My First Impressions with the Analogue Pocket! Gameboy, GBA, the Dock, Everdrives and More

[@LuckyHit87]

This thing is DOPE! Especially the screen. I hope it turns into the "Mister FPGA" handheld platform with similar support. So much potential. Great vid Lon!

[@eightbit1975]

Fantastic Lon. Great device and great review. I have become a HUGE fan of FPGA technology over the years. This is truly the future of retrogaming!

[@DrKrFfXx-0]

Convex, was the word you were looking for. Nice coverage, Lon, as always.

[@davistalhone9482]

Another solid unboxing/ critique, Lon.

[@nicktonic]

10:45 oh no i've read some stories about putting the lid of the case on upside down like that. the pocket text is supposed to go over the d-pad. people were getting scared they had entombed their pocket forever and had to pry the case apart

[@broadnerdmike6450]

The Everdrive GB X7 isn’t working for some people with this (myself included). Hopefully it gets fixed by Analogue or Krikzz in the next month or two.

[@LuckyHit87]

If this is true I'm sure it will be a top priority for both companies to fix. They've worked well together up until this point. Hope you get it figured out!

[@leatherhidegaming]

That sucks. I'll likely get mine early next year and I have the exact same Everdrive. I also have the GBA Everdrive but I prefer not to emulate original GB games when I'm playing on an FPGA system.

[@videogameobsession]

Hey Lon, I'm not sure if you've heard, but according to Game Explain, Analogue has told them that "Super Game Boy support will be included with the next 1.1 Pocket update". Now, I'm not sure if that just means the color palettes, borders, sounds, etc.., or if it will be running the SNES core + SGB rom, for full support, which I assume would be required to run games, such as Donkey Kong '94, with it's enhanced sound and graphics. I'd also love to see the ability to add your own .GB, .GBC, .GBA bios files to the SDcard, and have them loaded. Much like how the Analogue Sg, can load the .SMS and .COL ColecoVision bios files. It adds a bit more nostalgia to game loading, and should be very possible.

[@siskavard]

Lon you are gift from heaven

[@manichispanic999]

25:00 you don’t need the receivers if you have 8bitdo. 2.4g and blue tooth is built into the dock for 8bitdo controllers.

[@teddym2808]

Thanks this is all I needed to know, will get one for Christmas.

[@gorynet]

Great Review, I made my preorder for this piece of Art, you deserve a like, thank you for sharing your experience.

[@videogameobsession]

Looks good. I should be getting mine on Tuesday, if the mail is running on time. Has anyone been able to test an 8bitdo 2.4g controller (SN30, N30, M30)? I've only heard of testing with the Bluetooth controllers, but the Dock, is also supposed to sync with 2.4g controllers (2 of them), along with the 2 BT controllers. I haven't on admit that I am a bit let down by the Dock. I was really hoping it would have been more fleshed out by now. With at least, all of the various graphics modes, which are available on the portable LCD. I wanted to see a nice dot matrix grid mode for the GBA on the big screen. I've seen this on the GBA Consolizer, and on MiSTer, and it looks excellent. It would also be neat to see the old DMG-01 yellow with those dots.

[@tankdome37]

When did you order yours? I order mines on December 14!

[@videogameobsession]

@@tankdome37 August 3rd, 2020.

[@tankdome37]

@@videogameobsession oh ok!! That’s a long time

[@videogameobsession]

@@tankdome37 Yeah, it's been a long wait. That's the day it went up for pre-order, and they sold out in about 5 minutes. That was with the website going offline from being overloaded too. I must have gotten pretty lucky. Not even Frodo Baggins could buy one!

[@retro_gamer_uk]

Yes!

[@onetwo6039]

So..... I just got my dock today, and my current hook up is the dock to the analogue HDMI to component converter to use on my CRT tv via hd retrovision components cables. However the dock doesn't recognize the pocket. All i see a blue screen that says NO SIGNAL. You would think it would just work since it's all made by analogue...weird. Any Solutions?.....

[@JackOusley]

Thank you! I’ve been trying to find out if ever drives work with these for a while now.

[@LonSeidman]

It’s a bit of a mixed bag from what I hear - I have older ones that work fine but others are having trouble with the newer ones.

[@JackOusley]

@@LonSeidman I had heard that too, but you are the first I’ve seen try it on video. The wait list is so long it’s unlikely I’ll ever get one, at least until that sd card slot becomes more useful. If anything it’s a glimpse at what the future of retro handhelds could be like, once all the FPGA tech matures and makes it into more devices.

[@DanielPerez-hy6qi]

It plays everdrives.. yesss... Just placed an order cannot wait till it arrives..

[@LonSeidman]

Yes - although mine is an older one apparently some of the newer ones are slightly hit or miss from what I'm reading on forums.

[@DanielPerez-hy6qi]

@@LonSeidman right thanks for the heads up..

[@videogameobsession]

Hey Lon, nice job with the video. I'm hopefully going to get my Pocket on Wednesday, barring any further delays. Can you please let me know if you know the answers to these questions? 1. Does the Pocket Dock automatically sync with 8Bitdo 2.4g controllers W/ a built-in wireless receiver? I heard it has built-in 2.4 and Bluetooth wireless support, but I've only ever seen anyone connect only the 8bitdo Bluetooth controllers. 2. Which GB cables work with the Pocket? It looks like the GBA style, but I can't tell for sure. Does this mean we can use any old GBA link cable with the Pocket, instead of buying a new Analogue link cable? 3. Have you had any issues knocking a finger or hand into the cartridge while playing the Pocket? I've heard one owner claim that it's a huge "system flaw", but I don't think it looks like you'd really hit the carts while playing.

[@bigdaddystlr7678]

Lon, I have to ask about the noise when removing the pocket from the dock. Mine does the same and I am concerned that it is an electrical discharge. I contacted analogue support about this but would like to hear your opinion. Thanks!

[@nicktonic]

support said it's nothing to worry about and will eventually stop, hopefully they're right

[@matterhorn5617]

can you try a Everdrive X7?

[@dauntae24]

My parents bought me a game boy for an 8th grade graduation present back in 91. I only bought two additional games for it. Metroid II and The Hunt For Red October.

[@pferreira1983]

Does Everdrive GBA's NES mode work well on this?

[@siphillis]

Seems like just about everyone ordered the Black model, which hopefully works out for me and anyone else who ordered White.

[@axelkelsey2699]

It's cleaner

[@davef1731]

They make less of the white

[@videogameobsession]

White shows off dirt quite a bit, but the black Pocket shows off finger prints a bit more. Either way, I'd wash my hands before playing, and keep the Pocket in a nice case, when not playing it.

[@NickeP86]

Looks great! I really do hope that you can change to the original game boy green when you playing on the TV in the future!

[@tankdome37]

I wondering, when will they let us know, when ours ship! I order mines on December 14

[@videogameobsession]

I hope you're right about console cores coming to the Analogue Pocket. I could see Analogue wanting to keep the Pocket strictly for portable systems (GB/GBC/GBA/GG/LYNX/NGPC/TG16*) all announced (*technically a console game, that runs on the Turbo Express), and maybe we'll also see WonderSwan. When it came to the Super Nt, we really only got the SNES/SFC core, and with Mega Sg, they kept it mainly Sega related, so that made sense. ColecoVision I suppose was warranted due to it's relation to the SG-1000 Sega system. A nice bonus, since I love the CV. But unfortunately it stopped there. Many people were expecting to see more free cores. Like the ones that the Nt Mini received (Twenty, or so 8-bit cores, created by Kevin Horton). Mostly because Analogue had just discontinued the Nt Mini, which of course they brought back, in limited quantity, as the Nt Mini Noir. I just feel they might be encroaching on their other consoles, and future FPGA based systems, if they give away too much for free. Then again, I think they should step it up. Since they've announced the Pocket, the MiSTer has made huge strives in the amount of systems it supports, and how well they run.

[@pdraggy]

well Genesis games can be played on the Nomad and I believe there is a master system portable thing too. I'm pretty sure this thing will be able to support pretty much all 16-bit systems, maybe even 32x, SCD and Jaguar (which isn't the bit-rate it claims, it's just like a number of 16/ 32 bit chips I think).

[@orangeion3]

I wonder if the link cable will work with GameCube for zelda

[@ians_parks]

It'll work but only if you unscrew the plastic housing on the cable and remove the clips that prevent it from being inserted.

[@estusflask982]

The Pocket plus the Everdrives is like $500+

[@madson-web]

I don't think it is expensive for that it is. This is quality and flexibility

[@microfg4]

DONT map the A button to the right button, it should be the bottom button so you can RUN AND JUMP

[@timothystevenhoward]

shame I can't actually buy one. I was working when the preorder dropped.

[@Coztomba]

Preorders are still open. It’s just a wait til 2023 now :(.

[@reaneya]

Qix was the best ever.

[@deimees3828]

Can’t wait till 2023 for it hehe

[@joedhoe]

can you use any usb c dongle to connect this to an hdmi display?

[@ians_parks]

No. It'll only output using their dock.

[@atomsbudgetreviews8713]

Wonder why there aren't any available now until 2023? I swear every single KZbinr I watch got one for review!! *RANT*

[@Lucifronz]

For the cost, not being able to run from the microSD card kinda kills the system.

[@photolabguy]

Other console adapters sold out until 2023? Jeez. Let's hope the community can get rom support before then. Y'all know we want to load up the SD card and play roms. 😁

[@GeorgeVCohea-dw7ou]

Lon most probably misspoke but actually said that those were sold out _through_ 2023. 6:50 With the way supply chain issues have played out, this does not sound totally out of the realm of possibility though.

[@greenback05]

I hate this no powerrbrick movement

[@yannisgk]

...but is it durable as a nintendo device??? time will show that!!!... .

[@hayden7525]

Too bad scalpers got to them and are selling them for triple price

[@CF542]

That hard case is a joke and should have come with the main unit.

[@luckyluke95]

Nice console but too expensive ! I prefer original console with Screen Mod IPS LCD OSD 👍

[@estusflask982]

That case is so cheap

[@paulkelly5035]

$30. It looks like the packaging for an old iPod.

[@estusflask982]

@@paulkelly5035 By cheap I meant low quality

[@paulkelly5035]

@@estusflask982 I agree… low quality. I was trying to point out that it is pricey. Well, I think $30 is pricey. So, I think we agree… it is low quality and expensive. That’s the worst kind of cheap. Thanks Lon for saving me $30.

[@laurent1120]

My opinion is that is an overpriced gadget, hope no open source dev will port cores on this cause analogue has many flaws as a company.

[@reactking7093]

I mean give them a chance at least. The company might be iffy but this product might be a gem.

[@laurent1120]

@@reactking7093 Sorry but no, they stole money from thousands of people recently on the new pre-order campaign, the vast majority will be delivered at the end of next year. This is not a method.