Setting up Reicast and Sega Dreamcast issues in Retropie
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I am currently running Retropie 4.4.2 on a pi 3b+. I have been trying to get the Sega Dreamcast Reicast to work. I installed reicast from the manage optional packages menu and updated it from source to ensure it was up to date. I found a bios pack for Dreamcast which had the files that needed to be renamed to dc_flash.bin and dc_boot.bin. This I did and coped to the bios folder. I finally found some roms that were in bin and gdi files format which I copied into the dreamcast roms folder. I have restarted the system and have tried the launch reicast command from in the Dreamcast section but it just hangs for a few seconds and then goes back to the game select screen. I am not sure how to get it running and would appreciate it if I could get help running this system. Also as I know these roms are very large in size, I am wondering if there's a way to compress them to save space. I heard mention somewhere about chd but am not sure what that means exactly.
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@melbmatt50 Sounds like either the bios files are no good or your rom is. You can convert the files to a CHD which will make for smaller files and combine the files into one file. There is a link here for the converter: https://github.com/retropie/retropie-setup/wiki/Dreamcast
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Dreamcast BIOS files go in a folder called dc in the bios folder. This changed in a recent update.
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@George-Spiggott I have been away for a bit and didnt realize that reicast was still getting updates. Have any of the updates increased game compatibility or are there other improvements of note?
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@quicksilver I don't know. I just had the same problem and that was the solution for me. Is there a feed people can follow that announces updates for the various emulators?
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Problably your bios files aren't correct. Check md5sum code with retropie document.
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I dont remember which one did the trick, but i have the bios in both bios folder and dc folder. i also had to go through a couple of different downloads before a working set was found. if you still can't get it working, i can upload mine somewhere for you to grab when i get home in a few hours.
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@quicksilver not sure if it is updates or what but after six months of having a Retropie setup and seeing so many posts about how hard DC was I said you know what I am just going to give it a try. I installed from source, put the bios in the bios and dc folder just in case (US bios) put the Dreamcast CDI ROMs, set the display output via the runcommand menu to the lowest resolution available (I think it is DEA4 or something), using the “omx” reicast option, and I am getting very good speed out of the games. Crazy Taxi 1 and 2 run very good just very slightly choppy sound, Soul Calibur, Virtua Tennis, Virtua Fighter 3tb and Sonic Adventure all seem to run at perfect speed with no issues and Marvel v Capcom 2 is just slightly slow. I am super impressed and now trying to think of what other games I can add. I would say it is better than my experience with N64 possibly and I got most of the games working pretty ok on that. I have a 3b+ that is slightly overclocked I did it so long ago I can’t remember the exact settings but they are nothing very high.
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I copied the bios files into the dc folder and now the emulator at least loads past the dreamcast logo. The problem now is that asks me to set the date and time and even after I do this and try to click on the select button (I have tried all the buttons available to me) it won't progress any further or load the games. I heard there is a joystick configuration to do as well but am stuck for what to do next.
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You'll need to set up the controllers first. In RetroArch go to RetroPie-Setup/Configuration-Tools/Reicast/Configure Input devices for Reicast.
As far as I know there is no solution to having to reset the date. I'd like to know if there is one. Also my Reicast boots (and plays some games e.g. Shadow man) in Spanish. I'd like to be able to solve that as well.
Currently running:
Retropie 4.8.9 on a Pi Zero 2W (Overclock Settings: CPU 1400Mhz)
ES-DE on a GMKtec K6 (Windows 11, 32GB RAM) -
@George-Spiggott I went into the configuration menu and then the reicast setup menu and it was asking for the id of the controllers which I wasn't sure what to put, especially as they are built in ones on a waveshare gamehat.
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@George-Spiggott there is a fix for the date and time but I'm not sure if it works on retropie 4.4. there was a post on the forums here that detailed how to do it.
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@BJRetro soul reaver, pod racer, and jet set radio also run pretty smoothly. Some of the cut scenes are a little glitchy but the games seem to run at or near full speed. I'll look and see if there are others I have tested.
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@melbmatt50 The available controllers should be listed at the top of the screen. Just enter the number associated with them there.
Shadow man also plays well (better than on the N64) my only gripe is that unused button make characters appear on the screen if they are accidentally pressed. If you're using an Xbox pad like I am there are three easily pressed buttons. Is there a way to make two or more buttons do the same thing? e.g. left shoulder and left trigger both act as left trigger.
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@quicksilver If you knew where it was I would be glad to find it.
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@melbmatt50 https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/364/every-time-i-play-dreamcast-displays-the-setting-screen-time-date
There is a step by step in that thread to fix the date and time issue. It worked for me. I'm not sure if it still works with the latest version of retro pie however so use at your own risk. I'd recommend backing up your image first.
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