Simple Guide for the Installation and Configuration of RetroArch

Preamble

This guide assumes the use of the flatpak version of the software as found through flathub, and that you are using a Debian base (such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, or ElementaryOS).

Part One - Installation

Configure and Installation of flatpak

NOTE: This can be skipped if flatpak is already installed and configured for use with flathub

First and foremost, run sudo apt install flatpak. After that, all that is left is configuring for operation with flathub. This can be done by running flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo.

Installation of RetroArch

From this point the installation is rather simple. Just run flatpak install org.libretro.RetroArch in your terminal

In some cases you may have to restart your session (logout and in again), in order for the application to show in your application menu.

Part Two - Configure Controls

Upon first launch of the application, the need to configure a controller is likely. To accomplish this, go to Settings > Input > Port'ControllerPortNumber'Controls. At this point, all that is needed is selecting SetAllControls. After doing this, press the buttons displayed on screen via the controller, ignoring any buttons the controller lacks. This can be repeated for any other controllers you want to add.

Part Three - Downloading Cores

From this point, cores (emulators) will need to be downloaded. To do this, go to MainMenu > OnlineUpdater > CoreDownloader in the menu system. From here download the cores you wish to install, this is done via left click or the enter key.

Part Four - Importing ROMs

Standard Import

Now, the need to import the ROMs (games) is imminent. First, go to ImportContent > ScanDirectory > 'Where/ever/you/keep/your/ROMs' > ScanThisDirectory. This should automatically import all of your ROMs into the program. If this does not work, it will be necessary to import the ROMs manually.

Manual Import

Manual import is useful for when more manual control is required. An example of this would be if the ROMs are stored in archive files. First, go to ImportContent > ManualScan. From here, select the directory the ROMs are stored in, the console those ROMs are for, a default core for their execution (not necessary), the file extensions those ROMs are stored as, and whether or not to scan inside archive files (such as zips).

Part Five - Adding BIOSes

NOTE: Only needed for newer consoles (a good rule of thumb is optical drive era and later).

All that is needed here is the downloading of the various BIOS files into the correct location. The location in question being ~/.var/app/org.libretro.RetroArch/config/retroarch/system. The prior link contains a zip file with the various BIOS files needed for every system (as of 2020).

do it

So since I play at ssbm tournaments I feel this is important to tell some of you comrades. For anyone unaware Nintendo has canceled the Smash World Tour, which encompasses multiple smash bros tournaments, some huge, some smaller. This is in cooperation with Panda, the two are being assclowns basically. What this means is that most of the Majors and Supermajors (large tournaments) coming up will most likely be canceled. Nintendo has even threatened to arrest people because we have no "license." Nintendo hates melee and right now were in danger. Never thought i'd be harassed by police at smash events not just protests. Anywho...

I recently stumbled upon a video by one of those twitter anime youtubers, now most time I would just click not interested, but the thumbnail caught me. It was discussing if Persona (at least in modern form) is trans/homophobic. The guy dismissed it and just gave a few fuck yous and moved on without reading the thread. But as a fairly big Atlus fan I was curious. P4 is my favorite game of all time. So I found the video at the end of the thread. And some somewhat valid points, even if slightly exaggerated, were made. Tell me what you think.

(I was actually thinking of making an Atlus community as well so tell me if you would join that.)

(The guy also claims to be a "centrist" in the video but modern day he seems to be more ancommy. I liked his video on vtubers and he seems fairly left there.)

Is the PC collection any good or should I stick to emulating?

go buy it! or emulate it! Persona 4 is favorite game of all time I just played through it for the fifth time, I also believe P4 golden (basically like the enhanced version with different other elements) released on steam.

I good video (no - sound) that goes though the differences between RetroOS's.

My philosophy is basically that I play these games for fun and so I use and abuse rewinding and save states, but I won't lie and say there aren't some moments where I feel like a lesser gamer because of it.

Hey all,

Chilling out from the stressors of the world and a little break from politics. I’ve recently went back to play an old school ps2 game called Onimusha Warlords by Capcom. Can’t believe that this game is 20+ years old, feels like yesterday that I played it. I was 7 and I don’t know why or how my parents let me play a M rated game at such a young age, but they let me haha. Emulation of course, since I’ve long lost the physical game and moved on to other things. I beat the game less than 3 hours (really short game surprisingly) Might as well marathon the whole series while I have my nostalgia high, even the weird Smash Clone that they made. My only wish that I get my hands on a copy of Genma Onimusha for Xbox that the Onimusha remaster should have been instead of the inferior version that newcomers/new gen are subjected to. Combat wise, the 3rd Game Demon Siege is my favorite. The Second game, Samurai’s Destiny for the Story building. Haven’t beat Dawn of Dreams yet. Any experiences with this game? What are you playing as far as the classics with the free time that you have?

I know I only post about mario 64 but...

Personally I own an original N64, and quite a bit of games for it! I'm a collector if you will, but I know not everyone has the money. I use emulators for Romhacks and such, but some people want to play the classics, not my thing but I got you.

So first if you don't have windows computer, this wont work :( Which is a shame for Linux users, but such is life. There are other good emus for Linux, but I can only help with Project 64. So first the download for project 64 (the emu I use and by far the most popular for windows) is here.

Just download the installer for the most recent version and you should be fine. Now when it's installed it's gonna want you to select a few options, those are usually pre-filled correctly but you can change them if you want. The last question in setup is what plugin, Glide or whatever else I forget. It could be inverse but I believe Glide is for older PCs so it will run more like an n64 but will run better still. Either way I cant tell the difference. Now that should be covered, now for emulation!

You'll now notice some things: File and Options, more on options later, file is where you can actually emulate Roms. These must be z.64 files or some cases they are different. Now I can't attach my Rom to this thread unfortunately because I don't want the Capitalists at Nintendo to take lemmygrad down. However I can attach a site where to get them! This site, Vimm's lair has many roms, now to get those, go to "The vault" click n64 and search or find the game. Download it and you now have a good rom. The site is completely safe and doesn't have any malware or stuff from what I can tell. Unzip the file and you have a z.64 file. Now open your emu and run it by pressing file and selecting it. In older versions you might have to change the video setting but if you have the same roms I do, you're good on version 3.

Now this next section is for controllers:

So many will be redirected to the nrage plugin. I have found that will work, but heres a much more simple set up if you have a usb controller. Click options and then click Input settings, the Input will show you an n64 controller an where to graph things. I have a pro controller for the switch, but also for people who wanna use a keyboard, it also works.

You can select the square by each one and do an input on your controller or keyboard. If you're using a controller select the top option.

Now one last section, romhacks. I personally mentioned earlier I use my emu for them specifically as I have an n64. Now there's many sites for this and you can use any site that has the hacks you want but there's two I use, this for sm64 hacks and this. both are for sm64, so yeah. But the second I dont use for hacks. I use for their handy dandy patcher. When you get a Hack it is a bps file. these dont run on n64 emus. You have to take the original sm64 rom and the bps and patch them, and this site is free and online instead of being software.

That's mostly it, real simple to use. Hopefully this covers it and you dont have to watch 20 videos like me.

small note: When a game is loaded there is a button that says system: this holds save states, which can help save your game. Simply select save state, and next time you boot it up select load state. There is also a full screen option and window size toggle in options.