Analogue Pocket

o1s1n

I believe standard 3DS XL cases fit them quite well. Was thinking about using an original Gameboy DMG case I have in the attic for my one.

Not arsed with screen protectors at all tbh, haven't used them on handhelds in years and years and I have yet to see any damaged screens...

Managed to nab a set of pocket adapters myself. 99 dollars for three adapters, 60 dollars postage, going to be hit with import duties - they are some god damn expensive adapters.

Kinda between a rock and a hard place though as one of the main reasons I bought the thing was to play my NGP carts.

McDermotX

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121453724#Comment_121453724

Fair play. FWIW, I still think the classic black is the best looking one as I've not been overly impressed by the transparent and limited ones, apart from perhaps the silver and indigo coloured ones. But it's all subjective. Same great machine whatever the flavour.

There are a few screen protectors other than Analogue's own ones. AmFilm make ones for a start on Amazon, but TBH, I've never bothered putting one on, but they were always on the ball with Switch versions so are probably half decent. Remember getting Analogue's own screen protectors way back when but feck knows where they are. Up in the attic somewhere no doubt. As o1s1n says, there's probably a ton of third-party cases out there that'd do the job, but despite it's handheld nature, I don't think I've ever had the Pocket out of the house so I'm comfortable with Analogue's own hard case. Protects and looks the part, which is all I really want from these things, but I'm sure it's next to useless having out and about. I recall some people using a Tomtoc Apple Watch case of all things before :)

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121453762#Comment_121453762

It's a shocker. It really is. They desperately needs some form of EU distribution.

Well......they don't, but anyone over this side of the water certainly does.

Retr0gamer

I got the analogue screen protector and wouldn't recommend it. It's coming away from the screen already.

o1s1n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121453870#Comment_121453870

I actually wanted to buy the Gamegear adapter and the case too, but you couldn't put them in the same order as the cartridge adapters are on pre order.

So it would have meant another 60 dollars shipping and import duties. Couldn't justify it at all, I'll have to stick to playing my Gamegear games on a Gamegear!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121453886#Comment_121453886

That's disappointing to hear.

I'd just take the protector off and enjoy it as is if I were you. If you drop it a protector isn't going to do very much as the screen is protruding from the console so will take the full impact. Only thing the protector is going to do is protect it from scratches and somehow I can't see you flinging it in your back pocket while you skateboard around town so I doubt that would be an issue either. Keep it in a nice case and it'll be grand.

McDermotX

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121453922#Comment_121453922

Aye.....the inability to have combined orders is easily top three in the 'most annoying reasons Analogue exist' list. The amount of people who complained in the past about missing out on orders because they were trying to checkout with an unavailable item is ridiculous.

It's a system very much geared towards a lengthy pre-order for a product launch where you can put in for all the little extras along with the device a year in advance to get them all at once under one shipment, and almost completely incompatible with international customers looking to buy a single accessory. Think I'd had a few when I put in an order for the adapters with that shipping.....just checking there.....last October. :) Original Pocket order was....WOW....August 2020.

Retr0gamer

You might not be able to play the carts but you can still play the ROMs on open FPGA. It's been a real eye opener to how good the game gear and master system library are.

McDermotX

OS 1.2 out and about

Won't have a chance to try it out till the weekend but a good few fixes in there plus more controller support

OS

• Fixed sleep/wake problems on some Pockets
• Fixed Save States (Memories) on some Pockets
• Fixed Save States not showing in listing for Pokemon Yellow and some other games
• Added “Docked Display” in Tools>Developer that enables Pocket display, buttons, and speakers while Docked
• Minor UI fixes

Nanoloop

• Fixed file transfer issue

openFPGA

• Framework version updated to 1.2
• Cartridge adapter support including upcoming Analogue cartridge adapters
• Cartridge audio support
• Cores that share platforms now can share Assets
• Cores can now easily know if Pocket is Docked

APF

• Added new Host command [00B1 OS Notify: Cartridge Adapter]
• Added new Host command [00B2 OS Notify: Docked State]
• Added new Target command [0152 Debug Event Log]
• Fixed scaler dropping bottom lines of image in some resolutions

Dock

• Added support for 8BitDo NeoGeo controller
• Added support for 8BitDo Micro controller
• Added support for PCE/Turbo Mini USB controller
• Fixed PS5 controller pairing
• Fixed Xbox One and Stadia 2nd controller issue
• Fixed USB mouse and keyboard issues
• Fixed 480p refresh rate accuracy

Colonel Panic

The issues with Sleep/Wake mentioned in the OS section are resolved for my Pocket now. It was very flakey before. Rock solid now.

Note: I had to delete the 1.1 update from my SD card before it would do anything about the 1.2 file.

Robert Nairac

Pocket was supposed to be here today but got delayed. Delivery by UPS. 80 quid in fees and taxes. Wondering if anyone knows if you can receive the item and pay the fees later or are they pretty strict and won't release it without immediate payment?

Retr0gamer

Updated the firmware on the pocket. Still doesn't support display modes on FPGA cores so i still need to use the everdrive for Gameboy games to make them look right. Thought that would be fixed.

Also messed around with it a bit. Used an auto updater that tried to download everything including ROMs to it no matter what settings I used which was a pain.

I set up a wonderswan and pce engine and PC engine cd core. PC engine is fine but pce ce and wonderswan are a pain.

Both require a bios but the wonderswan bios can't be found anywhere. Eventually got an updated that worked and downloaded it and it's working great. Looks amazing on the OLED.

PC engine cd is a bit of a pain as you need to generate Json files for each game and they have to be in cue/bin format. My rom site of choice doesn't use cue/bin but I found a good torrent with the right format. It was late so haven't generated the Json files but a good updater apparently will update them for you.

Finally I got a game and watch core which also supports many other LCD games. Bit of a faff again to get it working, you need a game rom and an artwork rom and then use a generator to combine them but once you get it working they look great.

o1s1n

I read that v2.0 is going to have the different display modes running in the FPGA cores, so am holding off updating until that is released. (meant to be before the end of the year)

Robert Nairac

Is anyone using a grip with theirs? I have big hands. I'm looking for an affordable option that ships from within the EU. PWRUP Grip is 80 quid with taxes and delivery costs. It's not worth it.

Retr0gamer

Happy Xmas from analogue. Firmware 2.0 released.

https://twitter.com/analogue/status/1738930789532811436?t=3YIo_KHbCUxAtM1rW56jXA&s=19

Of course they release it while I'm on my parents so can't update but sure I'll keep playing links awakening.

Retr0gamer

Little disappointed with the 2.0 update. The display mode and filter thing just adds a CRT filter to some games. Now it's a pretty good crt filter if a little too dark but it's not what I'm after. You still cant select the screen filters for the GB and GBC cores. This might be done to the cores which haven't been updated in quite a while.

Also a little worried about the NGPC core and cartridge adapters. Jotega seems to be having a hard time to get NGPC working as it's a very weird hardware set up and the system hasn't been adequately emulated outside of the recent ngp snk collections. However it's not jotega that's working on analogues core so maybe they are having more success.

o1s1n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121540084#Comment_121540084

Jotego is a perfectionist when it comes to his cores but I wonder if Analogue might just try to emulate their way out of the problem instead.

After dropping the cash on the adapters I just want them and some means of using them at this stage with my NGP carts.

Inviere

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121540084#Comment_121540084

From yesterday...

https://x.com/topapate/status/1739648809012015492?s=20

"The new NeoGeo Pocket CPU passes the old test suite. 219 tests trying to cover the whole instruction set. While reviewing these tests again, 5 bugs in the old CPU got unveiled. These are all fixed in the new version"

o1s1n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121540084#Comment_121540084

So I downloaded 2.0 today and it's as you said, just the trinitron filter.

However, if you run the actual updater too, it'll unlock all filters across all FPGA cores.

Can nab it here, just about to give it a go

https://github.com/mattpannella/pocket-updater-utility/releases/tag/2.41.0

Edit - yep that worked, run the updater file and selection option 7, to enable all filters.

Retr0gamer

Thanks for that. I'll give it a go, I'm away for a while but can try it after new years.

Colonel Panic

Updated to 2.0 but filters feel a little pointless unless you have a dock.

Is there any interest in a group buy to mitigate the shipping if nothing else?

o1s1n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121548827#Comment_121548827

The Trinitron filter is a bit pointless undocked but did you unlock all the handheld filters through the updater too? The Gameboy colour, GBA and Gamegear ones are worth a look.

Definitely interested in a group order if folks want to get in on one!

Colonel Panic

Yeah, found an option to do it using Pocket Updater.

Some of them crashed the Neo Geo core!

Inviere

I'd say it's getting close now...

https://twitter.com/topapate/status/1741875936679653463?t=dLUPMRrQMo3GT08Vy_uMgA&s=19

McDermotX

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121549792#Comment_121549792

TBH.....its pretty flaky, so probably better off waiting for individual core developers to implement it themselves. The universal patching seems to be little more than the json edits that some were trying out after 2.0 was released, but it clearly causes issues with some cores. PC Engine and Amiga loves to freeze when cycling through the filters as well

Retr0gamer

I can't get any PC engine cd games to work, the Json conversion is broken on what ever updater unused a d it also managed to convert all the arcade ROMs to Json as well.

McDermotX

That only recent Retr0 ?

Don't recall having an issue other than the limitations already put in place for the PCE CD stuff - limited to 27 (?) bin multitracks, having to use a merge for titles beyond that etc

I don't carry more than a few PCE CDs on the Pocket TBH......might only have Rondo, Prince of Persia, R-Type etc on it at the moment but don't remember having many issues (other than R-Type's Bins needed cleaning up). Possibly something went wrong with an updater alright if its only a recent thing.

I follow a fairly strict way of maintaining the Pocket, and don't tend to deviate from it using a combination of the Retrodriven Updater and Pocket Sync (though tend to only use that for the image pack selections). Took a long time to download all the assets (including the alternatives) through one of them in the past, but I then keep a mirror of the Assets folder for whenever I want to start afresh, so to speak. Very handy for all the CPS stuff so that I'm not locked into hours of updating if on a new card. Retrodriven generates the PCE JSONs as well - as long as the game's folder follows structures like the above. Can just do a reinstall on a fresh SD, unchecking the download ROMS/BIOS option - then copy over the Assets from the backup before running the updater again with the option enabled to pick up any new assets etc

Not sure what you mean by it converting all the arcade roms to JSONs, as you should still have the roms in COMMON folder of all the platforms in ASSETS, with the JSONs residing in the individual core's folders in any case ?

https://github.com/RetroDriven/Pocket_Updater

https://github.com/neil-morrison44/pocket-sync

o1s1n

Do you guys bother much with the arcade cores on your pockets?

I think the Pocket is absolutely amazing for handheld cores but the screen is too small for arcade stuff. Combined with having to use a D pad to play them I find them more of a novelty than anything else.

McDermotX

Probably depends on the individual titles, plus of course there is the option of using the Dock output. Granted there's many ways of playing said titles, but there's something so cool about everything you need all sitting on the one handheld device - plus I'd never finished the Robocop arcade until I played through it on the handheld screen😂.

I certainly don't be trying to pull of SF2 moves on the D-Pad, at least not with any success, but the classic 80s stuff I find more than acceptable on the small screen, but probably the classic 8-bit and 16-bit handheld/console platforms get the majority of my Pocket time.

Retr0gamer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121561718#Comment_121561718

Recent thing. I'd say the updater I'm using is t the best. First time I used it it tried to download every rom for every core even then I specifically selected that it didn't.

McDermotX

NeoGeo Pocket Beta Core

20 minutes ago

Just in time for reyes,  the first beta core for NeoGeo Pocket is available for MiSTer and  Analogue Pocket in the usual locations. Sadly, this core does not fit in  smaller FPGAs, like SiDi or MiST because of internal RAM size  requirements.

Some notes:

Only the monochrome color is supported in this release. Do not use the color BIOS

Game compatibility is listed here

Some games save data to the cartridge. Not yet supported. Games may  hang for 2-3 minutes when they try to save data. Do not select save options in menus

NGP configuration (date and language) is not saved. You need to go through it at least once per session

Inserting and swapping cartridges requires to virtually power off and on the NGP (not the FPGA system)

Some peripherals of the Toshiba MCU are still not implemented. This could potentially impact games

The CPU is not cycle accurate for this release. This could potentially impact games

Early beta released for anyone wanting a dabble

McDermotX

2.1 Firmware

https://www.analogue.co/support/pocket/firmware/2.1

OS

Minor UI fixes

openFPGA

Added "Stretch CRT Width" size option

Fixed CRT Trinitron settings not saving

Fixed crash on some cores when entering Display Mode menu

Fixed Display Mode bug where grayscale modes caused bad core communication

Developer

Added global hotkey to enable (Analogue + X) and disable (Analogue + Y) USB SD Access at any time

Fixed Builds list to remember the last core started through it

APF

Added Target command support for files larger than 4GB: [0181 Data slot read (48bit)] and [0185 Data slot write (48bit)]

Updated Host command [0082 Data slot request write] to support 48-bit file sizes

Updated Host command [008A Data slot update] to support 48-bit file sizes

Updated data slot BRAM writes to support 48-bit file sizes

Fixed data slot read/write commands when length is 0xFFFFFFFF

Dock

Fixed pairing with 8BitDo N30

Retr0gamer

https://twitter.com/analogue/status/1757086585454268670?t=asBH6KoB1LgEp15faygbBw&s=19

Adapters coming soon.

o1s1n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121759404#Comment_121759404

Finally! Time to dust off the oul NGP carts. Only been sitting there waiting to play properly since 2010.

McDermotX

Adapters prepping for shipping

Retr0gamer

Got my email as well.

Need to change my address before I get an angry call from the parents about import charges!

o1s1n

Got mine too. That's rather exciting.

Time to get the oul Revenue lube ready.

Retr0gamer

They got back to me within 4 hours there confirming the change of address.

Retr0gamer

My adapters just shipping.

Time to lub up for customs.

When they said they'd ship at the end of the month they real meant the end of the month!

o1s1n

Yeah I was very surprised to get that shipped notification too!

Wonder will you need a firmware update or is it all just plug and play with the current version once the adapters arrive?

McDermotX

I suspect it'll involve an update or two, as even if the new cores are implemented via OpenFPGA, they'd hopefully aim to integrate it like they do with the Game Gear core, as in tied to the system options etc. Hopefully, anyway. Make it feel like a complete system. Certainly they've mentioned how they want the adapters to be supported by OpenFPGA so perhaps that may mean supporting the likes of Jotego's NGP and the existing PCE core via original cartridges

Been messing a little with Vectrex core of late. Overlay support etc Alright, but a little dinky with some titles on that screen.

McDermotX

Speak of the devil

2.2 out

OS

• Added support for Analogue Pocket Adapter Set including TG16, PCE, SuperGrafx, Lynx, NGP and NGPC
• Memories and Sleep/Wake are supported for TG16, PCE, SuperGrafx and Lynx
• Boot to Cartridge now skips Game Detail screen

APF

• Fixed data slot loads with asset sizes not divisible by 4

Dock

• Fixed controllers occasionally not responding when using the Down+Select hotkey
• Adjusted display video alignment symmetry

Edit - Aye....done the update there and sure enough, the new systems are included in the main options - display modes (Analogue and Original modes for NGPC, PCE has inherited the modes from the Duo - TurboExpress, LT, Trinitron etc), region etc

Just need the bloody adapters now - hopefully Monday

Somewhat unrelated, the Duo Jailbreak that came out past week works pretty well from the little I tried.

https://github.com/analoguejb/Analogue-Duo-JB

o1s1n

Thanks for the heads up! Just updated and got my games down. My body is ready.

Retr0gamer

Had to pay customs there. Looks like it's arriving today.

McDermotX

Aye....probably won't get a chance to check them out till the middle of the week, but good to finally get them today. Actually interested to see how the Lynx stuff fares out on the screen.

Not my pic, but not exactly inconspicuous 😂

o1s1n

Reading reports of some buzzing from people's PCE adapters, watch out for that when you're testing it out.

Should have mine later today too. Only really want the NGP adapter to be honest so might try moving the other two along on ebay.

Retr0gamer

I'll have to dig out my pce stuff, Ive not found them yet. I do know where my ngp stuff is but didn't get a chance to update the pocket or get them from the attic as I was engrossed in the Metroid prime remake. I'm in the office all day and have a thing to go to tonight so will be late enough when I get around to it.

Also got a new R4 in the post yesterday so I've a lot of handheld stuff to play around with!

Retr0gamer

Getting the feeling these aren't coming today and I'm not around tomorrow to accept a package.

o1s1n

Pretended they attempted to deliver today but they Didn't, cheeky bastads!

Guess it'll be another day waiting for me too.

o1s1n

Anyone get these yet?

I'm still waiting for UPS to give me another delivery date...

McDermotX

No joy on my end yet.....paid duty yesterday, but never got out for delivery apparently - sometimes not an issue as I've had deliveries not update to that until they're at my door.

Might show up today, but not about until later tomorrow

Retr0gamer

Mines stuck on "one the way" since yesterday morning. In a way it suits me as I'm in the office all week and going to see the niece and nephew later who I haven't seen in a month so not missing out on that.

Still pretty shoddy. You wouldn't want to be taking a day off work.