What happens at a retro gaming market, and what is the Super Pocket handheld?

It’s that time of year when the various autumnal and wintery festivals and activities are at the back of our minds. The kids are back at school, the leaves are falling from the trees, and there might just be a new retro console under the Christmas tree at the end of it all…

Around this time of year, I like to do a couple of things. One is to find a retro arcade (like the one at Whitby). The other is to decide if I want a new retro mini system (the Technos Super Pocket handheld is piqueing my interest ) for Christmas, or stick to some original games.

However, I would like to spend more time attending retro gaming markets. I hit my first one a few months ago (details below) and really fancy going to another.

No news in this weekend’s edition, but look out for the midweek edition as it is going to be huge!

Table of Contents

• What happens at a retro gaming market?

  • How to see everything at a retro gaming market

  • What hardware is at a retro gaming event?

  • What sort of games can you find?

  • Should you go to a retro gaming market? Yes!

• What Is the Super Pocket and How Does It Play Ever …

  • What is a Super Pocket handheld?

  • Super Pocket TAITO Edition

  • Super Pocket Capcom Edition

  • Super Pocket Technos Edition

  • Super Pocket Atari edition games

• Game Over

What happens at a retro gaming market?

I recently attended a retro market for the first time and… wow!

Frankly, I wish I’d had more time. So, what can you expect at one of these events?

Well, I’m basing this entirely on my experience at the Newcastle Gaming Market, which cracked along nicely at the Gateshead International Stadium.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get there early doors, which ruled out paying a bit more for a quieter experience. Who knows, I might have missed out on something I really wanted (I don’t think so though), but when I arrived at around 12.20pm, I was stunned to see just how busy the event is.

First off, big respect to the team runing the event. Entry was seamless (cash only, though, so keep that in mind if you attend a future market) and the long queue was brought down efficiently. The huge room at the stadium was perfectly arranged, with stalls around the outside and in four groups around the center, making navigation easy.

How to see everything at a retro gaming market

My strategy, based on limited time, was to size up which stall was selling what, return to the ones I wanted to spend time at, then get out. The random element: my eldest daughter was in tow…

Not a big deal, but it did mean that we spent a bit of time on a jewellery stall (with a sideline in retro art) which gave me the chance to see a few things I didn’t expect. Decals, stickers, art for cab projects, retro and modern game art printed ointo metal plates, coasters, and much more.

There was also a fudge stand – and why not?

Now, I got chatting to the stall first on the left by the entrance and really wanted to pick up a couple of rarer late Amiga titles. But with a budget, and spotting some C64 carts which would have broken it if I’d included them, I ended up with just a nice boxed copy of Shadow of the Beast II for the Amiga.

What hardware is at a retro gaming event?

We saw a fair amount of digital eye candy at the Newcastle Gaming Market, from old systems – fully boxed and ready to buy – to refurbished Nintendo Game Boys.

The systems pictured here are refurbished, with IPS backlit LCD displays (XL option available), replacement glass, mostly new shells, USB-C charging, 2000mah batteries, 2W speaker, and 10-12 hours of play time.

It’s fair to say this one stall was the most attractive, even despite the proliferation of artwork for sale around the venue. Such consoles were available for around £175 on the day, but different prices can be found offline.

Tasty, aren’t they?!

What sort of games can you find?

If you think of retro games, you probably think of Atari, Nintendo, and SEGA systems, maybe Neo-Geo, Vextrex, and a couple of other more obscure systems. These – along with Sony PlayStation and early Xbox – were all present and correct. You’re as likely to find Dreamcast games as you are to find Nintendo Wii U titles, which is reassuring

Also available today, and I expect this is typical for UK events: C64, Amiga, ZX Spectrum, MS-DOS/Windows 95 and later. I passed up on a few tasty PC classics, mainly because my MS-DOS system isn’t up and running yet (and doesn’t have a CD drive). It was sad to see a lack of BBC Micro/Electron titles, but not a surprise.

Should you go to a retro gaming market? Yes!

Naturally I was a little nervous about going to the event, not least because I knew it would be a brief trip up and down the A19 from Teesside to Tyneside. Regardless, I loved every minute of it, and only wish I’d had more time to browse games, old controllers, the odd old cable or docking port, and maybe even splash out on a Limited Run Games Nintendo Switch title (we saw a few of those!).

If you’re thinking about checking out what’s on offer at a retro gaming market near you, based on my experiences today, I’d highly recommend it.

Now, off to try out those Shadow of the Beast II disks…

What Is the Super Pocket and How Does It Play Evercade Carts?

In 2023, unknown company HyperMegaTech unveiled the Super Pocket TAITO Edition and Super Pocket Capcom Edition. These compact handhelds have a Game Boy-style form factor and are compatible with Evercsade carts.

They also sport stunning colour schemes.

It soon turned out that HyperMegaTech was a brand name for a line of new handhelds from Blaze Entertainment, producers of the Evercade range of retro consoles. As with other products, it features officially licensed retro games direct from the publishers.

Andrew Byatt, Blaze Entertainment Ltd’s CEO, explained: “With […] Hyper Mega Tech, we are making a range of products that delivers an even more accessible entry point into retro than our successful Evercade range.

“Being able to deliver Arcade versions of these amazing games on a high-quality handheld at this price  is a real achievement that we know our customers will love.”

All that seems pretty clear. But given the Super Pocket can run Evercade carts, why not simply release a new device called “Evercade Pocket” or somesuch?

What is a Super Pocket handheld?

Measuring an appropriately compact pocket-sized 78mm x 125mm x 25mm and with a 2.8” IPS Screen with 320×240 resolution, the Super Pocket also features a USB-C charging port. The console has four face buttons, a start and select button, and a menu button, along with a new circular D-Pad, specifically designed for the Super Pocket. It also includes four rear buttons for games that require expanded controls.

At the time of release, the Super Pocket will run all existing Evercade cartridges. In addition, the device features a dummy cartridge to protect the port. One key thing to note: the Super Pocket will not have firmware updates (although no doubt someone will work out how to flash it). It is not an Evercade, instead essentially a Game Boy-like with your choice of two pre-installed games library and the option to run Evercade carts.

Launched in November 2023, the Super Pocket is available from various retailers with a price of £49 ($59/€59) and comes in four editions: TAITO, Capcom (both 2023), Atari, and Technos (both scheduled for release on October 22, 2024).

Super Pocket TAITO Edition

18 games are preinstalled on the TAITO edition:

Super Pocket Capcom Edition

This edition of the console features the following 12 games:

• 1942

• 1943

• 1944: The Loop Master

• Bionic Commando

• Captain Commando

• Street Fighter II’: Hyper Fighting

• Strider

• Wolf of the Battlefield: Mercs

• Mega Man

• Final Fight

• Ghouls ‘N Ghosts

• Forgotten Worlds

The Super Pocket Capcom Edition seems to be in short supply at present, and is not available directly through Amazon.

Super Pocket Technos Edition

New for 2024, the Super Pocket Technos Edition features 15 preinstalled titles:

• Double Dragon (Arcade)

• Double Dragon II: The Revenge (Arcade)

• Double Dragon 3 -The Rosetta Stone (Arcade)

• Block Out (Arcade)

• The Combatribes (Arcade)

• Minky Monkey (Arcade)

• Mysterious Stones: Dr John’s Adventure (Arcade)

• Renegade (Arcade)

• Super Dodge Ball (Arcade)

• Super Double Dragon (16-bit)

• Double Dragon (8-bit)

• Double Dragon (8-bit handheld)

• River City Ransom (8-bit)

• Crash ‘N’ The Boys: Street Challenge (8-bit)

• Super Spike V’Ball (8-bit)

Super Pocket Atari edition games

Two versions of the Atari edition Super Pocket were made available at launch. The Special Edition, with its faux woodgrain finish, is now sold out, but you can still pre-order the main red Super Pocket Atari Edition.

The Atari version features an immense 50 arcade and console titles:

Ultimately, the handheld is a low-budget, vertical console that can be taken anywhere for classic arcade gaming at a moment’s notice. It’s not for multiplayer, there are no bonus features like Game of the Month, and it’s likely aimed at newcomers to the retro gaming world than seasoned Evercade fans.

While we might refer to it as an “Evercade Pocket” in years to come, the Super Pocket is a clever move that ensures old school gaming classics in your hand at an entry-level price point.

Game Over

Thank you for reading, and for sharing. We’ve gained more new subscribers this week (hurrah!), and that’s mostly thanks to shares.

Please forward to your friends, or post the link on social media, so we can reach as many members of the retro community as possible.

Until next time, take it easy…

(This newsletter contains affiliate link(s) that help me to cover the costs of hosting, promotion, and distribution.)