Tag: Analogue Pocket

  • Analogue 3D Delay: 8BitDo Shares Possible New Release Date

    Analogue 3D Delay: 8BitDo Shares Possible New Release Date

    Key Takeaways

    1. Analogue has a history of delays in releasing their gadgets, including the Analogue Pocket and Analogue Duo.
    2. The Analogue Duo was significantly delayed, shipping over three years after its announcement.
    3. The newly announced Analogue 3D is now set to ship by July 2025, with no specific reason given for the delay.
    4. 8BitDo’s 64 controller has also faced delays, with pre-orders now scheduled to ship on June 30.
    5. Both Analogue and 8BitDo are experiencing similar issues with product release timelines, highlighting ongoing challenges in the industry.

    Analogue creates some creative gadgets, like the Analogue Pocket and the Analogue Duo, among others. However, they don’t have the best track record for releasing these devices on time.

    Delays in the Past

    To summarize, the Analogue Pocket faced many hold-ups due to shortages in chipsets at that time. On the other hand, the Analogue Duo started to ship over three years after it was first announced.

    Newest Delay Announced

    Now, the Analogue 3D can be added to the list of Analogue products that have been delayed. The company had said it would start shipping its Nintendo 64 remake between January and the end of March after opening pre-orders in October.

    This time, they haven’t provided a specific reason. They just mentioned that the Analogue 3D is ‘now shipping by July 2025’. That said, there are still no promises that Analogue will stick to this new timeline.

    Similar Issues with 8BitDo

    Interestingly, the 8BitDo 64 controller (curr. $39.99 on Amazon) has also experienced a similar delay. While the exact reasons for these issues are still unclear, 8BitDo has given some information about when both products will begin shipping. Currently, they indicate that 8BitDo 64 pre-orders will start shipping on June 30, having previously set March 19 as the release date for the controller.

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    Analogue 3D Delay: 8BitDo Shares Possible New Release Date

     

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  • Game Bub: Open-Source FPGA Handheld for Game Boy Color & Advance

    Game Bub: Open-Source FPGA Handheld for Game Boy Color & Advance

    Key Takeaways

    1. The Game Bub is a new retro handheld console designed to support GBA games and resembles classic Nintendo devices.
    2. It features a 3.5-inch screen with a resolution of 480 x 320 pixels, but may show black bars when playing Game Boy (Color) games.
    3. The device includes a cartridge slot, microSD card slot, speakers, rumble motors, and supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and HDMI connections.
    4. Currently, the Game Bub is still in prototype development, with the complete source code available on GitHub for public access.
    5. Eli is gauging interest in a horizontal GBA version and is exploring the possibility of a fully assembled handheld console through a survey.

    Let’s face it, there are many retro handheld consoles that resemble the classic Nintendo Game Boy, available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Among these, the Analogue Pocket, Trimui Brick, and several models from Anbernic come to mind. Recently, a new device called the Game Bub has joined this expanding market. It’s uncertain if the term “Bub” was chosen purposefully as a direct translation of “Boy” in certain German dialects, including Swiss German and Austrian German.

    Project Overview

    On his personal blog, Eli elaborates on his project with great detail. He kicked off development in September 2023 and made impressive strides until he decided to transform his concept into a handheld console that supports GBA games. The prototype boasts a 3.5-inch screen with a resolution of 480 x 320 pixels, which works well for widescreen games on the Game Boy Advance. However, this results in black bars appearing on the left and right sides when playing Game Boy (Color) games. The built-in battery is expected to last for up to 15 hours.

    Features and Functionality

    Besides the cartridge slot located at the back for original games, the device also has a microSD card slot for emulating ROMs. The Game Bub comes packed with features such as speakers, rumble motors, an accelerometer, gyroscope, real-time clock, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and an HDMI port accessible via a docking station. It can even connect to original Nintendo Link Cables, allowing it to link with an original Game Boy Color or Advanced, as demonstrated in the video below. Additionally, a light sensor for playing Boktai is on the developers’ future plans.

    Availability

    Currently, the Game Bub isn’t available as a final product, since the prototype is still in the works. Nonetheless, the complete source code has been published on GitHub. This FPGA handheld is built using commonly available standard parts. Eli has also created a Google Forms survey to gauge interest in a horizontal GBA version and to see how comfortable people are with soldering. This inquiry hints that he is curious whether a fully assembled handheld console would attract attention.

    If you’re interested in the Game Bub, be sure to check out Eli Lipsitz’s blog post, which provides more in-depth information about the technical specifications of this retro console designed for three different Nintendo handhelds.

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  • Free Retro Game Boy Simulator for Handheld Gaming Fans

    Free Retro Game Boy Simulator for Handheld Gaming Fans

    Key Takeaways

    1. The Retro Handheld Simulator is a free game available on Itch.io, with an option for donations to support the developer.
    2. The game is a parody of the retro handheld gaming community, inspired by classic RPGs but with simpler gameplay.
    3. Players control the game using the D-pad and the A button for interactions, with a daily resetting game world.
    4. Returning players can turn off the story by pressing the select button for a quicker experience.
    5. The game was created using GB Studio, which is free to download for multiple operating systems, and the developers have released other games for the Nintendo Game Boy.

    The Retro Handheld Simulator is an exciting new game for the Game Boy that just launched on Itch.io. Players can download it for free, but there’s an option for kind gamers to support the developer through donations. The game comes in two formats: a .gb file compatible with most retro handheld devices and a .pocket version tailored for the Analogue Pocket.

    A Fun Parody

    This small 35-kilobyte title pokes fun at the current retro handheld gaming community, featuring many nods to actual handheld consoles and the broader gaming scene. Its gameplay draws inspiration from classic RPGs, such as Pokémon or Golden Sun, but it’s simpler than those titles.

    Easy Controls

    To control the character, players use the D-pad, while the A button allows interaction with various objects. The developer mentions that the game world resets daily, so players might want to engage with certain items more than once for the best experience.

    Features for Returning Players

    Players can turn off the story by pressing the select button, which is mainly for those who have played the game previously. This free handheld game was made using GB Studio, a user-friendly software that simplifies the creation of retro-style games.

    GB Studio is also available for free download on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with a version optimized for ARM-based Macs. Madsox Games, the creators of the Retro Handheld Simulator, have also developed a series of games for the Nintendo Game Boy: Death Row 1, Death Row 2, and Death Row Brawl, all of which can be found on Itch.io.

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    Free Retro Game Boy Simulator for Handheld Gaming FansFree Retro Game Boy Simulator for Handheld Gaming Fans

     

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