Sour Pi

[Jess Ragan]

Frankly, I'm getting fed up with this thing. I've went through at least four different builds, and there's always something wrong with one of them. The version of Recalbox is pretty good, for the most part, but it can't handle many 2600 games, and those are exactly what I'm in the mood for at the moment. I tried another build called Hercules, and while THAT runs 2600 games just fine, it's a couple of years old and staunchly refuses to update. Yes, I've tried the guides I've found on emulation sites, and have even entered some code in Linux, precisely what I was trying to avoid when I started using Recalbox in the first place. I've also got a build of RetroPie (separate from the one I tried when I first got the Raspberry Pi), and while it runs... okay, it's got unprofessional transitions to the games and makes it impossible to permanently change settings. I try to select "change core settings," only to be told "I'm afraid I can't do that, Jess," while the Pi tries to shut off the life support in my house.

 

So I ask you, AtariAge-a-maniacs, is there a way to update individual emulators in a Recalbox or Retropie build? Or is all that baked into the software and can't be changed? These programs do an amazing job of hiding everything from the user, including the location of the emulators. There's supposed to be an option to switch emulators and cores for each system in Advanced Settings, but it looks like I don't really have a choice. If the build is set to use FCEUX, for instance, that's what it's going to use, even if I'd like to try NEStopia or QuickNES instead. It's frustrating enough that I want to make up my own game... it's called "Pitch the Raspberry Pi at the wall until it stops working."

[Keatah]

Emulation can be a tricky beast at times. So. You want to use premium hardware and premium emulation software. R-Pi simply doesn't fit the bill.

Edited July 4, 2018 by Keatah

[Flojomojo]

So I ask you, AtariAge-a-maniacs, is there a way to update individual emulators in a Recalbox or Retropie build? Or is all that baked into the software and can't be changed?

Of course you can change things around, that's the whole point. I don't know where you're getting these "builds," but I would install from a script rather than someone else's setup. Everything is neatly laid out like any unix system, and you can easily reconfigure it from the GUI (simple) or from commandline.

 

You have RTFM'ed yes? https://retropie.org.uk/docs/

[Osgeld]

I started to do a from the ground up retroarch and its the same way (as these little packages are all based on it) and I had a similar situation where I tried a core and THAT WAS THE DEFAULT, period, anyway digging around the internet and banging my head on the desk a few times, I was like 30 directories deep editing a text file with nano to manually change a core

 

the idea is your suposta create playlists and set those up, so now you got to set up everything basiclly twice cause some emulation snob thinks that A-440 is actually 441hz in emulator Y with knomi games from the 3rd month of 1987

 

the entire thing, and its spinoff's work great, just get it 100% perfect the first time or else you become an expert pretty quick

[Osgeld]

Of course you can change things around, that's the whole point. I don't know where you're getting these "builds," but I would install from a script rather than someone else's setup. Everything is neatly laid out like any unix system, and you can easily reconfigure it from the GUI (simple) or from commandline.

 

You have RTFM'ed yes? https://retropie.org.uk/docs/

 

That site tends to tell you everything you are not looking for

[Flojomojo]

That site tends to tell you everything you are not looking for

Oh come on, I know you guys can read, you spend all day on this forum.

 

https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Updating-RetroPie/

 

I can't see how this could be made any more plain.

 

 

 

Using the RetroPie Setup Script

• If updating from 3.x and earlier: Select Update RetroPie-Setup Script and then Update All Installed Packages

• If updating from 4.x and later: Select Update All Installed Packages

• Basic Install: This is intended as a first install and is not required if using a pre-built image. eg When installing RetroPie on top of an existing OS.
• Update All Installed Packages: This will update the RetroPie-Setup script and all installed packages.
• Manage Packages: This will allow you to install and update individual emulators, ports, controller drivers (like the ps3 or xboxdrv) other optional packages.
• Configuration / Tools: Configuration and tools including BlueTooth and WiFi setup, splashscreens and theme. You can also access any packages that have additional configuration here.
• Update RetroPie-Setup Script: Updates the RetroPie-Setup script to the latest version.
• Uninstall RetroPie: Uninstalls RetroPie from the system.
• Reboot: Reboots your system.

Manage Packages

• Core: These are essential packages needed for RetroPie to run. Do not remove them.
• Main: These are the main emulators that come installed with the RetroPie SD image.
• Optional: These are optional packages that are working but aren't included with the RetroPie SD image.
• Drivers: Here you install gamepad drivers like the PS3 or Xboxdrv.
• Experimental: These packages have not been fully tested and may have bugs.

Core Packages

Each section of the manage packages portion of the setup script have the option to install/update all packages and remove all installed packages. You can also update/install and remove packages individually.

The core components needed for RetroPie to function are: - RetroArch: Frontend for the libretro api, necessary for most emulators to run. - EmulationStation: Frontend for sorting and launching all of your games. - RetroPie Menu: Menu in emulationstation for simpler configuration of your system. - Runcommand: The runcommand launch menu that assists launching your games with proper configurations see related wiki page HERE.

Updating/Installing individual packages

You can update/install and remove packages individually.

When selecting a package there is also a help guide with extra information specific to that package:

Package Help:

The Package Help for each emulator should show you: - The name of the package - ROM extensions - ROM folder - BIOS filename and folder if applicable

Latest SD image

If you are worried about conflicts during an update you can always just start with the latest fresh sd image which can be downloaded here and just copy all your files back over onto that instead of updating from an older image.

[Osgeld]

that tells me exactly how to switch the default core for NES from FCEUX to NEStopia

 

thanks for proving my point

[youxia]

So. You want to use premium hardware and premium emulation software. R-Pi simply doesn't fit the bill.

 

Oh, enough with this trend of uninformed RPi bashing already. The "premium emulation software" on a PC can be also tricky to set up if you do not follow guidelines and read manuals. Windows itself can be an illogical nightmare (ever tried to update the 10?), only we've been conditioned for that in the decades it's been around.

 

As it is, it really is a simple case of doing some reading. RPi emulation is based on custom Linux/Retroarch builds and it's a community-driven constantly evolving effort - so you just can not expect to simply jump in and see a beautiful Win/Mac GUI that you're used to and which behaves in the same way.

 

But it's also not so bad as some paint it, especially with the Linux-CLI horror stories. I only edit advanced configs because I use a CRT - niche stuff. If not for that I doubt I'd ever have to fiddle with anything deeper than the menu-driven stuff.

 

Regarding the OPs particular issues: I'm a Retropie user so the following pertains to that frontend. You can also try Lakka, it's praised by msny and apparently offers middle ground between Recalbox (simple) and Retropie (advanced)

 

-"unprofessional transitions to the games" - not sure what that means, I'm using the basic version and they're perhaps not flashy but serviceable and not that ugly for me. Anyway, you can customize UI, gamelists & some transitions from the carousel-level menu (press START or SELECT where the system names are). Plus there are different, more flashy frontends such as AttractMode or Pegasus - but these will probably require some advanced fiddling to install.

 

-you do not update or change cores from the Retroarch menu. This can be confusing since heaps of options from this menu do not work on Pi, I think these may be Windows only. Just skip them, and head for the Retropie > Retropie Setup > Manage packages. There you have to find the emu you're interested in. Eg Stella is in Main Packages as "lr-stella" and in Optional Packages as "Stella". The difference is that "lr" is a libretro version and you can use the Retroarch menu in it. "Stella" would be just the normal emu. These also sometimes differ in version numbers - one may be older/newer better/worse than the other.

 

-you may need to install additional emus from Optional/Experimental sections yourself. After that you can also choose them from the game-launch level: press fire when the runcommand menu (white square rectangle with text) appears after you launch the game.

 

-to save settings permanently go to QuickMenu (in game in Retroarch) and choose either Save Game/Core Overrides. There is also separate Save in Controls submenu if you change those. Also in Retroarch menu, go to Settings>Configuration and set "Save Configuration on Exit" to Off, otherwise it may mess up your set up.

 

-If you want to tweak advanced emu settings either:

a) use the Retroarch Menu mentioned above, for standalone emus use their in-buit menus

b) from carousel-level: go to Retropie>Configuration Editor

c) SSH from your PC, then edit manually: most of the important configs can be found in /opt/retropie/configs

 

 

Overall, RPi mostly appeals to people who like to tinker with stuff, but on the basic level it's really simple to set up. Demonising this process has become quite a trend in some quarters, despite the fact that unless you get a dedicated system like Flashback or Mini (with all its downsides) there will always be a need for some learning/tweaking.

 

Unless you wait for the new VCS of course. I've heard it will solve all emulation (and gaming in general) problems - it's so next gen:P

[mr_me]

A retropie image includes Raspbian, a powerfull Linux operating system. You can certainly add external emulators and compile from source if you want. With atari 2600 I would use standard Stella rather than lr-stella.