Old Computer Appreciation Thread

buzzardbait

Reviewed the first post in this thread.. How do you configure a controller to work with AlephOne? I know the original Marathon controls were on a keyboard, but is there any trick to getting the game to work with a PS2 or equivalent controller?

I've tried before and gave up, but seeing the mention above made me want to try and get it working again.

DTEAM

@buzzardbait

Follow steps 10 to 13 here : Tutorial: Handheld and Plug & Play systems with MAME

It’s a good starting point if you are using MAME.

pariziv

I was looking into the Elektronika - BK-0010/BK-0011

In Windows I added the core to RetroArch (lr-BK) but I can't find it in Retropie. There's an option to load it via Mame, but it can only run cassettes.

pi@pi400base:~/RetroPie-Setup $ sudo ./retropie_packages.sh | grep "lr-b"
lr-beetle-lynx      : Atari Lynx emulator - Mednafen Lynx Port for libretro, itself a fork of Handy : build configure install sources clean remove
lr-beetle-ngp       : Neo Geo Pocket(Color)emu - Mednafen Neo Geo Pocket core port for libretro : build configure install sources clean remove
lr-beetle-pce-fast  : PCEngine emu - Mednafen PCE Fast port for libretro : build configure install sources clean remove
lr-beetle-pcfx      : PCFX emulator - Mednafen PCFX Port for libretro : build configure install sources clean remove
*lr-beetle-psx       : PlayStation emulator - Mednafen PSX Port for libretro : This module is not available for your platform
lr-beetle-saturn    : Saturn emulator - Mednafen Saturn port for libretro : build configure install sources clean remove
lr-beetle-supergrafx: SuperGrafx TG-16 emulator - Mednafen PCE Fast port for libretro : build configure install sources clean remove
lr-beetle-vb        : Virtual Boy emulator - Mednafen VB (optimised) port for libretro : build configure install sources clean remove
lr-beetle-wswan     : Wonderswan emu - Mednafen WonderSwan core port for libretro : build configure install sources clean remove
lr-bluemsx          : MSX/MSX2/Colecovision emu - blueMSX port for libretro : build configure install sources clean remove
lr-bsnes            : Super Nintendo Emulator - bsnes port for libretro (v115) : build configure depends install sources clean remove

pi@pi400base:~/RetroPie-Setup $ mame bk0010 -listmedia
SYSTEM           MEDIA NAME       (brief)    IMAGE FILE EXTENSIONS SUPPORTED
---------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------
bk0010           cassette         (cass)     .wav
pi@pi400base:~/RetroPie-Setup $

Is there a way to install the lr-BK core in Retropie?

(Retropie 4.8.2 on Pi400)

Folly

@pariziv

I have created a module-script.
The emulator loads a few things.

Download from here (right click raw/ save as):
https://github.com/FollyMaddy/RetroPie-Share/blob/main/00-scriptmodules-00/libretrocores/lr-bk.sh
Place it in : scriptmodules/libretrocores

Place bios files in BIOS/bk.
The extensions .img .bin files seem to be the ones supported.
Compressed files can also be used (.zip .7z)

Proof that it's working loading Andos v3.30 (19xx)(-).img from TOSEC :

You can turn it into balck and white for better reading :

Working also now : "Bolderdash (19xx)(-)(en).bin" from TOSEC :

pariziv

Works like a charm! Thank you @Folly !

I currently have 173 systems configured. 16 more to go... currently..., because the more I read the more systems I have to add :)

I now have 5 customs scripts:

b-em-pico-pi.sh
lr-arduous_lcd.sh
lr_bk.sh
lr-lowresnx.sh
lr-mess-p2000t.sh

Who actually decides whether these custom scripts are added to the standard retropie installation?

Folly

@pariziv said in Old Computer Appreciation Thread:

Who actually decides whether these custom scripts are added to the standard retropie installation?

It's basically decided by both parties and in the end it's decided by the moderators.

If someone has made something he/she can make a fork of the RetroPie-Setup and add a module-script to it and then make a pull request.
If the pull-request is accepted the file will be merged.

Problem is that not all emulators/libretro cores are that good.
So then the discussion begins, whether to add something or not.
Adding more will ultimately mean more maintenance which means more work for the moderators.

That is why not everything is added anymore

Retro Arcade Fan

@pariziv You've got 173 "working" systems on your RP? I'd love to see that list!

dmmarti

@Retro-Arcade-Fan @pariziv

I'd love to see his list too!

I'm always on the lookout for new systems I've never heard of to try and get them running. Being able to emulate using the MAME/MESS core opens up a ton of new (well actually older I guess haha) systems that I have never seen before. Some of those older 70's and 80's computer systems were pretty amazing for their time.

Here's my working Google document with all of my systems (this is for both RetroPie and my Windows PC list). I use the Attract Mode front-end on both and pretty much have RetroPie launching the same systems (no PS2, Wii, etc of course).

I try to keep my Google doc updated with new systems I add and usage notes for them.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mwIjk7TFWoD--7hfiPHCYUxFtIz1yhD8BLtWdQQWwKw/edit?usp=sharing

Retro Arcade Fan

@dmmarti This is AMAZING! Thank you for sharing such a detailed spreadsheet. I see so many that I don't have on my system. This is going to push my addiction to a whole new level haha.

DTEAM

@dmmarti said in Old Computer Appreciation Thread:

@Retro-Arcade-Fan @pariziv

I'd love to see his list too!

I'm always on the lookout for new systems I've never heard of to try and get them running. Being able to emulate using the MAME/MESS core opens up a ton of new (well actually older I guess haha) systems that I have never seen before. Some of those older 70's and 80's computer systems were pretty amazing for their time.

Here's my working Google document with all of my systems (this is for both RetroPie and my Windows PC list). I use the Attract Mode front-end on both and pretty much have RetroPie launching the same systems (no PS2, Wii, etc of course).

I try to keep my Google doc updated with new systems I add and usage notes for them.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mwIjk7TFWoD--7hfiPHCYUxFtIz1yhD8BLtWdQQWwKw/edit?usp=sharing

@Folly

Hi Folly, do you think it could be a good idea to put that link (above) in your first post of Development of module-script generator for lr-mess, lr-mame and mame standalone ?

pariziv

@Retro-Arcade-Fan

I quickly compared with the list of @dmmarti

These are the systems I have in addition:

All-in-1 Handhelds
Apple - Macintosh
Arduboy
Atari - Portfolio
Classic Handhelds
Commodore - VIC-10
JAKKS Pacific - JAKKS
Konami - Handhelds
Love
Lutro
Microsoft - Windows 3.11
Python games
Sega - MyCard
TecToy
Tiger Electronics - Handhelds
Tiger Electronics - R-Zone
VTech - Socrates


Problems:
Benesse - Pocket Challenge V2 (Black screen)
Casio - Loopy (corrupted graphics)
Hewlett Packard - 48GX (need to find a way to load games)
LeapFrog - Leapster Learning Game System (exception: unimplemented LDB_S 6268 (0x0c group)

Folly

@DTEAM said in Old Computer Appreciation Thread:

Hi Folly, do you think it could be a good idea to put that link (above) in your first post of Development of module-script generator for lr-mess, lr-mame and mame standalone ?

Added.

Retro Arcade Fan

@pariziv When you say "Classic Handhelds" are you talking about Game & Watch?

DTEAM

@Retro-Arcade-Fan

no, see here for more infos : Tutorial: Handheld and Plug & Play systems with MAME

and

Development of module-script generator for lr-mess, lr-mame and mame standalone

TPR

@Folly So I have ADAM up and running using the Retropie-setup fork and the games seem to load just fine under lr-mess-adamcass - Problem is, TAB does not bring up the MAME/MESS menu like it does in all my other lr-mess cores.

Any idea why? I'd like to be able to go in and configure everything but I cannot for the life of me (and now spending some time trying to figure it out) how to get that menu to appear.

Any ideas? Thank you.

(And yes, I have turned Game Focus both on and off)

duglor

@TPR said in Old Computer Appreciation Thread:

@Folly So I have ADAM up and running using the Retropie-setup fork and the games seem to load just fine under lr-mess-adamcass - Problem is, TAB does not bring up the MAME/MESS menu like it does in all my other lr-mess cores.

Any idea why? I'd like to be able to go in and configure everything but I cannot for the life of me (and now spending some time trying to figure it out) how to get that menu to appear.

Any ideas? Thank you.

(And yes, I have turned Game Focus both on and off)

My mess/mame-apple2gs also doesn't bring one up. I tried.

Folly

@TPR

Not sure why either.
Perhaps it's a change in the lr-mess core.
Did you update the lr-mess core recently ?

Are you able to see if switching "game-focus" works or not ?

Do you use a "hotkey enable key or button" ?

Can you paste your runcommand ?

TPR

@Folly Did not update lr-mess as I'm running it with AdventureVision, Astrocade, Ti-99, and Arcadia and it seems to be running just fine with using TAB, but those I did download months ago.

I did just download ADAM yesterday, though. It was easy to get up and running and had it going in 5 minutes, but the TAB thing is really strange and not sure why it doesn't work.

Here's the runcommand log:

Parameters:
Executing: /home/pi/RetroPie-Setup/scriptmodules/run_mess.sh /opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch /opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-mess/mess_libretro.so /opt/retropie/configs/adam/retroarch.cfg adam /home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS -cass1 "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/adam/Super Donkey Kong (1984) (Coleco).ddp" --appendconfig /dev/shm/retroarch.cfg
[.] parameters dump
\t_retroarchbin: /opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch
\t_messpath: /opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-mess/mess_libretro.so
\t_config: /opt/retropie/configs/adam/retroarch.cfg (+ /opt/retropie/configs/adam/retroarch.cfg.add)
\t_cfg_directory: /opt/retropie/configs/adam
\t_system: adam
\t_biosdir: /home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS
dirname: invalid option -- 'c'
Try 'dirname --help' for more information.
\t_romdir: /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/adam
\t/tmp/mess.cmd content: adam -rp /home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS -cfg_directory /opt/retropie/configs/adam "-cass1" "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/adam/Super Donkey Kong (1984) (Coleco).ddp"
rm: cannot remove '/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/adam/tmpmess.cmd': No such file or directory
rm: cannot remove '/opt/retropie/configs/adam/tmpconfig.add': No such file or directory
[.] launching: /opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch --verbose --config /opt/retropie/configs/adam/retroarch.cfg --appendconfig /opt/retropie/configs/adam/tmpconfig.add -L /opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-mess/mess_libretro.so /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/adam/tmpmess.cmd
[INFO] RetroArch 1.8.8 (Git 9552f87)
[INFO] Redirecting save file to "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/adam/tmpmess.srm".
[INFO] Redirecting save state to "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/adam/tmpmess.state".
[INFO] === Build =======================================
[INFO] Capabilities: NEON VFPv3 VFPv4
[INFO] Built: Nov 2 2020
[INFO] Version: 1.8.8
[INFO] Git: 9552f87
[INFO] =================================================
[INFO] Loading dynamic libretro core from: "/opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-mess/mess_libretro.so"
[INFO] [Overrides] core-specific overrides found at /home/pi/.config/retroarch/config/MAME/MAME.cfg.
[INFO] [Overrides] no content-dir-specific overrides found at /home/pi/.config/retroarch/config/MAME/adam.cfg.
[INFO] [Overrides] no game-specific overrides found at /home/pi/.config/retroarch/config/MAME/tmpmess.cfg.
[INFO] Config: appending config "/home/pi/.config/retroarch/config/MAME/MAME.cfg"
Error opening translation file English
Adding monitor screen0 (640 x 480) a:1.333333
wp_r80.rom ROM NEEDS REDUMP
WARNING: the machine might not run correctly.

TPR

@Folly Looks like my mess_libretro.so file is from Feb 2021. I'm cautious to update that as all my other emulators seem to work so well unless you think I should update it.

Folly

@TPR

How did you install / what module-script did you use ?

You should add code tags around the log in you last post so special chars are displayed properly.

Looking at the log I think you should add -ui_active to the runcommand.
EDIT :
Try to add it before -cass1 and see if that works.

My advice is now to stick with the old mess_libretro.so because the newest has a different name mamemess_libretro.so.
Updating it will break everything.

It's probably best to keep your old image without updating and make a new one later which is totally up to date and using this project :
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/29682/development-of-module-script-generator-for-lr-mess-lr-mame-and-mame-standalone