What would you like to see in future Retropie releases

[paffley]

Good thread!

Here's my thoughts...

• Ability to choose what is displayed on the helper section - maybe in main menu settings? favorites, random, scraper etc.

• Ability to disable the favorites 'button'. Similar to 'end editing custom collection' - This is so my kids don't press 'Y' by mistake and end up having about 100+ games in the favorites.

• Possibly one more image tag - maybe make use of the 'thumbnail' tag in themes to display an extra artwork of a rom.

• Gamelist's to use artwork instead of text - horizontal & vertical scrolling image gamelist carousel

• md_releasedate to display year only - e.g 1997

• rom count tag in gamelist view - e.g 25/268 as you scroll through the gamelist

• Video tag in system view - to be able to play specified video from a directory

• Gif support - for systemview and gamelist view (not sure if pi can handle gif?)

Just my 2 cents, what you guys have done with retropie in recent months is absolutely outstanding, I'm a massive supporter of all your work, keep up the great work, even if it doesn't get mentioned much, its hugely appreciated. Thumbs up!

Regards,

[paffley]

Can the pi handle swf flash files? I know flash is dead and buried now but thought it may be an option for some themes.

[robertybob]

@paffley said in What would you like to see in Retropie 4.3:

• md_releasedate to display year only - e.g 1997

This would be excellent. A lot of retro games don't have accurate release dates available (usually only MM/YY) due to there being no records.

[herb_fargus]

@paffley flash will never happen

[paffley]

@herb_fargus thought so, thanks! :)

[Triquick]

That scripted that was created a while back to add background music to the menu screen to be integrated into the Retropie Setup Script similar to how splash screens are.

[crono141]

Here's a problem I would love see addressed by the devs, though my use case might be unique. I have retropie installed on a Pi3 in my kids playroom (they're 2 &4). Primarily, we use the thing as a Kodi box to play movies from my home server. Every now and again we dump out to attract mode (ES is too slow on startup with large game libraries) to play games. As they get older, they'll probably play more. Anyway, what I would like is the ability to use Kodi launcher plugins to launch games with. I have Advanced Emulator Launcher installed, and I point it to runcommand.sh with the correct arguments to run games. Problem is, since Kodi is running, it eats the framebuffer/foreground so the game starts behind (for lack of a better word) the kodi interface. Kodi also keeps eating the inputs as well. I think a (simple?) modification to runcommand could make this work, but I'm ignorant as to the details.

[HurricaneFan]

@crono141 Something like this might interest you: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/12416/retroplayer-kodi-18

[Cjax08]

Also the ability to play video snaps on the system select screen would be awesome. I can imagine a theme that plays a short commercial from back in the day for every system as you scroll through the list.

That and the ability to set a video screensaver or a group of screen saver videos that aren't game snaps from your game list. I'd like to be able to put the videos that I want to play randomly when the screensaver starts into a folder like you do for the boot up splash screens.

[Capeman]

Is it too late to share wishlists? Hahaha, i don't care im adding mine anyway:

1. 2-step verification for adding/removing favorites. Press Y once, get a dialog box, confirm to add, cancel to cancel.

Just pressing Y is too easy, and my kid recently cleared my whole favorites list because he was jamming Y on the player 2 controller when i exited a game, haha.

2. I like @paffley's idea to add animated gifs to the supported theming image types.

It would be cool to drop an animated megaman sprite onto a Mega Man custom collection theme without using video.

3. Ability to skip the carousel and jump right into gamelists.

The carousel is awesome for a standard tv setup, but just jumping into the first system on your list automatically, and forcing the "quick system select" option to be ON in the UI options would make for a quicker experience on an arcade cab or handheld. @hex was going to teach me how to do this in this thread... but I've been to busy(day)/lazy(night) to put in the effort. I need to get on that.

4. A quick lock-down mode that simply disables/reenables the following functions with 10 pushes of the select button on the ES menu:
- The main menu and options dialogs (via start and select buttons)
- Add/Remove favorites
- Runcommand
- Retropie system on the Carousel

I could probably think of more, but that's my wishlist.

[Capeman]

@cjax08 said in What would you like to see in Retropie 4.3:

I can imagine a theme that plays a short commercial from back in the day for every system as you scroll through the list.

You don't have a SEGA CD?!
What are you waiting for... NINTENDO TO MAKE ONE?!
Uh Huh Derrrr....
You have seen the games right?!
Uhhhhhhhh
Wrong answer man... Show em!

[Zigurana]

@capeman this is for you : https://retropie.org.uk/forum/post/104028

[lipebello]

Full screen random video snaps as screensaver. that would be cool

[Hex]

@lipebello We already have that

[lipebello]

@hex said in What would you like to see in Retropie 4.3:

@lipebello We already have that

Holy crap! i'll have to search how to that now. Thanks a lot!
Edit: So amazing! and if you hit start, it plays the game! that's so sweet!

[hansolo77]

I think this thread got a bit derailed. It's not really a request board (is it?). I think the idea was to help bring together any of the advancements since the last version, without going back to the drawing board to add new stuff that hasn't been developed yet.

To that end.. here is my list of things that I've been doing over the last year that I feel should be added to the official "next build".

• Modified Mausberry and PowerBlock shutdown scripts. (thanks to that team!)
  This should be a given to any and all who plan to use them. Although, I don't necessarily see a need to have it installed automatically with a new build. Maybe just an updated RetroPie-Setup menu to include the new scripts as installable drivers.
• @meleu's "Add game to custom collection" script.
• @meleu's "hascheevos" scraper.
  While it's still in testing, I feel like it's nearly complete. It works right now, but there are some enhancements that should be forthcoming if we can peer pressure him enough. :)
• @meleu's "rpi-art" added officially into the RetroPie-Setup and RetroPie menus.
• Built-in pre-updated binaries of all the core packages (EmulationStation, RetroArch, etc).
• Built-in pre-updated binaries of all the current working RetroArch cores.
• Updated drivers for the PS3 controller
  I know this is available but I've not looked into it yet because my PSX build is "non-exisitant" right now.
• Perhaps a different default theme?
• Maybe have the "Raphnet Northwest Drift" kernel patch be available preinstalled?
  It doesn't harm anything having it installed when there isn't a controller being used, and it would certainly make a new install a whole lot easier for people who might be using it. I just feel like RetroPie should have it already covered, without needing the user to go back and reinstall everything again.

Wow, @meleu has a lot a of new features to be added. :) There was a lot of stuff happening to the ES system as well, like @pjft's work to bring in Collections, and all the work done to fix the "White Screen of Death" along with adding video screenshots. There's a lot of goodies in store for somebody just starting out. But as for me, that's about all I'm aware of. At least from what I've been able to add to my own system.

---

Now for a REQUEST list...

• ES to support identifying games with cheevos in the gamelist, and have it display the number earned/available.
  I know support may be coming soon for this with a "cheevos" tag in the gamelist.xml. So I'm just adding to the request for the numbers. Might need further expansion with online modes, see below.
• ES to support screenshot thumbnails of game save states, and the ability to select them from that game list.
  Since I play for cheevos in "Hardcore" mode, I have no use for this because it's locked out, but in a future build, this sort of thing could really come in handy.
• Dig deeper into ES to see if we can build additional levels.
  Specifically, I'd like the option to click on a system, get the game list. Click on a game, and get a sub menu. Maybe just another pop-up menu (like pressing START or SELECT). Have that menu include things like "Play Game, Load Save State (and show the thumbs), View Instruction Manual, View Advertisement (like commercials, or the Arcade Poster), View Additional Art (for Arcade to show control panel, machine, etc, or for consoles to display their boxart, box backs, carts, etc). This sort of feature request is no easy task, and would probably require insane reworks to the gamelist parser to include all the extra data fields. But it's a "request" right? :)
• Bring RetroPie and ES "ONLINE" (see below)
• Perhaps some form of alert system in ES to show if an Update is available?
  Not just for ES. Have it display something like "XXXXXX Update is Available!" in a corner. Where XXXXXX is something specific like "ES, RetroArch, QuickNES, Snes9X" etc.
• If the console is connected to the internet, allow it to display the time (and date?).
  And if it's not connected, maybe have an " -- OFFLINE MODE -- " displayed instead.
• Cheevos "gamerscore" displayed somewhere on ES?
• Maybe some form of chatting and friend system? DING! @TMNTturtlguy is online!
  Then you can scroll to another menu that lists all your friends, you can see his avatar, click it and send messages. If they play RetroAchievements, have it display their scores.
• With online connections and RetroAchievements, have it display the list of available cheevoes and their icons, and the unlocked ones in color. This can be shown in the popup menu mentioned above, and maybe even in the buddy list.

I'm sure I could think of a lot of cool ideas, but they're probably not at all possible. Don't know why it would be impossible other than it would take a lot of time to do. But ES is Open Source. I'm sure somebody (or more) could get their heads together and work something out. Maybe I could learn a thing or too and help. Not like this project isn't stagnating and going to die any time soon!

Thanks for allowing us, the users, a fair chance to offer suggestions and ideas for future builds. This is an awesome community that is growing all the time. And the Great RetroGaming Re-Awakening is upon us. I'm glad to be a part of it. Cheers friends!

[lilbud]

@hansolo77 I feel like before most of what you requested is implemented, ES needs a virtual keyboard, cause it would help make all of those features possible.

Having to bring out a keyboard for everything is not exactly the best idea.

Also, 90% of those ideas remind me of this software that never came out offically.

[hansolo77]

They were just ideas. I don't really figure any development would ever come from it.

[lilbud]

@hansolo77 Well still, my main point is that we need a virtual keyboard to be implemented, even if none of your ideas pan out. It will make scraping and custom collections easier.

[hansolo77]

I agree entirely.