RetroArch 1.4.1 Netplay

eDrinker

Hello,

I just want to try and summarize although please correct me where/if possible.

I see this "Netplay" as two parts:

Part 1 - "Net Rooms" (Optional and Automatic Way To Connect To Other Players)

This thread as primary focused on understanding the database and content matching. Trying to understand how the scanning works, which files are created, how and what's it matching against etc.

My understanding of "Net Rooms" is to assist the average user.

It's to assist non technical players to find other players with the same:

Version of retroarch
Same emulator
Same exact rom

A few of us have managed to get matching content, but unable to connect.

To date no one on this thread has been able to verify this works and has connected to another player.

Part 2 - Manual Connection (either you connect as the client or the host and you connect via IP)

As per the previous posts, it would appear the old way no longer works

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

The game will crash the emulator back to ES or Attract mode if you try to launch with "Netplay"

Launching "Retroarch" menu via "Select + X" in game and attempting to connect via IP even if you have the same emulator, version of Retroarch and exact same Rom will still fail to connect.

I personally want to try the net code and syncing improvements regardless if I connect via "Net Rooms" or via "IP".

I don't believe that matched content is required to connect via IP, it's just a different way of connecting and we should focus on trying to prove if the manual way works first.

tekn0

@mediamogul retroarch seems to match the content by CRC database. This libretro database is based off of the "No-intro" rom sets.

Cattmlark

Has anyone had any luck with this yet, as i still can't get this working. Even if i find a netplay room that reports "Compatible Content" i cant connect. If i am lucky enough to find that room's external IP address out, again i still cant connect with this new method.

Additionally the old method (enabling Netplay when launching a ROM) doesn't work any more for me either, it just jumps me straight back to emulation station when i try to enable it.

mediamogul

@Cattmlark

I have a feeling that the quick connect feature is already able to function on RetroPie. It's just going to always be difficult to find a proper pairing of installations and content. The manual connection method is going to need to be fixed by the RetroPie team at some point, but unfortunately many advancements to the project will likely have to be put on hold while they deal with a scumbag trademark troll. That said, it's the -frames argument used at launch that is deprecated and causing the software to fail. Both users could try launching a game and connecting through the RetroArch GUI. I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work as long as you both have the same RetroArch, core and ROM between you.

mediamogul

@tekn0

That's good to know, thanks. I've been using the "Good" set for well over a decade now. Maybe it's time for a change.

Rion

@mediamogul said in RetroArch 1.4.1 Netplay:

@tekn0

That's good to know, thanks. I've been using the "Good" set for well over a decade now. Maybe it's time for a change.

Welcome to the future! 😉

mediamogul

@Rion

Welcome to the future!

Thanks! I'm a little embarrassed to ask, but how do you use the three seashells?

Rion

@mediamogul I never could figure it out. I just used my hand and intense / severe use of hand soap.

eDrinker

@mediamogul said in RetroArch 1.4.1 Netplay:

Both users could try launching a game and connecting through the RetroArch GUI. I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work as long as you both have the same RetroArch, core and ROM between you.

Tried that, couldn't get it to work.

mediamogul

@eDrinker

Did it produce an error or just not work?

eDrinker

@mediamogul said in RetroArch 1.4.1 Netplay:

@eDrinker

Did it produce an error or just not work?

Failed to initialize or connect, I can't remember which. On my PI 3
My friends which is a PI2 would just crash and needed a hard power reset

We used to play netplay before the update with no issue.

eDrinker

Not to bump but did anyone find a work around to get netplay working again?

mediamogul

@eDrinker

Until the RetroPie team is able to implement an appropriate fix to it's own method of dynamically launching with netplay, you should be able to treat RetroArch as if it was no different from any other installation and statically set all the necessary configs in /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg. As is to be expected, it'll just take a fair bit of trial and error to get it straight between the two setups.

mediamogul

@eDrinker

This might have actually been fixed a couple of days ago...

https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/commit/387b2d19be8eaf5515e9e049e3046c210e1549f4
https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/commit/ecc75e6d7b39f20a988d7847edd13c31a827467c

If you update the RetroPie-Setup script and do a full update, you can test to see.

Swagman89

It seems to be working great now. The other thing people need to remember is you need to be on the same version of the same core. For example if you download the core list on a windows install of retroarch and decided to startup a game of SMB 3 of FCEUmm then the git version beside the core will show 4 something where the core on an install of retropie will show git 3 something. You'll need to run the Retropie update script and I chose to rebuild all the core's from source. You may find doing it from binary's works but I'm not sure how quickly they are updated and knew the source would be the newest. Using this method I was able to make a retopie on rpi3 work and netplay with a brand new windows installation of retroarch.

eDrinker

@Swagman89

Can you help me with a few bits please. What do you mean by "Windows Install of Retroarch"? Is that a different installation process to that of updating core packages from source or binary?

Do you mind writing out the exact steps e.g. 1.) Go to X 2.) Update from source etc?

My retro arche says 1.4.1 - No Core but the core I believe is the emulator so I guess we need to check that we are using the same emulator which we might not have done.

tekn0

It seems there is a subdomain now that shows the open netplay games: http://lobby.libretro.com/

Swagman89

@eDrinker By windows install I mean installing retro arch on my windows laptop to test.

What you need to do is go to the run command and update all your cores from binary if you're on 1.4.1 if you notice when you go to the GUI in retroarch while you're playing a game, at the bottom you'll see the name of the emu ie. FCEUmm then git 318a5bdf or something along those lines.

The git # is the important part of this. You have to update it to be sure you're both on the same VERSION of the emulator core.

Once done and verified you're both on the same git # of the core you'll be using to netplay then verify your port is open if you're the host.

Next verify you're using the same rom. After that you've got smooth sailing.

eDrinker

@Swagman89 said in RetroArch 1.4.1 Netplay:

318a5bdf

Yeah we checked this "318a5bdf" and it was the same. I have no doubt the windows version works.

It's Pi to Pi that I can't get working and I haven't seen anyone else confirm either.

eDrinker

Ok so there was an update to 1.5.0 and it works now. It takes the config file from retropie settings and then retroarch netplay menu. We set one client and one host and same ROM and emulator and bingo. You can also connect in game by select x and connect to host. So manual is fine.

Net rooms doesn't state the game or at least I dont think so as I cant find comparable content with anyone.

My next question would be in retro arch settings and network. You have input and frames. You can set either 0-15. We found 6 and 6 was smooth from Spain to UK but I don't understand the difference even with the explanation. There's a bit of input lag and maybe they don't have to be the same so I'm unsure. A bit more tweaking but great stuff. Any advice on frames vs input please config in network would be appreciated.