RetroArch 1.4.1 Netplay

mediamogul

I always have to give up before I can find the answer to something. There has to be some eastern zen philosophy in that. Anyway, to get scanning to work, invoke the RetroArch GUI while in a game (select+x), then navigate to 'Online Updater' and select 'Update Databases'. This will download RetroArch's own ROM definitions to identify content. This is really kind of nice because once this is downloaded, I assume future scans can be done offline.

After it downloads and unzips, then you can scan the whole roms folder, or just a system folder, or even just a single file. Afterwards, in theory, this should all work. Unfortunately, there's currently only three people online to try this with and either none of them have 'Dr. Mario' (the only ROM I've scanned so far), or they currently don't have their systems configured correctly (or I still don't somehow). I plan on scanning my whole NES collection overnight and we'll see if I can match up to anyone as early as tomorrow evening.

It should also be noted that I moved back to the binary release version and was still able to scan, so updating RetroArch from source is not necessary.

eDrinker

@mediamogul how long does scanning take?

mediamogul

@eDrinker

I watched a few very brief demo videos of people connecting and I'm starting to wonder if you do in fact have to scan. It looks like both parties just load up an identical ROM and core, one of them starts a netplay host session and then the other selects the user's nickname from the netplay room list. I believe that downloading the RetroArch database is still necessary so that it can tell if the two games are compatible.

The big problem here is that there's no documentation yet, so a good bit of this is guess work. Moving forward we should see if any users have been discussing how it all works on the RetroArch forums. It's really late here, so I'll look around a bit tomorrow. If anyone finds something before then, please share.

eDrinker

@mediamogul Thanks, it's morning here and I just spent about an hour searching the web for documentation. There is virtually no documentation as you say (RetroArch 1.4.1 and Netplay with Retropie). Also there is no YouTube videos showing how the new feature works on Retropie either.

Previous to this update I have tested Netplay but we had a lot of desync issues. We used to do it with the same emulator and same ROM with one person hosting and connecting to a IP address. We did this without any scanning and just followed this:

https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/Netplay

I really want to test this again so if you want me to test anything let me know. My time zone is GMT +1 .

mediamogul

@eDrinker said in RetroArch 1.4.1 Netplay:

We did this without any scanning and just followed this:
https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/Netplay

I'm glad you mentioned this. I decided to take a step back and try launching a netplay game using this manual method which made me realize that in RetroPie, the netplay nickname is only set when launched with netplay options selected in the runcommand menu. However, it seems that launching this way may be currently broken. When "Launch ROM with Netplay" is selected, RetroArch exits back to Emulation Station unrecognized option '--frames' appearing in /dev/shm/runcommand.log. The entire log can be seen below. I only changed my IP to xx.xx.xx.xxx.

nes
lr-fceumm
/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/nes/Contra (USA).zip
/opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch -L /opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-fceumm/fceumm_libretro.so --config /opt/retropie/configs/nes/retroarch.cfg "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/nes/Contra (USA).zip"
/opt/retropie/configs/all/runcommand-onstart.sh: line 31: [: too many arguments
Parameters: 
Executing: /opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch -L /opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-fceumm/fceumm_libretro.so --config /opt/retropie/configs/nes/retroarch.cfg "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/nes/Contra (USA).zip" --appendconfig /dev/shm/retroarch.cfg -C xx.xx.xx.xxx --port 55435 --frames 15 --nick ''Pseudoscience''
/opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch: unrecognized option '--frames'
RetroArch: Frontend for libretro -- v1.4.1===================================================================
 -- d8855ca --
Compiler: GCC (4.9.2) 32-bitBuilt: Feb  4 2017
===================================================================
Usage: /opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch [OPTIONS]... [FILE]
  -h, --help            Show this help message.
  -v, --verbose         Verbose logging.
      --log-file=FILE   Log messages to FILE.
      --version         Show version.
      --features        Prints available features compiled into program.
      --menu            Do not require content or libretro core to be loaded,
                        starts directly in menu. If no arguments are passed to
                        the program, it is equivalent to using --menu as only argument.
  -s, --save=PATH       Path for save files (*.srm).
  -S, --savestate=PATH  Path for the save state files (*.state).
  -f, --fullscreen      Start the program in fullscreen regardless of config settings.
  -c, --config=FILE     Path for config file.
		By default looks for config in $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/retroarch/retroarch.cfg,
		$HOME/.config/retroarch/retroarch.cfg,
		and $HOME/.retroarch.cfg.
		If a default config is not found, the program will attempt to create one based on the 
		skeleton config (/etc/retroarch.cfg). 

      --appendconfig=FILE
                        Extra config files are loaded in, and take priority over
                        config selected in -c (or default). Multiple configs are
                        delimited by '|'.
  -L, --libretro=FILE   Path to libretro implementation. Overrides any config setting.
      --subsystem=NAME  Use a subsystem of the libretro core. Multiple content
                        files are loaded as multiple arguments. If a content
                        file is skipped, use a blank ("") command line argument.
                        Content must be loaded in an order which depends on the
                        particular subsystem used. See verbose log output to learn
                        how a particular subsystem wants content to be loaded.

  -N, --nodevice=PORT
                        Disconnects controller device connected to PORT (1 to 16).
  -A, --dualanalog=PORT
                        Connect a DualAnalog controller to PORT (1 to 16).
  -d, --device=PORT:ID
                        Connect a generic device into PORT of the device (1 to 16).
                        Format is PORT:ID, where ID is a number corresponding to the particular device.
  -P, --bsvplay=FILE    Playback a BSV movie file.
  -R, --bsvrecord=FILE  Start recording a BSV movie file from the beginning.
      --eof-exit        Exit upon reaching the end of the BSV movie file.
  -M, --sram-mode=MODE  SRAM handling mode. MODE can be 'noload-nosave',
                        'noload-save', 'load-nosave' or 'load-save'.
                        Note: 'noload-save' implies that save files *WILL BE OVERWRITTEN*.
  -H, --host            Host netplay as user 1.
  -C, --connect=HOST    Connect to netplay server as user 2.
      --port=PORT       Port used to netplay. Default is 55435.
      --stateless       Use "stateless" mode for netplay
                        (requires a very fast network).
      --check-frames=NUMBER
                        Check frames when using netplay.
      --command         Sends a command over UDP to an already running program process.
      Available commands are listed if command is invalid.
      --nick=NICK       Picks a username (for use with netplay). Not mandatory.
  -r, --record=FILE     Path to record video file.
        Using .mkv extension is recommended.
      --recordconfig    Path to settings used during recording.
      --size=WIDTHxHEIGHT
                        Overrides output video size when recording.
  -U, --ups=FILE        Specifies path for UPS patch that will be applied to content.
      --bps=FILE        Specifies path for BPS patch that will be applied to content.
      --ips=FILE        Specifies path for IPS patch that will be applied to content.
      --no-patch        Disables all forms of content patching.
  -D, --detach          Detach program from the running console. Not relevant for all platforms.
      --max-frames=NUMBER
                        Runs for the specified number of frames, then exits.

BuZz

@mediamogul I've not revisited the netplay for some time, but since the changes we probably need to adjust our stuff - will look into it.

backstander

@mediamogul

When "Launch ROM with Netplay" is selected, RetroArch exits back to Emulation Station unrecognized option '--frames'

Yesterday evening I added a netplay_nickname to my all/retroarch.cfg and then loaded up lr-snes9x2010 with Final Fight. I started my own netplay game and updated the list and I could see my nickname on the list. I did not Launch ROM with Netplay support from the Runcommand (I actually forgot to do this). After this I downloaded the database and started it scanning my games and then went to bed.

mediamogul

@BuZz

Thanks, that would be most appreciated. This will be really amazing when operational. By eliminating several of the steps previously needed, forum members will be able to coordinate multiplayer games much easier. Also, the fact that most all of us are using the same distribution through the RetroPie setup, having an identical core won't be much of an issue either. I expect that static IPs and having an identical ROM will be the only hurdles at that point.

@backstander

I did not Launch ROM with Netplay support from the Runcommand (I actually forgot to do this).

It could be that none of the previous steps are necessary to get this new functionality to work. I'm going to continue looking into it a little bit, but finding information has been pretty difficult so far.

eDrinker

How long does it take to scan your ROMs roughly?

mediamogul

@eDrinker

It seemed to take about 3 seconds per ROM. At that rate, the entire NES licensed library of 713 games would take close to 36 minutes.

eDrinker

@mediamogul and by scan I think you mean this screen right?

https://goo.gl/photos/qmLRajCJFGDW9J4F7

It hasn't told me it's doing anything but the fact it's frozen I am assuming it's scanning.

backstander

@eDrinker

How long does it take to scan your ROMs roughly?

Depending how many ROMs your asking it to scan, It will freeze like that for a few seconds (or minutes) then will show you what it is scanning at very bottom. I had it scan all my ROMs from /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/ and I think it took all night. I started it at about 11pm before I went to bed but woke up around 3:30am and it was still scanning. When I got up this morning at about 7:00am it had already finished.

mediamogul

@eDrinker

Yeah, if a folder contains a large number of items, it will pause to account for them all before the actual scan begins. The scanning process will be noted as it progresses by the traditional yellow text at the bottom left.

mediamogul

@backstander

Heh, I didn't see your post there. Didn't mean to re-jibber your jabber.

eDrinker

Thanks both, I'm scanning and guessing a few hours will be needed.

I can also confirm the original journey of launching with netplay no longer works.

backstander

@mediamogul
Doesn't bother me. Sometime you can get a bigger picture if more than one person gives their 2 cents.

eDrinker

So has anyone managed to join a game or is everyone still scanning trying to find a compatible person/ROM/emulator?

backstander

@eDrinker
I couldn't connect to anyone when I tried last night but I hadn't downloaded the database yet. I'll probably be playing around with it later today.

eDrinker

@backstander mine apparently finished scanning but can't tell if it timed out. Is there a file saved somewhere with the list. Its a big list and I expected it to take longer.

I only saw one person online and it said no compatible games.

Best of luck, I'm going bed.

Would be interested if anyone gets it working.

mediamogul

@eDrinker

Is there a file saved somewhere with the list.

It will create a .lpl file at: /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch/playlists/