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Analogue Pocket. GBA, GBC, GB, Lynx, & More, 1440P Screen. HDMI-output with dock. $199, Launching May 2021.

CJY

Banned
Update: Analogue Homepage updated.


Screenshot%2525202019-10-16%252520at%25252016.10.39.png

Looks amazing...
6-the-analogue-pocket-is-like-a-game-boy-for-designers.jpg
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Screenshot%2525202019-10-16%252520at%25252015.14.02.png

e_2_analogue_pocket.jpg


Links:

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Shifty

Member
That looks like a lovely piece of hardware. Surprised to see a 1440p screen for $199.

I'd need to know more about its software ecosystem before I'd drop that kind of cash though. Are we talking purely cartridge-based existing titles and nothing else (in which case naw i'm aight), or will they leave the door open for the hacking and modding community?

Seems like it'd be a no-brainer to do the latter given that the hardware massively outstrips the requirements of its source material.
 
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Trojita

Rapid Response Threadmaker
I am probably in the minority in that I am the total opposite of a device like this - I would rather use original hardware to play a flash cart, than use modern hardware to play original carts. I feel like the experience is based on the hardware, not what label is on the cart.
Are they not using FPGA system level emulation as they have with all of their previous consoles? The FPGA is supposed to emulate the system as though you are playing on original hardware.
 

Trojita

Rapid Response Threadmaker
That looks like a lovely piece of hardware. Surprised to see a 1440p screen for $199.

I'd need to know more about its software ecosystem before I'd drop that kind of cash though. Are we talking purely cartridge-based existing titles and nothing else (in which case naw i'm aight), or will they leave the door open for the hacking and modding community?

Seems like it'd be a no-brainer to do the latter given that the hardware massively outstrips the requirements of its source material.

If you are that into the possibility you might want to communicate with them about it. They have had 'unofficial' versions of their firmwares on the consoles so you could play backups.

There should be no reason that you couldn't boot Linux off the MiSTer FPGA
 

CJY

Banned
Are they not using FPGA system level emulation as they have with all of their previous consoles? The FPGA is supposed to emulate the system as though you are playing on original hardware.
The term "emulate" is a misnomer. An FPGA is technically simulating the original hardware. MiSTer, Mega SG and Super NT are all based on the Altera Cyclone V SOC. I really hope the Pocket is based on this same chip. I think we'll find out very shortly.
 

Trojita

Rapid Response Threadmaker
The term "emulate" is a misnomer. An FPGA is technically simulating the original hardware. MiSTer, Mega SG and Super NT are all based on the Altera Cyclone V SOC. I really hope the Pocket is based on this same chip. I think we'll find out very shortly.
It's still technically a form of emulation, just at the system level. Some people might prefer the word simulate, because it gets rid of the baggage associated with general emulators. Even Byuu (genius maker of bsnes and Higan) disliked some of the way they described the devices as not having emulation.
 

Birdo

Banned
With high resolutions you can simulate a real gameboy dmg pixels, giving you the sensation of using the real hardware (along with lcd refresh ghosting)

1484564719807-zk7dwy8.jpg

It's a shame that it's a multiplat machine. It would have been cool to actually use one of those old screens for 100% accuracy.
 

CJY

Banned
With high resolutions you can simulate a real gameboy dmg pixels, giving you the sensation of using the real hardware (along with lcd refresh ghosting)

1484564719807-zk7dwy8.jpg
Sexy!!!

I'm soo happy I resisted the urge to purchase any other portable retro system like the Retrostone, Raspiboy, GPi Case or any of those other SBC-based portable emulation machines. Gonna just dive head-first into the Analogue Pocket.
 
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dolabla

Member
Man, that is crazy amazing. Definitely buying this.

I wonder if there are going to be other colors? And if the screen is going to be glass or plastic?
 

jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
Plays three generations of handheld games, connects to your TV for use with bluetooth controllers, and potentially hackable (sorry but I don't want to lug around a huge number of these old cartridges from my gaming library), and the system is super sexy.

I'm definitely interested in this.
 
If the screen is 1600 x 1440 it's exactly 10x the original and will provide sharp pixels, but they could have get the same effect with 800x720 screen too with x5 scale... can't say what made them choose 1440p screen, maybe somehow it ended up being cheaper and/or easier to produce?

Probably because of other systems it supports besides Gameboy (Game Gear, Lynx etc. have higher resolutions natively).
 

JORMBO

Darkness no more
Looks like a solid device. I’d grab one if I had a large collection of carts. I don’t own any old Gameboy games anymore though.
 
Are they not using FPGA system level emulation as they have with all of their previous consoles? The FPGA is supposed to emulate the system as though you are playing on original hardware.
Not the same form factor, not the same screen... I am one of those people where the medium is an inherent part of the experience.

(Not that I am a weirdo purist, I've played a fuckton of emulated games, but in general if I was going to shell out $200 I would be picky lol)
 

kingbean

Member
I am probably in the minority in that I am the total opposite of a device like this - I would rather use original hardware to play a flash cart, than use modern hardware to play original carts. I feel like the experience is based on the hardware, not what label is on the cart.

I thought the same, but when it comes to handhelds those shitty old screens get in the way of fun.

All my retro consoles have everdrives or CDemus in them.
 
I think the issue I’m having with this is that I’m not sure what problem this is solving.

People with large NES or SNES collections didn’t really have an easy solution for playing those games. If you have a large GB collection, you can buy a used GBA for like nothing and accurately play those games. What exactly is the purpose of this?
 

CJY

Banned
I think the issue I’m having with this is that I’m not sure what problem this is solving.
There are these things called "value" and "novelty". Not saying the Pocket represents either of these things, but not all products necessarily need to solve a problem to have value.

Analogue Pocket is the first gaming-focused, FPGA-based portable console, with a feature-set that literally ticks every box for anybody who would be interested in a device like this, at a very reasonable price. I guess to address your "issue" more directly... There is a now a product (soon-to-be)on the market that does things no other product has ever done before. That sure seems like it's solving a major problem, for me at least.

People with large NES or SNES collections didn’t really have an easy solution for playing those games. If you have a large GB collection, you can buy a used GBA for like nothing and accurately play those games. What exactly is the purpose of this?

This is also completely missing the mark. You can buy a NES or SNES for about the same price as a decent GBA. Yet, nobody wants to play on a GBA with the original screen. After modding, the cost rises to substantially more than an OG NES or SNES console. With so many clone consoles available for playing the whole range of Nintendo cartridges from NES - GBA as well, it's very confusing why you would saying people with large NES or SNES collections didn't have easy solutions for playing those games. I have 100+ SNES carts and I've never felt any shortage of ways to play those carts.

Your whole post has my head spinning.
 

Trojita

Rapid Response Threadmaker
I think the issue I’m having with this is that I’m not sure what problem this is solving.

People with large NES or SNES collections didn’t really have an easy solution for playing those games. If you have a large GB collection, you can buy a used GBA for like nothing and accurately play those games. What exactly is the purpose of this?
The big thing will be for people that want to take advantage of the hdmi out. Also the GB filters for people that like that look.

Most GBA enthusiasts seem to prefer the original GBA's form factor. Modding the system to be backlit costs money. Converting your GBA to the recent HDMI mod released costs a lot of money for the kits and it effectively destroys the ability to use that GBA as a portable system.

I wonder how comfortable this device's form factor is.
 

Dr. Claus

Vincit qui se vincit
The big thing will be for people that want to take advantage of the hdmi out. Also the GB filters for people that like that look.

Most GBA enthusiasts seem to prefer the original GBA's form factor. Modding the system to be backlit costs money. Converting your GBA to the recent HDMI mod released costs a lot of money for the kits and it effectively destroys the ability to use that GBA as a portable system.

I wonder how comfortable this device's form factor is.

I am curious how this will compare to the GBA Micro screen. It was the best way to play GBA games for me (even compared to the modded OG GBA for its form factor). I would love to see how these games look and run (maybe have the My life in Gaming crew do a preview/review of it?) before I think about jumping in.

I will say though - I absolutely love its design. Slick, stylish, and clean. If I do go for one, I would go for white immediately.
 

Trojita

Rapid Response Threadmaker
I am curious how this will compare to the GBA Micro screen. It was the best way to play GBA games for me (even compared to the modded OG GBA for its form factor). I would love to see how these games look and run (maybe have the My life in Gaming crew do a preview/review of it?) before I think about jumping in.

I will say though - I absolutely love its design. Slick, stylish, and clean. If I do go for one, I would go for white immediately.
Hmm hard to tell. The Micro has the benefit compared to the extra models that the smaller screen did make everything look sharper too.

What's kind of annoying is that all their press release photos are showing the GB and GBC games. The GBA games have a different screen orientation, and the full device of the screen is for the benefit of GB and GBC.

The only picture I could find that might be showing a GBA game running is this one. And the picture of the device playing a GBA game is on the left, mostly hidden so I can't tell from a quick glance.

EHAtOLUVAAAHLib.jpg
 

OverHeat

« generous god »
Day 1 thx Analogue! just wish the shipping fee were less and custom would not screw me over....the joy of Canadian!
 

CrustyBritches

Gold Member
This thing is sexy as all get out, but I have really big hands, and easily fatigued on GBA SP, so I'll stick with the Revo K101 Plus for my GBA needs.
 
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