Whenever you have five spare minutes, you’ll be able to reach into your own shirt pocket, and make time for your Playdate.

[1] https://play.date/edge/

It's part of the "gimmick".

After the device is released and is available for sale, a new game will be released for it and downloaded automatically each week for the first 12 weeks, when downloaded a little light will light up and you can have small play date with the Playdate.

That's IMO the only clever part of the device, the syncing up with users everywhere anticipating the minute a new game drops. It'll work great until a game fails to resonate with any particular user at which point negative sentiment and disappointment get attached to the device.

I'm sure it's a fun challenge for the game designers with the limited screen, and a crank mechanic.

But I'm really hoping they are also able to make some games with some depth and replay value to them for the players, a la the early mario, spyro, sonic or pokemon games.

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