![All Analogue Pocket openFPGA Cores](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.timeextension.com/a29668e076b26/all-analogue-pocket-openfpga-cores.900x.jpg)
The Analogue Pocket is a high-end handheld retro gaming system that uses FPGA technology to replicate the performance of classic gaming platforms on a hardware (rather than software) level, which means it's incredibly accurate. The machine runs physical cartridges for systems like the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance and (with optional adapters) Game Gear, Lynx and Neo Geo Pocket.
Being able to breathe new life into your old cartridges is wonderful, but one of the most exciting developments with the Analogue Pocket is the fact that it is now open to FPGA developers.
Since the update went live, we've seen a flood of FPGA cores being ported over the Pocket, and we've outlined them below – along with where you can download them. These cores run using the Pocket's openFPGA system, and do not require original media - you can run ROMs directly from the MicroSD card.
Be aware that many of these cores are still in active development and may not function 100% as expected. It's also worth noting that, at present, openFPGA cores do not function entirely the same as the built-in cores.
Automatic Analogue Pocket Update Tools
You can update your Analogue Pocket manually by downloading the cores yourself, but it's much easier to use one of the tools listed below.
If you're running the updater from your SD card, you can save time (and avoid having to remove the card constantly) by simply connecting your Pocket via USB. You'll need to enable access by going to Tools > Developer and enable 'USB SD Access'.
Matt Pannella's Updater Utility
Keeping all of those openFPGA cores updated can be a bit of a chore, but thankfully developer Matt Pannella has created the Pocket Updater Utility, which allows you to update them all in one click. You can download it here.
To use it:
- Download the auto_update.json file and executable for your os (Mac or Windows) and put both files on your SD card (the directory doesn't matter). The included json file has every core currently available in it, but you can edit it to remove stuff you don't want (as well as add new ones as they are made available)
- Once the 2 files are in the folder, all you have to do is run 'pocket_updater'
- It will attempt to compare the version of each core you have installed to the version on github, and download if a newer one is available (if it's unable to figure out the version of either, it will just download anyway to be safe)
Neil Morrison's Pocket Sync
If you want something a little more granular and fancy-looking than the Auto Update Script listed above, you can try out Neil Morrison's Pocket Sync application for Windows / Mac / Linux.
This is a GUI which allows you to:
- Browse & install cores
- Export corrected & upscaled screenshots
- Backup & restore save files
- Quick links to open game file folders
- Browse & manage (bulk delete) save states
RetroDriven's Pocket Updater
RetroDriven's Pocket Updater is a free Windows-based application which will automatically update openFPGA Cores, Pocket Firmware, BIOS files and Arcade ROMS. You can run it directly from your Pocket's SD card.
You can grab it here.
Analogue Pocket openFPGA Home Console Cores
![All Analogue Pocket openFPGA Cores](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.timeextension.com/741ed09a5f5d5/all-analogue-pocket-openfpga-cores.900x.jpg)
The Analogue Pocket is currently capable of replicating the performance of some of the greatest consoles of all time, including the NES, SNES, Mega Drive, PC Engine and Atari 2600.
System | Manufacturer | Release Year | Developer | Download Link |
---|---|---|---|---|
NES | Nintendo | 1983 (Japan), 1985 (North America) | agg23 | GitHub |
NES | Nintendo | 1983 (Japan), 1985 (North America) | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
SNES | Nintendo | 1990 (Japan) | agg23 | GitHub |
Super Game Boy | Nintendo | 1994 | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
Sega Genesis / Mega Drive | Sega | 1988 (Japan) | Eric Lewis | GitHub |
Sega Genesis / Mega Drive | Sega | 1988 (Japan) | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
Neo Geo | SNK | 1990 | Mazamars312 | GitHub |
Sega SG-1000 | Sega | 1983 | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
Master System | Sega | 1986 | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16 / SuperGrafx | NEC / Hudson | 1987 (Japan) | agg23 | GitHub |
PC Engine CD / TurboGrafx-16 CD | NEC / Hudson | 1988 | Mazamars312 | GitHub |
Intellivision | Mattel | 1979 | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
Video Technology CreatiVision | VTech | 1981 | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
ColecoVision | Coleco | 1982 | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
Fairchild Channel F | Fairchild Camera and Instrument | 1976 | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
Atari 7800 ProSystem | Atari | 1986 | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
Atari VCS / 2600 | Atari | 1977 | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
Arcadia 2001 | Emerson Radio | 1982 | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
Magnavox Odyssey 2 | Magnavox | 1978 | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
Entex Adventure Vision | Entex Industries | 1982 | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
Vectrex | General Consumer Electronics / Milton Bradley |
1982 | obsidian-dot-dev | GitHub |
Analogue Pocket openFPGA Handheld Cores
![All Analogue Pocket openFPGA Cores](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.timeextension.com/53c9327a7bd08/all-analogue-pocket-openfpga-cores.900x.jpg)
Given that it's a handheld, the Analogue Pocket is the perfect system when it comes to hosting titles for the Game Boy, Game Gear, GBA and WonderSwan.
System | Manufacturer | Release Year | Developer | Download Link |
---|---|---|---|---|
Game Boy / Game Boy Color | Nintendo | 1989 (Game Boy) | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
Game Boy / Game Boy Color | Nintendo | 1989 (Game Boy) | budude2 | GitHub |
Game Boy Advance | Nintendo | 2001 | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
Game Gear | Sega | 1990 | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
Arduboy | Kevin Bates | 2015 | agg23 | GitHub |
Supervision | Watara / Quickshot | 1992 | OpenGateware | GitHub |
Supervision | Watara / Quickshot | 1992 | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
Pokémon Mini | Nintendo | 2001 | agg23 | GitHub |
Mega Duck / Cougar Boy | Creatronic / Welback Holdings | 1993 | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
GameKing | Timetop | 2003 | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
Gamate | Bit Corp / Cheetah | 1990 | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
WonderSwan / WonderSwan Color | Bandai | 1999 | agg23 | GitHub |
Tamagotchi | Bandai | 1996 (Japan) | agg23 | GitHub |
Game & Watch | Nintendo | 1980 | agg23 | GitHub |
Neo Geo Pocket / Neo Geo Pocket Color | SNK | 1998 | JOTEGO | GitHub |
Analogue Pocket openFPGA Computer Cores
![All Analogue Pocket openFPGA Cores](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.timeextension.com/aa419fecbdd20/all-analogue-pocket-openfpga-cores.900x.jpg)
It may be lacking a keyboard, but that doesn't mean you can't run computer FPGA cores on the Analogue Pocket.
System | Manufacturer | Release Year | Developer | Download Link |
---|---|---|---|---|
Amiga 500 | Commodore | 1987 | Mazamars312 | GitHub |
Commodore 64 | Commodore | 1982 | Markus-zzz | GitHub |
VideoBrain Family Computer | Umtech Incorporated | 1977 | spiritualized1997 | GitHub |
Studio 2 | spiritualized1997 | GitHub | ||
MSX | Microsoft / ASCII | 1983 | Boogermann | WIP |
ZX Spectrum | Sinclair | 1982 | Boogermann | WIP |
Uxn / Varvara | Hundred Rabbits | 2021 | Tsalvo | GitHub |
PDP-1 | Digital Equipment Corporation | 1959 | Spaceman3 | GitHub |
Analogue Pocket openFPGA Arcade Cores
![All Analogue Pocket openFPGA Cores](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.timeextension.com/0620ae5f5e50c/all-analogue-pocket-openfpga-cores.900x.jpg)
Perhaps the most active area of FPGA development relates to classic coin-op games from the likes of Sega, Capcom, Taito, Konami and more. More and more titles are being added each month, so keep checking back.
Analogue Pocket openFPGA Ports
Flappy Bird
- Developer: somhi
- Download Link
Spacewar!
- Developer: Analogue
- Download Link
Varvara FPGA
- Developer: tsalvo
- Download Link
Comments 16
Good to see community support for less remembered systems like the Watara Supervision, and the Pokemon Mini. Looking at the github projects for these cores is interesting too! I never knew that the Pokemon Mini display had a native refresh rate of 75 hertz!
This is fascinating, how is the performance?
This is a great info repository you've set up for cores, and a lot more organised than others out there.
I'm still really waiting on the Tracking and other OS features Analogue is working on, but it's been impressive seeing how many cores are already out for the thing.
I've managed to get every core to run nearly flawlessly except the Neo Geo. For some reason, I can't get anything on that one to work at all.
I didn't see this list before, it's much appreciated
Really useful list, but I'm resisting the temptation. Analogue Pocket's ability to play Gameboy and Game Gear games on such a brilliant screen, combined with the ability to save state (I didn't realise this would work on the actual games!) has led me down the route of buying the games and playing them individually.
I've had so many retro Handhelds down the years and honestly the ability to have everything available just left me playing almost nothing. It doesn't really make much sense, but Analogue Pocket has made me appreciate the individual game again and now I'm playing, and completing, more than ever (and yes, poorer than ever too - but hey, it's a hobby).
@nocdaes I felt that same way. I mainly just wanted to to use this for GB and GBA games, but I went down the rabbit hole, and now I'm addicted to to all the PC Engine/CD games that I never got to play growing up. I'm buying the dock now just so I can play on my TV. I love this little device!!
@delt75 I've done the same with Game Gear! Always wanted one growing up and now finally getting to play. It doesn't have the strongest library... but there's more than a handful of great games!
@nocdaes I did the same thing with Game Gear. lol
@delt75 @nocdaes Same here. I've never had a Game Gear and probably bought more GG carts last year than I did for any other system. Barring a few exceptions, they are mostly pretty inexpensive too. Just finished Castle of Illusion over the weekend.
@dmcc0 I just finished Castle Of Illusion too. Looking forward to Land of Illusion and Legend of Illusion - both of which I didn't even know existed until a few weeks ago.
Game Gear gets a bad rep, and to be fair, the original screen and battery consumption was pretty bad... but I've played a lot of very good Game Gear games this year.
Recommend Fantasy Zone and both Shinobi games.
@nocdaes I haven't got the other Illusion games (yet), but have got the Shinobi games in the backlog. I do like Fantasy Zone - haven't got the GG version, but have played it on other systems.
I saw they just released a C64 core yesterday (4/4/24), but I can't seem to find any info on how to get the games to work?
Still trying to decide if I want to spend the money on one of these if they ever come in stock with the gameboy color colors lol.
@delt75 you could look at pixelcherry ninja's video, but basically you should look for prg files (óne load c64 collections), then use the core menu, then go to the virtual keyboard to select the prg file and then type run and enter...
@romanista Thanks!!
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