# Analogue3D Preview This has been a *very* long time coming. I've had tabs and unread emails for probably over a year as incessant reminders to write this article. No better time than in the shadow of its launch window, right? It is time to dive into the Analogue3D.[^1] Analogue announced the Nintendo 64 FPGA-based console in October 2023 and I have kept a close eye on the news and developments, despite not actually writing about the system here on the good ol' blog. I have been wanting to write a preview-style post, just like I did back for the [[Analogue Pocket Preview|Analogue Pocket]]. It has been interesting to watch Analogue stay nested in the single-console FPGA experience—besides the Pocket. The all-mighty handheld is a one-off, not the new norm it seems. The [[A Cause for Celebration|Analogue Duo]] was a step back into the niche and offered a look at Analogue's approach to disc-based hardware. While the Nintendo 64 is roughly 4x more popular than the TurboGrafx-16[^2], I think it is safe to say that the anticipation for the 3D multiplayer titan replica —or rather, its promised feature set—is more exciting. Just taking the leading blurb from the product page at face value is hype-inducing for longtime Analogue users. > A reimagining of the N64. In 4K resolution. 10x the resolution of the original N64. The first and perhaps greatest multiplayer system of all time. Analogue³ᴰ is 100% compatible with every original N64 game ever made. Region Free. Bluetooth LE. Dualband Wifi. Four original-style controller ports. Entirely new, next generation Analogue hardware featuring 3Dᴼˢ. Engineered entirely in FPGA. No Emulation. The first 4K Analogue console? *Full* compatibility with the target console's library out of the gate? A new operating system? Sign me up! Actually, I did sign up when I pre-ordered my own unit for just under $300 (after shipping and taxes). When digging deeper though, I came away with questions. This is unmarked territory for the company. Pompous marketing aside, Analogue *does* deliver high-quality, consumer-friendly retro consoles. Their foray into 4K and the like should set a new standard going forward for their products.[^3] So what can we glean from the Analogue 3D before it is in our hands in the coming months (barring a delay)? That's what I want to try and answer for myself and for you. Let's dive in. ### 100% Compatibility? The [Nintendo 64DD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/64DD) would like to talk. In Analogue's defense, the [FAQ](https://www.analogue.co/support/resource/3d-faq) for the 3D address this with **two** A'd Q's, emphasis my own. > Which games can I play on Analogue3D from N64’s history? > - Analogue3D supports 100% of the original N64 *cartridge* library. and > Can I use the original 64DD with 3D? > - The 64DD disk drive cannot be *directly* mounted to 3D.[^4] It's a bold claim though: 100% compatibility. Especially when the console's library is notoriously difficult to emulate accurately—even [by](https://youtube.com/watch?v=OmKjVpVdHDQ) [its](https://youtube.com/watch?v=ounQZv1MFNA) [own](https://youtube.com/watch?v=qpy1M6v2_MI&t=1171) [creator](https://youtube.com/watch?v=VZBsV6dExZc)! You might be tempted (like I was) to say that "compatibility" and "accuracy" are not the same thing and that Analogue is slipping by with marketing word play, but they call it out in the same section. > "No more incompatibilities found in software emulation like input lag, graphic/audio inaccuracies, timing/frame rate issues and more." The claims around accuracy are far more interesting than compatibility. Up front, the 3D promises to run games at their original speeds and chonky framerates. You'd expect that with all the talk about accuracy. The more interesting tidbit is that in an [interview with Paste](https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/analogue/analogues-next-retro-game-console-is-a-4k-nintendo-64) back in October 2023, Analogue CEO Christopher Taber mentioned optional toggles that will enable “overclocking, running smoother, eliminating native frame dips." A year later, Taber ~~clarified~~ that "overclocking" statement in [a statement to Engadget](https://www.engadget.com/gaming/analogues-4k-remake-of-the-n64-is-almost-ready-and-its-a-big-deal-150033468.html?guccounter=2); emphasis and linking my own.[^5] > "...its solution 'isn't overclocking, it's **much better and more sophisticated**.' It revolves around Nintendo's original [Rambus RAM](https://n64brew.dev/wiki/RDRAM) set up, which is often the bottleneck for N64 performance. Solving this bottleneck 'means that games can run *without* slowdown and all the classic issues the original N64 had,' he explained." As far as I know, this is a first for Analogue, offering more game performance thanks to the power of the FPGA inside. Obviously, this sort of feature is one of the enticing reasons to emulate games over original hardware. The promise of this boost mode reminds me of the modern "Pro" consoles or backward compatibility on an Xbox console. It makes sense to tap into the power to make them play like they should have or how we remember them, before we learned to count frames. But this type of feature has to be battle tested. It is oh so easy to imagine a stable, steady, solid *Goldeneye* 4-player match, but it will be another thing to see it in action. ### Serving Up Signature and Soul  First up, this is my favorite image on the whole site. It makes me stop every time I scroll by it. Analogue is promising more Original Display Mode, just like the [[Analogue OS Preview#(C)ollecting (R)emaining (T)idbits|Pocket]]. As poetic as Analogue's marketing is, the N64 may just be the system that embodies "designed for tube TVs." The soft blur and 3D graphics have so much to gain from cathode rays. Much like the compatibility claims, this has to be seen to be believed. Analogue isn't just promising to emulate the games, but the television technology of the era which is just as tricky to reproduce. There are two elements I think are critical to CRT masks in this modern era: 4K resolution and HDR. We know that the Analogue3D supports one of those. The possibility of HDR is more of an implication based on the console's HDMI specification. To, for a lack of a better word, prove the importance of these two pieces, we don't need to look any further than the [[The RetroTINK-4K is Almost Here|RetroTINK-4K]]. <div class=iframe-container> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/3ZmPkozY6Cg?si=o2BiHTJtofo215hj" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe> </div> This was one of [my favorite videos](https://youtube.com/watch?v=3ZmPkozY6Cg) when the RT-4K was hitting the market. 8-bit Esquire does an excellent job showcasing the difference 4K resolution makes when emulating CRTs and their phosphors that give the displays their iconic look. The catch is that putting a black mask over the picture dims the colors: Throw in Black Frame Insertion and the picture becomes even darker. That's where HDR can come in and save the day, like [John Linneman showed off](https://x.com/dark1x/status/1686843392917954560) in his setup. But will the Analogue3D have HDR? It's hard to say. The spec should be able to handle it—4K and variable refresh rates (VRR) support are confirmed. The RetroTINK-4K supports those and HDR-10, so it is certainly possible without needing to be HDMI 2.1 like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. I am hopeful that Analogue has a solution here. It would put a damper on whole Original Display Mode feature from the outset. There's one other niggle though in regard to the Original Display Mode. In footnote #11 on the product page, there's an odd catch with the ODM and capture cards; > Analogue3D cannot use a capture card with Original Display Modes enabled. It can use a capture card in 4K without Original Display Modes. Huh? I have no clue why a mask and scanlines would prevent someone from using a capture card with the display modes. My only theory is that the ODM enables VRR, which is, as far as I know, not possible to capture yet. I mean, Digital Foundry still has to show [off-screen footage of VRR in action](https://youtube.com/watch?v=bnnZ12o-vrc&t=567). If they can't do it, I assume no one can. I just don't see how VRR would be a forced option to use a CRT emulation layer though. Sure, VRR makes sense for running N64 games at their original framerates, which can be unstable, but in the context of a visual filter? I don't know.[^6] ### Gold Multiplayer This is probably the most straight forward element to write about, just like the N64 itself back in the day. Four controller ports was not the norm at the time, with more than two players being relegated to [multitap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Multitap) accessories. The N64 paved the way for living room player mayhem. It gave developers explicit permission to make games and modes with four people in mind. Stone cold classics were born on the console, like *Mario Party*, *Mario Kart*, *Super Smash Bros.*, and *Goldeneye 007*. The Analogue3D supports original controller ports and the diverse range of accessories that we slammed into that controller port like Memory or Rumble Paks. The console also supports Bluetooth controllers, so your modern suite is useable as well without the limitations of wired connections. I can't wait to use my N64 NSO Switch controller for that authentic feel while being untethered. I love the little LED on the controller port that is supposed to light up when a wireless controller is plugged into that port. 8BitDo is also making a controller, as is tradition for Analogue at this point.[^7] It promises all the modern features, while paying close attention to its predecessor. Love it or hate it, the triple prong controller has an unparalleled feel to it. I've tried a handful of third-party, modern controllers and none have felt quite right. I did also pre-order one of these for the time being and am eager to get my hands on it. ### 3Dᴼˢ - A Fork in the OS Road New hardware isn't the only new tidbit for the console. Analogue is also pushing out a few meaningful operating system changes. As I said back in [[Analogue OS Preview|my preview for Analogue OS]], the company is adopting a very Apple-like approach with their hardware and software platforms. > "Just like macOS is tailor-made for Mac computers or Android is made for Google’s Pixel, Analogue OS appears to be the software backbone of Analogue’s hardware going forward." Analogue has [officially](https://www.analogue.co/announcements/analogue-os-is-now-product-specific) bifurcated Analogue OS into three camps (trifurcated?)—PocketOS, DuoOS, and 3DOS. The biggest divergence from the Pocket is the lack of [[How to Set Up Analogue Pocket openFPGA|openFPGA]] support. The Duo did not support this either, but it is a shame to see the folks behind "[the future of video game preservation](https://www.analogue.co/developer)" don't seem to believe in keeping that preservation accessible across all their platforms. Perhaps, in pursuit of the benefit of the doubt and my programming ignorance, openFPGA isn't designed for these differing chipsets, instead being tailored to the Pocket alone. I don't doubt that the Analogue3D will receive a jailbreak for loading N64 ROMs, but I am not holding out hope that other console cores will come to the device. Feature wise, 3DOS appears to have parity with current iterations of Analogue software. I see save sates, time logging and screenshots[^8] under "memories," and the Library. This is great to see, but it is expected. If one of these was missing, I'd be shocked. Here's a little hot take on about the Library though: I don't think it is all that useful. Since the console is officially supported by cartridges only, the user will always know what game is on deck. Odds are that person knows the name and developer, maybe they even remember the release year. If that person is scrolling through the Library, all they would see (I assume) is their personal collection reflected on screen, which is neat, except for the fact you can't act on the information in the Library unless you get up and swap carts. The Library is a great idea for say, digital libraries. I really wish Analogue outright supported the backing up of games to play digitally on their devices. There are two new features I spy on the big screenshot of OS-goodness. First up, a Wi-Fi menu. Gotta have that for the DualBand Wi-Fi. It looks like standard fare, but it is *new*. The other bit is a menu option that seems to be called "Files." It's cropped off after "Fil," but the icon is a folder, so I'm putting two plus two together on this one. The obvious intent behind this menu is just managing update files and the like; maybe even save data backups to an SD card? I like to imagine a world where more exciting options lie behind that menu though, like ROMs, cores, etc. One can dream... ### I Love a Good Ol' Fashioned Tech Specs Section I won't pretend to know what a "220k LE Altera Cyclone 10GX FPGA" *actually* means in terms of emulation, accuracy, etc. I know the DE-10 nano behind the [[MiSTer FPGA Thoughts and Impressions – My Tool for Researching the Past|MiSTer]] is a Cyclone V. I know the Analogue Pocket has both a Cyclone V and a Cyclone 10 inside it, but the 10 handles the system management? Look, chip names sort of mean nothing here. Number go up, performance go up? What I can decipher is N64 related features like a built-in Expansion Pak and Memory Pak. These feel like table stakes in 2025, but as a kid that had to buy an Expansion Pak from Hollywood Video to play a copy of *[[Donkey Kong 64]]* that he nabbed from a garage sale, this is music to my ears. The console comes with a 16GB SD card that is loaded up with the software needs. Here's a fun fact for you: The entire N64 library is roughly 13GB. Seemed like a semi-relevant bit to mention. 👀 The Analogue3D is overall smaller than the original 64, by about 43.7% [according to ChatGPT](https://chatgpt.com/share/67b0803a-aa00-8008-8fe4-74d728af2e1e).[^9] I love the technical, blueprint-like [drawing](https://images.analogue.co/technicaldrawing_desktop.91e67972ecdb8617910f94732a7bcfce.png?w=4000&s=e7e7eacf6050e959bcdcf83ea1f23c1b) of the system. The design is slick and, I think, captures the spirit of the original quite well. I can't wait to see the inevitable "[Funtastic](https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Flove-the-funtastic-n64-consoles-which-is-your-favourite-v0-1f6tt9i86afc1.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D1080%26crop%3Dsmart%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3Dc917c3a4ad11eb20da5c47a62674d8bc83e143ec)" variants. Maybe they'll even bring back a [24K gold console](https://web.archive.org/web/20170513010117/https://www.analogue.co/pages/24k-gold-nes)... Also, since I have no where else to really put this plea, please bring back Phil Fish to create a boot animation. Please. ### In Closing I cut my teeth on the Nintendo 64. At five years old I was losing horribly to my Dad in Super Smash Bros. on the tiny tube TV in a play room upstairs—at least that's how I remember it. The kid down the street had a slew of cartridges, but the only one I remember in detail was *Tarzan*. Nostalgia very much influenced my purchase. I have two real N64s. I have a MiSTer with a SNAC adapter to use real controllers. I have a RetroTINK-4K to upscale them all beautifully. I don't need the Analogue3D. But I want it. I want all these promises of fancy resolutions and performance to be true. I hope they are the real deal. I hope we find out for ourselves here in the next month as Q1 2025 rapidly comes to an end. Because my kid will be five years old before too long. That's why I bought the Analogue3D. But who am I kidding? I'll definitely start her on real hardware and a CRT. But then we can move into the living room and the 4K OLED. 😅 [^1]: Analogue styles it as Analogue³ᴰ, but I'm just going to write it out for my own sanity. I do like the stylization though. [^2]: Four times more popular purely based off sales data. Please put down your imaginary pitchforx. 😅 [^3]: I would bet that this year's October 16th announcement will be a PlayStation console. [^4]: What about *indirectly* then? Well, it turns out the CEO Christopher Taber said in an [interview](https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/analogue/analogues-next-retro-game-console-is-a-4k-nintendo-64) with Paste that "Taber suggests that 'community developed' connection options will work instead." A little searching didn't pull up any results for me on how to connect a 64DD to a console outside of the extension port on the bottom of an original N64. I found [this thread](https://assemblergames.org/viewtopic.php?t=1136) from 2012 about someone making a USB adapter for the peripheral. That could work, given that there are two USB-A style ports on the back of the Analogue3D, but I found no modern USB adapter solutions available for purchase. I would bet on the community coming up with some solution, but, as far as I can tell, there is not one at this time. [^5]: Not "clarified" so much as he responded in the most Taber-y of ways. [^6]: Perhaps the ODM uses Black Frame Insertion, which is a boon to CRT emulation. I believe capture cards can handle BFI though? [^7]: In all my research, I just found out that Christopher Taber is the Chief Marketing Officer for 8BitDo, which is slightly wild. The partnership between the two now makes *perfect* sense. The marketing style of 8BitDo is *very* different than Analogue though. That's a good thing in my book though. [^8]: The ODM rabbit hole goes deeper when reading about the screenshot support in 3DOS. "You can capture perfect, uncompressed 4K screenshots true to as they appear on your 4K TV, even with Original Display Modes." So the console can capture screenshots with the ODM enabled, but capture cards cannot? Do these screenshots show the ODM or just bypass the filter entirely and always capture 4K raw pixel images? What is up with the ODM?! [^9]: I suck at math guys. I really didn't want to spend my morning writing out and solving a math problem.