What do you think about adding ExaGear Desktop to optional packages to RetroPie?
-
My name is Vadim and I'm with Eltechs. Eltechs develops ExaGear Desktop - a really fast x86 emulator for ARM devices. One picture is better than thousands of words, so this is the link to video how we ran Counter Strike and Diablo 2 on RPi:
There are a lot of cool old PC Windows games which can be ran using ExaGear: Arcanum, Civilization 3, HoMM 3, Disciples II and many others.
If you've never heard about ExaGear before you can try it with "sudo apt-get install exagear-desktop" on vanilla Raspbian (ExaGear into Raspbian repo).I'm very excited with RetroPie and I think ExaGear might be an interesting additional option for RetroPie. For example, in optional package section.
But ExaGear isn't Open Sources and even isn't free (but has a trial for a limited time). I contacted with Jools aka BuZz (one of the main developer of RetroPie) regarding this question and he recommended to me to ask you about that.
So, what do you think about adding ExaGear Desktop to an optional package of RetroPie with a limited time trial available?
-
I think it would be a nice convenience, but it'll make RetroPie look like it is endorsing ExaGear, so I don't think it's a good idea.
-
If trial software - I'm afraid I won't be interested in adding it to the official RetroPie setup. You may be able to get something added to RetroPie extras on github.
If it was just free but closed source I would be more likely to accept. Otherwise we will be technically promoting/aiding your commercial product.
-
I agree trial software shouldn't be included in official setup. I wouldn't want to see forum posts on a regular basis on how to get it working and providing support.
-
@hurricanefan regarding support we can take it fully on our side.
-
@buzz I don't propose to set it on the main page of EmulationStation. I'd just like to add it in optional packages. There are a lot of packages and I don't sure that it'll really promote exagear a lot.
BTW what is the least tricky way to install packages which not included in RetroPie? -
it would be cool to have this, but if it a trial.... that might upset some people.
-
@exarkuniv Well, I'm sure it would be possible to have something like "ExaGear Desktop (Trial)" in the optional packages. So that people can see that it isn't the full software.
I personally wouldn't mind if it was available, if it works flawless, I think could maybe benefit both sides. Although I would say that I'm not interested in using it. -
While i'm all for improving the development of software and apps for the Raspberry Pi and RetroPie, as a tinkerer I am building, rebuilding and tearing down many Raspberry Pi setups all the time. I think a lot of us are like this. I checked into the license for ExaGear from Eltechs can not be transferred to another Pi. I don't think people will pay $25 for the right to use this optional package on each Pi they own beyond any trial period. Think of it as the 'free' trial version of software that comes with a new windows pc. Don't take this wrong but it makes RetroPie feel 'dirty' if you do this. Eltechs sees a large base of users and want to mine us for more possible sales.
-
@glennlake Yes - I believe this would benefit them by tapping into our large user base. I see no benefits for RetroPie though by including it. I also don't want RetroPie to look like it's profiting from shipping with trial versions of commercial software, even if it's an optional package.
To help us help you - please make sure you read the sticky topics before posting - https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first
-
@buzz I concur.
-
I would LOVE to see Exagear Desktop to be fully integrated into RETROPIE, but I also agree that it would pollute the optional packages list and that this would upset the users, including myself.
However, I think Exagear Desktop is a wonderful product and I will buy a license for it and if I can't run it in Retropie, that would be kind of a bummer. I wanna be able to run it from within Retropie!
How about adding a separate list with "3rd party (trial / paid) packages" like it's done in any other Linux distro for installing proprietary software?... this way it won't "pollute" Retropie's "optional packages" list?
Or perhaps publish some instructions on Github, on how to add Exagear Desktop as a new system, that is to say to adapt the instructions found here: https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/Add-a-New-System-in-EmulationStation to help noobies like me to achieve this seamless integration of Exagear into Retropie's System list.
-
@RealFraggy I'd add those instructions and any other guidance on the ExaGear website, on "how to install on RetroPie".
I agree: this seems to be much more of a useful thing for current ExaGear users rather than to RetroPie users themselves.
-
They already have a guide on their site that explains how to install ExaGear. Here is a quote from there guide. "Exagear Desktop is a real Retropie ALTERNATIVE that can significantly increase the capabilities of your Raspberry Pi based gaming console." I don't think the developers of RetroPie, after working for several years to make the best software for retro-games, want to direct people away from RetroPie to an alternative environment.
-
@glennlake said in What do you think about adding ExaGear Desktop to optional packages to RetroPie?:
Here is a quote from there guide. "Exagear Desktop is a real Retropie ALTERNATIVE that can significantly increase the capabilities of your Raspberry Pi based gaming console."
Sorry about that. Our foul :( This is just our Spanglish. Really didn't want to write anything like it sound.
Changed this incorrect language. -
I would be willing to pay for some software that allowed me to play the original command and conquers up to red alert 2 and warcraft2, perhaps age of empires.
judging from the comments on your youtube video, the FPS for counterstrike is low, and thus I expect that COD1 would be a no no?atomic bomberman would be a good one to add.
-
@punk
i speak spanish Fluently, perhaps even better than I speak my native tongue these days, and as such, I could perhaps understand that the word "alternative" in Spanish doesnt entirely infer the replacement of something.However, when reading the text on your youtube videos, I fail to see how the following could have been badly translated from Spanish to English:
"Forget about retropie! New Era of Gaming On Rapsberry Pi is here "
It does seem a little hypocritical to come onto the Retropie forum and ask to be included in Retropie after suggesting that people "forget about Retrpie" -
@spruce_m00se agreed.
Seems clear to me their only interest in RetroPie is to increase their profits by utilising our user base. No thanks.
-
@spruce_m00se Would you be willing to pay $22.45 ($33.45) for every Pi you install this on? I have read their eula and, unless they have edited it like they have elsewhere on their page, the license is not transferable to another Pi install. You also need a new license for each Pi you install it on. I am a tinkerer (like most of us) and I am always changing, deleting, re-installing and experimenting with my Pi installs. I don't know about you but I think many of us have several Pi's from the original Pi1 up to the Pi3b and Pi0 W and this would start to add up quickly. This is too much like MicroSoft.
-
@glennlake I would not! at most I would pay one licence. and only if it was proven to work as well as an old pc I could pick up for the 25 dollars charged for the licence,
I have an old 486 in the roof ready for some retro gaming one day :)
Contributions to the project are always appreciated, so if you would like to support us with a donation you can do so here.
Hosting provided by Mythic-Beasts. See the Hosting Information page for more information.