WARNING

This repository is now deprecated. The development of this installer will continue in the next new and simplified repository: https://github.com/eduardofilo/RG350_auto_ra_installer

--

In December, official RetroArch distributions for RG350 and RG280 began to appear. At the moment they are beta versions in the form of nightly builds that can be obtained from this site for stock/ROGUE or this other for ODBeta.

The zip files that they distribute contain a single OPK, a binary (optional) and a directory (with all the configuration and cores) to be copied to the home of the console:

Once everything is in place, the only way to run the ROMs with the cores included in the distribution is through the only OPK that launches RetroArch as frontend (UX mode, like it is known in other emulators):

To achieve a more complete integration of RetroArch, respecting the normal experience of the usual frontends in RG350 / RG280 (GMenu2X, SimpleMenu, PyMenu, EmulationStation, etc.), wrapper-type OPKs can be created that allow selecting the ROMs and launching the corresponding RetroArch core, since the optional binary supports the same arguments as RetroArch on other platforms.

OPK wrappers

To achieve this, it was first necessary to figure out how to parameterize the core and the ROM. Loading a core and a ROM from RetroArch itself does not work because it does not externalize this data as arguments on the executable. So I assumed that the same argument format used by the retroarch_rg350 binary (inside bin directory; in ODBeta distribution, the binary is retroarch_rg350_odbeta) would serve on other systems like EmuELEC on RG351P. In this console the usual EmulationStation frontend does parameterize the core and the ROM to be executed by means of arguments in the call. For example, running Tetris on Game Boy with the core gambatte in EmuELEC on RG3551P, the process is invoked in this way:

/usr/bin/retroarch -v -L /tmp/cores/gambatte_libretro.so --config /storage/.config/retroarch/retroarch.cfg /storage/roms/gb/Tetris (World) (Rev A).7z

Therefore, the idea is, first, to install the retroarch_rg350 optional binary in an accessible path (/media/data/local/bin is chosen), and then build different OPKs that invoke a script whith the ROM to be executed as argument. Inside the script we can mount the complete call to the retroarch_rg350. For example for the Game Boy system the script could be the following:

#!/bin/sh
/media/data/local/bin/retroarch_rg350 -v -L /media/data/local/home/.retroarch/cores/gambatte_libretro.so --config /media/data/local/home/.retroarch/retroarch.cfg "$1"

We put the previous script together with an appropriate icon for the system that is going to launch and a .desktop that invokes the script passing the ROM as an argument, for example:

[Desktop Entry]
Name=Nintendo GB (RA)
Comment=Nintendo GB in RetroArch
Exec=exec.sh %f
Terminal=false
Type=Application
StartupNotify=true
Icon=icon
Categories=retroarch;
X-OD-NeedsDownscaling=true

This are the cores offered by the latest version of RetroArch released at the time of writing (2021-07-04):

Core	System	Supported extensions	Observations
dosbox_pure_libretro.so	DOSBox	zip, dosz, exe, com, bat, iso, cue, ins, img, ima, vhd, m3u, m3u8
fbalpha2012_cps1_libretro.so	CPS1	zip
fbalpha2012_cps2_libretro.so	CPS2	zip
fbalpha2012_neogeo_libretro.so	Neo Geo	zip
fceumm_libretro.so	Nintendo NES	fds, nes, unif, unf	Disk System need BIOS: disksys.rom (md5: ca30b50f880eb660a320674ed365ef7a)
gambatte_libretro.so	Nintendo GB/GBC	gb, gbc, dmg	Optional BIOS: gb_bios.bin (md5: 32fbbd84168d3482956eb3c5051637f5), gbc_bios.bin (md5: dbfce9db9deaa2567f6a84fde55f9680)
genesis_plus_gx_libretro.so	SEGA MD, MS, GG, SEGA CD	mdx, md, smd, gen, bin, cue, iso, sms, bms, gg, sg, 68k, chd, m3u	SEGA CD need BIOS: bios_CD_E.bin, bios_CD_U.bin, bios_CD_J.bin
genesis_plus_gx_wide_libretro.so	SEGA MD, MS, GG, SEGA CD	mdx, md, smd, gen, bin, cue, iso, sms, bms, gg, sg, 68k, chd, m3u	SEGA CD need BIOS: bios_CD_E.bin, bios_CD_U.bin, bios_CD_J.bin
gpsp_libretro.so	Nintendo GBA	gba, bin	Optional BIOS: gba_bios.bin (md5: a860e8c0b6d573d191e4ec7db1b1e4f6)
handy_libretro.so	Atari Lynx	lnx, o	Need BIOS: lynxboot.img (md5: fcd403db69f54290b51035d82f835e7b)
mame2003_libretro.so	MAME2003	zip
mame2003_plus_libretro.so	MAME2003+	zip
mednafen_pce_fast_libretro.so	PC Engine, PC Engine CD	pce, cue, ccd, chd, toc, m3u	PCE CD need BIOS: syscard3.pce (md5: 38179df8f4ac870017db21ebcbf53114)
mednafen_wswan_libretro.so	WonderSwan	ws, wsc, pc2
mgba_libretro.so	Nintendo GBA	gb, gbc, gba	Optional BIOS: gba_bios.bin (md5: a860e8c0b6d573d191e4ec7db1b1e4f6)
mrboom_libretro.so	MrBoom
o2em_libretro.so	Magnavox Odyssey2, Phillips Videopac+	bin	Need BIOS: o2rom.bin (md5: 562d5ebf9e030a40d6fabfc2f33139fd)
picodrive_libretro.so	SEGA MD, MS, SEGA CD, SEGA 32X	bin, gen, smd, md, 32x, chd, cue, iso, sms, 68k, m3u	SEGA CD need BIOS: bios_CD_U.bin (md5: 2efd74e3232ff260e371b99f84024f7f), bios_CD_E.bin (md5: e66fa1dc5820d254611fdcdba0662372), bios_CD_J.bin (md5: 278a9397d192149e84e820ac621a8edd)
pokemini_libretro.so	PokeMini	min	Need BIOS: bios.min (md5: 1e4fb124a3a886865acb574f388c803d)
potator_libretro.so	Watara Supervision	bin, sv
prboom_libretro.so	Doom	wad, iwad, pwad	Need game files
prosystem_libretro.so	Atari 7800	a78, bin	Optional BIOS: 7800 BIOS (U).rom (md5: 0763f1ffb006ddbe32e52d497ee848ae)
quicknes_libretro.so	Nintendo NES	nes
race_libretro.so	Neo Geo Pocket	ngp, ngc, ngpc, npc
scummvm_libretro.so	ScummVM
snes9x2005_libretro.so	Nintendo SNES	smc, fig, sfc, gd3, gd7, dx2, bsx, swc
snes9x2005_plus_libretro.so	Nintendo SNES	smc, fig, sfc, gd3, gd7, dx2, bsx, swc
stella2014_libretro.so	Atari 2600	a26, bin
tic80_libretro.so	TIC-80	tic
tyrquake_libretro.so	Quake	pak	Need game files
vice_x64_libretro.so	Commodore 64	d64, d71, d80, d81, d82, g64, g41, x64, t64, tap, prg, p00, crt, bin, zip, gz, d6z, d7z, d8z, g6z, g4z, x6z, cmd, m3u, vfl, vsf, nib, nbz, d2m, d4m

Additionally, the compilation of unofficial cores made by Poligraf is included (WARNING: this compilation is an experiment by its author; some cores like hatari and puae have not been tested; feedback is welcome). This involves adding the following cores to the former list:

Core	System	Supported extensions	Observations
2048_libretro.so	2048
81_libretro.so	Sinclair ZX81	p, tzx, t81
atari800_libretro.so	Atari 5200	xfd,atr,cdm,cas,bin,a52,zip,atx,car,com,xex	Needs BIOS to emulate Atari5200: 5200.rom (md5: 281f20ea4320404ec820fb7ec0693b38)
bk_libretro.so	Elektronika - BK-0010/BK-0011	bin	Needs BIOS (model BK-0010): bk/BASIC10.ROM (md5: 3fa774326d75410a065659aea80252f0), bk/FOCAL10.ROM (md5: 5737f972e8638831ab71e9139abae052), bk/MONIT10.ROM (md5: 95f8c41c6abf7640e35a6a03cecebd01). Unsupported video mode on stock/ROGUE.
bluemsx_libretro.so	MSX, MSX2	rom,ri,mx1,mx2,col,dsk,cas,sg,sc,m3u	Needs BIOS in .retroarch/system/Machines directory
cannonball_libretro.so	SEGA Outrun	game, 88	Needs game files and a dummy file with the extension .game
cap32_libretro.so	Amstrad CPC	dsk, sna, zip, tap, cdt, voc, cpr, m3u
crocods_libretro.so	Amstrad CPC	dsk,sna,kcr
dinothawr_libretro.so	Dinothawr	game	Needs game files
fmsx_libretro.so	MSX, MSX2	rom,mx1,mx2,dsk,cas	Needs BIOS: MSX.ROM (md5: 364a1a579fe5cb8dba54519bcfcdac0d), MSX2.ROM (md5: ec3a01c91f24fbddcbcab0ad301bc9ef), MSX2EXT.ROM (md5: 2183c2aff17cf4297bdb496de78c2e8a), MSX2P.ROM (md5: 847cc025ffae665487940ff2639540e5), MSX2PEXT.ROM (md5: 7c8243c71d8f143b2531f01afa6a05dc). Unsupported video mode on RG280/ODBeta.
freechaf_libretro.so	Fairchild ChannelF	bin, chf	Needs BIOS: sl31253.bin (md5: ac9804d4c0e9d07e33472e3726ed15c3), sl31254.bin (md5: da98f4bb3242ab80d76629021bb27585), sl90025.bin (md5: 95d339631d867c8f1d15a5f2ec26069d)
frodo_libretro.so	Commodore 64	d64,t64,x64,p00,lnx,zip
fuse_libretro.so	Sinclair ZX Spectrum	tzx, tap, z80, rzx, scl, trd, dsk
gme_libretro.so	Game Music Emu	ay, gbs, gym, hes, kss, nsf, nsfe, sap, spc, vgm, vgz, zip
gw_libretro.so	Nintendo Game&Watch	mgw	Unsupported video mode in some games on stock/ROGUE, but pressing keys sometimes they run
hatari_libretro.so	Atari ST	st, msa, zip, stx, dim, ipf, m3u	Needs BIOS: tos.img (md5: c1c57ce48e8ee4135885cee9e63a68a2). Difficult configuration because of unsupported video mode. Achieved some success with ODBeta, but not with stock/ROGUE.
lowresnx_libretro.so	LowRes NX	nx
mednafen_vb_libretro.so	Nintendo Virtual Boy	vb, vboy, bin	Poor performance
mu_libretro.so	Palm	prc,pqa,img	Needs BIOS: palmos41-en-m515.rom (md5: 83cb1d1c76e568b916dc2e7c0bf669f6). Needs a stick to manage the stylus, so doesn't run on RG280V.
nekop2_libretro.so	NEC PC-98	d98,zip,98d,fdi,fdd,2hd,tfd,d88,88d,hdm,xdf,dup,cmd,hdi,thd,nhd,hdd	I couldn't get it to work. May be it needs some BIOS.
nxengine_libretro.so	Cave Story	exe	Needs game files
pcsx_rearmed_libretro.so	PlayStation	bin,cue,img,mdf,pbp,toc,cbn,m3u,ccd,chd	Poor performance.
pocketcdg_libretro.so	PocketCDG	cdg
puae_libretro.so	Commodore Amiga	adf, adz, dms, fdi, ipf, hdf, hdz, lha, slave, info, cue, ccd, nrg, mds, iso, chd, uae, m3u, zip, 7z	Needs BIOS: kick34005.A500 (md5: 82a21c1890cae844b3df741f2762d48d)
quasi88_libretro.so	NEC PC-88	d88,u88,m3u	Needs BIOS: quasi88/n88.rom, quasi88/n88_0.rom
reminiscence_libretro.so	Flashback	map, aba, seq, lev	Needs game files. I couldn't get it to work.
stonesoup_libretro.so	Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup	crawlrc	Needs game files and an empty file game.crawlrc (instructions here). Unsupported video mode on RG280/stock/ROGUE, reboots on beta.
theodore_libretro.so	Thomson - MO/TO	fd, sap, k7, m7, m5, rom	Difficult configuration because of unsupported video mode. Achieved some success with MO5 model on ODBeta, but not on stock/ROGUE.
uzem_libretro.so	Uzebox	uze	Poor performance
vecx_libretro.so	Vectrex	bin,vec
x1_libretro.so	Sharp X1	dx1,zip,2d,2hd,tfd,d88,88d,hdm,xdf,dup,tap,cmd	Needs BIOS: xmil/IPLROM.X1 (md5: eeeea1cd29c6e0e8b094790ae969bfa7), xmil/IPLROM.X1T (md5: 851e4a5936f17d13f8c39a980cf00d77)

Therefore, we have to make one OPK at least for each of them. We say at least because the option of making an OPK for each "core/system to emulate" combination can be considered.

Installer

As there are several pieces necessary for the set to work, an installer has been created to install everything you need in one go. Specifically, the installer integrates this items:

• 37+31 (official+unofficial) OPKs to launch the different core/system combinations independently from different frontends (GMenu2X, SimpleMenu, PyMenu, EmulationStation, etc.) by previously selecting the ROM (Explorer mode).
• Binary retroarch_rg350 (or retroarch_rg350_odbeta for ODBeta) in common location (/media/data/local/bin) to be invoked by former OPKs to not be cloned inside them.
• Configurations for all the cores differentiated by screen, that is, adequate configurations for 320x240 or 640x480 are installed depending on the screen detected. The settings have been adopted from the Retro Game Corps recommendations in this guide.
• GMenu2X filters by extension for each system (including 7z in all systems).
• New section with the RetroArch icon in all the skins installed in GMenu2X where all the OPK launchers appear.

When launched, it ask for two options that are disabled by default:

• Install config: To install the configurations refered in third spot in last list. The recommendation is to install the configurations the first time and not install them in subsequent installations to avoid losing the settings made on it.
• Install unofficial cores: To install the 31 new but unofficial cores of Poligraf.

The OPK with the installer can be obtained in the releases of this repository.

Hoykeys

In RetroArch configuration file the following hotkeys have been defined.

Function	Shortcut
Pause	Select + A
Reset	Select + B
RetroArch Menu	Select + X
Fast forward	Select + Y
Savestate save	Select + R1
Savestate load	Select + L1
Swap disk	Select + R2
Open CD tray	Select + L2
Close content	Select + Start
Savestate slot changing	Select + ←→
Volume changing	Select + ↑↓

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