New Analogue Pocket Update

The Analogue Pocket was a specialized gadget with a remarkable screen when it was first released. Its main draws were reliving classic cartridge-based games and the prospect of seamless dock communication. Like many gadgets in this community, the Pocket thrived because of its loyal and encouraging user base.

Ports and cores were added to the Pocket after a firmware update that unlocked the FPGA. The ability to adjust display settings while playing games is a noteworthy feature. For example, there are now options such as the Original GBA LCD, the improved Analogue GBA Filter, or the Original GBA SP 101 filter when putting a GBA game into the Pocket. There are also options for GB, GBC, and GG. But first, you had to use a cartridge or upload to GB Studio to access these filters.

Analogue has been on a roll lately with news of their take on the N64, many new colour possibilities for their Pocket, and slightly problematic preorders. In keeping with this trend, Analogue released firmware version 2.0 for the Analogue Pocket on Christmas Eve, right before the holidays. The following changelog can be found by visiting Analogue's website:

Release Notes:

GB:

  • Custom palette support was added to the new APGB format palettes.

openFPGA:

  • The framework has been updated to 2.0.
  • The new CRT Trinitron mode and compatibility for Original Display Modes were added. The Pocket will automatically unlock the CRT Trinitron Original Display Mode for appropriate cores without any specified modes. The core author must enable other modes.
  • When docked, cores can now have varying video aspect ratios.

APF:

  • The Host command [00b8 OS Notify: Display Mode] has been added.
  • The host instruction [0090 Real-time Clock Data] was modified to convey the day of the week.

Dock:

  • Support for the 8BitDo M30 2.4G dongle has been added.
  • Resolved Specific open FPGA core and resolution video issues.

Owners of Analogue Pockets around will benefit significantly from this update! With the addition of an intriguing CRT filter, the long-awaited capability to use display filters on open FPGA cores has been enabled. Updating your gadget is easy; go to Analogue's website, download the latest firmware, and move it to your SD card. However, more steps might be needed to put the filters into practice. Matt Panella has created an amazing Pocket updater that works with Mac, Windows, and Linux devices to make this procedure easier. Detailed instructions are accessible on their GitHub website.

The newly acquired display filters significantly improve the gaming experience once your Analogue Pocket is upgraded; using a CRT filter to play a vintage arcade game on the Neo Geo adds an immersive element. Navigating through the filters is simple: hold the Analogue button and cycle through the selections with the D-pad. Alternately, go to display modes in the menu under basic settings to access them. Do you want to give your NES titles the GBA 101 display filter? Feel free to do so! You can now use the Pocket as a testing ground.

However, there have been complaints that some filters don't work well with all cores. For example, in my experience, the NeoGeo core's red Pinball Neon Matrix display produced a dark screen. Additionally, several cores—notably the DMG filter for GB games—have not yet received updates. Furthermore, Pokémon fans will be disappointed to learn that the open FPGA cores still do not have RTC capability. As a result, bubdude2 has developed a new GB/GBC core on GitHub. This core, which is still in its infancy, contains the RTC, fast forward, and DMG filters. Additionally, save states are suggested in the GitHub notes.

However, like most devices, the community keeps developing new ideas and offers excellent support for this gadget. All current and potential Pocket owners are pleased to see the recent modifications. Hopefully, the company's momentum will carry over into the future, which is positive for Analogue and those who utilize its products.