Analogue Duo announced, an 'all-in-one NEC video game system' supporting cartridges and CD-ROMs

analog duo.jpg
Analogue just announced its latest console, the Analogue Duo. The company says that the system is region-free and "compatible with nearly every NEC system and game format ever made", including the TurboGrafx-16, PC Engine, SuperGrafx, TurboGrafx CD, PC Engine CD-ROM and Super Arcade CD-ROM. Like the company's other hardware, the Duo plays games from the original hardware rather than ROMs and is using a specialty hardware chip called an FPGA, which operates on a transistor level implementation of its functionality.

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The system features a cartridge slot and CD-ROM drive which supports Hucards, TurboChips, CD-ROM, SUPER CD-ROM and ARCADE CD-ROM. It also supports both wired and wireless controllers via Bluetooth or 2.4g.

More details on the console is available in the source link below. The Analogue Duo will release in 2020 in limited quantities and is priced at $199.

:arrow: SOURCE
 

Tom Bombadildo

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Slightly related question, how good is a Vita as a RetroArch/emulation box? Kinda considering getting one for that purpose (Switch is just a tad too bulky on the go), but I don't know how good the emulation is. Of course, other suggestions welcome, but I'd prefer something portable.
In terms of playability, you'll get basically everything SNES and lower console-wise, plus "Native" PS1 and PSP support (via Adrenaline), and GBA and lower handheld-wise. In terms of price-portability-capability, it's probably your best bet for portable emulation sans Chinese Android handhelds (which would be my second recommendation).

You should be able to pick up a Vita for like $100, give or take (though not 100% sure about your region), and then you can grab an SD2Vita so you can use a micro SD card of any size instead of having to buy expensive Vita memory cards (though if you get a phat Vita you'll need to pickup a Vita memory card of some size to get hacks installed, just get the smallest/cheapest you can find).
 
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Ev1l0rd

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In terms of playability, you'll get basically everything SNES and lower console-wise, plus "Native" PS1 and PSP support (via Adrenaline), and GBA and lower handheld-wise. In terms of price-portability-capability, it's probably your best bet for portable emulation sans Chinese Android handhelds (which would be my second recommendation).

You should be able to pick up a Vita for like $100, give or take (though not 100% sure about your region), and then you can grab an SD2Vita so you can use a micro SD card of any size instead of having to buy expensive Vita memory cards (though if you get a phat Vita you'll need to pickup a Vita memory card of some size to get hacks installed, just get the smallest/cheapest you can find).
Thanks a lot! Yeah, that would cover basically everything I'd need to cover. N64/GC isn't really something I'm looking to emulate on the go anyway (those games are far less pick up and play).

I'll probably see if I can get one next month. Such a shame the console failed tbh.
 

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Thanks a lot! Yeah, that would cover basically everything I'd need to cover. N64/GC isn't really something I'm looking to emulate on the go anyway (those games are far less pick up and play).

I'll probably see if I can get one next month. Such a shame the console failed tbh.
I think I'm just gonna use my galaxy note 20 ultra hooked up to my 4ktv it will play anything I throw at it dreamcast GameCube so I'm sure it can handle pc engine fine I've been playing Saturn games at full speed on this phone its crazy.
 

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I think I'm just gonna use my galaxy note 20 ultra hooked up to my 4ktv it will play anything I throw at it dreamcast GameCube so I'm sure it can handle pc engine fine I've been playing Saturn games at full speed on this phone its crazy.
You missed the fact that I've been looking for handheld stuff to emulate on the go. If I want to emulate on a phone, I would. I am not intending to, in no small part because phone controllers suck.
 

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This is great for people with plenty of cash and that already have a collection of PC Engine games. For the rest? This is completely nonsensical.

I mean for me at least, I can emulate the PC engine perfectly on my Wii, using Wiimednafen. CD based games included, 240p mode on my Sony CRT.

It is just perfect, and I don't see a reason for this, there are other consoles out there like the SNES, the N64, the Saturn, even the GBA, that have NEVER been emulated to perfection, so I think FPGA consoles have a place for them.

I am a purist, but when emulators get it right, you must admit it. NES, Gameboy, PC engine, and Sega Genesis have already been emulated to perfection.
 
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You can really see the divide between pirates/gamers and collectors/gamers.. A normal pirate Is happy getting a emulation box to play everything ( not Judging, own and made many retro). A collector/games wants to feel it. I can’t tell you how exciting it was to search flea markets and Craigslist years ago to find stuff ( when it was still cheap) Pc engine skyrocketed prices in the last couple of years ... I have a turbo grafx and pc engine core but no cd drive ... seeing that a working duo or cd attachment is easily over 300$ I won’t any time soon, but a brand new machine at 200$.. I would be willing to buy. I mean if you have no desire to buy it fine but no need to be shitting over it because YOU don’t see the value.
 

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You can really see the divide between pirates/gamers and collectors/gamers.. A normal pirate Is happy getting a emulation box to play everything ( not Judging, own and made many retro). A collector/games wants to feel it. I can’t tell you how exciting it was to search flea markets and Craigslist years ago to find stuff ( when it was still cheap) Pc engine skyrocketed prices in the last couple of years ... I have a turbo grafx and pc engine core but no cd drive ... seeing that a working duo or cd attachment is easily over 300$ I won’t any time soon, but a brand new machine at 200$.. I would be willing to buy. I mean if you have no desire to buy it fine but no need to be shitting over it because YOU don’t see the value.

You really should learn how to quote, because nobody knows who you are speaking to.

I don't see anyone shitting over it. At least what I said is that consoles like the PC Engine are emulated perfectly, so an FPGA of it, is completely ridiculous and not needed (spending the money for both end user and devs). So in this case a MUCH cheaper software emulator machine alternative could have been created. That would make sense.
 
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You really should learn how to quote, because nobody knows who you are speaking to.

I don't see anyone shitting over it. At least what I said is that consoles like the PC Engine are emulated perfectly, so an FPGA of it, is completely ridiculous and not needed (spending the money for both end user and devs). So in this case a MUCH cheaper software emulator machine alternative could have been created. That would make sense.
you know lots of people just want to use their original games on a newer hardware that can display in hd, and that is for those persons, if they ever make an n64 that plays n64 cartridges and displays in hd im all in.
 

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You really should learn how to quote, because nobody knows who you are speaking to.

I don't see anyone shitting over it. At least what I said is that consoles like the PC Engine are emulated perfectly, so an FPGA of it, is completely ridiculous and not needed (spending the money for both end user and devs). So in this case a MUCH cheaper software emulator machine alternative could have been created. That would make sense.
lol the reason I didn't quote was that I was not speaking to anyone specifically, because it was generalization.

but thnx from proving the point, YOU don't see the benefit and "dislike the project" While others who want hardware see this as great replacement of a $300+ machine that has a laser that is dying out.
again because you do not own a single Hucard and Turbo CD, this project is not for you as you can emulate easily, but I can not really shove a Hucard in the sd slot and play Keith Courage. can I?
 
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lol the reason I didn't quote was that I was not speaking to anyone specifically, because it was generalization.

but thnx from proving the point, YOU don't see the benefit and "dislike the project" While others who want hardware see this as great replacement of a $300+ machine that has a laser that is dying out.
again because you do not own a single Hucard and Turbo CD, this project is not for you as you can emulate easily, but I can not really shove a Hucard in the sd slot and play Keith Courage. can I?

It is logic, it is not about disliking the project, go fucking cry somewhere else. Logically, it makes no sense for an FPGA based on this console, do you people dont even fucking read? That is what I am speaking of, the same beautiful box could have been made 100 dollar cheaper if it were based on software emulation, which is 100% accurate these days.
 
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It is logic, it is not about disliking the project, go fucking cry somewhere else. Logically, it makes no sense for an FPGA based on this console, do you people dont even fucking read? That is what I am speaking of, the same beautiful box could have been made 100 dollar cheaper if it were based on software emulation, which is 100% accurate these days.

Neither software emulators or FPGA cores are 100% accurate. Apparantly BSNES and BlastEm are incredibly close but it's simply incorrect to say that broad emulation of retro consoles has reached peak accuracy, even on the most powerful hardware in 2020. And furthermore tools to ascertain this don't really exist for many systems yet.

Sure, the Analogue Duo could feasibly perform excellently as a software emulator with a HuCard & CD drive interface, and possibly be cheaper - but at that point, at best it'd just be a lower cost, less versatile and prettier Polymega. FPGA's don't suffer from emulation lag - something that can only be eliminated by using powerful CPUs to implement newer techniques like Retroarch's Run Ahead modes, and yet for some playing this way will still not feel right.

I emulate some stuff on my N3DS and PC sometimes but will nearly always prefer real hardware on a CRT these days. It's my preference. Analogue don't make stuff that particularly appeals to me (mainly as I don't game on a HDTV) but they do build hands down the best clones available. Lots of stuff on the MiSTer platform is also super high quality and arguably superior quality to what's available for regular emulation platforms.

There's no logical reason why a videogame enthusiast wouldn't be able to appreciate the benefits different approaches and platforms bring.
 
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It is logic, it is not about disliking the project, go fucking cry somewhere else. Logically, it makes no sense for an FPGA based on this console, do you people dont even fucking read? That is what I am speaking of, the same beautiful box could have been made 100 dollar cheaper if it were based on software emulation, which is 100% accurate these days.
Logically ? Sorry but it seem you crying but something you don’t want even want? Why do you never care if it’s FPGA? There around hundreds of emulation boxes that would do what you want, Hell I have a drawer of PI Zeros what work amazing. The issue is that you bitching about a project not for you. All of Analogue’s projects are FPGA and to complain that they are following their own business model make you seem like a brand new complain troll,
Saying to only use software emulation instead of FPGA Because they both play games, is like saying do not buy a Porsche because a Kia drive also. Sure they get you to where you going. But one has the bells and whistles.
The fact is that any retro gaming project should be welcomed, as it brings more eyes and in turn more people developing more projects ( maybe even one you’ll like)
 
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nashismo

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Logically ? Sorry but it seem you crying but something you don’t want even want? Why do you never care if it’s FPGA? There around hundreds of emulation boxes that would do what you want, Hell I have a drawer of PI Zeros what work amazing. The issue is that you bitching about a project not for you. All of Analogue’s projects are FPGA and to complain that they are following their own business model make you seem like a brand new complain troll,
Saying to only use software emulation instead of FPGA Because they both play games, is like saying do not buy a Porsche because a Kia drive also. Sure they get you to where you going. But one has the bells and whistles.
The fact is that any retro gaming project should be welcomed, as it brings more eyes and in turn more people developing more projects ( maybe even one you’ll like)

The only one crying here is you because you thought I hated your system. What I hate is your sorry ass generation that get their feelings hurt by everything, grown ass men living on a bubble.

On the opposite, I love the look of this console, it looks amazing and I would love to have it actually. But in my country this would cost about twice the price, so 400 dollars would be too much for me. So, seeing how the PC Engine can be emulated perfectly, at least in terms of sound and video (what matters the most anyways), I thought it would be best that we could have the same neat product, only much cheaper.

That's it, I don't see anything wrong with my logical thinking. The rest of things, you only assumed of me, which in life, is a very big mistake to make. I remember when in collegue, I "assumed" the teacher would NOT do another test right after the last one, but he DID many times, and for being a stupid ass fool, who "assumed" things, I got many bad grades.
 

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Yeah spending thousands in a "pandemic" on pc engine cd games or carts make sense lmao its for people who already own the carts and cds no one is going out today and spending money on that stuff

And bitching about things people aren't forced into buying or collecting is totally productive. Gotcha.

Cry me a river :lol:
 
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The only one crying here is you because you thought I hated your system. What I hate is your sorry ass generation that get their feelings hurt by everything, grown ass men living on a bubble.

On the opposite, I love the look of this console, it looks amazing and I would love to have it actually. But in my country this would cost about twice the price, so 400 dollars would be too much for me. So, seeing how the PC Engine can be emulated perfectly, at least in terms of sound and video (what matters the most anyways), I thought it would be best that we could have the same neat product, only much cheaper.

That's it, I don't see anything wrong with my logical thinking. The rest of things, you only assumed of me, which in life, is a very big mistake to make. I remember when in collegue, I "assumed" the teacher would NOT do another test right after the last one, but he DID many times, and for being a stupid ass fool, who "assumed" things, I got many bad grades.
Most my family is in South America, so I can tell you I understand pricing, when I am the one with a PS4 in my suitcase to give to my cousins kids because It would cost them cost $600. But guess what they all have retro pie boxes and arcade sticks to play MAME with.
And once again you prove the point that Analogue have always dealt with high end products, getting made at Ferrari because the car is too expensive is stupid.( are you in Ferrari forums complaining that they are using 788hp engines in their cars when 100hp is fine?) It’s even worse when you remember Analogue Duo is cheaper than original hardware . Keep emulating on a Pc or make a emulation box to play but being mad because it’s expensive ( cheaper than original) is short sighted because the product is not intended for your demographics. ( no burlarse de Sudamerica)
 
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