SZ81 (ZX81 Emulator) - Any suggestion to compile from SDL for use in RetroPie

[steptoe]

I've come across this while looking for dedicated ZX81 emulation in RetroPie, or how to load/run ZX81 files in any current ZXSpectrum emulators that may also support ZX80/ZX81 file loading

http://sz81.sourceforge.net/

Apparently the author states its very portable to any other systems as it only needs SDL to run

Thanks for suggestions

[dudleydes]

@steptoe If you are looking for a ZX81 emulator, then you may wish to consider ZEsarUX. It can be installed from the Optional Packages menu in the RetroPie Setup Script.

Once installed, you should have a +Start ZEsarUX.sh launch script in the ZX Spectrum roms folder. (If it's not there, then restart ES.) When you run this script, ZEsarUX will launch as a Spectrum 48K machine. You can set it to ZX81 by pressing F5 to bring up the menu and then selecting Machine selection -> Sinclair Research

To launch ZEsarUX as a ZX81 machine by default, you can add the line --machine ZX81 in the config file /home/pi/.zesaruxrc

[steptoe]

Many thanks for that I'll add it to my setup I'm building and see how it goes

[tredelijkheid]

It worked! Via the scipt and --machine ZX81 adjustment it works perfect.
I would like to create a new "core" dedicated to thisZX81 setup as I already have a fully functional ZX Spectrum setup which I would rather not touch. Can I do this automatically or is this manual work? Think of the ZX81 logo I would need to show up in ES...

Thanks,

Theo.

[dudleydes]

@tredelijkheid You would need to do it manually. The steps to set up a new system in ES are detailed here: https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Add-a-New-System-in-EmulationStation/

[tredelijkheid]

@dudleydes Thanks... I was hoping that someone else already invented the wheel :-)
I have read the instructions but I am already stuck on how to get a system.svg for Carbon theme and the ZX-Spectrum.

It's quite a lot of work but not giving up!

Thanks again!

Theo.

[dudleydes]

@tredelijkheid In your custom Carbon theme in /opt/retropie/configs/all/emulationstation/themes, make a copy of the zxspectrum folder and rename it zx81.

I couldn't find any ZX81 artwork in the RetroPie themes but I did find a selection of ZX81 svgs in the Recalbox theme.

1. Download your preferred logo by right clicking on the image and selecting Save image as....
2. Save it on your PC as system.svg so it's consistent with the Carbon theme and place a copy in the zx81/art folder you just created and your theme is done.