Vertical 16:9 display configuration. Is this possible?

[ninjaballs]

I am running retropie on a vertical 16:9 display and would like to know if it is possible to display in the following manner. I would like both horizontal and vertical 4:3 games centered and in their correct aspect ratios as in the attached image. My primary use is lr-mame2003.

I would also like the entire Retropie interface to only occupy the vertical 4:3 space.

I've searched the forum and read the documentation but am still confused.

[mediamogul]

@ninjaballs

I would also like the entire Retropie interface to only occupy the vertical 4:3 space.

This was best answered here by @dankcushions 21 days ago.

[caver01]

If I recall, the conclusions are that it is possible to rotate everything using one of the following methods 1. Rotate the game itself when the emulator launches. 2. Rotate the entire interface.

Number 1 appears to work nicely without a performance hit, as the emulator does the rotation, and vertical games want to be run in that mode anyway. However, when you are in Emulation Station, it's sideways!

Number 2 would leverage rotation of the display when the Pi boots using config.txt. This would appear to be a final solution, however, themes in Emulation Station are not designed for the constrained width and may look very odd or have elements cropped depending on the theme. The bigger problem is that at 90-degrees rotation done this way, emulators take a severe performance hit.

Interestingly, this performance problem does not affect systems that employ 180 degrees of rotation--only 90. I rotate my system completely upside down because of the viewing angle to my LCD and notice no slowdown whatsoever, but the thread linked above describes a 90-degree rotation making a popular vertical game unplayable.

Until someone makes Emulation Station to support a rotated display (would require enhancements to ES code, then would probably need a theme designed for it) there isn't a perfect setup for vertically mounted systems.

[ninjaballs]

Thank you both for all the information. Surprised that the performance hit is so pronounced. Will report back