PocketSprite - Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question about the PocketSprite? We've got answers to the most commonly asked questions below.
If your question isn't covered here - just contact our excellent support, and we'll take care of you.
You can jump directly to the relevant section:
- Basic Questions
- Functionality Questions
- Update your PocketSprite
- Customer Support Questions
- Refund Policy
Basic Questions
Getting Started
Diving into your PocketSprite is very easy. Each device is delivered with a quick instruction manual - which you can download here if you need to refresh yourself.
We've also created a comprehensive tutorial video - that explains everything you need to know about the PocketSprite, including:
- What each button does
- How to upload games
- How to play games
- How to reset the device
- How to debug the device
- ...and quite a few more subjects.
At the end of the video you'll be a PocketSprite expert.. and if you have any more questions, you can reach out to our fantastic customer support.
What can it emulate?
PocketSprite comes pre-loaded with two emulators, GNUBoy and SMS Plus, that allow you to play every single game on the following platforms:
- Nintendo Game Boy
- Nintendo Game Boy Color
- Sega Master System
- Sega Game Gear
We also have an experimental NES Emulator available.
When you’re tired of the pre-loaded open source games, uploading a new ROM is literally a one-click process. It’s done over-the-air. On Windows, Linux, Mac, or Android, no cables or drivers needed – just connect to PocketSprite’s Wi-Fi network, upload the ROM through PocketSprite’s web interface, and you’ll be playing.
Storage Space / How Many ROMs?
The amount of ROMs you can store in the PocketSprite depends on their size. PocketSprite has 16 MiB of flash, of which about 2 MiB is taken by the OS and emulators. The remaining 14 MiB can be filled with ROMs if you so desire. You can fit more than 100 smallish (128 KiB) ROMs, or ten or so large (1 MiB) ROMs.
However, the Wi-Fi interface allows you to quickly and easily add and remove ROMs in one click, so management is never a problem. Likewise, you can remove a ROM, but chose to leave its ‘state file’, meaning that if you ever place the ROM back on the device, your game-state / progress will still be there.
Turbografx/PC-Engine emulator?
A TurboGraphics emulator should be doable, although it’s hard to predict how many of the additional TurboGraphics peripherals it would support. However, at the moment, there is no emulator in the works, although one might be ported in the future.
Are there any binary blobs on the device?
Our microcontroller is the ESP32. Currently, its BlueTooth and Wi-Fi drivers are not available in a source form. As such, The Chooser (the app that displays the main menu as well as allows you to upload new applications) is thus not 100% open source, for reasons outside our control. Apart from that, the emulators, the bootloader, and the rest of the Chooser are entirely open source; the emulators and SDK are already released on https://github.com/PocketSprite. (Note that we will release the chooser and bootloader later on, and that the SDK is not in the final form we’d like – it’s good enough to compile the two emulators but we’d like some better APIs and documentation for others to use.)
Does PocketSprite include a Game Boy Advance emulator?
Sorry, at the moment we do not have a GBA emulator for PocketSprite. In theory, someone could try to port one over, but looking at the requirements (mostly memory-wise) for such an emulator, we do not think one will be ported anytime soon.
How long does PocketSprite take to charge?
PocketSprite should take about an hour and a half to charge when the internal battery is entirely empty.
Is it possible to add an NES emulator to PocketSprite?
Yes, and the latest version of the firmware supports an NES emulator!
The text is more than likely too tiny to read for some games - but it does work.
How do save-games work?
When the device is shutdown, the game state and game SRAM is saved in snapshot form on the device. This allows three things:
- Instant resuming where you left off when you turn on PocketSprite
- Resetting of the device without losing save games
- Removal of ROM without removing the saved game. If you place the ROM back on later, you’ll still have your saved games/states.
Where are the products dispatched from? Will there be customs charges?
PocketSprite will be shipped to backers directly from our Hong Kong-based logistics provider. Typically, the monetary value of the device means that it will not be subject to customs or import duties, but this is subject to your country’s regulations.
Is it too small? Does it hurt to play?
We invested a lot of time, money, and testing to ensure that the device is very playable and comfortable. There were several iterations of button style, height, feeling, and material to ensure reliable and comfortable gameplay. The button mechanics are chosen not to be too hard to press, and the buttons themselves are rounded on the top. While everyone’s fingers are different, during development and testing of the software and hardware, we never had any issues with painful fingers.
Functionality Questions
How do I upload new games?
Uploading new ROMs is very easy. You don't need any cables - everything is done via wifi. You can use the following method to upload new games, new emulators, and manage the files on the device.
- Turn on the device.
- If you are currently in a game, you can click the power button, and select 'Close Emulator'
- If you are currently on the game selection screen, you can select a game, then click the power button, and select 'Close Emulator
- On a computer, connect to the 'pkspr' wifi network
- In your browser, navigate to http://192.168.4.1
- Click 'Chose a file', and select the file you wish to upload
- Click Upload
- Your file is ready to go! Press any button on the device to continue.
Update your PocketSprite
PocketSprite is constantly evolving. Upgrading is easy.
-
Download the latest version of the PocketSprite software from https://pocketsprite.com/latest.zip
This URL will always have the latest official, stable version of the PocketSprite software.
- Unzip the files, and then simply upload them via the wifi interface.
- Reboot, and you're upgraded!
Customer Support Questions
I believe my device is broken
First of all, we're sorry. No one likes receiving a product that doesn't work. Our customer support will help you solve the problem, whatever it takes.
You also might be able to fix the device yourself. You can try the following:
-
Ensure that the device is charged. When batteries fly, they lose their charge.
-
If the device turns on but is stuck, you can try a hard reset.
Press the power button and the start button (bottom right button) at the same time. You may also keep maintaining the bottom right button then press the power button.
- If the wifi appears to be unstable try moving the device closer to your wifi hotspot (router, phone, etc)
If the above doesn't work, please reach out to our customer support: support@pocketsprite.com
Our customer support works 12 hours per day, 7 days a week, and we'll take care of your problem.
Refund Policy
Learn about our refund & return policies
Our sole goal is to delight customers with our products. When you make an order, we make an engagement to get you a high-quality working product via tracked delivery.
We offer a 100% satisfaction & money back guarantee in the following conditions:
- The product arrived DOA (Dead on Arrival)
- The product was broken or destroyed in transit
- The product is defective:
- Buttons don't work on arrival
- The screen has more than 3 dead pixels
- The device doesn't charge
Should your device fall into the above category, we can either refund or replace your device. Please reach out to Customer Support - support@pocketsprite.com
The PocketSprite Hacker's Edition is supplied in kit form, and requires some assembly. The refund policy does not cover your assembly.
If you break the device during assembly or assemble the device poorly, we are obviously not responsible.
We cannot refund under the following conditions:
- Change of mind.
- Damage after delivery including scratched or broken screens.
The above policy is considered legally binding and final, unless overridden by the consumer laws of the purchaser's country.