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So the Analogue Pocket is available for pre-order in a few days, if you haven't heard of it yet you should definitely check it out.
https://www.analogue.co/pocket

How awesome would it be if this thing could run Pico-8 cartridges!? Is that even possible? What kind of hardware requirements does pico-8 have?

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Unless zep supports it directly, it's very unlikely. And even then, I'm not certain it's possible. This uses FPGA in place of a normal CPU, which, while I can't say I understand FPGA fully, from what I know, it's vastly different from something like ARM or x86. If anyone knows this better than me, feel free to correct me, but from what I know, Pico-8 games on hardware like this would only work if it was an actual console with actual hardware that could be replicated, instead of a fantasy one. I would really love to see zep support more portable devices, but this one may be a lost cause.

I want this too. There would need to be a physical cartridge to run PICO-8, and it would need to speak one of the protocols the Pocket already understands, such as GameBoy. This seems achievable to me, since at least one person has already hacked a Raspberry Pi Zero into a GameBoy cartridge, and claims it works: https://sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=901

If no one else does this, I want it enough to attempt it myself some day. I just got started with the PICO-8, and I'd love for people with GameBoys to be able to play my games.

That'd be awesome, I managed to preorder a Pocket before they ran out! :D



I know this thread hasn't been active in a year, but I would love to see it happen. How it can happen, I'm not quite sure. The best solution could be making a Pico-8 emulator that can run on a GBA flashcart, or (when Analogue enables the functionality) he could make an official core for the Pocket. That would require work from Zep and I'm not sure he would want to put that kind of effort into something that maybe 10 people max would actually use. Even if Zep put in the effort to make it happen, the end user would still rely on using a computer to load carts onto the sd card or the flashcart for use. Anyone wanting to make a Pico-8 game work on the Analogue Pocket could use the free GB Studio app to make a GB specific version of their game and then export it to the Analogue Pocket as well, and it would probably be easier than the other options, but unfortunately that takes away from Pico-8's charm a bit.
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Thought I would just add this. I have the PowKiddy and no it does not run any Pico-8 despite it being included so I'm refunding it. Looks like I'm going to have to get the RG351V after all. And that's fine, that verified works Pico-8 and any future versions.

At this point I'm not so much interested in the consoles running other games like PS1 or SNES, I JUST want Pico-8, that is enough - and apparently outside of the failed PocketCHIP there isn't an inexpensive console already assembled that is dedicated just for Pico-8.

I would also love to see Pico-8 running on Analogue Pocket but I can also highly recommend Anbernic devices for this as a first-aid help. I do love my powerful RG280V as it feels like it's made for Pico-8. Maybe just missing a wi-fi for faster debug loop :)

My eyes were playing tricks on me. For a minute there, @substance, that looked really THICC, but no, it's just the shadow. :)

However, yeah, that is an awesome looking console, once again I guess just photoshopped.

I'll be getting the RG351V although a clamshell design would be much more appreciated. Heck I'd even pay $200 for a fully assembled clamshell portable console that plays Pico-8 perfectly.

@dw871 no photoshop needed :) I just use the Adam firmware on my RG280V which I think might also work with RG351V. It provides nice "launcher" UI. It uses Tac08 for Pico-8 emulation.
https://github.com/eduardofilo/RG350_adam_image/blob/master/README.md
https://0xcafed00d.itch.io/tac08-rg350
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Errm, @substance ... You might not want to use TAC08 for Pico-8 as it only covers version 1.xx and I think that's it. It does not recognize commands:

FLIP() CSTORE() and RESTORE()

which I make heavy use of in my private coding.

I already have Tac08 on my RG-350 and it does not recognize these commands.

Now if you have a Tac08 that does these three commands and can also run on the RG-350, I would be quite interested in that.

If you look at the comments in the URL link you included HERE:

https://0xcafed00d.itch.io/tac08-rg350

You will see I even offered to pay the author $40 to catch up to current Pico-8 version. That was 7-months ago and I have not heard from him so I am assuming he wrote Tac08 for version 0.1.xx and does not plan to continue any further.

As for your RG280V, can it run Pico-8 0.2.4 ?

Failing all this I will have to get a RG351V which I am promised runs any version of Pico-8 including 0.2.4.

If you, @substance, can reach the author and convince him to upgrade his Tac08 for the RG350 to include those 3-important commands, I imagine this would help not just me but a bunch of other coders - and as mentioned earlier I'm willing to pay for his work.

I really don't want to purchase a RG351V but will if it is the only way I can run modern 0.2.4 + future versions of Pico-8 on the go.

You have a fair point @dw817 - I could throw myself another $40 for that Tac08 upgrade.

So yes, the search for the perfect Pico-8 device continues. Maybe it's the upcoming RG552 and using Android for running Pico-8?



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