Analogue: The Hardware Emulators

[ShiraNoMai]

The nostalgia gaming market is a booming business, and the "plug-and-play" dedicated console market was just prime for cashing in on that idea. It's worth noting, however, that all of those "dedicated" consoles are merely emulating the software--using basic processing power and video cards to provide enough to do the job.

Meet Analogue--the company to change all that.

Using FPGA circuitry, their hardware-emulating consoles fully allow for a total remake of the existing consoles they replicate, allowing the usage of existing, original carts. It's magic, and a beautiful way to preserve and prolong video-game history.

I own a Pocket (GameBoy) and Super NT (Super Nintendo), the latter of which I got more for the preservation of my SNES library in the event my SNES stops working (probably shouldn't have "blew" inside the cart tray, but ya know, everyone was doing it).

Anyone else hear of this company, or know anything about it?

[Moonface]

I only heard of them through you and Twitch streamers who play a lot of SMW because the NT lets them play the hacks without using their PC, or at least that's the impression I got that they wanted it for.

Of the two I'd say I find the Pocket way more impressive because of how good the screen is for handheld games that never got to be on such a good screen, and they don't look like arse for it either. I wonder if they'll ever make anything for non-Nintendo systems or not.

[ShiraNoMai]

For streaming (and playing) purposes, having a "real console" that can output HD/1080p resolution (without an insane set-up) as well as practically zero lag in inputs is absolutely paramount. Plus, it makes using flashcarts a breeze, which makes accessing romhacks way easier.

So far, they've made consoles for the Super Nintendo, the Sega Genesis/Mastersystem, the NEC console line (Turbografx, PC Engine), and the early Handheld era (GameBoy, GBC, GBA, Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket, etc). Not sure where they'd go from here tbh. I actually wonder if it'd be worth doing the last cart-based home console, the N64.

[Ravenfreak]

As someone who already owns four Sega Genesis including the 32x and Sega CD addons, as well as a NES and SNES I don't really need these Analogue consoles. I think they are great for those who want to relive their childhood, they're easy to set up on modern tvs and are miles better than any emulation system since they use FPGA. I think it's awesome that they allow you to play Game Gear titles if you get a separate adapter, the only other way to play Game Gear titles on your tv is by emulation (which isn't as good as actual hardware imo) or modding a Game Gear. (Which you could also mod a Master System and add a Game Gear board to the console, allowing you to play GG titles on your tv. Both are not easy mods for beginners however...)

[ShiraNoMai]

Yeah the accessibility of these things really makes it a must-have for those looking for the best and easiest way to relive those moments for sure. I almost wish it'd get a bigger market appeal, but even the one they have now is so demanding (pre-orders on things go out in like 10-30 minutes!)

[Moonface]

They've already sold out, but I just saw that transparent limited editions of the Analogue Pocket were announced a few days ago and went on sale this morning: https://www.analogue.co/editions/pocket-transparent

I have to say they do look nice, although I wouldn't have grabbed one myself since Shira already bought an Analogue Pocket ages ago so we don't exactly need another one, and I have never used it so I wouldn't have a need to get one of my own from this run anyway.  But I wanted to still share this because I thought they were pretty neat to look at at least.

[ShiraNoMai]

The transparent shells are SO nice, god damn. I'm shocked how quickly these specifically went out of stock. Certainly faster than how the original Pocket did.

Well if you aren't interested in double-dipping, how about a brand new line to the Analogue line up: The Analogue 3D!

Being branded as a reimagining of the Nintendo 64, it boasts 4K resolution, original display modes, Bluetooth/2.4g support and the full range of 4 original-style controller ports! It's worth noting that it is not supporting openFPGA like the Pocket does, so only real physical carts will operate here. The only way to get around that is to get a SD-to-N64 style cart to be able to play legally-obtained ROMs.

[Moonface]

Heh, I was about to post about the Analogue 3D not knowing it had been revealed yesterday.
I'm curious how N64 games will look in 4K, since those textures and models are not remotely designed for such a high resolution and might scale up really badly, particularly with stuff like anti-aliasing.

[Moonface]

Analogue Pocket | OS v2.0
This news was announced back on Christmas Eve but I only just saw it now, and figured I'd share it for anyone else who might have missed it.

GB

• Added custom palette support with new APGB format palettes
  

openFPGA

• Framework version updated to 2.0
  
• Original Display Modes support and new CRT Trinitron mode added. Pocket will automatically unlock the CRT Trinitron Original Display Mode for suitable cores that don't specify any modes. Other modes must be enabled by the core author
  
• Cores can now have different video aspect ratios when docked
  

APF

• Added new Host command [00B8 OS Notify: Display Mode]
  
• Modified Host command [0090 Real-time Clock Data] to send day-of-week
  

Dock

• Added support for 8BitDo M30 2.4G dongle
  
• Fixed video issue with some openFPGA cores and resolutions
  

[ShiraNoMai]

Doesn't seem to be too crazy of an update like I thought, but it is the first major one. Interested in seeing what the new color palettes are at the very least.

[Moonface]

Interested in seeing what the new color palettes are at the very least.

If you're referring to the APGB palette support, it seems a bit limited but their developer document for it shows it's pretty easy to just put together your own color palette: https://www.analogue.co/developer/docs/custom-palettes

[Moonface]

Analogue 3D Announced
Analogue have announced the next system in their retro hardware line-up, the Analogue 3D, a system that plays all N64 games at 4K resolution with no region locking and more.

Analogue 3D represents a milestone in video game preservation: its not only the world's first reimagining of an N64 - but the worlds first 100% compatible recreation of an N64. Analogue spent nearly 4 years engineering it in FPGA. No more incompatibilities found in software emulation like input lag, graphic/audio inaccuracies, timing/frame rate issues and more. For the first time, you can re-experience the N64 exactly as it was meant to be, without compromise.

• 100% compatible with every original N64 game ever made.
  
• Region Free.
  
• Bluetooth LE.
  
• Dualband Wifi.
  
• Four original-style controller ports.
  
• Entirely new, next generation Analogue hardware featuring 3DOS.
  
• Engineered entirely in FPGA.
  
• No Emulation.
  

The system will be available in black and white colors, and costs $249.99. Pre-orders open on October 21st.

If you want to see more in-depth details and images of the system, I recommend visiting the official website.

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Man I really hope they start doing PlayStation stuff some day. I'd love to pick up something that can play PS1/PS2 games without region locking and decent upscaling instead of having to go through the hassle I would currently have to to play those games not just from having to set up my old consoles but also setting them up to function well on American TV's because all my games and systems from that time are PAL region.