Newbie Question

Gail1202 · 22 Aug 2018, 16:51

Hello, I have my Pi 3 B+ coming today and I will be setting this up for the very first time. I am trying to find out if I install the Raspberry Pi Raspbian OS first and after that install the RetroPie? I really think I would need to install the Raspbian OS first and I do not think that the retropie is a replacement for the OS but again I am new to this so I am making sure.

Also can anyone recommend what would be the best wired, USB or Bluetooth controllers to use buy, there are so many out there and do not want to buy one that does not work well.

GtBFilms · 22 Aug 2018, 16:58

@gail1202

Hi there, Congratulations on getting started with RetroPie!

No you don't need to install the Raspian OS first, just download the RetroPie image from this site, burn it to a microSD card (I use Win32DiskImager) then stick the card into the pi and power it up!

It will boot up and ask you to configure a controller. After that you can access other configuration options.

Note that until you add some ROMS (I use WInSCP to copy them from a PC on the same network, but you can also copy some from a USB stick if you like) you won't see any emulators. Add the ROMS and they will appear.

Clyde · 22 Aug 2018, 17:14

@gail1202 Welcome to this forum and to the world of Retropie. :)

I strongly recommend that you read the Docs, they cover most questions about a common usage of Retropie.

As for the question of controllers, that depends strongly on your personal preferences. Ask ten retrogamers and you'll get ten to x "best" controllers. ;)

That said, could you name your preferences? That would help in suggesting something suitable. Furthermore, you could just search the forum for "controller", "gamepad", "joystick" and the like.

ajmartin · 22 Aug 2018, 17:17

As mentioned no need to load an OS first. The controller I liked before building my own was the xbox 360 because it has 2 joysticks and I like Robotron. In addition to disk imager, Filezilla is a must for me for transfering roms from PC to PI over wireless. For some interesting information search ebay for retropie. You are going to need to do a lot reading up on things like mapping buttons for individual games and such. Links to every thing are here. Look around.

mitu · 22 Aug 2018, 17:33

@ajmartin said in Newbie Question:

For some interesting information search ebay for retropie

I'd strongly advice against this - there's nothing there for a newcomer starting with RetroPie. As @Clyde said, use the docs, they cover a lot of questions and have a lot of good information. Or just ask in the forums if you don't find anything there.
RetroPie is not an OS in itself, the image you download and write to the SD card is actually Raspbian Lite with RetroPie pre-installed, so there's no need to install Raspbian first.

Gail1202 · 23 Aug 2018, 12:39

@mitu thank you, this is the exact answer I was looking for.

m2306 · 23 Aug 2018, 13:29

@gail1202 said in [Newbie Question]

Also can anyone recommend what would be the best wired, USB or Bluetooth controllers to use buy, there are so many out there and do not want to buy one that does not work well.

I got this iNexxt SNES type gamepad. They are about 9€ a piece, less for a bundle of two. I had one ghost click so far (in about two weeks of use) but for the price it’s a very nice controller. Feels very much like an actual SNES controller. Both of them worked perfectly, were immedately recognised by Retropie and very easy to set up.

https://www.amazon.de/iNNEXT®-Controller-Raspberry-retropie-Emulator-snes-usb/dp/B01EA7MVTQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1535030598&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=snes+controller&dpPl=1&dpID=51Bh0OpQ6uL&ref=plSrch