VG Pocket

VG Pocket is a series of handheld dedicated game consoles built by JungleTac and sold by Performance Designed Products LLC. The VG Pocket model was the first console of its type to have a 2" backlit color LCD screen.
Description
The consoles have built-in games, the number of which varies with each model and many are clones and hacks of old Nintendo Entertainment System and arcade games. The devices also have a TV-out port with composite video and audio streaming through a non-standard stereo mini headset jack.
In 2008, the Caplet and Tablet models were also finalists in the International Design Excellence Awards; they were designed by Stuart Karten Design, a Los Angeles-based industrial design firm.
Versions
There are five VG Pocket models available:
VG Pocket Mini: 30 built-in games and a 1.5" screen.
VG Pocket 50: 50 built-in games and a 2" screen.
VG Pocket Max: 75 built-in games and a 2.5" screen.
VG Pocket Caplet: 50 games, including licensed versions of Space Invaders, Bust-a-Move, and BurgerTime.
VG Pocket Tablet: 25 games, including a licensed version of Frogger.
VG Pocket Max
The VG Pocket Max is a handheld dedicated console distributed by Performance Designed Products. The system contains 75 games, which are mostly modified NES games. It has a 2.5" backlit color LCD screen, four buttons (plus a reset and a power button), a directional pad, volume control, a single speaker, a headphone jack, and a TV-out port.
In the UK a handheld was made called the Gamespower 50. The Gamespower 50 contained almost all the games (with names changed, such as Bird Droppings retitled as Birdies Nest) and looked exactly the same, except with different color. A plug and play version was made by Dream Gear, being essentially the same as the Gamespower 50. The plug n' play looks like a Dreamcast controller, but internally there is not much of a resemblance. This version is more focused on racing games, and only has 30 to 40 games in it. Unlike the VG Pocket Max, both the Gamespower 50 and the plug n' play version lack a selection menu.
Games
Action
Balloon Catcher
Get It Right
Jump
Leap
Night Monster
Penguin Island
Quick Match
Road Works
Sea Voyage
Smash Ball
Worm Catcher
Racing
Autobahn
Bandit Racer
Bridge Driver
Freeway
Motor Rally
Off-Roader
Race and Ram
Road Ace
Road Race
Road Rally
Street Bike Racing
Trucker
World Racing
Shooting
Air War
Earth's Starfighter
Mutant Hunt
Quick Shot
Sky Fighter
Starcraft Attack
Sports
Boat Racer
Bulls-Eye
Free Throws
Knockem Down
Rackets
Surfs UP
Target Shop
Wits
Bird Craze
Bird Droppings
Bounce
Cutterfly Catch
Cats and Dogs
Chuck Holes
Dragon's Tail
Drop and Stock
Egg Catcher
Fire Fight
Flying Fish
Fungi
Fun Moves
Globs
Go Ball
Go Bang
Grow and Mow
Jewel Master (Magic Jewelry hack)
Marble Max
Matching Dimonds
Paddle Ball
Paint Master (Brush Roller hack)
Patch'n Go
Pipelines
Pool Pro
Pop the Lop
Puzzle Box
Ricochet
Risk It
River Racing
Sea Destroyer
Sea World
Sky Mission
Smart Monkey
Spin Ball
Table Ball
Tile Tizzel
Wake the Baby
VG Pocket Caplet
The VG Pocket Caplet is a dedicated console created by Performance Designed Products. Its graphics are considered an improvement over those of the earlier models of the VG Pocket, with a very bright 2.5" backlit 320×240 TFT display (the package claims its resolution is 960×240, counting the RGB triads to make 3× the number of pixels). It is a 16-bit system that appears to utilize some form of arcade emulation, since the majority of its games are either direct ports or clones of arcade games. The unit has the capability of being displayed on any TV set with the purchase of a separate "starter kit" that includes a storage carrying case and special AV cables unique to the system. There are no save features for high scores or game progress. Caplet comes in four colors: blue, silver, red, orange; and is powered by 3 AAA batteries.
Early versions of the Caplet contain 35 games, with the current version having 50. Both units have the same outward appearance. The packaging of the unit is the only way to identify how many games are on the system without turning on the unit. The unit initially retailed for $40.
Games
Space Invaders (licensed Taito port)
Bust-A-Move (another licensed Taito port)
BurgerTime (licensed Data East port)
Sudoku Quiz (something of a misnomer, as there is no quiz included)
Boxboy (Sokoban clone)
Adventures of Waldog (platform game)
Deep Storm (taken from Psikyo's Space Bomber; 3D shooter like Star Fox)
Bubble Wubble (Tetris clone)
Final Escape (Pengo clone)
Wolfy's Quest
Legendary Hero (Don Doko Don clone)
Craig the Caterpillar (Susume!! Mile Smile clone)
Crystal Cavern (Magical Drop clone)
Final Round Tennis!
Magic Jelly (nothing like Bomberman, the player's goal is to use bombs to change the color of every block on the screen, without leaping to death.)
Blazebusters (Arkanoid/Breakout clone)
Rotating Puzzle (animated slide puzzle game)
Underwater Pinball (Arkanoid/Breakout clone)
Bubble Blaster (Zuma clone)
Greedy Grabber
Puzzle Chance
Victory Road (Frogger clone)
Jet Racing (Pole Position clone)
Yummy and Tasty (Gussun Oyoyo clone)
Code Name: Plumber (platform game)
Hanoi Tower
Leapfrog
Win or Lose
Pop Goes the Ball! (Pang clone)
Kart Racer X (overhead racer)
Battle Blocks II (another Arkanoid/Breakout clone)
Switch and Mix (Lights out clone)
Survival Challenge
Go Back Home!
Motojet Mania (overhead racer)
Tiger Rescue (vertical scrolling shooter similar to Aero Fighters)
Billiards Master
Mr. Onion
Wacky Racing (another Pole Position clone)
Tennis Caddie Blaze of Glory (horizontal scrolling shooter)
Underwater Memory Crane Maniac Go Bang Jewel Master 2 Smashing Ladybugs Submarine Slot Machine (casino game)
Video Poker (casino game)
Black Jack (casino game)
VG Pocket Tablet
The VG Pocket Tablet is a portable handheld video gaming system created by PDP in 2006. The console is self-contained, as there is no cartridge slot, but rather it is pre-loaded with 25 games. It initially sold for $29.99. It has a round tablet-shaped design in four colors: orange, green, red, and white; a very bright 2” backlit 640×240 TFT display; and is powered by 3 AAA batteries. The unit has a port that allows connectivity to television via standard analog RCA port. The cable was available with the purchase of a separate “starter kit” that includes a storage carrying case and AV hookup cables, but is not an uncommon cable, also used for portable DVD players.
Games included are remakes or clones of classic arcade and 8-bit console games. Many reviewers have commented on the surprising quality of the console's screen.
Games
Frogger (licensed Konami classic)
Stellar Attack Motocross Racer Billiards Sudoku Quiz Mutant Hunt Funny Fungi Leaper the Frog Lord of the Jewels Off-Roader Risk It! Battle Blocks Construction Jack Memory Matching Track Star River Quest Star Alley Pinball Labyrinth Vitamania Mr. Onion Delivery Express Birds of Prey Whack the Critter Stuntman Daredevil Delta Fighter''
See also
First generation of video game consoles
Handheld electronic game
List of dedicated consoles
List of first generation home video game consoles
List of retro style video game consoles
Nintendo Entertainment System hardware clone
Video game console
Home video game console
Handheld game console
Microconsole
References
Dedicated consoles
Handheld game consoles