# crank

> mechanical crank designed as an analog controller for Playdate handheld game console

**Wikidata**: [Q107316421](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107316421)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/crank-q107316421

## Summary
The crank is a mechanical analog controller designed specifically for the Playdate handheld game console. It functions as a unique input device to control gameplay, often used for rotation-based interactions.

## Key Facts
- The crank is a mechanical crank designed as an analog controller for the Playdate handheld game console.
- It is classified as a subclass of input device.
- The crank is part of the Playdate system.
- It was developed by Teenage Engineering.
- Known aliases include "Playdate's crank" and "заводная рукоятка" (Russian for winding handle).
- An image of the crank is available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Playdate_crank.png.
-IGN reported on the crank in May 2019, explicitly stating "No, that hand crank doesn’t power the system".

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary function of the crank on the Playdate?
A: The crank serves as a mechanical analog controller designed specifically for the Playdate handheld game console, providing input for rotation-based gameplay mechanics.

### Q: Who developed the crank?
A: The crank was developed by Teenage Engineering for the Playdate system.

### Q: Does the crank power the Playdate console?
A: No, according to IGN reporting from May 2019, the hand crank does not power the Playdate system.

### Q: What other names is the crank known by?
A: The crank is also known as "Playdate's crank" and "заводная рукоятка" (Russian for winding handle).

## Why It Matters
The crank represents a significant innovation in handheld gaming controller design. By reintroducing a mechanical element—a crank—as a primary input device, it offers a unique tactile interaction experience distinct from traditional buttons, d-pads, or analog sticks. This analog controller design expands the vocabulary of game controls, enabling developers to create novel gameplay mechanics centered on rotational movement, twisting, or winding. Its presence highlights Playdate's commitment to distinctive, unconventional hardware that challenges the norms of portable gaming, contributing to the console's identity and fostering creative, genre-defining software that leverages its unique mechanic.

## Notable For
- Being a mechanical analog controller specifically integrated into a modern handheld game console.
- Designed by Teenage Engineering for the Playdate platform.
- Explicitly cited as a non-power source for the console (per IGN 2019).
- Providing unique rotational input functionality distinct from standard digital or analog controls.
- Distinguished by its industrial/mechanical aesthetic as a core input device.

## Body
### Design and Function
- The crank is a mechanical component designed as an analog controller.
- Its primary purpose is to serve as an input device for the Playdate handheld game console.
- It enables rotational-based input for gameplay.

### Development
- Developed by Teenage Engineering.
- Development details were reported by IGN on May 22, 2019, referencing the Playdate system announcement.
- IGN explicitly clarified in their May 2019 coverage: "No, that hand crank doesn’t power the system".

### Classification and Relationships
- Classified as a subclass of input device.
- Part of the Playdate system.
- Aliases include "Playdate's crank" and "заводная рукоятка".

### Visuals
- An official image depicting the crank is hosted at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Playdate_crank.png.

## References

1. [Playdate Is a Bizarre Handheld Gaming System Coming in 2020 - IGN. 20219](https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/05/22/playdate-is-a-bizarre-handheld-gaming-system-coming-in-2020)