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 |
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]
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) |
---|---|
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.
External links