It's taken a while to get here, but Analogue Pocket's openFPGA feature set finally feels complete. Let's discuss that (as well as some of my nagging gripes).
If this is true, that's great. Do you happen to have any links confirming it? I did a bit of Googling but didn't come up with anything aside from forum stuff.
I only have the second generation myself and have never experienced any issues with the D-pad. But going from comments on Reddit and Facebook it is widely acknowledged that the D-pad has been improved over the release model.
I got mine in August of 2023 and the D-pad absolutely issued ghost diagonals. I wonder if some people don't notice because they're playing games that aren't affected? I modded my unit by putting kapton tape over the inner halves of the underlying conductive circles on the PCB. That eliminated the stray diagonals. But it also made it trickier to transition from inputing a non-diagonal to a diagonal. For example, it's harder to slide under a brick while powered-up in Super Mario Bros. than it should be. Overall, the mod is a big improvement. But you'd think a brand new $220 device would have inputs at least as good as an ancient $10 NES controller…
I was scrolling down my TH-cam feed quickly, saw your thumbnail and I swear to god I said to myself “Oh snap, Rich from ReviewTechUSA finally lost weight!” 🤦🏽♂️😂 liked and subbed bro, best of luck with your channel 💯
Been following you since your early videos right after the first round of preorders. IMO the pocket has aged like fine wine with the implementation of openfpga and the support it’s gotten since launch. I use mine almost everyday. Awesome vids!
Thanks for sticking with me! Yes, the Pocket experience is definitely getting better and better. It's taken a while for it to blossom with new features, but better late than never.
As a huge 2d fighting game enjoyer, I can confirm that the D-pad on my model is absolutely horrendous be it for capcom or snk games. I received my unit last october.
The 615dpi screen for original LCD emulation on the Pocket is still unbeatable. But how long before Powkiddy or any of the others make a device with a screen with just as many pixels in it, or more pixels, allowing that kind of pixel representation with standard emulation? If software emulation is just as good as FPGA hardware emulation, then the only standout features of the Pocket is the screen itself and the ability to play real carts.
Third world (Mexico) price tag for the pocket and dock only is 755 USD (shipping, taxes and customs included) unbelievable that countries in NAFTA treaty got more expensive than Europe.
I tried to give some of these emulation handhelds a chance, but I honestly found them inferior to the pocket's fpga and screen quality. (I have not tried a steam deck yet) But that being said, I only play roms of gg, snes, and gens. I guess I'm bit more willing to go the extra mile to patch a game with game genie codes, or patch a game is an IPS file to Save Features in games like Mega Man X.
yes for me just knowing that the FPGA Pocket will play more games closer to the original than any current emulator capable of running on a portable is enough for me. I want to be certain things are the same, that text won't look weird, or lag that was on there when I was a kid is still in there in the exact same spots in the game. I would buy a modded GBC and GBA and flash carts, but I'd spend just as much at the end of the day as getting the Pocket, maybe even a little more. Plus I wouldn't be able to play SNES and Genesis games with (near) perfect hardware emulation either.
I wonder if the launch AP systems had dpad issues I personally have no issues with my non launch AP the dpad works great. As far as Game Gear controller layout its totally available in FPGA so why its not using carts is pretty lame. I personally don't own any GG carts I only play via fpga. Adding the dock to my AP was a game changer for consoles like Neo Geo, TG16, Genesis etc. The pocket is my favorite way to play the systems it supports I wish a Lynx core would come out that I still emulate. At some point this year I would like to add a Mister for playing systems that the AP doesn't support. I am surprised you prefer emulation over fpga but thats why we have choices. I am going away for a couple days and the Pocket & my Playdate will fill my gaming needs while traveling.
The $300 price tag makes that appealing much much less appealing. The only reason it's not 100 bucks or less is because the damn company refuses to make enough of them.
they probably don’t want to end like Atari making too many ET cartridges. those devices have quite a high bill of materials, I think they only make as many as they’re sure they can sell. this is not like an iPhone that sells at 10+ times the manufacturing costs
The release D-pad was fixed in the second batch.
If this is true, that's great. Do you happen to have any links confirming it? I did a bit of Googling but didn't come up with anything aside from forum stuff.
I only have the second generation myself and have never experienced any issues with the D-pad. But going from comments on Reddit and Facebook it is widely acknowledged that the D-pad has been improved over the release model.
@@NerdENerd Good to know! Thanks for sharing.
I've got 2 pockets, 1 2nd batch and 1 Glow, the dpad is fine with no extra inputs even after trying to replicate
I got mine in August of 2023 and the D-pad absolutely issued ghost diagonals. I wonder if some people don't notice because they're playing games that aren't affected?
I modded my unit by putting kapton tape over the inner halves of the underlying conductive circles on the PCB. That eliminated the stray diagonals. But it also made it trickier to transition from inputing a non-diagonal to a diagonal. For example, it's harder to slide under a brick while powered-up in Super Mario Bros. than it should be.
Overall, the mod is a big improvement. But you'd think a brand new $220 device would have inputs at least as good as an ancient $10 NES controller…
I was scrolling down my TH-cam feed quickly, saw your thumbnail and I swear to god I said to myself “Oh snap, Rich from ReviewTechUSA finally lost weight!” 🤦🏽♂️😂 liked and subbed bro, best of luck with your channel 💯
😂 Welcome! This is all part of my grand clickbait scheme to be mistaken for other middle-aged bald white gaming TH-camrs.
This os a review we needed thank you
What firmware are you using? Would love to have the power off option in menu..
How did you get the power off option!! need it, lol
Been following you since your early videos right after the first round of preorders. IMO the pocket has aged like fine wine with the implementation of openfpga and the support it’s gotten since launch. I use mine almost everyday. Awesome vids!
Thanks for sticking with me! Yes, the Pocket experience is definitely getting better and better. It's taken a while for it to blossom with new features, but better late than never.
how did you get the power off option?
As a huge 2d fighting game enjoyer, I can confirm that the D-pad on my model is absolutely horrendous be it for capcom or snk games.
I received my unit last october.
The 615dpi screen for original LCD emulation on the Pocket is still unbeatable. But how long before Powkiddy or any of the others make a device with a screen with just as many pixels in it, or more pixels, allowing that kind of pixel representation with standard emulation? If software emulation is just as good as FPGA hardware emulation, then the only standout features of the Pocket is the screen itself and the ability to play real carts.
Third world (Mexico) price tag for the pocket and dock only is 755 USD (shipping, taxes and customs included) unbelievable that countries in NAFTA treaty got more expensive than Europe.
I tried to give some of these emulation handhelds a chance, but I honestly found them inferior to the pocket's fpga and screen quality. (I have not tried a steam deck yet) But that being said, I only play roms of gg, snes, and gens. I guess I'm bit more willing to go the extra mile to patch a game with game genie codes, or patch a game is an IPS file to Save Features in games like Mega Man X.
yes for me just knowing that the FPGA Pocket will play more games closer to the original than any current emulator capable of running on a portable is enough for me. I want to be certain things are the same, that text won't look weird, or lag that was on there when I was a kid is still in there in the exact same spots in the game. I would buy a modded GBC and GBA and flash carts, but I'd spend just as much at the end of the day as getting the Pocket, maybe even a little more. Plus I wouldn't be able to play SNES and Genesis games with (near) perfect hardware emulation either.
I wonder if the launch AP systems had dpad issues I personally have no issues with my non launch AP the dpad works great. As far as Game Gear controller layout its totally available in FPGA so why its not using carts is pretty lame. I personally don't own any GG carts I only play via fpga. Adding the dock to my AP was a game changer for consoles like Neo Geo, TG16, Genesis etc. The pocket is my favorite way to play the systems it supports I wish a Lynx core would come out that I still emulate. At some point this year I would like to add a Mister for playing systems that the AP doesn't support. I am surprised you prefer emulation over fpga but thats why we have choices. I am going away for a couple days and the Pocket & my Playdate will fill my gaming needs while traveling.
The $300 price tag makes that appealing much much less appealing. The only reason it's not 100 bucks or less is because the damn company refuses to make enough of them.
they probably don’t want to end like Atari making too many ET cartridges.
those devices have quite a high bill of materials, I think they only make as many as they’re sure they can sell.
this is not like an iPhone that sells at 10+ times the manufacturing costs
They were busy deciding which 17 or so colours to choose for their limited editions.
To remap ur buttons get a 8bitdo adapter