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Description

Retro-Go is a firmware to play retro games on ESP32-based devices (officially supported are ODROID-GO and MRGC-G32, check this list for other devices). The project consists of a launcher and half a dozen applications that have been heavily optimized to reduce their cpu, memory, and flash needs without reducing compatibility!

Supported systems:

  • Nintendo: NES, SNES (slow), Gameboy, Gameboy Color, Game & Watch
  • Sega: SG-1000, Master System, Mega Drive / Genesis, Game Gear
  • Coleco: Colecovision
  • NEC: PC Engine
  • Atari: Lynx
  • Others: DOOM (including mods!)

Retro-Go features:

  • In-game menu
  • Favorites and recently played
  • GB color palettes, RTC adjust and save
  • NES color palettes, PAL roms, NSF support
  • More emulators and applications
  • Scaling and filtering options
  • Better performance and compatibility
  • Turbo Speed/Fast forward
  • Customizable launcher
  • Cover art and save state previews
  • Multiple save slots per game
  • Wifi file manager
  • And more!

Screenshots

Preview

Installation

ODROID-GO

  1. Download retro-go_1.x_odroid-go.fw from the release page and copy it to /odroid/firmware on your sdcard.
  2. Power up the device while holding down B.
  3. Select retro-go in the files list and flash it.

MyRetroGameCase G32 (GBC)

  1. Download retro-go_1.x_mrgc-g32.fw from the release page and copy it to /espgbc/firmware on your sdcard.
  2. Power up the device while holding down MENU (the volume knob).
  3. Select retro-go in the files list and flash it.

Generic ESP32

This method is intended to be used when .fw support isn't available (when porting to a new device) or undesirable (devices with smaller flash).

  1. Build a .img file (refer to Building Retro-Go)
  2. Flash the image: esptool.py write_flash --flash_size detect 0x0 retro-go_*.img Note: Your particular device may require extra steps (like holding a button during power up), different esptool flags, or modifying base.sdkconfig.

Usage

Game covers / artwork

Game covers should be placed in the romart folder at the base of your sd card. You can obtain a pre-made pack here. Retro-Go is also compatible with the older Go-Play romart pack.

You can add missing cover art by creating a PNG image (160x168, 8bit). Two naming schemes are supported:

  • Filename-based: /romart/nes/Super Mario.png (notice the rom extension is not included)
  • CRC32-based: /romart/nes/A/ABCDE123.png where nes is the same as the rom folder, and ABCDE123 is the CRC32 of the game (press A -> Properties in the launcher to find it), and A is the first character of the CRC32

Note: CRC32-based, which is what is used in the pre-made pack, is much slower than name-based! This type is useful because filenames vary greatly despite having identical CRCs, but if you generate your own art I suggest you use filename-based format and delete all CRC-based art from your SD Card to improve responsiveness.

BIOS files

Some emulators support loading a BIOS. The files should be placed as follows:

  • GB: /retro-go/bios/gb_bios.bin
  • GBC: /retro-go/bios/gbc_bios.bin
  • FDS: /retro-go/bios/fds_bios.bin
  • MSX: In folder /retro-go/bios/msx/ put: MSX.ROM MSX2.ROM MSX2EXT.ROM MSX2P.ROM MSX2PEXT.ROM FMPAC.ROM DISK.ROM MSXDOS2.ROM PAINTER.ROM KANJI.ROM

Game & Watch

The roms must be packed with LCD-Game-Shrinker and a tutorial can be found here.

Wifi

To use wifi you will need to create a /retro-go/config/wifi.json config file. You can define up to 4 different networks, then selectable in the menu. Its content should look like this:

{
  "ssid0": "my-network",
  "password0": "my-password",
  "ssid1": "my-other-network",
  "password1": "my-password",
  "ssid2": "my-third-network",
  "password2": "my-password",
  "ssid3": "my-last-network",
  "password3": "my-password"
}

Time synchronization

Time synchronization happens in the launcher immediately after a successful connection to the network. This is done via NTP by contacting pool.ntp.org and cannot be disabled at this time. Timezone can be configured in the launcher's options menu.

File manager

You can find the IP of your device in the about menu of retro-go. Then on your PC navigate to http://192.168.x.x/ to access the file manager.

External DAC (headphones)

Retro-Go supports the external DAC mod for the ODROID-GO which allows high quality audio through headphones. You can switch to it in the menu Audio Out: Ext DAC.

Pinout
GO PIN PCM5102A PIN
1 GND
2 -
3 LCK
4 DIN
5 BCK
6 VIN
7 -
8 -
9 -
10 -

Issues

Black screen / Boot loops

Retro-Go typically detects and resolves application crashes and freezes automatically. However, if you do get stuck in a boot loop, you can hold DOWN while powering up the device to return to the launcher.

Sound quality

The volume isn't correctly attenuated on the GO, resulting in upper volume levels that are too loud and lower levels that are distorted due to DAC resolution. A quick way to improve the audio is to cut one of the speaker wire and add a 33 Ohm (or thereabout) resistor in series. Soldering is better but not required, twisting the wires tightly will work just fine. A more involved solution can be seen here. Alternatively you can use the headphones DAC mod mentioned earlier in this document.

Game Boy SRAM (aka Save/Battery/Backup RAM)

In Retro-Go, save states will provide you with the best and most reliable save experience. That being said, please read on if you need or want SRAM saves. The SRAM format is compatible with VisualBoyAdvance so it may be used to import or export saves.

You can configure automatic SRAM saving in the options menu. A longer delay will reduce stuttering at the cost of losing data when powering down too quickly. Also note that when resuming a game, Retro-Go will give priority to a save state if present.

Development

If you wish to build or modify Retro-Go, you can find help in the following documents:

Acknowledgements

License

Everything in this project is licensed under the GPLv2 license with the exception of the following components:

  • fmsx/components/fmsx (MSX Emulator, custom non-commercial license)
  • handy-go/components/handy (Lynx emulator, zlib)