The Analogue Pocket is a new portable gaming device that was originally announced in 2019, where players can replay some retro video games, such as the Pokemon Red or Tetris. This console aims to recapture the spirit of playing portable video games, as the console is listed to be compatible with over 2000 different titles. With gaming preservation being such a hot topic in recent years, the Analogue Pocket is designed to help maintain and preserve these parts of gaming history.
The games that the Analogue Pocket is compatible with run the gamut, from Nintendo's Game Boy line all the way to the Game Boy Advance, Atari's Lynx cartridges, and even the Neo Geo Pocket from SNK. These are all playable on the Analogue Pocket through cartridge adapters that will fit within the system. There are other features of the console, such as a dock that will allow TV play, as well as various multiplayer options. To make this all possible, the Analogue Pocket will have its own custom Operating System that is designed to help explore the history of gaming.
The Analogue OS will be included in the upcoming Pocket console, where it is designed to help players "explore, discover, and play through all of video game history." It will contain an extensive library database that contains many different games that can searched through by platform, region, developer, and publisher. From there, gamers can then play these on the Pocket itself. The Pocket can also read and display the full information of any game cartridge that it detects that has been inserted.
Other additional features included are specifically designed to the player in catering their experience. This includes the implemention of save states, screenshots, and even a video memory feature. There's also a tool in the Analogue Pocket's OS that can help players track their progress and gameplay statistics giving them plenty to look forward to and record. To further enhance a player's experience, there will be a playlist feature that can help organize which games are their favorites to play in a quick and easy manner.
As an evolving medium, this OS will be updated consistently to help explore further options to help perserve video game history. It should be noted that the console will not be able to run ROM files and will only play games in the library through the use of an official physical cartridge. The console was intended to release this year, though the release date of the Analogue Pocket has been delayed for several different reasons, most notably the coronavirus pandemic and components shortage.
The Analogue Pocket will launch in December 2021.
Source: Analogue