Analogue's latest FPGA system is almost here, after two years of waiting. With the handheld Analogue Pocket's imminent launch this December, Analogue took some time to showcase a new tidbit about the handheld device. Rather than just use a simple menu like the MegaSg or SuperNt, the Pocket will be running its own custom operating system, aptly named Analogue OS. It comes with a number of features, including allowing you to filter your games by developer or publisher, region, revisions, and more. Analogue OS will also let users add custom boxart or title screen images for your whole library, make custom playlists of games, capture screenshots, provide statistics of your general gameplay, and save or load savestates.

And this is all done on official cartridges--not through emulation. In an interview with Polygon, Christopher Taber, one of Analogue's developers claimed, "It is more than just being complex but dually difficult to do this reliably, let alone on physical cartridges. As far as I know we’re the first to ever develop the technology to capture and load save states instantly during gameplay on physical cartridges."

Analogue OS will be available on the Pocket and Duo systems. Currently, there are no plans to put the new OS on any of their previous hardware. On launch, it'll support features for Game Boy, Color, Advance, and Game Gear, with future updates planned for Neo Geo Pocket Color, TurboGrafix16, and Atari Lynx games. In addition, the gameplay tracking, library sorting, and savestate capabilities will not be ready for the initial release of Analogue OS 1.0--they're planned to be added in version 1.1, whenever that releases.

Source

 

[Lazyt]

who buys those things when you can literally play them on 3DS and switch

 

[Deleted member 194275]

This World is twisted. People are passionate on defending shit like Polymega on every single corner of the internet, but hated a new pack of features being added to an Analogue product.

The delays and availability are offenders for Analogue, true, but they didn't announced that now, right?

 

[cearp]

I think it's just because the price is 'high', that people like to complain. Even though there's not really any other product that has these features.
I'm sure most of us know how to emulate games on our phone/computer/switch etc, it's not about that.
This is different to mister, as in you don't need to connect it to a screen!

This is about a premium compact device so that you can enjoy your games, I'm looking forward to mine coming in December!

 

[cearp]

Analogue is fucking wack. Their products just feel like over-priced designer versions of retro consoles. They certainly look good, and have interesting features, but they wall everything behind their proprietary garden and are deathly afraid of the possibility of the end-user playing games obtained illegally on their systems.
They're essentially the Apple of retro-gaming.

I don't think so. I've heard (doesn't mean much) that the 'jailbreak'/hacks released for the super nt and mega sg are actually by the official Analogue team.
If so, perfectly understandable. If it plays roms out of the box, I can believe that Nintendo/whoever might look badly and try to hit them with legal action. Whether Analogue wins or loses, it wouldn't look good and would be costly.
But release a cfw anonymously... everything's fine

 

[zxr750j]

Beautiful, I would buy it if I didn't have a partner...
I want (don't need) a new laptop, that has priority.

 

[ldeveraux]

why these stupid things exist in the first place I'll never understand

 

[TheZander]

Even better, Lesserkuma makes his own app that's updated much more frequently for the GBxCart RW called FlashGBX. It has it's own CFW for the hardware, and whenever I have a repro cartridge that isn't detected properly or supported, he's quick to add the cart's support in an update. I use his app exclusively over Alex's.
(And Alex's apps are fragmented between 3 different apps. One to backup saves and ROMs, one to flash ROMs, and one for updating firmware.)

View attachment 280490





I don't regret my GBxCart purchase one tiny bit, as you can see from the picture below it's been very profitable for me over these past few months!

View attachment 280489

How did you make that 1000 dollars? From using a particular gameboy cart?

 

[Kioku]

I'd like a device in this form factor that can run titles up to the PS1, with some form of local play akin to the GB link cables.

 

[Dr_Faustus]

This thing feels like real Vaporware in action. What's stopping people from getting the same experience with a GBA/SP and an Everdrive/EZFlash Omega?

Especially given how stupid and inflated the market on GB and GBA carts are now, this just seems like a futile attempt to appeal to something that does not make much sense.

 

[DaniPoo]

Anyone know what That OS is? is It based on something already existing like Linux or is it something completely new? I assume it‘s something like a Linux distro. Less work that way

 

[RAHelllord]

Anyone know what That OS is? is It based on something already existing like Linux or is it something completely new? I assume it‘s something like a Linux distro. Less work that way

They haven't said anything, but considering it's running on an FPGA I don't think it's going to be linux based, but that's probably something we'll know once people get their hands on the device.

 

[Jayro]

How did you make that 1000 dollars? From using a particular gameboy cart?

I make and sell a test cartridge for the Gameboy color, as well as offer custom logo services. https://www.etsy.com/shop/JayrosModShop

And it's all thanks to the GBxCart RW.

 

[Harsky]

Even better, Lesserkuma makes his own app that's updated much more frequently for the GBxCart RW called FlashGBX. It has it's own CFW for the hardware, and whenever I have a repro cartridge that isn't detected properly or supported, he's quick to add the cart's support in an update. I use his app exclusively over Alex's.
(And Alex's apps are fragmented between 3 different apps. One to backup saves and ROMs, one to flash ROMs, and one for updating firmware.)

View attachment 280490





I don't regret my GBxCart purchase one tiny bit, as you can see from the picture below it's been very profitable for me over these past few months!

View attachment 280489

If I'm reading correct, would this actually help out in ditching my old Gameboy Flashcart Readers that needs a serial port like the GBXchanger?

Also on topic, I wish I could find an excuse to drop this sort of money on the Pocket but I just spent money upgrading my GBA console with an IPS screen and an EZ Flash cart for the GBA and GB/GBC last year.

 

[Nagarjuna]

I don't think so. I've heard (doesn't mean much) that the 'jailbreak'/hacks released for the super nt and mega sg are actually by the official Analogue team.
If so, perfectly understandable. If it plays roms out of the box, I can believe that Nintendo/whoever might look badly and try to hit them with legal action. Whether Analogue wins or loses, it wouldn't look good and would be costly.
But release a cfw anonymously... everything's fine

That's interesting, is there any evidence of that? Sad there isn't a CFW for the Pocket yet though.
Still, making everything proprietary irks me. Their DAC looks really really cool but it's designed to be only compatible with Analogue products.
Edit: Didn't realize the Pocket hasn't been released yet. Oops.

 

[KimKong]

Even better, Lesserkuma makes his own app that's updated much more frequently for the GBxCart RW called FlashGBX. It has it's own CFW for the hardware, and whenever I have a repro cartridge that isn't detected properly or supported, he's quick to add the cart's support in an update. I use his app exclusively over Alex's.
(And Alex's apps are fragmented between 3 different apps. One to backup saves and ROMs, one to flash ROMs, and one for updating firmware.)

View attachment 280490





I don't regret my GBxCart purchase one tiny bit, as you can see from the picture below it's been very profitable for me over these past few months!

View attachment 280489

I'm curious - What are you producing with your GBxCartRW..?

 

[KimKong]

I make and sell a test cartridge for the Gameboy color, as well as offer custom logo services. https://www.etsy.com/shop/JayrosModShop

And it's all thanks to the GBxCart RW.

Ah yes of course - now I know where I remember your name from!
Nice to see you on here too!

 

[Jayro]

If I'm reading correct, would this actually help out in ditching my old Gameboy Flashcart Readers that needs a serial port like the GBXchanger?

Also on topic, I wish I could find an excuse to drop this sort of money on the Pocket but I just spent money upgrading my GBA console with an IPS screen and an EZ Flash cart for the GBA and GB/GBC last year.

Yes, it supports all those old carts as well!

 

[RAHelllord]

If I'm reading correct, would this actually help out in ditching my old Gameboy Flashcart Readers that needs a serial port like the GBXchanger?

Also on topic, I wish I could find an excuse to drop this sort of money on the Pocket but I just spent money upgrading my GBA console with an IPS screen and an EZ Flash cart for the GBA and GB/GBC last year.

Yep, it's plug and play via any USB 2 port, the device itself has a USB C plug.

 

[cashboxz01]

The market for this is getting smaller with every month. The new laminated display for GBC is really good, and a flash cart costs about $30. I own an IPS and I bought a RG280M. Very happy with the RG280M as it charges via USB-C, supports save states, and cheat lists. I primarily use it for GB/GBC/GBA emulation. The UI could be better, but the quality of the hardware and display are amazing, as well as the feel of the product.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

I didn't want one when it was first announced, but I actually kind of want one now. My modded DMGs are great, but if I want to play some GBC or GBA I'll have to mod those as well. Can't play on a non lit screen these days. It'd be nice to have a device that does all 3 well without GB(C) carts sticking out and I do like the GBC/GBP form factor (although I prefer the chunkier DMG since I have big hands plus it fits more batteries so I don't have to replace them as often)
And I'm sure there will be a jailbreak firmware for this as well. Otherwise, why include a MicroSD slot? Pretty sure those JB firmwares are made by the Analogue team, but of course they can't admit to that for fear of being sued.
A jailbreak firmware with this new fancy interface sounds good.

I might just have to get one. Game Boy modding isn't cheap either so if this can save me from needing to mod my GBC and GBA I might even save money considering I won't need to buy an EZFlash Omega DE if there is a jailbreak firmware released.