Thanks for making this great overview of the PicoGUS! I'll have to double check that the joystick emulation works on the Pocket386 (I also have one). Not sure if you're aware of it, but I designed a "Femto" edition of the PicoGUS that plugs right into the ISA pin header on the back of the Pocket386 and its portable retro siblings. I had some for sale on my Tindie store last week but I've sold out already. I'm considering making one more small batch.
Hi Ian! Great work on this board! I love playing around with it! The joystick issue may have been that my knockoff X-Box Style controller wasn’t compatible. It works in other X-input applications, but it might not be compatible with this board. Let me know if you get the joystick working on yours with the Pocket386. I saw the Femto addition, and I almost bough it. I may go ahead and get one if you make another batch. Thanks for all of your hard work on this amazing project!!
So neat to check out! That’s cool it has a joystick attachment too! I like how when you were playing one must fall you just politely said hi as the opponent was beating you up lol 😂
Wow this is really cool. Before I buy the exact same setup, any chance you could test what battery life is like with the isa expansion and pico gus installed? I'd love to whip this stuff out on my hour long train ride to work and see what the other train passengers think. Btw, OMF 2097 has many graphical settings you can adjust to increase the speed, such as turning off or reducing detail of shadows, background animations, stage hazards, screen shake when your robot hits the ground hard, etc. It actually does make quite a difference in getting the game to a very reasonable speed on a 386 to reduce settings on many of these. There is also a speed setting in the options menu and I would recommend it be turned all the way up!
I just received my PicoGUS and it's pretty awesome in my Pocket386! I tested most of the FW/emulated devices without issue. I'll leave it in SB mode most of the time, but can change to GUS, etc in the live system with the pgusinit tool. Absolutely amazing 👏 would only be better if it had a headphone output with a volume knob, but that's easy to fix. I'll buy one or two for my Book8088 systems with MicroRAM and PicoMEM UMB setups
I've got a PicoGUS, new in box, ready to go. Just one thing delaying deployment... Real GUS is still installed and working! The experience you are having right just now, playing Epic Pinball, One Must Fall 2049, Jazz Jackrabbit, with PERFECT sound, and on a 386... was part of my.... early adulthood. So yep I'm old. But got to hear and play these games at the time. In 1993. And Demo Scene? Yep just as great as you are imagining it. Here we are in 2024, with GUS love making a huge comeback. It's only a matter of time now before somebody's video shows off a new update from PicoGUS. Perhaps it will be MIDI and Sound Blaster digital stereo. When that happens? It might be time to pull the real GUS and install the PicoGUS.
I played all of the following Scene Demos, in 1993, on GUS with 386 CPU. So these should all work on your setup too: Second Reality, Crystal Dream 2, Show (by Magic 12), Good Band and the Ugly.
From one Josh to the other Josh, I would love to have one of these things, but I can't justify spending that type of money right now. All I really need is a 386 cpu and I could have a 386 in my portable PC. Right now it is running a 486, but has a spot for a 386.
It’s a Kraft Gameport Card that I got on eBay for $15. It’s just a standard 8 bit ISA card that I can plug in next to the PicoGUS on that same expansion board I showed.
I can't imagine using such an involved setup on a "portable" netbook would be practical, but on the other hand, this would have been great on a desktop machine. I guess if I didn't already have a Soundblaster, I'd be interested in this for that reason.
Yeah… very good point, but it’s all I have in 386/486/Pentium with ISA capabilities. I don’t have room for a full retro desktop besides my Tandy 1000, and the Tandy is a little slow for this beast. 😂 Maybe one day I’ll have a more powerful retro desktop to try this stuff on. I just got it to play around. lol.
That music slaps, as the kids say! 👾
Thanks for making this great overview of the PicoGUS! I'll have to double check that the joystick emulation works on the Pocket386 (I also have one). Not sure if you're aware of it, but I designed a "Femto" edition of the PicoGUS that plugs right into the ISA pin header on the back of the Pocket386 and its portable retro siblings. I had some for sale on my Tindie store last week but I've sold out already. I'm considering making one more small batch.
Hi Ian! Great work on this board! I love playing around with it! The joystick issue may have been that my knockoff X-Box Style controller wasn’t compatible. It works in other X-input applications, but it might not be compatible with this board. Let me know if you get the joystick working on yours with the Pocket386. I saw the Femto addition, and I almost bough it. I may go ahead and get one if you make another batch. Thanks for all of your hard work on this amazing project!!
Is the ISA header version available to buy? I would love to get one of those as well to make it more portable.
Great! This is what I was looking for: a test in Sound Blaster mode with Fastracker!😊
This video was a feast for the ears! Great job, Josh, on the explanation and demo! I always enjoy the Tech videos and love the BSOD t-shirt! 😀
So neat to check out! That’s cool it has a joystick attachment too! I like how when you were playing one must fall you just politely said hi as the opponent was beating you up lol 😂
Very cool. Sound quality was great!
Brining back the memories!
Cool! Always fun to check out old retro tech from my day!
Excellent job Josh! You're incredible with technology!!!!
Wow this is really cool. Before I buy the exact same setup, any chance you could test what battery life is like with the isa expansion and pico gus installed? I'd love to whip this stuff out on my hour long train ride to work and see what the other train passengers think. Btw, OMF 2097 has many graphical settings you can adjust to increase the speed, such as turning off or reducing detail of shadows, background animations, stage hazards, screen shake when your robot hits the ground hard, etc. It actually does make quite a difference in getting the game to a very reasonable speed on a 386 to reduce settings on many of these. There is also a speed setting in the options menu and I would recommend it be turned all the way up!
This looks like it’s going to be really cool! Can’t wait to check out the Premiere later!
I just received my PicoGUS and it's pretty awesome in my Pocket386! I tested most of the FW/emulated devices without issue. I'll leave it in SB mode most of the time, but can change to GUS, etc in the live system with the pgusinit tool. Absolutely amazing 👏 would only be better if it had a headphone output with a volume knob, but that's easy to fix. I'll buy one or two for my Book8088 systems with MicroRAM and PicoMEM UMB setups
Just ordered now. Thanks for the review! 👍
Thanks so much for these excellent videos! I ordered one as well
This is awesome
I've got a PicoGUS, new in box, ready to go. Just one thing delaying deployment... Real GUS is still installed and working! The experience you are having right just now, playing Epic Pinball, One Must Fall 2049, Jazz Jackrabbit, with PERFECT sound, and on a 386... was part of my.... early adulthood. So yep I'm old. But got to hear and play these games at the time. In 1993. And Demo Scene? Yep just as great as you are imagining it. Here we are in 2024, with GUS love making a huge comeback. It's only a matter of time now before somebody's video shows off a new update from PicoGUS. Perhaps it will be MIDI and Sound Blaster digital stereo. When that happens? It might be time to pull the real GUS and install the PicoGUS.
I played all of the following Scene Demos, in 1993, on GUS with 386 CPU. So these should all work on your setup too: Second Reality, Crystal Dream 2, Show (by Magic 12), Good Band and the Ugly.
It would be really awesome to have a case for the expansion board.
Hi Josh...When you ordered your Pocket386 did you get an ISA expansion board with it? I only got a board that allows for PS/2 mouse, keyboard and VGA.
I had to order it separately. It is listed on the same shops as the Pocket 386 typically. It was around $15 or so.
I still have a GUS in my house, dunno if it still works, as i no longer have an isa motherboard
From one Josh to the other Josh, I would love to have one of these things, but I can't justify spending that type of money right now. All I really need is a 386 cpu and I could have a 386 in my portable PC. Right now it is running a 486, but has a spot for a 386.
CMS isn't FM synth, I'm quite sure it's square wave like the SID chips.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong though.
I think you’re right now that I think about it.
I think you mentioned that you have a separate card for the joystick port(s) coud you show us that, or at least list whet that card is? Thanks!
It’s a Kraft Gameport Card that I got on eBay for $15. It’s just a standard 8 bit ISA card that I can plug in next to the PicoGUS on that same expansion board I showed.
@@retrotv1tech Awesome, thanks for the info!
Hi, can the picogus emulate opl 3 in the future?
Interest in the WAVETABLE header. Are all those pins traced to something?
From what I understand, the wavetabke header actually works with any wavetable add on boards. I don’t have one to try.
Where did you buy the ISA expansion from? Thanks.
Aliexpress… the same seller I bought the Pocket 386 from.
The 386 version of Fastdoom runs twice as fast with a lower resolution in fullscren mode.
Nice! I need to try that.
I can't imagine using such an involved setup on a "portable" netbook would be practical, but on the other hand, this would have been great on a desktop machine. I guess if I didn't already have a Soundblaster, I'd be interested in this for that reason.
Yeah… very good point, but it’s all I have in 386/486/Pentium with ISA capabilities. I don’t have room for a full retro desktop besides my Tandy 1000, and the Tandy is a little slow for this beast. 😂 Maybe one day I’ll have a more powerful retro desktop to try this stuff on. I just got it to play around. lol.
21st 👍🏻