Black Screen When Starting ColecoVision Game Under lr-bluesmx

gmarler

Pi Model or other hardware: Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Rev 1.5
Power Supply used: RAS-PWR13-PI
RetroPie Version Used: 4.8 (Linux retropie 5.10.103-v7l+ #1529 SMP Tue Mar 8 12:24:00 GMT 2022 armv7l GNU/Linux)
Built From: Pre made SD Image on RetroPie website for RPi 4B, then upgraded to latest above
USB Devices connected: Just the controller listed next
Controller used: GameSir G7 HE Wired Controller
Error messages received: None that look like a problem
Verbose log (if relevant):

Parameters:
Executing: /opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch -L /opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-bluemsx/bluemsx_libretro.so --config /opt/retropie/configs/coleco/retroarch.cfg "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/coleco/Miner 2049er (1983)(Micro Fun).bin" --verbose --appendconfig /dev/shm/retroarch.cfg
[WARN] [GameMode]: GameMode cannot be enabled on this system ("dlopen failed - libgamemode.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory.") https://github.com/FeralInteractive/gamemode needs to be installed.
[WARN] [Config]: GameMode unsupported - disabling..
[INFO] RetroArch 1.19.1 (Git e948222)
[INFO] === Build =======================================
[INFO] CPU Model Name: ARMv7 Processor rev 3 (v7l)

[INFO] Capabilities: NEON VFPV3 VFPV4
[INFO] Version: 1.19.1
[INFO] Git: e948222
[INFO] Built: Sep 23 2024
[INFO] =================================================
[INFO] [Input]: Found input driver: "x".
[ERROR] Couldn't find any cloud sync driver named ""
[INFO] Available cloud sync drivers are:
[INFO]  webdav
[INFO]  null
[WARN] Going to default to first cloud sync driver...
[INFO] [Core]: Loading dynamic libretro core from: "/opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-bluemsx/bluemsx_libretro.so"
[INFO] [Config]: Loading config: "/opt/retropie/configs/coleco/retroarch.cfg".
[INFO] [Config]: Appending config: "/dev/shm/retroarch.cfg".
[INFO] [Overrides]: Redirecting save file to "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/coleco/Miner 2049er (1983)(Micro Fun).srm".
[INFO] [Overrides]: Redirecting save state to "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/coleco/Miner 2049er (1983)(Micro Fun).state".
[INFO] [Environ]: GET_CORE_OPTIONS_VERSION.
[INFO] [Environ]: SET_VARIABLES.
[INFO] [Environ]: SET_CONTROLLER_INFO.
[INFO] [Environ]: SET_SUPPORT_NO_GAME: yes.
[INFO] [Environ]: GET_LOG_INTERFACE.
[INFO] [Content]: Content loading skipped. Implementation will load it on its own.
[INFO] [Environ]: SET_PIXEL_FORMAT: RGB565.
[INFO] [Environ]: SYSTEM_DIRECTORY: "/home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS".
[INFO] [Environ]: SAVE_DIRECTORY: "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/coleco/".
[INFO] [SRAM]: Skipping SRAM load.
[INFO] [Core]: Version of libretro API: 1, Compiled against API: 1
[INFO] [Core]: Geometry: 272x240, Aspect: 0.000, FPS: 60.00, Sample rate: 44100.00 Hz.
[INFO] [Audio]: Set audio input rate to: 44100.00 Hz.
[INFO] [Video]: Timings deviate too much. Will not adjust. (Target = 30.00 Hz, Game = 60.00 Hz)
[INFO] [Video]: Game FPS > Monitor FPS. Cannot rely on VSync.
[INFO] [Video]: Set video size to: 3840x2160.
[INFO] [Video]: Starting threaded video driver..
[INFO] [DRM]: Found 1 connectors.
[INFO] [DRM]: Connector 0 connected: yes
[INFO] [DRM]: Connector 0 has 42 modes.
[INFO] [DRM]: Connector 0 assigned to monitor index: #1.
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 0: (3840x2160) 3840 x 2160, 30.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 1: (3840x2160) 3840 x 2160, 29.970001 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 2: (3840x2160) 3840 x 2160, 25.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 3: (3840x2160) 3840 x 2160, 24.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 4: (3840x2160) 3840 x 2160, 23.976000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 5: (2560x1440) 2560 x 1440, 59.950550 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 6: (2048x1080) 2048 x 1080, 23.996618 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 7: (1920x1080) 1920 x 1080, 60.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 8: (1920x1080) 1920 x 1080, 60.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 9: (1920x1080) 1920 x 1080, 59.940201 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 10: (1920x1080i) 1920 x 1080, 60.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 11: (1920x1080i) 1920 x 1080, 59.940201 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 12: (1920x1080) 1920 x 1080, 50.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 13: (1920x1080i) 1920 x 1080, 50.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 14: (1920x1080i) 1920 x 1080, 50.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 15: (1920x1080) 1920 x 1080, 30.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 16: (1920x1080) 1920 x 1080, 29.970100 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 17: (1920x1080) 1920 x 1080, 25.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 18: (1920x1080) 1920 x 1080, 24.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 19: (1920x1080) 1920 x 1080, 23.976080 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 20: (1600x1200) 1600 x 1200, 60.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 21: (1600x900) 1600 x 900, 60.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 22: (1280x1024) 1280 x 1024, 75.024673 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 23: (1280x1024) 1280 x 1024, 60.019741 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 24: (1152x864) 1152 x 864, 75.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 25: (1280x720) 1280 x 720, 60.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 26: (1280x720) 1280 x 720, 59.940201 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 27: (1280x720) 1280 x 720, 50.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 28: (1024x768) 1024 x 768, 75.028580 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 29: (1024x768) 1024 x 768, 60.003841 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 30: (800x600) 800 x 600, 75.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 31: (800x600) 800 x 600, 60.316540 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 32: (720x576) 720 x 576, 50.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 33: (720x576i) 720 x 576, 50.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 34: (720x480) 720 x 480, 60.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 35: (720x480) 720 x 480, 59.940060 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 36: (720x480i) 720 x 480, 60.002220 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 37: (720x480i) 720 x 480, 59.940060 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 38: (640x480) 640 x 480, 75.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 39: (640x480) 640 x 480, 60.000000 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 40: (640x480) 640 x 480, 59.940475 Hz
[INFO] [DRM]: Mode 41: (720x400) 720 x 400, 70.081665 Hz
[INFO] [GL]: Found GL context: "kms".
[INFO] [GL]: Detecting screen resolution: 3840x2160.
[INFO] [EGL] Found EGL client version >= 1.5, trying eglGetPlatformDisplay
[INFO] [EGL]: EGL version: 1.4
[INFO] [EGL]: Current context: 0xaee294d8.
[INFO] [KMS]: New FB: 3840x2160 (stride: 15360).
[INFO] [GL]: Vendor: Broadcom, Renderer: V3D 4.2.
[INFO] [GL]: Version: OpenGL ES 3.1 Mesa 19.3.2.
[INFO] [GL]: Using resolution 3840x2160.
[INFO] [GL]: Default shader backend found: glsl.
[INFO] [Shader driver]: Using GLSL shader backend.
[WARN] [GL]: Stock GLSL shaders will be used.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Found GLSL vertex shader.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Found GLSL fragment shader.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Linking GLSL program.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Found GLSL vertex shader.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Found GLSL fragment shader.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Linking GLSL program.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Found GLSL vertex shader.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Found GLSL fragment shader.
[INFO] [GLSL]: Linking GLSL program.
[INFO] [GL]: Using 4 textures.
[INFO] [GL]: Loaded 1 program(s).
[WARN] [udev]: Couldn't open any keyboard, mouse or touchpad. Are permissions set correctly for /dev/input/event* and /run/udev/?
[INFO] [Autoconf]: Generic X-Box pad configured in port 1.
[INFO] [udev]: Pad #0 (/dev/input/event0) supports force feedback.
[INFO] [udev]: Pad #0 (/dev/input/event0) supports 16 force feedback effects.
[INFO] [Joypad]: Found joypad driver: "udev".
[INFO] [Video]: Found display server: "kms".
[INFO] [ALSA] Using ALSA version 1.1.8
[INFO] [ALSA]: Using FLOAT_LE sample format for PLAYBACK device "default"
[INFO] [ALSA]: Period: 4 periods per buffer (768 frames, 6144 bytes)
[INFO] [ALSA]: Buffer size: 3072 frames (24576 bytes)
[INFO] [ALSA]: Can pause: no.
[INFO] [ALSA]: Initialized PLAYBACK device "default"
[INFO] [Audio]: Started synchronous audio driver.
[INFO] [ALSA] Using ALSA version 1.1.8
[INFO] [Microphone]: Initialized microphone driver.
[INFO] [Display]: Found display driver: "gl".
[INFO] [Environ]: SET_INPUT_DESCRIPTORS:
[INFO] [Environ]: SET_INPUT_DESCRIPTORS:
[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: "/opt/retropie/configs/coleco/content_history.lpl".
[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: "/opt/retropie/configs/coleco/content_music_history.lpl".
[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: "/opt/retropie/configs/coleco/content_video_history.lpl".
[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading history file: "/opt/retropie/configs/coleco/content_image_history.lpl".
[INFO] [Playlist]: Loading favourites file: "/opt/retropie/configs/coleco/content_favorites.lpl".
[INFO] [KMS]: New FB: 3840x2160 (stride: 15360).
[INFO] [KMS]: New FB: 3840x2160 (stride: 15360).

--- THIS IS WHERE THE GAME HANGS WITH A BLACK SCREEN - WHAT FOLLOWS IS AFTER I EXIT --

[INFO] [Core]: Content ran for a total of: 00 hours, 07 minutes, 42 seconds.
[INFO] [Runtime]: Saving runtime log file: "/home/pi/.config/retroarch/playlists/logs/blueMSX/Miner 2049er (1983)(Micro Fun).lrtl".
[INFO] [Core]: Unloading game..
[INFO] [Core]: Unloading core..
[INFO] [Core]: Unloading core symbols..
[INFO] [Core]: Saved core options file to "/opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch-core-options.cfg".
[INFO] Threaded video stats: Frames pushed: 23602, Frames dropped: 4123.

Guide used: https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Colecovision/ - items specific to lr-blueSMX
File:
/home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/Machines/COL - ColecoVision/coleco.rom
/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/coleco/Miner 2049er (1983)(Micro Fun).bin'
Emulator: lr-blueSMX
Attachment of config files: Not sure which ones to include here
How to replicate the problem: The above should be sufficient info for that, let me know otherwise

This game worked upon initial installation, but stopped working when upgrading to the latest packages via retropie-setup.

The emulator launches, emits the message about the controller being detected, then what looks like a video glitch, and... nothing. Just a black screen until I hit the exit key sequence on the controller.

I see a couple of warnings in the log, not sure if any of them are actionable or were already happening when things were working.

No other emulators seem to be affected.

mitu

@gmarler said in Black Screen When Starting ColecoVision Game Under lr-bluesmx:

Verbose log (if relevant):

Please use pastebin.com for long text outputs.

This game worked upon initial installation, but stopped working when upgrading to the latest packages via retropie-setup.

What's the checksum of the game .bin file ? Do other Colecovision games work ?

EDIT: make sure you choose Colecovision as Machine Type in the Core options. Save the core options for the content directory so all games in the coleco folder get the same option.

gmarler

@mitu, looks like I had the same issue mentioned here , and the same solution worked to rectify it.

Not sure how things got into this state, as the core_options_path simply disappeared from the /opt/retropie/configs/coleco/retroarch.cfg file when I updated to the latest RetroPie through retropie-setup as of 2025-04-07.

And that solution really just mirrored the final result of your recommendation, as the file the core_options_path points to (/opt/retropie/configs/coleco/retroarch-core-options.cfg) already contained the following critical line:

bluemsx_msxtype = "ColecoVision"

So all good now, but still don't know how the inclusion of that file was obliterated in the first place.

Thanks!

mitu

@gmarler said in Black Screen When Starting ColecoVision Game Under lr-bluesmx:

Not sure how things got into this state, as the core_options_path simply disappeared from the /opt/retropie/configs/coleco/retroarch.cfg file when I updated to the latest RetroPie through retropie-setup as of 2025-04-07.

In a default RetroPie installation, that config file shouldn't contain much and core_options_path is only set by RetroPie in the global /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg. Any core option overrides (per-folder/game) will be saved elsewhere.