An indie make-it-work blog for retrogamers that want to replay their old video game hits on their Raspberry Pi and television. Hints and tricks to make it work at the best possible.
Sunday, January 16, 2022
Play ET: Legacy on Raspberry Pi [FPS]
Monday, January 10, 2022
Raspberry Pi & Friends
Thursday, January 6, 2022
Sound issues inventory
Hello,
I figured out that sound issues on Raspberry Pi and more generally Linux installations are often a difficult problem to deal with and the reason is that the causes vary much. The goal of this post is to answer your sound issue according to its cause. This post will be regularly updated as I notice new causes.
Using HDMI
- in /boot/config.txt make sure to set
hdmi_drive=2
dtparam=audio=on - Avoid this fix if you are using jack audio it will have a reverse effect
RetroPie
- Make sure pulseaudio is not installed as it conflict with RetroPie setting.
sudo apt-get remove pulseaudio - Make sure that Audio_Card (should be default) and Audio_Device (should be HDMI if you have an HDMI cable or PCM if you are using a jack) are set correctly in
/opt/retropie/configs/all/emulationstation/es_settings.cfg
- You can change these settings also through RetroPie context menu
Alsa, devices and drivers
- If you lost /dev/snd/ this is the worst case as actually I haven't found any other way than reinstalling your OS through PINN. However you can always try removing and reinstalling alsa-utils and libasound2:
sudo apt-get remove alsa-utils pulseaudio libasound2
sudo apt-get install alsa-utils libasound2
speaker-test
Wine
- Failed to initialize DirectX Audio
- This often happens in RPGMaker games
- It's actually a misleading message. When reading this and searching internet you often find that DirectX is missing. This is not true. This message can actually happen:
- If DirectX is missing
- If the version of DirectX is incompatible with your executable (might be actually too new for your executable and not too old)
- If your sound system can't make a pipe (test it with aplay or paplay)
- If you are cross-executing your Wine binary on another user with "su -l xxxx" from LXDE.
- Solutions:
- Make sure aplay/paplay work (eg type speaker-test)
- Make sure Wine output sounds on other games
- Make a pristine Wineprefix and don't upgrade DirectX with winetricks.
- Install your game on that pristine Wineprefix and only the exact needed dependencies
Sunday, January 2, 2022
Play Hostile space revived on Raspberry Pi [MMORPG]
Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Play Helbreath on your Raspberry Pi [MMORPG]
Prequisite
Get Wine and Box86 running. Helbreath has been tested with WineHQ-5.0.2.
Download the Helbreath installer.
Install Helbreath with Wine (or install it on a foreign PC and copy the directory to your Pi)
Sunday, July 18, 2021
Play Eternal Lands on your Raspberry Pi[MMORPG]
Sunday, July 11, 2021
Sing on Raspberry Pi with Ultrastar DX (Singstar-Like)
Friday, June 4, 2021
Making XWindow, Wine and Box86 work under RetroArch [Raspberry Pi OS 32 bits lite + RetroArch as an app]
Saturday, May 22, 2021
Make a multiple purpose system from PINN and Raspberry Pi OS 32 bits lite
Friday, May 7, 2021
Should you use Retropie, Lakka or RetroArch on your Raspberry Pi?
When talking about emulation on Raspberry Pi, there are four options:
- RetroPie and RetroPie-inspired systems (Batocera and Recalbox)
- Lakka
- RetroArch on top of Raspberry Pi OS (I've finally decided to split Lakka and RetroArch)
- Direct emulation (inline or in LXDE/RPD). This will be only briefly discussed in this article as it would otherwise almost need one post per emulator.
Both Lakka and RetroPie have an integrated system and an in-system installation solutions and are really different from each other. This gives its uses to both of them.
While RetroPie focuses on customization and eye candy, Lakka prefers a very simple and clear interface and a thinner layer than emulationstation. Lakka is also more compatible with drivers like OpenGL.
RetroArch gives a quite complete answer to the uncompleteness of Lakka due to the fact you will truly have access to the OS therefore will be able to install about everything that's not covered in Lakka and execute it via shell scripts.
|
|
Performance
- LibreElec is faster
- Lakka uses OpenGL so is faster than Emulationstation with legacy driver
- Emulationstation doesn't support KMS on older Pi's (won't start at all)
Scripting and customization
The bash core on RetroArch
This core is pretty easy to install and will allow you to run any linux executable from RetroArch.
This bash core has a good coverage: you can actually install a xserver on your system if you are in RetroArch and run X based games like all the Wine games and VCMI. The only game that I haven't successfully started so far on bash core is Diablo2-arm. But Diablo2-arm is also very bitchy to start in RetroPie.
Since RetroArch has a KMS support you won't need to use tvservice or xdotool. You can install an xserver following my new guide: https://thepigamer.blogspot.com/2021/06/making-xwindow-wine-and-box86-work.html
You can also try to install that core on Lakka but you won't be able to run apt-get in Lakka. It means you will not be able to install for example xserver on Lakka. This brings an end to hopes of customizing Lakka further.
DOSBox
Easeness of setup
Easeness of use
Arcade gaming
Scope
Design
And RetroPie as an app?
Conclusion
RetroPie
Lakka
RetroArch
Direct emulation
Saturday, April 17, 2021
DOSBox-X, the missing link on Raspberry Pi
Friday, April 9, 2021
Installing ARM Debian packages on Raspberry Pi OS
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Case study: Diablo II on Raspberry Pi with mod and network support
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Case study: PS2 emulator on Raspberry Pi [Play-]
Friday, February 19, 2021
Lightweight internet browsers: which one for which use
If you have been using your Raspberry Pi for browsing you should already have noticed that the provided browsers sometimes run slow or very slow. It is also an impediment to the general functioning of the Raspberry Pi.
The provided browser is Chromium. You might sometimes find Epiphany or Midori as provided browser but they tend to show less often in installations nowadays.
While Chromium claims itself to be lightweight, it isn't really the case from a Raspberry Pi point of view. Hereafter we will see the alternative fast browsers you can use.
Category #1: the real lightweight browsers
Netsurf is very basic but also very fast |
Summary: pros and cons
Dillo
Lynx is a bit off this list: it is a full text-based browser. However it stays in the race and is surprisingly easy to use. In the vast world of text-based internet browsers (grand total of text-based internet browsers = 2). Lynx could be labelled as the most basic. It does not offer menus and is keyboard reactive only, a bit like Luakit. Lynx is definately a good lightweight browser especially if you don't want LXDE on your installation. Graphical browsers are however still easier to use.
Lynx on Raspberry Pi: a summary of commands at the bottom edge and arrow keys are used to scroll. |
😞 Not very good in page formatting
Elinks
Elinks approach differs from Lynx. Although it is also text-based, the look and feel has been carefully thought. Using Elinks you will almost feel that you are using a graphical internet browser. There are menus, more responsive keys, and it is more user-friendly. The drawback is that it brings more bloatware (it is actually bigger than Netsurf) but there is nothing really to worry about. Links are well responsive and general surfing is ensured.
Javascript download links usually work in Elinks |
😊 Better page layout than Lynx
Category #2: browsers with more features
Epiphany and Midori
I put Epiphany and Midori in the same topic. If you try both, you will notice that Epiphany is just a Midori with a better Raspberry Pi optimization. It means that if you like those browsers you will rather pick Epiphany over Midori: less lags, same features, same look and feel.
Epiphany has the best speed of this category and it is not so much of a bloatware. It is serviceable for everyday use (Gmail and Youtube)
Epiphany, one of the fastest versatile browsers on Raspberry Pi |
Summary: pros and cons
😞 Vivaldi, Chromium and Firefox have a better support
Vivaldi
Vivaldi is an interesting alternative: although its speed is comparable to Firefox's or Chromium's it will be tinier on your SD card and help you free disk space compared to the latter two. The support is sufficient and although the customization options are succint, it offers almost as much website support as Firefox and Chromium.
Vivaldi offers a beautiful and disk space cheap alternative to Firefox and Chromium |
Summary: pros and cons
😞 Speed is average
😞 Package has to be installed manually
Firefox (or Iceweasel) and Chromium
I don't really know how I could decide between Firefox and Chromium: both have an almost full internet site support, both are easy to install, both are bloatware. In addition you will sometimes encounter a problem specific to Firefox or another one specific to Chromium. Firefox has a better RPGMaker MV support but those games are so slow and unplayable that I wouldn't make an argument out of that. Chromium and Iceweasel are both open-source. The interface is very different and it is more a matter if you are familiar with Firefox or Chrome.
|
|
😞 Worst bloatware
Conclusion
Depending on your power and on what you want from your Pi you will choose one or another. A high memory Pi 4 with a good voltage support will be able to run Vivaldi, Firefox and Chrome wihtout any issue while the earlier models would rather be more modest and rather target the first category of browser.
Of course you can always go the performance route even with a late model and prefer Lynx just in order to solve download links.
Personally, I rest my case: learn keyboard and use Luakit. I love this browser.
The pi gamer
Tuesday, February 9, 2021
Reference links page
I just added a new page. This page contains reference links and will be updated in the future. If you want to keep a hand on the links but know what you are doing, go there and bookmark:
https://thepigamer.blogspot.com/p/reference-links.html
In the future I plan to add a game list and a quick blog guide to the pages section. Stay tuned.
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Getting started for gaming
If you have bought a Raspberry Pi 3 or 4 and wish to start retrogaming, the first thing to do is to download an OS installer.
A screenshot of PINN |
Keep in mind that trying to make a versatile solution out a small SD card feels like trying to fit a truck inside a mouse hole.
Budget | Advised | Nice to have |
4GB | Raspberry Pi OS 32 bits mini +RPD | Raspberry Pi OS 32 bits regular |
16GB | Raspberry Pi OS 32 bits regular | Retropie/Recallbox/Lakka/Batocera (x86 route) mikerr's stretch Rpi-qemu-x86 |
64GB | Raspberry Pi OS 32 bits regular Retropie/others Rpi-qemu-x86 | (x86 route)Twister OS LibreElec LineageOS (for screen mirroring) Store one or two games you play all the time on your SD, not more |
256GB | Raspberry Pi OS 32 bits, TwisterOS, Rpi-qemu-x86, Retropie, Android, ... (Gladys) | Store some of your games on your SD |
TL/DR:
Get PINN, check down in the summary table for what OS to install.
Play ET: Legacy on Raspberry Pi [FPS]
🕐🕐 Duration: A few hours 🔧 Difficulty: Easy 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Interest: Hours of fun
-
🕐🕐🕐 Duration: Up to one day (kernel compiling) 🔧🔧 Difficulty: Medium 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Interest: Hours of fun
-
🕐🕐 Duration: 2 to 3 hours (nw.js;Tapir;EasyRPG) 🕐🕐🕐 Duration: Up to one day (Wine-based RPGXP, RPGVX and RPGVX Ace) 🔧🔧🔧 Difficulty: ...
-
🕐🕐🕐 Duration: Up to one day (kernel compiling) 🔧🔧🔧🔧 Difficulty: Difficult 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Interest: Hours of fun