Analogue Pocket
ManufacturerAnalogue
TypeHandheld game console
GenerationNinth generation
Release dateDecember 13, 2021 (December 13, 2021)
Introductory priceUS$219.99
MediaGame cartridges (Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Sega Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket, Neo Geo Pocket Color, Atari Lynx, and TurboGrafx-16), SD card
Operating systemAnalogue OS[1]
CPUAltera Cyclone V, Altera Cyclone 10
Display3.5" backlit 1600x1440 LTPS LCD display
Connectivity3.5 mm headphone jack, Game Boy link cable, MicroSD, USB-C (power and dock interface)
Websitewww.analogue.co/pocket

The Analogue Pocket is an FPGA-based handheld game console designed and manufactured by Analogue;[2] it was announced on October 16, 2019 and released on December 13, 2021.[3] It is designed to play games for handhelds of the fourth generation of video game consoles and earlier generations.

Design

The device features a design similar to the Nintendo Game Boy,[4] including a physical cartridge slot at the rear of the console. Additional connectivity is provided via microSD card support and USB-C connectivity. Support for wireless controllers and HDMI output is also available through a proprietary docking solution.[5]

The Analogue Pocket is designed around an Altera Cyclone V field-programmable gate array, which it uses to replicate the hardware of the Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance handheld consoles.[6] An adapter is available separately which allows the use of Game Gear game cartridges. Additional adapters are in development for Neo Geo Pocket, Neo Geo Pocket Color and Atari Lynx game cartridges and TurboGrafx-16, PC Engine, and SuperGrafx HuCards.[7] This FPGA is also open for developers to create other "cores". The Analogue Pocket includes an additional FPGA[8] for system management.

Release

The Analogue Pocket was announced on October 16, 2019.[9][10][11][12] Its release was delayed three separate times since the initial Pocket press release. Analogue cited global chip shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for the product’s delay until December 2021.[13]

A glow-in-the-dark version of the Pocket (Pocket Glow) was launched in September 2023,[14][15] and models with the colors the Game Boy was available in were launched in November.[16]

Software updates

A Pocket 1.1 system update was planned for launch in January 2022, but was delayed to July. The update introduced an implementation of the PDP-1 system together with the game Spacewar!, as well as save states and "info cards" that display information about inserted Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance and Game Gear games.[17]

In December 2023, Analogue released firmware versions 1.2 and 2.0. Version 1.2 fixed issues with sleep/wake and save states, added FGPA compatibility with cartridge adapters and allowed FGPA cores to detect when the Pocket is docked.[18]

Version 2.0 added custom color palette support for Game Boy games and the ability for FGPA cores to switch aspect ratios when docked. It also fixed a "video issue with some openFPGA cores and resolutions" when docked.[18]

Hardware

The Analogue Pocket has the following hardware specifications[19][20]

Size Approximately 3.4 by 5.86 by 0.86 inches (86 mm × 149 mm × 22 mm) (WxHxD)
Screen 3.5 inch backlit LTPS LCD display, variable refresh 30 Hz - 62 Hz
Display size 3.5 in (89 mm) diagonal
Power 4300 mAh Lithium Ion battery

USB-C charging with 18W fast charging

Battery life 6–10 hours
CPU Altera Cyclone V with 49k LEs

Altera Cyclone 10 with 15k LEs

Memory 3.4 MB BRAM

2x 16 MB 16-bit Cellular RAM

64 MB 16-bit SDRAM

256 KB 16-bit Asynchronous SRAM

Resolution 1600 (w) × 1440 (h) pixels (10:9 aspect ratio, allowing a 10x integer scale of the original Game Boy and Game Boy Color)
Sound Stereo speakers, 3.5 mm headphone jack

Reception

In a 2021 review, Sam Machkovech of Ars Technica praised the Pocket's screen, accuracy in simulating Nintendo hardware, audio quality, controls and other features, but criticized its uneven weight distribution and lack of clarity on how the add-on functionality would work. His verdict reads, "What, did you miss all the glowing praise? Buy it—if you can."[21]

In 2022, Brendan Nystedt of Wired gave the Pocket a score of 8/10, praising its screen, controls, compatibility with Nintendo cartridges and potential with OpenFGPA, but criticizing its volume and power buttons as "annoying", the lack of protection for the cartridge slot and the inferior layout for Game Boy Advance games. He wrote, "If you don't care about the nostalgia brought on by using an actual Nintendo Game Boy, the Analogue Pocket might be the ultimate upgrade for your retro games collection."[22]

Awards

The Analogue Pocket won a Red Dot Design Award in 2022[23] It was nominated for Wallpaper's 2019 Design Awards.[24] The Pocket was also awarded two Fast Company awards for Best Product Design of 2020[25] and Best Design Innovations of 2020 in the North America region.[26]

References

  1. ↑ Doolan, Liam (19 October 2021). "Analogue Pocket Is Getting Its Own OS - Allowing Users To Explore, Discover And Preserve Video Game History". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  2. ↑ "Analogue homepage". Analogue, Inc. Archived from the original on 2019-11-10. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
  3. ↑ "Pocket Shipping December 13 - 11/22/21". Analogue, Inc. Archived from the original on 2021-11-30. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  4. ↑ Nero, Dom (17 December 2021). "I'm Falling In Love With the Game Boy All Over Again". Esquire. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  5. ↑ "Analogue Pocket FAQ". Analogue. Archived from the original on 2021-12-18. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
  6. ↑ "Analogue's $200 Pocket could be the ultimate retro gaming portable". Engadget. 16 October 2019. Archived from the original on 2024-01-06. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  7. ↑ "This Handheld Will Play Any Game Boy Cartridge, Ever". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Archived from the original on 2021-04-01. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  8. ↑ "Analogue Pocket: A MONSTER IN YOUR POCKET". Retro Gamer (229). February 2022. Archived from the original on 6 January 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  9. ↑ Magazine, Wallpaper* (2019-10-16). "Retro favourite Game Boy has been given a new lease of life". Wallpaper*. Archived from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  10. ↑ "Game Boy gets extra life in minimal Analogue Pocket". Dezeen. 2019-10-17. Archived from the original on 2021-02-28. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  11. ↑ Kuchera, Ben (2019-10-16). "This $199 handheld will be the most decadent way to play Game Boy games". Polygon. Archived from the original on 2021-04-01. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  12. ↑ Stein, Scott. "The $200 Analogue Pocket looks like the best Game Boy ever made". CNET. Archived from the original on 2021-01-20. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  13. ↑ Zhang, Jenny (November 22, 2021). "The Analogue Pocket Will Begin Shipping In December". GameSpot. Archived from the original on November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  14. ↑ "A glow-in-the-dark Analogue Pocket will be available in September". Engadget. 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  15. ↑ Cunningham, Andrew (2023-08-28). "Analogue's supercharged modern-day Game Boy now glows in the dark". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  16. ↑ Parrish, Ash (2023-11-15). "The Analogue Pocket now comes in a rainbow of classic Game Boy colors". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  17. ↑ Machkovech, Sam (2022-07-29). "Analogue comes out swinging with Pocket 1.1 update: "We're not f-ing around"". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 2023-10-25. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  18. 1 2 Cunningham, Andrew (2024-01-05). "Flurry of firmware updates makes Analogue Pocket an even better retro handheld". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 2024-01-05. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  19. ↑ "Pocket FAQ". www.analogue.co. Archived from the original on 2021-12-18. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  20. ↑ "Developer FAQ". www.analogue.co. Archived from the original on 2021-12-18. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
  21. ↑ Machkovech, Sam (2021-12-13). "Analogue Pocket review: The greatest Game Boy ever made". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 2023-12-29. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  22. ↑ Nystedt, Brendan (2022-12-20). "The Best Way to Play Old Game Boy Cartridges". Wired. Archived from the original on 2023-12-16. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  23. ↑ "Analogue Pocket Red Dot Design Award". Red Dot. Archived from the original on 2022-06-20. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  24. ↑ Magazine, Wallpaper* (2020-01-06). "'Save' separation toilet by Laufen wins Wallpaper* Design Award for Life-Enhancer of the Year". Wallpaper*. Archived from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  25. ↑ "The best product design of 2020". Fast Company. 2020-09-30. Archived from the original on 2021-04-10. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  26. ↑ "The best design innovations of 2020 in the North America region". Fast Company. 2020-09-30. Archived from the original on 2021-03-27. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
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