RetroPie themed greeter/demo ROMs for fresh install

ubuntuyou

I've been getting my feet wet with NES development over the last couple of years but after moving I've been having trouble getting back into it. I had an idea at work a few days ago to get me programming something again. It comprises a set of simple/small "greeter" ROMs to be included with the RetroPie image and automatically placed in their corresponding ROM folder with a fresh install via script. The graphics would be representative of the system and/or RetroPie themed and would contain text instructions for copying ROMs/BIOS/etc. to your Pi. With this, new users would be met with a handful of 8 and 16 bit cores already showing in ES when they install for the first time instead of just the RetroPie menu. What is everyone's thoughts on this idea? Useful or meh?

herb_fargus

@ubuntuyou >With this, new users would be met with a handful of 8 and 16 bit cores already showing in ES when they install for the first time instead of just the RetroPie menu

We had this originally to a certain extent but since then the setup script has become more modular where systems can be added/removed etc. I personally only use 2 or 3 systems and that's all I have on my setup, some weirdos use all of them (not sure who has that much time!) Providing users with a clean slate allows them flexibility to make it how they like it. I'm sure some people would dig a personalised system but that can probably handled on the theming/external script side rather than set in stock

hiulit

@herb_fargus We could have a scriptmodule in "Manage Packages -> Manage optional packages" or "Configurations / tools", so the script @ubuntuyou would create would be officially a part of RetroPie but at the same time would be an optional installation process, so we don't clutter the cleanness of a fresh install.

Or, maybe even better, have the script in the EmulatonStation's RetroPie menu settings, so it's more accessible for first timers.

Texacate

I would definitely be in favor of roms of this nature. When I first got started, trying to understand the RetroPad abstraction layer, and how the button/joystick/etc I'm pushing on my hand-held controller (or control panels) ultimately get mapped to what each emulator sees, was very confusing. Do such ROMs exist ? Sounds like they do, (or did at one time...). As a user, my vote is "VERY useful".

ohmycommodore

If there's a way via optional, I think that would be valuable. Either that or have a "preview all systems" toggle in the menu you can turn on or off, which would reveal or hide systems you aren't otherwise set up for. There are certainly systems I don't really know, and would find it interesting to check them out if it were fairly easy.