Neo Geo CD enquiry and lack of es_systems on a fresh install

sleve_mcdichael

@libation you should put that in code blocks so it displays correctly. The asterisks for example in *SYS* are being parsed as italics: SYS, and the comment # hash marks are changing the

text size.

You can use four spaces on a new line, like this

1234567890
----^
    Text starts here

Looks like:

Text starts here

...or, start and end the code with three backticks on a new line, for larger blocks.

```
like this
```

Looks

like this

You can place code in-line by wrapping it in `single backticks` and it will Look like this, and you can escape single backticks with a backslash, \`like this \` (and of course I had to escape those backslashes with backslashes, too. You can "quote" my post to see what I've actually typed to make it display the code for the code instead of just parsing it as code.)

sleve_mcdichael

@libation my bad, it was _underscores_, not *asterisks*. You see, I couldn't tell because it just looked like SYS.

@gvfo I installed lr-fbneo. In my ROMS folder on the Pi I created a new folder, neogeocd (without quotes). I put my Neo Geo CD games in there, as well as the BIOS files, neocd.zip and neocdz.zip. Then I copied the es_systems.cfg from /etc/emulationstation to ~/.emulationstation, so I could manually add the Neo Geo CD system. To do so, type the following in the command prompt (ctrl + F4 on keyboard is the easiest way I know of to get there)[Ed: you don't need ctrl, just F4 on its own will do it.]:
cp /etc/emulationstation/es_systems.cfg ~/.emulationstation/es_systems.cfg
This copy will show up in \\retropie\configs\all\emulationstation. Open the new copy of es_systems.cfg, and add the following:
<system>
    <name>neogeocd</name>
    <fullname>Neo Geo CD</fullname>
    <path>/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/neogeocd</path>
    <extension>.7z .chd .cue .fba .iso .7Z .CHD .CUE .FBA .ISO .ZIP </extension>
    <command>/opt/retropie/supplementary/runcommand/runcommand.sh 0 _SYS_ neogeocd %ROM%</command>
    <platform>neogeo-cd</platform>
    <theme>neogeo-cd</theme>
</system>       
Save and close. Go to \\retropie\configs. In the config folder, create a new folder, called neogeocd (without quotes). Inside this new folder, two text documents need to be created.
The first is named emulators.cfg. In this document, type in:
lr-fbneo = "/opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch -L /opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr- fbneo/fbneo_libretro.so --config /opt/retropie/configs/neogeo/retroarch.cfg %ROM%"
default = "lr-fbneo-neocd"
lr-fbneo-neocd = "/opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch -L /opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-fbneo/fbneo_libretro.so --subsystem neocd --config /opt/retropie/configs/neogeo/retroarch.cfg %ROM%"       
Save and close. The second document is retroarch.cfg. In this one, type:
# Settings made here will only override settings in the global retroarch.cfg if placed above the #include line

input_remapping_directory = "/opt/retropie/configs/neogeo/"

#include "/opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg"
Save and close.

Reboot the system. Go to the new neogeocd folder and run a game. As it's loading, keep pressing the A key. In the next window, choose lr-fbneo-neocd as the emulator. Hopefully this will work for you.

barbudreadmon

@sleve_mcdichael @Libation well, the OP wants to use the NeoCD emulator, and if he decide to do otherwise then he should still read the FBNeo documentation because @Libation's guide is incomplete : a neogeo.zip bios is required (neocd.zip isn't), and FBNeo only supports some iso format. On a sidenote, even if FBNeo will search them in several folders including the roms folder, i recommend putting bioses in the BIOS/fbneo folder for clarity.

mitu

@gvfo I think the game image you have may not be correct. Try using a Redump.org validated images (.cue and .bin files only). Also, make sure you have the BIOS files mentioned in https://github.com/libretro/neocd_libretro (you only need 2).
I was able to make it run using both lr-neocd and lr-fbneo-neocd, using a valid cd image that I copied in the neogeo folder (I didn't a neocd separate folder).

Emulatre71

@gvfo Follow this short tutorial video it should help you out

https://odysee.com/@Linux_Gaming:2/RetroPie_tut_v001:e

barbudreadmon

@emulatre71 said in Neo Geo CD enquiry and lack of es_systems on a fresh install:

@gvfo Follow this short tutorial video it should help you out

https://odysee.com/@Linux_Gaming:2/RetroPie_tut_v001:e

I don't think it will, i believe that's exactly what he did already. As already said he might have corrupt bios/iso or something

gvfo

@barbudreadmon

You were right. I've been stubborny testing the same two games, which are my favorite NGCD games, The King Of Fighters 96 and Real Bout Special.

I just tried to run Pulstar and Windjammers, and both worked.

Everyone, thanks a LOT for all your answers and for trying to help me. You were amazing.

gvfo

@barbudreadmon

BTW, another thing that could help someone else.

I just tried to download a Top Loader bios (the file was named top-sp1.bin), renamed it to neocd.bin, replaced the NeoGeo CDZ bios and all games worked, including KoF 96 and Real Bout Special, which weren't working.

So maybe there's some incompatibility between the CDZ bios and some games? I don't know, but, if anyone else is having trouble, I suggest using the Top Loader or Front Loader bios.

barbudreadmon

@gvfo said in Neo Geo CD enquiry and lack of es_systems on a fresh install:

So maybe there's some incompatibility between the CDZ bios and some games?

Yeah, i mentioned that in one of my posts above :

@barbudreadmon said in Neo Geo CD enquiry and lack of es_systems on a fresh install:

iirc there is a story about cracked and non-cracked games that require CDZ and normal bios

gvfo

@barbudreadmon

Oh, so there it is. I didn't get your first mention. Well, once again, thank you very much.

Darksavior

@gvfo Btw, if you want to play the definitive versions of some neogeo cd games like the kof series, play them on a ps2 emulator like pcsx2..not on a pi of course. There's no load times in between rounds, and the music is continuous. In the neogeo cd versions, In round 2, the music restarts from the middle, and round 3 restarts the song over. The japanese versions of kof95/96/97 (haven't tried 98) have the arranged cd soundtracks while the american release does not.

gvfo

@darksavior Thanks for your tip. For a few moments I thought you were recommending me that PS2 compilation Orochi Saga.

I kind of don't mind the music restarting from the middle, since they even made an alternative "beginning" to all songs. I found the loading in Pi amazing - around 1 or 2 seconds.

If you like Neo Geo CD games you should try it too. I even feel like I could help a noobie like me to get it to run now. :)

Darksavior

@gvfo Yea, I forgot the name. It is the ps2 compilation orochi saga, but the japanese version has 95,96,97 with arranged cd audio.
Yea, the load times in the neocd emulators are fast, but the music restarting was always a long time annoyance. I do appreciate that it exists, though.