Analogue 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.
Manufacturer | Analogue |
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Type | Handheld game console |
Generation | Ninth generation |
Release date | December 13, 2021 |
Introductory price | US$219.99 |
Media | Game 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 system | Analogue OS[1] |
CPU | Altera Cyclone V, Altera Cyclone 10 |
Display | 3.5" backlit 1600x1440 LTPS LCD display |
Connectivity | 3.5 mm headphone jack, Game Boy link cable, MicroSD, USB-C (power and dock interface) |
Website | www |
Design
The device features a design inspired by 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] Adapters are also available which allows the use of Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket, Neo Geo Pocket Color and Atari Lynx game cartridges.[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]
Hardware
The Analogue Pocket has the following hardware specifications[14][15]
Size | Approximately 3.4 by 5.86 by 0.86 inches (86 mm × 149 mm × 22 mm) (WxHxD) |
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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 |
Awards
Analogue Pocket won a Red Dot Design Award in 2022[16] Analogue Pocket was nominated for Wallpaper's 2019 Design Awards.[17] Pocket was also awarded two Fast Company awards for Best Product Design of 2020[18] and Best Design Innovations of 2020 in the North America region.[19]
References
- Doolan, Liam (19 October 2021). "Analogue Pocket Is Getting Its Own OS - Allowing Users To Explore, Discover And Preserve Video Game History". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
- "Analogue homepage". Analogue, Inc.
- "Pocket Shipping December 13 - 11/22/21". Analogue, Inc.
- Nero, Dom (17 December 2021). "I'm Falling In Love With the Game Boy All Over Again". Esquire. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
- "Analogue Pocket FAQ". Analogue. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
- "Analogue's $200 Pocket could be the ultimate retro gaming portable". Engadget. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
- "This Handheld Will Play Any Game Boy Cartridge, Ever". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
- "Analogue Pocket: A MONSTER IN YOUR POCKET". Retro Gamer (229). February 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- Magazine, Wallpaper* (2019-10-16). "Retro favourite Game Boy has been given a new lease of life". Wallpaper*. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
- "Game Boy gets extra life in minimal Analogue Pocket". Dezeen. 2019-10-17. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
- Kuchera, Ben (2019-10-16). "This $199 handheld will be the most decadent way to play Game Boy games". Polygon. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
- Stein, Scott. "The $200 Analogue Pocket looks like the best Game Boy ever made". CNET. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
- Zhang, Jenny (November 22, 2021). "The Analogue Pocket Will Begin Shipping In December". GameSpot. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
- "Pocket FAQ". www.analogue.co. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
- "Developer FAQ". www.analogue.co. Retrieved 2021-12-18.
- "Analogue Pocket Red Dot Design Award". Red Dot.
- Magazine, Wallpaper* (2020-01-06). "'Save' separation toilet by Laufen wins Wallpaper* Design Award for Life-Enhancer of the Year". Wallpaper*. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
- "The best product design of 2020". Fast Company. 2020-09-30. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
- "The best design innovations of 2020 in the North America region". Fast Company. 2020-09-30. Retrieved 2021-03-27.