ninbura / pokemon-on-the-analogue-pocket

A guide for playing pokemon as close to the originally intended experience on the Analogue Pocket. Addresses the imlications of additionally required hardware, RTC, and interfacing with Nintendo's hardware & services.
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Definitive Guide to Playing Pokémon on the Analogue Pocket

introduction

Some Pokémon games are unique due to their utilization of real-time clock, aka RTC. RTC keeps track of time while you aren't playing, essentially it syncs in-game time with real-time. In-game events/functions such as Pokémon catchability, the Move Tutor, Kurt's Apricorn Pokéballs, certain Pokémon evolutions, berry growth, lotteries, Secret Base battles, etc. depend on RTC. This causes complications depending on what method you're using to play Pokémon games on the Analogue Pocket. Bulbagarden has a nice write up on what time/RTC effects in each generation of Pokémon. Generation 2 is much more dependant on RTC than generation 3, but it's important enough in both generations that I wouldn't consider playing without functional RTC.

optimal play method per game

preface

play methods & pros/cons

There are three methods of playing pokemon on the Analogue Pocket.

  1. cores

    • pros
      • GBC RTC Core
        • time is tracked while you aren't playing the game
        • sleep/save states are fully functional
        • time does not desync with the use of sleep/save states
        • basically a flawless implementation
      • GBA Core
        • sleep/save states are partially functional
      • both
        • free
        • save files are easily accesible for backup
        • save data & RTC functionality is not dependant on the finite life of a non-rechargable battery
    • cons
      • GBA Core
        • time is only tracked when playing the game
        • time is not re-calculated when sleep/save states are loaded on cores that utilize said functionality
      • both
        • additional setup required
        • incapable of interfacing with some Nintendo hardware/software (N64 Game Pak, Pal Park, etc.)
  2. flash carts

    • pros
      • GBC carts
        • save states are partially functional
        • EverDrive GB X7 - Time is recalculated when utilizing the cart's internal save state function. However, many users have reported that loading a save state breaks in-game saving.
        • EZ-Flash Junior - in-game clock can be reset via manipulation of cart's internal clock
        • BennVenn MBC3000 & insideGadgets RTC carts - compatible with N64 Gam Pak for use with Pokémon Stadium 1&2
      • GBA carts
        • save states are fully functional
        • time is recalculated when save states are loaded (always in sync)
        • EZ-Flash Omega DE - Mode B allows for use of the Pocket's sleep functionality
        • EZ-Flash Omega DE - Mode B allows for interop with Pokémon Pal Park
      • both
        • much cheaper than authentic carts in the grand scheme of things
        • time is tracked while you aren't playing
        • easy to replace internal batteries
        • save files are easily accessible for backup
    • cons
      • GBC carts
      • GBA carts
        • EverDrive GBA Mini X5 - incompatible with Analogue Pocket's sleep feature
      • both
        • You typically require access to authentic Nintendo hardware to perform updates neccesary for flash carts to function with the Analogue Pocket.
        • costs money
        • additional setup required
        • RTC relies on internal batteries that eventually die
  3. authentic cartridges

    • pros
      • time is tracked while you aren't playing the game
      • sleep/save states are partially functional
      • no setup required
      • interfaces with official Nintendo hardware/software (N64 Game Pak, Pal Park, etc.)
      • karts r kool
    • cons
      • extremely expensive
      • time is not re-calculated when sleep/save states are loaded (desync)
      • gen 2 cartridge save data is lost when the cart's internal battery dies
      • gen 3 cartridge time is no longer tracked when the cart's internal battery dies
      • cartridge battery replacement requires soldering
      • additional hardware is required to backup save data

relevant cores & surrounding nuance

relevant flash carts & surrounding nuance

preface

manually reset RTC data

backing up / extracting save data

preface

Note that after you extract your save, it is very likely you mess up your RTC data. See the manually reset RTC data section in this guide to learn how you can reset your RTC data as needed.

cores & flash carts

convert save data (Virtual Console)

preface

acquiring the GS Ball in Pokémon Crystal

interfacing with Pokémon Home

Note that you can can transfer Gen 4-6 from 3DS into Pokémon Home without using retail cartridges as mentioned in https://github.com/ninbura/pokemon-on-the-Analogue-Pocket/issues/3.

product links

cores / software / firmware

relevant guides

frequently asked questions

Why do I want to interface my gen 1&2 games with the N64 transfer pack / Pokémon Stadium 1&2?

Pokémon Stadium 1&2 provide these unique benefits

Why can't most flash carts interface with specialized Nintendo hardware/software (Game Pak, Pal Park, etc)?

Most flash carts launch to a menu in-which you first have to select a rom to interact with it. The BennVenn & insideGadgets carts only ever have one game flashed at time. Likewise, the Omega DE has the option (Mode B) to run a single game standalone. This allows these carts to interface with specialized Nintendo hardware/software, as they are viewed as single authentic game by the receiving hardware.

Why can't most flash carts utilize the Analogue Pocket's sleep functionality?

Similarly to my previous answer, only carts that offer a standalone game mode can utilize the Analogue Pocket's sleep functionality. This is because this sleep functionality is really a save state for a specific game in disguise. When you sleep your Analogue Pocket a save state is stored, when you wake your Analogue Pocket it attempts to load that save state. If you're using a flash cart that loads to a menu before it can load a specific game, it's impossible to load a state for a specific game before it is manually selected.