Talk:List of handheld game consoles

Input on major reorganization of console articles
I'm proposing a reorganization of several articles that will include or may impact this one that I've outlined at Talk:Video game console and would like input there. --M asem (t) 15:05, 27 July 2020 (UTC)

Leapfrog
Should we add the Leapster GS Explorer™ & Rockit Twist™ Handheld Gaming System as a handheld console? They are carriage based. Doremon764 (talk) 14:15, 24 September 2021 (UTC)
 * No. It is absolutely not common for the industry to consider them traditional handheld or home consoles. Sergecross73   msg me  14:52, 24 September 2021 (UTC)

I think they should be included since they fit the definition. Either the definition should have a proposed change or it should be embarrassed. Thedoctor916 (talk) 20:22, 10 November 2022 (UTC)

I don't see how the Leapster line of handhelds does not qualify as a handheld. As pointed out above, these systems do use interchangeable game media and focus solely on playing games, even if those games are targeted entirely at young audiences. That Rockit Twist, however? No, I don't think that counts. Megalomaniaman (talk) 16:14, 27 January 2024 (UTC)

Proposed cleanup
This article is a wreck. I plan cleaning it up at some point. Probably some standard inclusion criteria stuff.
 * 1) Must a a reliable source or two calling it a handheld.
 * 2) Must have its own article.
 * 3) Trim back images?

Open to other stuff too, if anyone else is watching this. Sergecross73  msg me  14:56, 24 September 2021 (UTC)


 * The Template:Handheld game consoles could use some criteria too. Doremon764 (talk) 15:01, 24 September 2021 (UTC)
 * Yes, if we trim this list to entries where only entries with their own article are on it (per WP:CSC) then we can revise the template accordingly, which would go along with WP:WTAF and WP:NAV. Sergecross73   msg me  17:05, 27 September 2021 (UTC)


 * Yes, this article needs some criteria. There are new Chinese-market and Emulation-focused handhelds popping up every few weeks lately, many of them having almost nothing to distinguish them from each other, and many more die as vapourware.  I fear that having a rule of requiring a source to call them a handheld is not going to keep this article in order.
 * - For example, the Playdate is currently on this article, and that device is almost 2 years past its originally promised launch date. I'd vote for that device being removed.Impreziv (talk) 01:03, 7 December 2021 (UTC)
 * I already implemented my inclusion criteria months ago, which trimmed out a ton of entries. The article used to be in far worse shape. I'm fine with it's current state, though feel free to propose more criteria. We'd have to some up with something that can be applied across the board. Sergecross73   msg me  01:13, 7 December 2021 (UTC)

What is the idea behind defining as able to play multiple games? It really looks like a Nintendo era definition with a few pre GB handhelds fitting the definition after the fact. I suggest the definition be widened and include electronic games. Otherwise what is the definition? Microprocessor based? Must have an OS? To clean up the emulation devices I suggest the definition be refined to included games build in, made for its unique ecosystems and have a paragraph describing emulation based handheld that are design to play other systems games but no list just a few prominent examples. Thedoctor916 (talk) 20:21, 10 November 2022 (UTC)


 * I'm not really following what you're trying to say, but for the record, I implemented the inclusion criteria and cleanup well over a year ago. What I was proposing was already done a long time ago. Sergecross73   msg me  20:46, 10 November 2022 (UTC)

The J.Cock Z400S
Its a fairly obscure handheld system from 1991. Its unique in its own way since the ROM cartridges themseleves contain the game control buttons interface. The console itself only has buttons that add and remove credit "coins". It was used for professional gambling at bars and nighthouses in japan, where the player would ask for a console unit and a rom cartrdige (poker, blackjack, etc.). It was a table top but also a handheld as described by the famous electronics youtuber Techmoan. Prior to his "discovery" (he bought one from a Japanese auction site) on March 5 2022, there is few no none english sources covering the system. A few of the specs are:

1- Colored LCD screen (4 inches, 479 x 234 pixels, TFT). 2- First rechargeable handheld console. 3- The buttons used to control the games were attached to the cartridge and thus particular to each title. 4- Mostly adapted for professional gambling.

Given its uniqueness of being the first handheld with rechargeable battery pack and the rom cartdige having the game buttons, I think its a very interesting addition to the list. I don't know, what do you all think... unfortunately there is no wikipedia article on it but indeed it is a real handheld that you can find at Japanese auction sites for around 400-500 dollars.

Source: Julius Taylor, Matthew (March 5, 2022). "Techmoan: Obscure 1991 hand held game machine - The J.Cock Z400S". Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj1SMUbAr50 — Preceding unsigned comment added by Y5GR (talk • contribs) 12:58, 7 March 2022 (UTC)
 * Appears to be more of a disguised gambling device than a "handheld console" marketed as such, per Julius. -- ferret (talk) 13:07, 7 March 2022 (UTC)


 * Opposed, per the inclusion criteria. I've gone through great lengths to clean up this article and remove all these weird, obscure, gimmick devices. This is not a handheld in the traditional sense. Seems comparable to adding those TV gambling games that bars have in the US to the home consoles article. (Also a bad idea.) Sergecross73   msg me  13:43, 7 March 2022 (UTC)
 * Ok. Do you think stuff like that merit an article list for themselves, as it is in the interest of everyone to have the most complete encyclopedia possible? If so, what can the name of that article list be? Thanks. Y5GR (talk) 19:01, 7 March 2022 (UTC)

I know that the article looked kind of bad with all of the lesser known consoles, but I think there should be at least some mention or possibly a separate page for the obscure handhelds out there.67.251.210.102 (talk) 00:31, 9 March 2022 (UTC)


 * I think you're both misunderstanding the purpose of Wikipedia a bit. We don't aim to cover everything . It's to cover things that are notable and covered through reliable sources. And we follow WP:CSC and WP:NLIST. Sergecross73   msg me  03:25, 9 March 2022 (UTC)
 * Well I think it is notable to have a separate artice for the rest of the handheld systems that perhaps dont make it through your criterias for adding to the most popular handheld list. Afterall, this IS your article, or at least you started it. But I dont think we should put a limit there, because if not wikipedia, what better encyclopedia is out there to have the most complete nowledge database of humanity?
 * going by what you use to make this list, the WP:CSC (common selection criteria), it exactly says this:
 * Common selection criteria
 * Lists are commonly written to satisfy one of the following sets of criteria:
 * notice how it specifies 'commonly', not 'exclusively' or 'only' *
 * 1- Every entry meets the notability criteria for its own non-redirect article in the English Wikipedia
 * 2- Every entry in the list fails the notability criteria (for example, List of Dilbert characters or List of paracetamol brand names.)
 * 3- Short, complete lists of every item that is verifiably a member of the group. (For example, Listed buildings in Rivington)
 * So in short, the article you supervise (List of Handheld Game Consoles) the community or the creator chose to use option 1 of the selection criteria. But we can most certainly contribute by making a separate article for the less popular handheld systems and use criteria number 2 of the suggested (not obligatory) method for a list article. In the examples given, list of dilbert characters and loist of paracetamol brand names, the individual entries fail to have their own articles. One thing must always remain standard for wikipedia as well as any other encyclopedia: there must be veriafiable sources that backup any claim. Y5GR (talk) 17:10, 11 March 2022 (UTC)
 * If you create it let me know so I can immortalize a few obscure, verifiable handheld systems I own as well as the one Techmoan shed light on. Y5GR (talk) 17:11, 11 March 2022 (UTC)
 * Feel free to attempt such a thing, but I have no interest in creating such an article. I don't know what I'd call it, how I'd define it, or how I'd reconcile it with Wikipedia's policies. There's other issues we haven't even gotten into yet. For example, WP:YOUTUBE generally isn't considered a usable source unless it's an extension of a reliable source. (For example, the official YouTube account of The New York Times is usable. "TechFrank64" the YouTuber is not.) So unless you found some better sources, it probably wouldn't be a valid entry anywhere. Sergecross73   msg me  17:52, 11 March 2022 (UTC)
 * How does an article that adds knowledge to the encyclopedia needs to be reconciled other than having verifiable sources?
 * I agree, youtube cannot be considered a reliable source only certain channels like you mentioned. But it is a good place to start when there is no other english documentation. There, you can see the actual real product and proof it exists. Then you can see the sources the youtuber used to try and find more sources.
 * Anyways, I also don't have sufficient motivation to start the article but I would contribute to it. These days seems like its so hard to contribute without "offending" someone usually the creator. The purpose of wikipedia is to be a collaborative encyclopedia so that more info can be covered. But feels like you have to have the librarian icon or some other emblem to actually do something effectively. I'm a university scholar member from the branch of an eastern university but I don't have the wikipedia emblem to do things without getting deleted some times and its frustrating. Y5GR (talk) 16:48, 12 March 2022 (UTC)

I'm not trying to be a jerk or pull rank or anything. It's just there there's so many questions/problems here that I don't even know how to start guiding you on this. And with this article, it currently fails both inclusion criteria. We're just kind of at an impasse here. Sergecross73  msg me  22:31, 12 March 2022 (UTC)
 * 1) I honestly don't know how to classify a "J Cock". I've read your info, but I don't really know what to call it. As ferret points out, it sounds more like a mini gambling machine than a traditional handheld console.
 * 2) I don't know what other items would go on this list since I dont know how to answer #1
 * 3) I don't know what to name this article because I can't answer #1 or #2.
 * 4) I can't answer #1, 2, or 3 because we don't have any reliable sources presented yet. (Techmoan isn't a reliable source so we can't use his info on it.)


 * I understand. I'm not arguing about this console to be included or anything. Once you stated that this article is only for traditional and popular systems I agreed immediately. The name of the other list that could have all the other random handheld systems should have a different criteria and article title.
 * Well, with regards to the j. cock. I had never heard of it. I just saw the viideo that popped up in the suggestian and since techmoan is a really professional engineer that often talks about interesting stuff I watched it. He only informed the western world about that system from Japan. If I had to classify it based on technical specs, I would agree with Techmoan that it is a handheld system because indeed it is. It is portable and does not rely on any other hardware to function besides the game cartridges. Once I saw that it was the first rechargeable handheld gaming system I opened up wikipedia to read more about it. Didnt see it so thats why I ended up here. Its target market was most certainly gamblers or at the very least, simulate a casino experience. I dont know anything elses since its very obscure. All I know is that it is an interesting handheld system that takes cartridges that have the buttons. Whether it was commercially widespread or a commercial flop in Japan I don't know. But it was a legal system manufactured by some Japanese maker as shown in the video. Anyways, thanks for the insight and your time. Y5GR (talk) 01:32, 13 March 2022 (UTC)
 * oh and to clarify since Idk if you had the chance or interest to watch the video, that thing doesn't take in actual coins, it has a dedicated button to increase and decrease the "coin" credit similar to how arcade games work on their home console adaptations. The key lock was also added by the previous owner. New in box it doesn't contain that security add-on. Cheers. Y5GR (talk) 01:43, 13 March 2022 (UTC)

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Definition of Console
A console is a cabinet that sits on the floor. When factory control panels were introduced they were called control consoles because they were installed into a console. Later shortened to console in context. A console game machine is meant to be sat down on a table or similar. However, a handheld electronic game is not a console. Game machines are one or the other with so far the Nintendo Switch being an example of nearly crossing the boundary. Thedoctor916 (talk) 19:50, 10 November 2022 (UTC)