Thomson Computers - Emulator

YuT666

Well, i'm only talking about the "ignorance" ...

I asked this question nearly a year ago and there was NO reaction. So i think, that other people are NOT interested ...

No simple "Yes", "No" or "you could work with us together" since one year and that is the reason why i'm complaining.

You really don't know, what i'm talking about ... so your downvote is VERY unpolite.

Please delete my account. I don't want to be here anymore. I don't like such arrogant people like you. Crazy, you really don't know what i mean and you gave me a "down" ... i only wanted to help to implement a new emulator. You don't know me and my intension, so your behaviour sucks.

Thanks for nothing and good luck.

dankcushions

@YuT666 no answer is a pretty clear answer. it's no-one's responsibility to address every single thread in this forum, or indeed work with you to include an emulator that apparently only you want. THAT is arrogance.

i downvoted you because you're entitled and rude.

edmaul69

@YuT666 the thomson appears to be a french computer. So many people like me probably didnt respond as i assume most of us dont have any clue what this obscure computer is. And just because it exists on linux doesnt mean it will work on an arm processor for us pi users. And with the work that the retropie team does and all the extensive work buzz does, i doubt that this would be a high priority. Hell i would think even an rca studio ii emulator would end up higher on the list than this.

hermit

a few months ago, the Retroarch/Libretro team created the book version of the Theodore emulator for Thomson.

https://docs.libretro.com/library/theodore/

https://github.com/Zlika/theodore

It could be an interesting addition

SuperFromND

Surprised to see a thread about the Thomson machines! I'm currently waiting on RetroPie to update with support for the Pi 4 before PR'ing any new cores, but once that update does get released I'll test this core and create a scriptmodule for it.

Zlika

Hi!
I'm the author of the Theodore emulator. It currently emulates most of the Thomson 8bit computers (MO5, MO6, TO8, TO8D, TO9, TO9+ and Olivetti Prodest PC128, the MO6 export version for the Italian market). I plan to add TO7 and TO7/70 in the future.
The emulator is optimized to be usable with only a game controller: features like autostart and virtual keyboard allow to play to most of the games without the need for a keyboard (but you can of course still use a keyboard if you want to).
Its integration in Retropie should be straightforward, the most "complex" thing from my point of view is the related artwork to create.
You can contact me if you have any question/problem, or create an issue in the github repo if needed.
Regards
Thomas

spud11

@Zlika This is interesting. Are you intending to provide Pi support (3 or 4)?

mitu

@spud11 It's a Libretro core, and it already works on the Pi.

spud11

@mitu Thanks for explaining.

Zlika

@spud11 yes, afaik this core works on all the platforms supported by Retroarch. And it supports save states and rewind.

spud11

@Zlika Thank you.

drhoemmal

Sorry, but how do I add a Core to Retroarch in Retropie?
In the Menu with e Emulator Packages I cant find Thomson Emulator "Theodore".

Thank you for your instruction

mitu

@drhoemmal said in Thomson Computers - Emulator:

Sorry, but how do I add a Core to Retroarch in Retropie?
In the Menu with e Emulator Packages I cant find Thomson Emulator "Theodore".

It has to be added to the RetroPie Script in order to appear in the menu.
If you'd like to do it manually, then you'll have to create a scriptmodule similarly to ones already available (see here for a list).
Since this is also a new system, you'll have to modify the platforms.cfg and add the new system to Emulationstation, before installing this new core.

Zlika

Hi all!
Any update on the integration of the theodore core in retropie? How can I help?
Regards,
Thomas

mitu

@Zlika For now, the main dev branch is focusing on support for the Pi4 Raspberry model, so any new additions will probably happen after that.

That being said, the integration should be straightforward, like any Libretro cores it works with a minimal scriptmodule - I already tested it.

spud11

@mitu I agree. I installed the Thomson libretro core manually and I think that it works very well on my Pi3B Jessie based system.

Moulinex

@drhoemmal Hello

I confirm this is possible. Maybe I could write a little tutorial about this as I succeeded to do it yesterday. Please let me know where to put it since I am not experienced with RetroPie.

The idea as @spud11 said is to create a script manually.

Here are the steps (if someone wants I will do a detailed explanation later, please let me know)

Create a thomson folder in the roms folder and put a few in there. This is necessary otherwise Emulation Station will not display it in the menu. Do the same for the configs folder (you can copy an existing one and rename it "thomson")
Manually edit the es_systems.cfg by adding a "Thomson" entry. For possible extensions, add .sap .fd .k7 since these are the usual ones. Back up before any change and update the files both in /etc/emulationstation and /opt/retropie/. Since Thomson is not a default entry, you can use "hacks" for the theme tag.
Update the platforms.cfg in /home/pi and add a thomson entry as specified before
Restart everything. If all is normal, you should see the Thomson Entry with the games you put. We can not start them yet but now they are recognized by Emulation station
in the script folder that @spud11 mentionned above. Create a lr_thomson.sh script by copying an existing one (take for example the one for another computer such as Sharp X68000 which is basic enough). In this one update all entries (I can provide one example later if you request) and replace the Git URL with the one provided by @Zlika, the author of the emulator. Please use "exp" for the domain to make sure it is added to the experimental packages sections (I think it's better since it's actually the case)
Once done, restart your Retropie and go to the Retropie Setup, Manage packages and Experimental packages. Your new script should appear. Run it. If you see it takes some time it's good, it means it is downloading and packaging the SO file into your emulators.
In the emulators.cfg script which is in the configs/thomson folder, edit the file to update the command line.

Cheers

Zlika

Hi @mitu! Now that a new release with rpi4 support is out, would it be possible to add this new core?
Thanks.

mitu

@Zlika I have it on my list, next week I'll flesh it out and submit a module PR.

Zlika

@mitu thanks!