Gamestarter: Retrogaming add-ons (RPi/Generic)

**bite_your_idols** · September 9, 2016 at 1:38 PM

Quote from radupal

Just an idea, but I saw that quite a few repos are hosted on GitHub. Maybe you can create your own repo that we can add in Kodi: HOW-TO:Create a repository for add-ons - Official Kodi Wiki | Add-on repositories - Official Kodi Wiki

yes, it is the only alternative I can see right now, I think Team LIbreELEC is not going to add my addon to official repo...

Quote from rig3l

Hi, fisrt of all, thanks for that incredible addon.

I'm doing overclock in mi rpi2 with libreelec for a smooth play with n64 and psp roms in gamerstarter. This is my config.txt

9ZKZZabQ

I don't sure is correct, any suggestion or change that I must do? It's the first time I do overclock in rpi.

With it, I can play good to n64 and psp, with some issue of sound, but withouth problem.

are you useing heatsinks or a fan? I am thinking about give my pi2 a little overclock...

Quote from escalade

Emulationstation is a simple launcher and RetroArch is not being used as a frontend when using it. It functions the same way as when you are using Advanced Launcher, so actually what you are saying is nonsense

I know that... If I want to quick browse/change/load/test games I always use retroarch because it is the quickest and directest way, but I have to choose another, pretiest way of disply my entire collection I preffer to have it integrated in kodi, and by now the only way is AdvancedLauncher or the newest Advanced Emulator Launcher, in the future maybe it can be achieved with retroplayer...

**escalade** · September 9, 2016 at 2:40 PM

I'm not talking about your preference, but your statement that using ES is nonsense compared to a Kodi launcher, as it functions the same. Actually using ES to launch games is faster depending on if you stop Kodi first or not ☺️

**bite_your_idols** · September 9, 2016 at 3:31 PM

Quote from escalade

I'm not talking about your preference, but your statement that using ES is nonsense compared to a Kodi launcher, as it functions the same. Actually using ES to launch games is faster depending on if you stop Kodi first or not ☺️

I think (and said) using a frontend over a frontend is quite nonsense talking about retropie and recalbox distros XD most of people using them does not distinguish between a frontend, a core, an emulator... They don't know why they config their buttons on startup and when launching a rom buttons don't work anymore... XD

Since I am using kodi I like the idea of getting all my collections in the same place, films, tv shows, music, games...

**bite_your_idols** · September 10, 2016 at 11:40 AM

There is a new pre-relase of the addon including Advanced Emulator Launcher (just for LE8alpha), SCUMMVM core (updated ES & AEL lists) and some minor changes:
Releases · bite-your-idols/Gamestarter-Pi · GitHub

if anyone wants to test it, I will be thankfull.

nexusle · September 12, 2016 at 9:51 PM

Hi,

At me the UAE4ARM installation doesn't work. It's nothing installed. I had to copy the files by hand. But it doesn't run.

Please could you check this?

Also the uae4arm-libretro core seems not up to date. In retroarch it's shown version 0.0.1

On github there exists 0.4

uae4arm-libretro/README.md at master · r-type/uae4arm-libretro · GitHub

Could you please update your core?

I'd writen some files to start CD32 games from Gamestarter but the libretro core seems not to support the CD32 kickstarts

**bite_your_idols** · September 12, 2016 at 10:56 PM

After uae4arm installation what is the gamestarter.log?

**escalade** · September 13, 2016 at 1:26 PM

Someone started porting FS-UAE to libretro. Quite exciting as it's the de-facto Amiga emulator on Linux. Looks like there's ARM support as well, although I don't know if it will run as well as uae4arm.

nexusle · September 13, 2016 at 1:41 PM

This would be a great step forward for Amiga emulation in RetroArch! Because it's very easy to handle multidisk games, especially games, that only support disks in DF0.

I'll hope, that this core will come to Gamestarter and officially in RetroArch.

**escalade** · September 13, 2016 at 1:46 PM

I would't say it's handled very well in FS-UAE as there is no file browser and you need to specify the disks in a config file. I don't know if multidisk is handled differently in this core, I'm just guessing that it is plain FS-UAE with video and input handling done by libretro.

nexusle · September 13, 2016 at 2:02 PM

Ah ok, I was thinking, that there is a menu like in FS-UAE by pressing F12

**bite_your_idols** · September 13, 2016 at 3:03 PM

Quote from nexusle

Also the uae4arm-libretro core seems not up to date. In retroarch it's shown version 0.0.1

On github there exists 0.4

uae4arm-libretro/README.md at master · r-type/uae4arm-libretro · GitHub

Could you please update your core?

the 0.4 you see is the latest version of the UAE4ARM emulator when libretro core forked it... I have compiled today and it is still in v0.1 and no visible or sound improvement I noticed...

Quote from escalade

Someone started porting FS-UAE to libretro. Quite exciting as it's the de-facto Amiga emulator on Linux. Looks like there's ARM support as well, although I don't know if it will run as well as uae4arm.

maybe we are going to be lucky and the developer does not abandon the project as happened with uae4arm core...

nexusle · September 13, 2016 at 5:43 PM

I hope so...

The last changes are only a few days old ... and have fixed sound issues
[hr]
How ever...

I wait for a core, that supports ZIP archives as hardfiles. In this case the ability to use of WHDLoad games is so easy as in FS-UAE.

At this time I work on config files to implement this in Gamestarter.

nexusle · September 14, 2016 at 3:43 PM

Is there a ability to quite uae4arm with a joystick key command to go back to Kodi?

I had to restart my Raspi or SSH to it and kill uae4arm...

**bite_your_idols** · September 14, 2016 at 3:51 PM

Quote from nexusle

Is there a ability to quite uae4arm with a joystick key command to go back to Kodi?

I had to restart my Raspi or SSH to it and kill uae4arm...

you need a keyboard... thats why I preffer libretro core even with its sound issues...

Gamestarter v2.4 with addon updater from settings!!!

nexusle · September 14, 2016 at 6:23 PM

Yes. The Sound is the biggest problem

I'd finished the WHDLoad support. I will provide all informations here soon
[hr]
WHDLoad Description

First:

In this solution the "ROM" files are different ".uae" files. So each game have it's own .uae config file. But don't be angry, the .uae file is most the same for all games. Only the path for the second harddrive is different.
For this Description we use the game "Turrican".

What you need:

a first harddrive (folder) with AmigaOS 3.1 some system files placed in /storage/emulators/bios
a second harddrive (folder) with WHDLoad game files stored in /storage/emulators/roms/amiga_whdload
kickstart files in devs:kickstarts (for some AGA games, if you want to use)
WHDLoad game Turrican

How to install:

To prepare the System drive copy the following files to a folder (i.e. "WHDLoad_System") in /storage/emulators/bios:

C (dir)
Execute
List
SetPatch
WHDLoad

S (dir)
startup-sequence

Devs (dir)
Kickstarts
kick40068.A1200

Edit your startup-sequence before like this:

Code

C:SetPatch QUIET


cd DH1:
LIST "dh1:#?.slave" to RAM:Slave.txt LFORMAT "C:WHDLoad %s"
execute RAM:Slave.txt

This will create this batch command:

Code

C:WHDLoad Turrican.slave

Now copy the files from the install folder of your WHDLoad game Turrican to a folder in /storage/emulators/roms/amiga_whdload/Turrican.

Now let's edit a text file for the configuration of UAE (uae4arm or libretro core) for Turrican:

Code

config_description=Gamestarter default configuration
config_hardware=true
config_host=true
config_version=1.5.3


filesystem2=rw,DH1:Game:/storage/emulators/roms/amiga_whdload/Turrican,-10 ; <----------------


pandora.rom_path=/storage/emulators/bios/
pandora.floppy_path=/storage/emulators/roms/amiga/disks/
pandora.hardfile_path=/storage/emulators/roms/amiga/
; host-specific
pandora.cpu_speed=600
pandora.joy_conf=0
pandora.joy_port=0
pandora.stylus_offset=0
pandora.tap_delay=10
pandora.custom_controls=0
pandora.custom_dpad=1
pandora.custom_up=0
pandora.custom_down=0
pandora.custom_left=0
pandora.custom_right=0
pandora.custom_a=0
pandora.custom_b=0
pandora.custom_x=0
pandora.custom_y=0
pandora.custom_l=0
pandora.custom_r=0
pandora.move_x=0
pandora.move_y=0
pandora.button1=2
pandora.button2=1
pandora.autofire_button=3
pandora.jump=-1
; common
use_gui=no
kickstart_rom_file=/storage/emulators/bios/kick31.rom ; <----------------
kickstart_ext_rom_file=
filesystem2=rw,DH0:System:/storage/emulators/bios/WHDLoad_System,1 ; <----------------
floppy_speed=100
sound_output=exact
sound_bits=16
sound_channels=stereo
sound_stereo_separation=7
sound_stereo_mixing_delay=0
sound_frequency=44100
sound_interpol=none
sound_filter=off
sound_filter_type=standard
sound_auto=yes
cachesize=8192
synchronize_clock=yes
gfx_framerate=0
gfx_width=640
gfx_height=256
gfx_width_windowed=320
gfx_height_windowed=240
gfx_width_fullscreen=640
gfx_height_fullscreen=480
gfx_lores=false
gfx_resolution=hires
gfx_correct_aspect=1
immediate_blits=true
fast_copper=true
ntsc=false
show_leds=false
chipset=aga ; <----------------
collision_level=full
a1000ram=false
fastmem_size=8
z3mem_size=0
z3mem_start=0x1000000
bogomem_size=0
gfxcard_size=0
chipmem_size=4
finegrain_cpu_speed=1024 ; <----------------
cpu_type=68ec020 ; <----------------
cpu_model=68020 ; <----------------
cpu_compatible=true
cpu_24bit_addressing=true
rtg_nocustom=true
rtg_modes=0x500
input.joymouse_speed_analog=2
input.autofire=8

Display More

I have merked some lines red. These lines are essentially for a working solution. Yes, we emulate a A1200 (generally) because some games run faster with this config. For all other games, only the first "filesystem2=" line must be changed. All other settings are the same for each game.

Save this file as "Turrican.uae" and copy it to /storage/emulators/roms/amiga_whdload. It makes sense to name the .uae file exact as the folder for the game.

Now you have finished the prerequistes for my solution of WHDLoad games inside Gamestarter.

Now we must setup Gamestarter (and Advanced Emulation Launcher).

What we need:

gamestarter_whdload.sh in /storage/.kodi/addons/script.gamestarter/resources/bin
gamestarter_whdload.start in /storage/.kodi/addons/script.gamestarter/resources/bin

Content of gamestarter_whdload.sh

Bash

#!/bin/sh
. /etc/profile


DIR="/storage/.kodi/addons/script.gamestarter"


systemd-run $DIR/resources/bin/gamestarter_whdload.start "$@" &> /storage/.config/gamestarter.log

Content of gamestarter_whdload.start

Bash

#!/bin/sh
#!/bin/env python
. /etc/profile


echo '::Gamestarter:: -> launching on' $(date) >> /storage/.config/gamestarter.log
# path to addon
DIR="/storage/.kodi/addons/script.gamestarter"
CONFIG_FILE="/storage/.config/retroarch/retroarch.cfg"
LIBRETRO_DIR="/storage/.config/retroarch/cores"
AMIGA_TEMP_FILE=$DIR/resources/bin/launchTemp.uae


# Stop KODI
echo '::Gamestarter:: -> stop kodi...' >> /storage/.config/gamestarter.log
systemctl stop kodi


# Enable ALSA
echo '::Gamestarter:: -> enable alsa...' >> /storage/.config/gamestarter.log
modprobe snd_bcm2835


# Launch emulator
echo '::Gamestarter:: -> launch' $1 >> /storage/.config/gamestarter.log
case $1 in
  "retroarch")  
      $DIR/resources/bin/retroarch -c $CONFIG_FILE --menu &> /storage/.config/gamestarter.log
  ;;
  "emulationstation")  
      # /storage/emulators/emulationstation/emulationstation --no-splash --ignore-gamelist
      $DIR/resources/bin/emulationstation
  ;;
   "ports")  
      # si es un port ejecutamos su sh
      chmod a+x $2
      $2 &> /storage/.config/gamestarter.log
  ;;
  "amiga")
    # crear el archivo uae temporal para el adf seleccionado
    # cp $DIR/resources/bin/gamestarter_whdload.uae $AMIGA_TEMP_FILE
    # echo 'floppy0='$2 >> $AMIGA_TEMP_FILE
    # echo 'floppy0type=0' >> $AMIGA_TEMP_FILE
    
    # checkeamos si es multidisco (_DISK)
    #    if echo "$2" | grep -q "_Disk"; then
        #echo "multi!";
    #    name=${2%_Disk*}
    #    echo 'floppy1='$name'_Disk2.adf' >> $AMIGA_TEMP_FILE
    #    echo 'floppy1type=0' >> $AMIGA_TEMP_FILE
    #    echo 'floppy2='$name'_Disk3.adf' >> $AMIGA_TEMP_FILE
    #    echo 'floppy2type=0' >> $AMIGA_TEMP_FILE
    #    echo 'floppy3='$name'_Disk4.adf' >> $AMIGA_TEMP_FILE
    #    echo 'floppy3type=0' >> $AMIGA_TEMP_FILE
    #    echo 'nr_floppies=4' >> $AMIGA_TEMP_FILE
    #else
    #    echo 'nr_floppies=1' >> $AMIGA_TEMP_FILE
    #fi


   # cambiar el modo de TV a 1080 50h
    tvservice -e "CEA 31"


    #check default amiga emulator
    AMIGA_EMU="uae4arm"
        if [[ ! $(grep 'id="amiga" value="uae4arm"' '/storage/.kodi/userdata/addon_data/script.gamestarter/settings.xml') ]]; then
            AMIGA_EMU="libretro"
        fi
        echo '::Gamestarter:: -> amiga EMU...' $AMIGA_EMU >> /storage/.config/gamestarter.log


    case $AMIGA_EMU in
      "libretro")
        $DIR/resources/bin/retroarch -c $CONFIG_FILE -L $LIBRETRO_DIR/uae4arm_libretro.so $2  &> /storage/.config/gamestarter.log;;
      *)
        $DIR/resources/bin/uae4arm -f $2  &> /storage/.config/gamestarter.log;;
    esac


  ;;
   *)
    $DIR/resources/bin/retroarch -c $CONFIG_FILE -L $LIBRETRO_DIR/$1_libretro.so "$2"  &> /storage/.config/gamestarter.log
    # /storage/.kodi/addons/script.gamestarter/resources/bin/retroarch -c /storage/.config/retroarch/retroarch.cfg -L /storage/.config/retroarch/cores/mame2003_libretro.so /storage/emulators/roms/mame/gng.zip
   ;;
esac


# Disable ALSA
echo '::Gamestarter:: -> disable alsa...' >> /storage/.config/gamestarter.log
rmmod snd_bcm2835


# Reset resolution to standard y borrar uae temporal
case $1 in
  "amiga")
    echo '::Gamestarter:: -> reset amiga configs...' >> /storage/.config/gamestarter.log
    rm $AMIGA_TEMP_FILE
    tvservice -p
  ;;
esac


# Start KODI
# systemctl start kodi
case $3 in
  "ES") echo '::Gamestarter:: -> Exit ES' >> /storage/.config/gamestarter.log;;
  *)
      echo '::Gamestarter:: -> restart kodi...' >> /storage/.config/gamestarter.log
      systemctl start kodi
  ;;
esac

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The significant changes I made on bite_your_idols original files are the "$2". Search for it, I cant mark things red in code. Some other changes I did only for testing. They maybe don't needed.

Al least we have to modify the categories.xml of Advanced Emulator Launcher in /storage/.kodi/userdata/addon_data/plugin.program.advanced.emulator.launcher

First create a new Game Launcher in Advanced Emulator Launcher in Kodi to get an ID.
Second open the categories.xml in an editor and search for the newly created entry. I like to post my own entry to show the changes:

Code

<launcher>
  <id>1bde647499216bf5cd8b4f38139fc08c</id>
  <m_name>Amiga</m_name>
  <m_year>1985</m_year>
  <m_genre></m_genre>
  <m_studio></m_studio>
  <m_plot></m_plot>
  <m_rating></m_rating>
  <platform>Amiga</platform>
  <categoryID>2b494a422afb2474f89a7b693328fe92</categoryID>
 
  <application>/storage/.kodi/addons/script.gamestarter/resources/bin/gamestarter_whdload.sh</application>
  <args>amiga &quot;%rom%&quot;</args>
  <rompath>/storage/emulators/roms/amiga_whdload/</rompath>
  <romext>uae</romext>


  <finished>False</finished>
  <minimize>False</minimize>
  <roms_base_noext>roms_GAMESTARTER_Amiga_1bde64</roms_base_noext>
  <nointro_xml_file></nointro_xml_file>
  <timestamp_launcher>1473795249.81</timestamp_launcher>
  <timestamp_report>0.0</timestamp_report>
  <default_thumb>s_thumb</default_thumb>
  <default_fanart>s_fanart</default_fanart>
  <default_banner>s_banner</default_banner>
  <default_poster>s_flyer</default_poster>
  <default_clearlogo>s_banner</default_clearlogo>
  <roms_default_thumb>s_title</roms_default_thumb>
  <roms_default_fanart>s_fanart</roms_default_fanart>
  <roms_default_banner>s_banner</roms_default_banner>
  <roms_default_poster>s_flyer</roms_default_poster>
  <roms_default_clearlogo>s_clearlogo</roms_default_clearlogo>
  <s_thumb></s_thumb>
  <s_fanart></s_fanart>
  <s_banner></s_banner>
  <s_flyer></s_flyer>
  <s_trailer></s_trailer>
  <path_title>/storage/.kodi/userdata/addon_data/plugin.program.advanced.emulator.launcher/artworks/titles</path_title>
  <path_snap>/storage/.kodi/userdata/addon_data/plugin.program.advanced.emulator.launcher/artworks/snaps</path_snap>
  <path_fanart>/storage/.kodi/userdata/addon_data/plugin.program.advanced.emulator.launcher/artworks/fanarts</path_fanart>
  <path_banner>/storage/.kodi/userdata/addon_data/plugin.program.advanced.emulator.launcher/artworks/banners</path_banner>
  <path_clearlogo>/storage/.kodi/userdata/addon_data/plugin.program.advanced.emulator.launcher/artworks/clearlogos</path_clearlogo>
  <path_boxfront>/storage/.kodi/userdata/addon_data/plugin.program.advanced.emulator.launcher/artworks/boxfront</path_boxfront>
  <path_boxback>/storage/.kodi/userdata/addon_data/plugin.program.advanced.emulator.launcher/artworks/boxback</path_boxback>
  <path_cartridge>/storage/.kodi/userdata/addon_data/plugin.program.advanced.emulator.launcher/artworks/cartridges</path_cartridge>
  <path_flyer>/storage/.kodi/userdata/addon_data/plugin.program.advanced.emulator.launcher/artworks/flyers</path_flyer>
  <path_map>/storage/.kodi/userdata/addon_data/plugin.program.advanced.emulator.launcher/artworks/maps</path_map>
  <path_manual>/storage/.kodi/userdata/addon_data/plugin.program.advanced.emulator.launcher/artworks/manuals</path_manual>
  <path_trailer>/storage/.kodi/userdata/addon_data/plugin.program.advanced.emulator.launcher/artworks/trailers</path_trailer>
</launcher>

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The other settings I've copied from Gamestarters Amiga entries.

Now you can scan for new ROMs in Kodi and you should see all your configured WHDLoad games.

Have fun...

EDIT: Note: the game config name should not have spaces!

fishxz · September 27, 2016 at 10:12 PM

anybody using a 8bitdo snes controller? only the dpad works for me on libreelec.

jtadeia · September 29, 2016 at 8:20 AM

Hi guys,
First let me congratulate this initiative, great community work.
Any change to get this running on a generic x86 64bit machine ? (I have an Asus Chromebox Celeron)
Looking forward to an LibreELEC running my rom collection.

Thank you.

**bite_your_idols** · September 29, 2016 at 8:48 AM

Quote from jtadeia

Hi guys,
First let me congratulate this initiative, great community work.
Any change to get this running on a generic x86 64bit machine ? (I have an Asus Chromebox Celeron)
Looking forward to an LibreELEC running my rom collection.

Thank you.

for generic x86 take a look to LibreELEC