Retroid

Why increase saturation?

The Retroid Pocket 3/3+/Flip benefits from an already very good LCD screen, and boosting the saturation can surprisingly make it much appear much more like an OLED screen.

NOTE: Boosting the saturation too high can actually make some things more difficult to discern, such as light shading or subtle textures. Fortunately the process is reversible and you can tweak and test until you find a level that you're happy with. In the Retro Game Corps video, Russ mentions that pushing all the way up to 160% makes it most OLED-like, but I personally found I was much happier around the 120-130% range. Just enough to pop without losing too many subtle details.

Tutorial

Setup

• Download these script files and add them to the Downloads folder of your device.

Backup your default saturation levels
This is so you can easily revert any changes you make if you don't like how things turn out.

• Go to Settings > Handheld settings > Advanced > Run script as root.
• Select "getDefaultSaturationValue.sh" and run.
• Verify that the file was made by checking in your Downloads folder for a file called "DefaultSaturation.txt".

Change your saturation level

• Go to Settings > Handheld settings > Advanced > Run script as root.
• Choose the .sh file that you wish to try out and run it
• Reboot your device to apply the changes.

Making a custom saturation level

• Duplicate one of the .sh files and open to modify it.
• Change the number at the end to reflect what value you want to try (such as changing 1.7 to 1.3).
• Change the name of the file to reflect that value. (setSaturation_1.3.sh)
• Run the script same as above.

---

There you go. It's a very fast and simple process, and a nice way to give your Retroid device a little pizzazz if you want.

Youtube Tutorials

Retro Game Corps
Kei's Retro Gaming

Every now and then I find that anything I need to touch that's close to the edge of the screen won't register the touch - for example, to get to the retorarch menu by hitting the little icon. If I reboot the option often goes away.

I assume it's something to do with gestures?

Anyway - does anyone else have this problem and is there a workaround/solution?

I slapped together a new logo for the community. I hope it's alright.

Shoutout to @minnieo for designing a cute mascot, Kibby, for kbin & providing the files!

Announcement from Retroid David on the discord:

New OTA for RP3+ is active now!
New OTA for Flip will be dropped tomorrow evening.

=============================================================
RP3+ OTA V1.0.1.6 change log:

1. Updated the PMU driver to enhance system performance and stability.
2. Added support for the new gyro driver to accommodate component tolerance adjustments.

=============================================================
Flip OTA change log:

1. Fixed battery charging curve where the battery drains too quickly after 20% capacity.
2. Added default standby time setting to be 3 minutes/5 minutes/15 minutes when device is closed.
3. Synced the feature of new performance modes support for Pocket 3+ (Balance/Performance/Extreme).
4. Updated Hall joystick driver to improve functionality and performance.
5. Added support for mapping M1 as the Home button and M2 as the Back button for Android navigation.
6. Updated the PMU driver to enhance system performance and stability.
7. Added support for the new gyro driver to accommodate component tolerance adjustments.

Happy gaming!
Team Retroid

I'm trying to find a good CRT shader for RetroArch to preserve transparency effects (like the waterfalls in Sonic 2) and dithering. The problem is, a lot of shaders that are lightweight enough (easymode, lottes-fast, etc.) don't seem to do the trick, the ones that work well (sonkun, royale) are too heavy for the hardware, and some that might be solid contenders are made for 1080p+ resolutions and create giant, goofy scanlines at 480p.

The handheld systems are so easy with the lcd-v2-color shaders, but finding a good CRT shader for home console emulation has been tough with this device.

Anyone have a good recommendation?

Off the top of my head the Tony Hawk games spring to mind, but I’m curious what others think.

Yesterday I read about OpenMW

(https://openmw.org/en/)

So an Hour ago I grabbed my Elder Scrolls Anthology box and installed it on my PC. Then transferred the Morrowind folder over to the Rp3+‘s SD Card and installed the openmw App. Changed a few settings and am now able to play that gem on this awesome device. Very easy to do, great programming work!

First off, all Retroid devices from the 2+ on up...

• Outputs to TV.
• Runs android with Google Play services enabled.
• Supports external controllers.
• Runs a default Retroid launcher that is really easy to use.

Retroid Pocket 3+

Good

• Much improved performance over the 2+/3. Is capable of running early 3D games in widescreen with upscaling. Lots of GameCube and PS2 games are now playable, as well as a lot of popular Android games.
• Same beautiful 720p, 16:9 screen as on the RP3. They were originally produced for iPhones, so the color accuracy & brightness is really good, and they get close to OLED in terms of vibrancy.
• Runs Android 11.
• Comes in a new metal version.
• Improved battery.
• Currently easily available.

Bad

• The black bars that bookend 4:3 content is particularly noticeable.
• The placement of the analog sticks can cause your hands to cramp when playing dual analog controlled games. With the 3+, you’ll have access to a lot of these, so it becomes noticeable. I highly recommend getting a grip shell for the 3+ if you intend to a lot of dual-analog gaming with it.
• The shoulder buttons are not analog.

Ugly

• The RP3 and the plastic version of the 3+ don’t come with hall sensor sticks, but they are available for purchase on the site. You can replace them yourself and the process is pretty simple. The default sticks are actually good enough that most players probably won’t care, but if you are particularly picky about stick accuracy and sensitivity, the upgrade might actually be worth it. (Note: The RP3+ Metal edition actually comes with the hall sticks preinstalled, so you won’t need to upgrade that one.)
• The face buttons are now rubber membrane, so if you preferred the vita-like dome switches from the 3, it’s no longer an option.

Who should get a RP3+?

Honestly, this is the first device I’d recommend to anyone interested in getting intro retro handhelds. It’s affordable, pocketable, great for streaming, plays a lot of android games, and can handle a vast library of retro titles. It’s also really easy to tinker with if you want to replace or upgrade parts.

Russ from Retro Game Corps had his hands on the new metal edition.

This configuration & installation guide was made for the Retroid Pocket 2+, but it works fine on the 3 and up as well. The game runs in 4:3, so there will be black bars for wider screens, but it's still cool to run the original game on a handheld.

Note: you can do this all from your Retroid.

Prerequisite

• Install the paid version of Magic Dosbox to your Retroid device. (Controls build into the configuration file won't be possible on the free version.)
• Download a copy of Daggerfall, which is now freeware.
• Download this configuration file & installation guide created and supplied by u/sad_girl_eve on reddit. (The configuration file also includes the tutorial that I had used to install Daggerfall on my device, but I'll rewrite it here if it is useful for you.)
• Finally, be aware of whether you use the "Xbox" or "Retro" controller style on your retroid. It is found under System Settings > Handheld Settings > Input > Controller Style.

Preparation

• On your device, under /storage/emulated/0/ (or "home" in some file managers) you need to create a folder titled "dosg". This is necessary for the configuration file to work.
• Extract the contents of DFInstall.zip (the Daggerfall installation file) into the "dosg" folder.
• Move the "soundfonts" folder from u/sad_girl_eve's configuration folder download into "dosg" as well.

Your "dosg" folder should now have 3 items: "DAGGER", "DFCD", and "soundfonts".

Set up the profiles on Magic Dosbox

1. Open Magic DosBox, (make sure the android navigation bar is not present) and tap the "+" button to the left
2. Select "import profile", then navigate to u/sad_girl_eve's configuration file download.
3. If your Retroid's controller style is set to "Retro", choose the "Retroid Layout folder. If it is set to "Xbox", choose the XBOX Layout folder.
4. Select "Daggerfall.mgc" and click the check mark to import the profile.
5. Repeat steps 1 ~ 4, but this time select "install.mgc".

Installation

1. In Magic Dosbox, launch the "install" profile you imported. (You can navigate the menu using the D-pad and confirm with the B button.)
2. Select these options:

• "CONTINUE, I agree to the terms."
• "Install the game to your hard drive"
• "Change the install size"
• "Huge installation"
• "Yes, this installation size is fine"
• "Yes, I want to install the game here"
• "Go ahead and install the game"

1. When the installation completes, select "Yes" to configure the sound card.

Soundcard Configuration

1. When you arrive at the sound card configuration screen, press the X button on your retroid.
2. A red button titled "Sound" should appear on the screen. Tap it. u/sad_girl_eve's profile magic will auto-configure the sound card for you.
3. When the sound card is configured, select "OK" and then "OK one more time.

Daggerfall Update

• You should be brought to a dos promo asking to install an update. If not...

1. Open Magic Dosbox and launch the "install" profile again.
2. Select "Continue, I agree to the term."
3. Select "Quit this program" and you should see the update prompt.

• Press the Y button on your retroid for each prompt.

• Close the Magic Dosbox app after the update is installed.

• Next, take the "Z.cfg" file from u/sad_girl_eve's configuration folder and move it into /storage/emulated/0/dosg/DAGGER/, then confirm to replace the original.

• Move "BETAPLYR.dat" from the configuration folder and move it into /storage/emulated/0/dosg/DAGGER/ARENA2/, then confirm to replace

Congratulations. Installation is now complete and your can launch the game by selecting the "Daggerfall" profile in Magic Dosbox.

Rundown of the controls

Physical buttons

• X - Jump

• Y - Ready Weapon / Search Function in World Map

• B - acts as the "enter" key, used to interact with the world and menus

• A - Inventory

• Left stick - Moves

• Right stick - Camera control / mouse cursor / swings weapon

• R1 - Brings up the On-screen Hotkeys (this can only be closed by selcting a hotkey)

• R2 - Attack (press this and move the right stick to swing your weapon)

• L1 - Sneak (needs to be held)

• L2 - Run

• D-pad up and down - Float up and down when levatating or swimming

• D-pad left - Crouch (only used to get through small gaps)

• D-pad right - Spell menu

• Start - Pause / Esc

• Select - Rest

Touch screen

• Tapping the status bars will bring up your character status.
• Double tapping the status bars will bring up your character sheet.
• Tapping the compass will bring up your automap.
• Double tapping the compass will bring up the world map.
• Tapping the upper left corner during gameplay of the screen will autosave to the first save slot. (This only works if point-to-click mouse controls are enabled)

Note for widescreen devices: some of these tap spots might not actually be in the exact locations indicated, but further to each side. Try to imagine where those tap spots would be if the image on the screen were stretched out to the edges instead of 4:3.

Hotkeys

Pressing R1 will bring up the on-screen hotkeys, pressing any of the hotkeys will close the hotkey interface.

• Log - logbook
• Switch - switches between right and left hands
• Grab / Steal / Info - switches interaction mode
• Foot / horse / cart / ship - switches tranportation mode
• Mouse - switches between mouse navigation modes
• Keyboard - brings up the keyboard, and can also close it
• Cheat - opens the cheat menu (only contains the dungeon warp cheat, and can only be used if enabled in the "z.cfg" config file)
• Journal - in-app notes
• Magic items - opens the magic items menu

Inventory menu controls

• Pressing A will open the inventory and remove the status bar, autosave, and compass hotkeys. 2 new hotkeys will appear in the top right corner of the screen. These can be used to scroll through the inventory as tapping the actual scroll buttons in the game is difficult since they're so small.

• Pressing "start" will close the inventory its 2 hotkeys, and will restore normal touch controls.

And that's it. Feel free to adjust sensitivity levels in the game to your liking. Good luck, as this game is BRUTAL if you don't know what you're doing.

First off, each Retroid device...

• Outputs to TV.
• Runs android with Google Play services enabled.
• Supports external controllers.
• The default Retroid launcher is really easy to use.

Good

• Really stunning LCD panel. Possibly the best LCD panel on any retro handheld in its price range. It has an Increased resolution in widescreen, and the colors really pop.
• PSP is a night & day improvement over the 2+, and GBA looks a lot nicer too.
• New analog sticks with R/L3 functionality make game streaming a much more viable option.
• Runs a newer version of android over the 2+.
• The D-pad and buttons are dome-switches inspired by the much beloved PS Vita, so really clicky and responsive. Even better, you can literally swap out the RP3 buttons with PS Vita buttons if you really want in on that Playstation vibe. Looks really good on the black systems.
• The improved screen and controls make the RP3 much better for native android games than the 2+.
• Same shell as the RP3+, so if you eventually want to upgrade, you can just opt for the PCB upgrade kit and do it yourself. (You even get to keep the dome-switch buttons if you like them).

Bad

• Same SoC as the 2+, so you won't be running anything new on this system, and some native android games won't really play well.
• The higher resolution screen can make older games look rough.
• Outside of streamed games, PSP, Android, and to an extent GBA, the majority of retro games you play on a 3 are going to be stuck massive back bars on the sides if you want them to play decently.

Ugly

• 720p widescreen means there is room to upscale and widescreen hack some systems, but it adds strain to the SoC. You'll be doing a lot of tinkering to make your games look as good as possible on the 3.
• The symmetrical stick layout plays much nicer for retro games, but if you want to use the dual analog stick for game streaming, it can get pretty uncomfortable fairly quickly. I sincerely recommend getting an attachable grip if you intend to use it in this way.
• The price differentiation between the 3 and the 3+ isn’t that much, and with a 3+, you’d get a chip that can better handle upscaling & widescreen hacks, as well as a much expanded library of PS2 and Gamecube games.
• While upgrading to a 3+ has been an option in the past, it seems the upgrade boards are no longer available on the website. If you contact Retroid directly, there's a chance they might still be willing to sell you one. (This is kind of unfortunate, since upgrading a 3 to 3+ was the path I took, and it was fun to do. But you might as well just go with a 3+ in the first place if you want this form factor.)

Who should get a RP3?

I’d recommend the RP3 to anyone who just wants a cheap streaming streaming device that fits in their pocket. That's pretty much it. The fact that it plays 32bit and older retro games (and many PSP games) decently is an added bonus.

Discuss

What’s your take on the RP3? Did you get one? Who would you recommend a RP3 to?

First off, all Retroid devices from the 2+ on up...

• Outputs to TV.
• Runs android with Google Play services enabled.
• Supports external controllers.
• Runs a default Retroid launcher that is really easy to use.

Retroid Pocket 2+

Good

• Runs everything up to DreamCast pretty well.
• 4:3 aspect screen at 480p resolution means all retro home consoles playable on RP2+ look really good on the system with no black bars.
• No need to upscale or widescreen hack games puts less stress on the SoC and the user.
• Cheap.
• Asymmetrical stick layout plays really comfortably with N64 and Dreamcast games.
• The retro-themed look of the handheld is just really cool.
• The D-pad is really nice for retro games.
• Very pocketable.

Bad

• Weaker chip, obviously. Some N64 and PS1 games can struggle to run smoothly and might need some optimization.
• The cap on the right analog slider has a tendency to fall off. You might want to VERY CAREFULLY glue it onto the stick if you don't want to lose it.
• PSP content is TINY on that little 4:3 screen. You can play PSP, but some people might really struggle trying to read text.
• While you can stream games to the RP2+, it's just not worth it. The right slider, tiny 480p 4:3 screen, and a lack of R/L3 & analog shoulder buttons kind of break the experience.
• The asymmetrical stick layout means that the D-pad isn't really in a comfortable spot for 16bit and older systems. Your thumb might feel cramped during long sessions.
• No analog shoulders for Dreamcast games.
• No longer available on the goretroid website.

Ugly

• While the RP2+ has no R/L3 functionality, the only console that the RP2+ can capably handle natively that actually had those is the PS1, and most games didn't really use it for anything important.
• The slider is particularly bothersome for a lot of people. However, the vast majority of PS1 games didn't really rely on analog controls, and those that did utilize it didn't really bother with the right stick. In other words, as long as you're stick to retro games, the slider isn't going to be a huge detriment. In my opinion, the slider actually feels quite good as a "c-stick" slider for N64 games.
• Runs an older version of android.

Who should get a RP2+?

Honestly, I think the RP2+ is still a very viable retro handheld for those who know exactly what they want. It's no good for streaming services, Gamecube, PS2 and up, and PSP looks pretty rough on the tiny screen. But if you just want to have something like an SNES or a PS1 in your pocket with little hassle, the RP2+ is a really sleek little option for you.

Discuss

What's your take on the RP2+? Do you have one? Who would you recommend get one?

RP3+ Metal Edition Shell

Not exactly breaking news, but still pretty cool. What do you think of the color?

I asked on the general gaming mag, but I'll ask here too - would you recommend the Flip? Is it easy to carry around in your pocket and does it have better performance when it comes to PS2 and Gamecube games compared to the 2+?

#retroid

When I got father I quickly realized, that there is not much time left for gaming (what is perfectly okay, as you spend the time with your child). But sometimes even as parent you need a break. But those breaks are mostly short, that’s what got me to buy myself a Retroid Pocket 3+. I love this thing for being available everytime you have a few minutes for gaming. It’s just perfect for me. And then there are those rare evenings where your butt already touched the surface of your couch and you can’t get up even if you realize you have more time for some Triple A Games on your PC. Playing on the TV also isn’t an option, because the wife also hardly earned her time to watch her favorite TV show. That’s when I came across moonlight game streaming. I immediately set it up and I just love it. Combined with smart plug, power on AC configured in BIOS and some auto-start tasks, I am now able to fully remote power up my PC and Play AAA Games on my RP3+ (everything only using the RP3+).

Thought maybe somewhere out there is someone that needs to know about this :D

#

I followed these tutorials to get Morrowind running on my RP2+, naturally it works on the 3+ as well.

I've typed out a basic write up of the guides below, but in my opinion it's just easier to follow the video guides, so go just go watch those and give the guy a view. Note: I followed these steps ages ago, so some of the mod files might be updated with different file names, but I hope the general process should still apply.

Retro Breeze Video Tutorials

• Install Morrowind: How to play Morrowind on the Retroid Pocket 2 Plus | Full tutorial | Super easy to get set up!
• Mod Morrowind: MODDED MORROWIND ON Retroid Pocket 2+ | Tamriel Rebuilt | Full Modding Tutorial for Android

Prepare for Installation

Prerequisites

• You need a copy of Morrowind for access to the game files.
• A compression application to make transferring files faster and easier. One for your computer and an android one on your Retroid device (such as ZArchiver).

On your retroid device...

• Download OpenMW (omw_release_0.48.0-46.apk) and install it to your device.

On your computer...

• Find & open the Morrowind installation folder.
• Select the "Data Files" folder and "Morrowind.ini", and copy them into their own folder called "Morrowind". This will be for the Retroid device.

Adding Mods

Feel free to skip this section if you don't want to bother with mods yet.

Prerequisite

• Have a free account on Nexus Mods.

Mod List

Patch for Purists.

• Click "Files" and "Manual download" under "Latest version".
• Extract files to a folder on desktop.
• You'll notice the folders from the archive share names with the folders in the "Data Files" folder in the Morrowind folder you made for your device. Move the contents of the mod's folders into their corresponding folders in "Morrowind". Allow any duplicate files from the mod to overwrite the originals.

Truetype Fonts for OpenMW.

• Click "Files" and download both "Fonts" and "HD Texture Buttons (English)" here.
• Extract the "Fonts" folder from the first archive and the "textures" folder from the second archive.
• Merge those with their corresponding files in Morrowind > Data Files.

Tamriel Data - Required for Tamriel Rebuilt.

• Click "Files" and download "Tamriel Data (Vanilla).
• Extract the contents. Open the 00 Core folder, and copy all the content there except for the docs folder into the their corresponding places in Morrowind > Data Files.

Tamriel Rebuilt

• Click "Files" and download both "Tamriel Rebuilt" and the "TR_Hotfix" files
• Extract the Tamriel Rebuilt archive.
• Open "00 Core", migrate the "textures" folder content, then move the "TR_Mainland.esm" file into Data Files.
• Open "01 Faction Integration" and move the esp file to "Data Files".
• Do the same for the rest of the folders except for the Abot's Travels mod.
• Extract the hotfix file and migrate that data.

Installing Morrowind to your device

• Compress the Morrowind folder into a single 7z file (Morrowind.7z). This will enable a much faster and more reliable transfer from your computer to your retroid device.
• Copy the 7z file to your retroid device. Wait for it to finish.

*Back on your retroid device

• Find and extract the 7z file so it occupies its own folder named "Morrowind". Wait for it to finish.
• Open the OpenMW app, tap "Game Files", then find and select the "Morrowind" folder you just extracted.

At this point the game should be playable, but you might want to tweak some settings first...

In OpenMW

• On-screen controls...: Remove all buttons except for the very top row and the darker buttons on the side. You can remove an on-screen button by tapping on it then tapping the "Alpha-" button until it disappears.
• UI scaling factor: You can tinker with this to suit your preference. Retro Breeze set his to "1" on his 2+, but I have my 3+ set to 1.7 because I don't really have great eyesight and the resolution is higher.
• Mouse mode in menus: Absolute touch controls is recommended. It just means you click where you tap.
• Hide on-screen buttons: off.
• Always show top-bar icons: on.

In OpenMW > Mods
If you chose to include mods to the game, follow these steps now.

PLUGINS: Enable and drag these files into the following order:

1. Morrowind.esm
2. Tribunal.esm
3. Bloodmoon.esm
4. Patch for Purists.esm
5. Patch for Purists - Semi-Purist Fixes.esm
6. Patch for Purists - Book Typos.esm
7. Tamriel_Data.esm
8. TR_Mainland.esm
9. TR_Mainland_2101_hotfix.esm (Newer version might look different)
10. TR_Factions.esm
11. TR_Preview.esm
12. TR_Travels_(Preview_and_Mainland).esm

RESOURCES: Enable and drag these files into the following order:

1. Morrowind.bsa
2. Tribunal.bsa
3. Bloodmoon.bsa
4. PT_Data.bsa
5. TR_Data.bsa

In-game Setup

At this point you should be good. Tap the blue play button to launch the game. (If you installed the mod, you should notice "Tamriel Rebuilt" mentioned in the loading status bar as the game loads in.)

• D-pad + A button or touch to operate the main menu.
• Tap the keyboard icon to add text to text fields. Tap again to dismiss.
• Start > Options > Controls: Drag the camera sensitivity down to make the right stick less sensitive.
• Start > Options > Controller: Customize controls to your liking here.
• In-game menus can be moved and resized by touching and dragging.
• To check if the Tamriel Rebuilt mod installed, you can check the world map to see if it expands well beyond the Morrowind mainland.
• If you chose not to include mods, but would like to add them in later, I recommend watching the Retro Breeze video. He explains the process very nicely.

Good luck!

(Reposted and adapted from a thread I made on Reddit a month ago.)

What is CHD?
.chd is a lossless compression format. It’ll allow you to better preserve things like audio while still saving storage space. There are tools available on Windows that will allow you to compress bin/cue and iso files to chd easily, but not so much on Mac, so here’s my attempt to lend a hand.

Disclaimer: I’m not a coder, I just took the time to hunt down some instructions on various threads and put them together. Feel free to comment if you have a better method. _Better yet, if anyone knows how to somehow turn this into a handy-dandy Siri Shortcut that would be outstanding!!_. Unfortunately if something doesn't work, I probably won't be able to help much.

Anyhoo, here’s how I did it.
——
First I installed Homebrew to my Mac by opening terminal and typing in:
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

It prompted me for my admin password. I typed it out and pressed enter, but didn't see anything happen. No worries. It worked anyway.

It then asked me if I wanted to install, I hit enter to approve and waited it out.
When finished, I typed out:
brew install rom-tools

At first it failed because I am a proud owner of an apple silicon Mac, so I dug up this fix, which was mentioned in this stackedoverflow thread.

While still in terminal, type:
cd /opt/homebrew/bin/

enter, then:
export PATH=$PATH:/opt/homebrew/bin

enter, then:
cd ~/

enter, then:
touch .zshrc

enter, then:
echo export PATH=$PATH:/opt/homebrew/bin >> .zshrc

enter.

After that, I was able to finally install rom-tools, which includes CHDMAN: (Same as before…)
brew install rom-tools

At this point I was ready to convert bin/cue files to CHD, and this is how I do it.

In terminal, run this script (which I pulled from an old reddit thread):
#!/bin/bash echo "Will proccess files on directory: $1" cd $1 for i in */*.cue; do chdman createcd -i "$i" -o "${i%.*}.chd"; done echo "All done"

When I ran it for the first time, MacOS asked me for permissions to a bunch of directories. I just said “yeah man, I wanna do it”, and gave it carte blanch. I had a bunch of bin/cue files in my Mac's Downloads folder and this script just found and converted them in all the same directory.
If I want to convert .iso files instead of bin/cue, I just run the same script but use “.iso” instead of “.cue”
——
Platforms I know that can use CHD files on retroid include PS1, PS2, Sega CD, Saturn, and Dreamcast.

Good luck!

Edit: Info for CHD compression commands.