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Batocera on the RG35XX-H

This is a living document describing what I learned setting up and running Batocera v40 on the Anbernic RG35XX-H.

This file will most likely contain errors and vague information. You might not like how I describe things. I am sorry. Also, I can't be held responsible if you break things by following this.Nor will I share with you ROMS, BIOS, or any other files. Ask Google instead.

If you find this information helpful please consider giving it a ⭐️ at GitHub.
Maybe buy me a ☕️.

Look at the CHANGELOG to see recent changes to this document.

Note: This guide is standing on the shoulder of Giants. Many of the tips here come from beanioz on Reddit and other people on Reddit.

Table of Contents

Introduction

  • Batocera is a Linux-based custom firmware (CFW) for retro gaming for multiple devices/platforms.
  • There is now a port for the Anbernic RG35XX-H, the current version is: Batocera rg35xx-cfw V40.
  • It provides a better experience than the stock firmware.

Pros and Cons of Batocera

  • Batocera offers more functionality than the stock firmware.
  • Its is "prettier" than the other custom firmwares, e.g. MuOS.
  • Batocera v40 is 32-bit firmware. MuOs run 64-bit code. hus, MuOs is a bit more optimized towards the chip set.
  • PortMaster will not run on Batocera v40, as it runs on 64-bit code.
  • There is now a 64-bit port of Batocera available in an Alpha version for the RG35XX-H called Knulli. It supports PortMaster but not all emulators are ported yet. But it has the potential to provide a similar if not better experience than Batocera v40.

Setting Up The Device

Follow these steps to set up get Batocera v40 running on your device. I tried to put the steps in a helpful order - so best follow them along...

Installing Batocera on the RG35XX-H

  • Download Batocera for RG35XX-H called rg35xx-cfw.
  • Flash the firmware to a (new!) SD card (e.g., use BalenaEtcher).
  • Put the SD card in the device (left slot).
  • Turn on the device (Long-press on Power Button).
  • The device will now update the file structure on the SD card.
  • Consider setting up WiFi (see below).
  • Shut down the device (Menu > Quit > Shutdown).

Setting up WiFi

  • Main Menu > Network Settings.
  • Main Menu > System Settings > Frontend Developer Options > Enable web API access.
  • Now you can find your device in your network.
  • IP Address: Main Menu > Network Settings.
  • You can now also download themes and enable scraping and other tools that need an Internet connection.
  • In addition you can now find your device in your network.
  • You can mount the device to copy data, connect via SSH or the Emulation Station Web Service:
    http://[ip address]:1234.
  • Username and password is: root/linux.

Note: The device has problems to connect to 5GHz and guest networks.

Download Themes

  • A recommended theme is Art-Book-Next-ES:
    Main Menu > Updates & Downloads > Themes > Art-Book-Next-ES
  • Enable your theme:
    Main Menu > User Interface Settings > Theme Set

Enable Scraping

  • A scraper can download game information to your device.
  • You do need an active internet connection for this.
  • Register an account at screenscraper.fr.
  • Enter your credentials at Main Menu > Scraper.

Enable Retro Achievements

  • Get a login at retroachievements.org.
  • Enter your credentials: Main Menu > Game Settings > RetroArchievements Settings.

Update the ROM List on Each Boot

  • Main Menu > Games Settings > Netplay Settings > Index New Games

Overclock

  • Main Menu > System Settings > Overclock

Audio Settings

  • You can disable the in-menu music in Main Menu > Sound Settings > Frontend Music.
  • Consider disabling Enable Navigation Soundsand Enable Video Preview Audiothere, too.
  • If you get no sound after you connected the console via HDMI, you need to reset the audio output:
    • Go to: Main Menu > System Settings > Audio Output.
    • Select AudioCodec and confirm. And then go back to Auto.
  • Batocera > Controller

Controls

General Navigation

Button Function
POWER Long press to turn on. When turned on, click for stand-by.
START Menu
F + VOLUME Change brightness
B OK / Select
A Cancel / Back
F + POWER Quick Shutdown (not saving meta data)
R3 / L3 Next / Previous Song (Frontend Music)
  • A+ B button assignment can be switched:
    Main Menu > System Settings > Frontend Developer Options > Switch Confirm & Cancel Buttons in EmulationStation. I recommend doing so.
  • Shutdown the device: Main Menu > Quit > Shutdown System > Yes or press F + POWER.

Links

Main Menu

Button Function
START Quick Access
L1 / L2 Previous emulator
R1 / R2 Next emulator
Y Quick Search
B Side Menu

Game List

Button Function
SELECT View Options
L1 / R1 Page list up / down
L2 / R2 Previous / next emulator
X (long press) Add / remove to Favorites
A (long press) Edit meta data / Edit keyboard config

Quick Load / Save

  • In most emulators pressing F + Y or F + X will safe or load a games' state-
  • There is a list of slots you can safe games, too. You select the slot via F + UP / DOWN.
  • But you can also load a saved state when you are in the game list.
  • In the game list press X to show the saved state list.
  • Press A to load a state, Yto delete one, and B to cancel.

In-game (GB, GBA, GB Color, NES, SNES, Sega, PSX)

  • TBD: PSP
Button Function
F + START Exit Game
F + RIGHT Fast Forward
F + L1 Take Screenshot
F + UP / DOWN Select Quick Save Slot
F + Y Quick Save Game
F + X Quick Load Game
F + A Reset Game
F + R2 / L2 Select Shader
F + B Emulator Menu

Note: To see the screenshots you took in the menu, run Main Menu > Games Settings > Update Game List. Then you will have a "Screenshots" section in your main menu.

In-game Nintendo DS

Button Function
R2 Toggle Display View Mode
L2 + R2 Toggle Single Double View Msode

In-game MAME

Button Function
LEFT Insert coin (not sure if this a pre-set)
A OK / Select
B Cancel / Back
L3 Emulator Menu
F + Y Quick save game
F + X Quick load game
F + A Reset game
F + R2 Take screenshot
F + L2 / F + R2 Select Shader

Other Controls

See the Ports and the Tools section.

Mapping Keys to Pad Buttons For a Single Game

  • You can define keys to be mapped to buttons (for keyboard controlled system, e.g. Amstrad).
  • To see the current configuration SELECT > View Pad to Keyboard Information.
  • To edit it: A (long press) > Edit PadToKey Profile.
  • This will create a configuration file in your roms/ folder, either a .p2k.cfgor a .keys file.
  • .p2k.cfg files have a config style format.
  0:select = j ;; Joystick
  {
      "actions_player1": [
          {
              "trigger": "select",
              "type": "key",
              "target": "KEY_J",
              "description": "Joystick"
          }
      ]
  }
  • It seems that the .keys file takes precedence over the .k2p.cfg one.
  • You can also create a key config file manually in the folder. Use the name of the rom/port and append the suffix.
  • You can then add descriptions to the key definitions. Both examples above add "Joystick" as a description.
  • In the .k2p.cfg files the buttons are called EAST, WEST. In the .keys they are called A, Y.
  • In the .key files L1and R1 are called page up and page down.

Amstrad

  • Assign the keys you need to select and start the game (see above).
  • Fire and movement will automatically recognized as joystick input.
  • I suggest you bind the virtual keyboard to R1 by assigning F9 to it.
  0:r1 = F9 ;; Toggle Keyboard
  • FYI: Amstrad's return key does not equal to the Enter key. Have not found a way to map this to it.

The SD Card

  • The SD card has two partitions: BATOCERA and SHARE. We will only concern ourselves with the SHARE partition.
  • On SHARE are the folders for adding content onto the device.
  • The bios/ folder is the place where to add BIOS files (see below).
  • The roms/ folder contains folders for the different emulators for your games. Most of the folder names are self-explanatory.

BIOS Files

  • Some Emulators need BIOS files to run.
  • Check for missing/needed BIOS files via:
    Main Menu > Game Settings > Missing Bios Check.
    You can also select All to see all possibly needed ROM files.
  • Or see all needed ROMS here.
  • Find them online...
  • Copy them in the bios/ folder of your SD card.
  • Turn on the device.
  • Check if they are correct:
    Main Menu > Game Settings > Missing Bios Check

ROM Files

  • Find them online...
  • Copy your files in the different roms/ folders.
  • Put your games files in the correct emulator folders.
  • Check the _ìnfo.txt files in each roms/ subfolder for information on file format and folder structure to set things up.
  • See below a list of specific game port folders.

Workflow for Adding Content

  • Copy files on the SD card (either from your computer or via WiFi).
  • Remove Apple's dot files, if needed (see below).
  • Eject all mounted partitions.
  • Put card in RG35XX-H.
  • Power on the device.
  • Run the Scraper
    Main Menu > Scraper > Scrape Now
  • Update the Game List
    Main Menu > Games Settings > Update Game List
  • Play!!

Note: Alternatively, you can also connect to your device via your network and mount the share/ folder if it is connected via WiFi. Copy your filed, update the game list, scrape, and update again.

Removing Apple's Dot Files

  • On a Mac, you can run dot_clean /Volumes/SHARE.
  • I also suggest to create a .dot_clean script in your ports folder.

Setup and Optimize Emulators

  • This section explains for the "non-trivial" emulators (e.g. DOS or Daphne are being set up).
  • For a list of in-game controls take a look at the Controls section.

Nintendo 64

  • You need to change the default emulator to make games run smooth.
  • Go to Game Settings > Per System Advanced Configuration > Nintendo 64.
    • Set Emulator: Mupen64Plus:RICE.
    • Set Power Mode: High Performance.
    • Set Game Aspect Ration: 4:3.

In-game Controls

  • I have not found a way yet to access the hotkey menu or to Quick Load or Quick Save.
Button Function
F + START Exit Game
F + RIGHT Fast Forward
F + A Reset Game
F + L1 Take Screenshot
  • To switch the A and B buttons edit the system\configs\mupen64\input.xml file:
		<input name="b"        	     value="C Button R" />
		<input name="a"        	     value="A Button" />

DOS

  • There are different DOS emulator that you can choose. Per default DOSBox Pure is used.
  • Copy a game folder to roms/dos/.
  • Add .DOS to the end of the folder name.
  • If there is a dosbox.conffile in the game folder, its settings will be applied.
  • If there is a dosbox.batfile in the game folder, it will be executed.
  • If you start the game without a dosbox.batfile, you will get the start menu where you can select a file as the default executable. Use the right joystick and the Ykey to select a file. You can also select a timeout, where the first X frames after starting a game are not shown.
  • After selecting an executable it will be run and file called AUTOBOOT.DBP will be created.
  • If you press L3, a keyboard overlay will be shown.
  • On the top-left of the overlay keyboard there is an option to manual map keys. I think this is preferable to use the Batocera key mapping.
Button Function
L3 Show Keyboard (and Keyboard Mapper button)
LEFT JOYSTICK Mouse
F + UP /DOWN Load / Save
F + RIGHT Fast Forward
Y OK

Links

Daphne

TBD

Setting up and Running Ports

Port Folders

This is a list of existing port folders/emulators available on the Batocera CFW by default.

Port Folder Game
cannonball Out Run - Sega Arcade
devilutionx Diablo & Diablo Hellfire
eduke32 Duke Nukem 3D
fallout1-ce Fallout 1
fallout2-ce Fallout 2
mrboom Bomberman
ports Linux games
prboom Doom 1 & Doom 2
quake3 Quake 3
scummvm Scumm Engine for Games like Monkey Island
sdlpop Prince of Persia
tyrquake Quake 1
vitaquake2 Quake 2
xash3d_fwgs Half-Life Engine

Configuring Ports

Always start by reading the _info.txt file in the emulators folder.

Diablo 1 & Diablo Hellfire - Devilutionx

  • Copy DIABDAT.MPQ from the CD or Diablo-installation to roms/devilutionx/ folder.
  • To run the Diablo: Hellfire expansion you will need to also copy hellfire.mpq, hfmonk.mpq, hfmusic.mpq, hfvoice.mpq.
Button Function
B OK / Select, Use Skill
A Cancel / Back, Use Weapon
X Pick up item
Y Use Spell
Left D-Pad Movement
Right D-Pad Mouse
START (pressed) In-Game Menu
START (pressed) Spells
START + F Show items
L1 Use Health Potion
R1 Use Mana Potion
L2 Character
R2 Inventory
R2 Toggle Map
  • You cannot edit the key definitions in the Advanced System Options.
  • You can edit the key definitions in the Game: Settings > Padmappig. In there A and B, and X and Y are reversed.
  • There is also a Playstation version of Diablo. Controls are nicer but graphics are more "blocky" it runs a bit less smooth.

Links

Duke Nukem 3D - eDuke32

  • Create folder called duke in roms/eduke32/ and copy DUKE3D.GRP into it.
  • Create file Duke_Nukem_3D.eduke32 in roms/eduke32/.
  • Add line FILE = /duke/DUKE3D.GRP to it.
Button Function
B OK / Select
A Cancel / Back
R2 Fire
X Kick
L1 Duck
L2 Jump
R1 Permanent ducking
Left D-Pad Movement
Right D-Pad Look
SELECT Map
START Main Menu
F + X Load
F + Y Save
F + START Exit Emulator
  • You can edit the key definitions in the game: Options > Control Setup > Controller Setup > Button Assignment. In there A and B, and Xand Y are reversed.

Links

Fallout 1 - fallout1-ce

  • Copy the following files from your Fallout game into the rom/dallout1-ce folder:

    • master.dat
    • critter.dat
    • data/ folder

  • Create an empty file called Fallout.f1ce.

  • Initially, only the right joystick works in the game.

  • Therefore, you need to define your own keys:
    Go to the Fallout entry in the Ports section A (long press) > Edit PadToKey Profile

  • Suggested key definition:

    Button Function
    D-PAD-UP Cursor Up
    D-PAD-DOWN Cursor Down
    D-PAD-LEFT Cursor Left
    D-PAD-RIGHT Cursor Right
    START ENTER
    SELECT ESC
    EAST Mouse Left
    SOUTH Mouse Right
    NORTH S
    WEST I
    LEFT SHOULDER TAB
    Left Stick Press Mouse Left
    Right Stick Press Mouse Left
    Emulate Mouse Cursor Left Analog Stick

Links

Fallout 2 - fallout2-ce

TBD

Doom 1 & Doom 2 - PRBOOM

  • Place the .WAD files of Doom 1 and/or in the roms/prboom/ folder.
  • Supported wads (non exhaustive list) are from Doom 1, Doom 2, The Ultimate Doom, The Plutonia Experiment, TNT: Evilution.
Button Function
A OK / Select
B Cancel / Back
X Fire
Left D-PAD Movement
L1 / R1 Strave
L2 / R2 Change weapon
R3 Turn around
START Main Menu
SELECT Map
F + Y Quick save game
F + X Quick load game
F + A Reset game
F + B Emulator menu (in here B is OK)
F + R2 Take screenshot
F + L2 / F + R2 Select Shader
  • You can edit the key in the game: F + B, Controls > Port 1 Controls

ScummVM

  • ScummVM is an emulator for adventures such as Monkey Island.
  • Store games in the roms/scummvm/ folder.
  • Each game has a unique ID. You can find all games and their ID in the compatibility list, e.g. use atlantis for Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis.
  • Create a folder for each game and copy files into it
  • Inside the folder create a file [id].scummvm for each game you want to add. To be sure also write put id into the file.
  • To see what the required files for a game are take a look at the supported games list.
Button Function
LEFT D-PAD Mouse
START Main Menu
SELECT Main Menu
A OK / Select
X Skip
L2 Settings, e.g. Save

Links

Quake 1 - tyrquake

TBD

Half-Life - xash3d_fwgs

  • Create a folder Half-Life.
  • Copy the contents of Half-Life/valve in there
  • Create a folder called Half-Life.game. Keep in empty
Button Function
B OK / Select
A Cancel / Back
  • You can view and change the controls in the game:Configuration > Controls. In there A and B, and Xand Yare reversed.

Links

Tools

OD Commander

It is pre-installed on the device and can be found in the Port section.

Button Function
A Cancel / Back
B OK / Select
SELECT Toggle selection of files
START Open the folder in the other tab
LEFT / RIGHT Toggle active tab
X File actions, e.g. Delete
Y General actions, e.g. Quit
L1 / R1 Page up / down

Links

.dot_clean

  • Lets add a simple script that deletes all Mac dot_files.
  • Create a file called .dot_clean.sh in roms/ports/ with the following content:
#!/bin/bash

# remove all ._* files from the system
find /userdata/ -name "._*" -exec rm {} \;
  • Next, update the Game List:
    Main Menu > Games Settings > Update Game List

Bluetooth

For connecting a bluetooth device follow these steps:

  • Go to Main Menu > Controller & Bluetooth settings > Pain Bluetooth Pads Automatically.
  • Alternatively, run a manual detection and select your device.
  • Enable pairing mode on your device.
  • You you will get a notification when the device is paired to the console.

Connecting a Bluetooth Controller

  • Follow the steps above.
  • Turn on Bluetooth mode on your controller (e.g. Y + START on an 8bitdo Controller).
  • Enable pairing mode on your controller.
  • Run the Controller Mapping.
  • Adjust the Player Assignments to use the controller, e.g.:
    • P1 > Controller
    • P2 > #0 Deeplay-Keys

Using Bluetooth Audio

  • Connect the audio device as described above.
  • Select the bluetooth audio device as audio output:
    Main Menu > System Settings > Hardware > Audio Output > [Device]

Connecting other Bluetooth Devices

You can also pair keyboards and mice as described above.

Some Terms / What is

  • Batocera Linux: An open-source operating system designed specifically for retro gaming, transforming any computer or single-board device into a gaming console. It includes a variety of pre-configured emulators and tools, making it easy to set up and use.

  • CFW (Custom Firmware): Modified firmware that enhances the capabilities and features of a device beyond what the original manufacturer provided. In the context of retro gaming, CFW allows for custom emulation setups and additional functionalities.

  • Batocera for RG35XX-H: A version of Batocera Linux tailored for the RG35XX-H handheld gaming device, optimized for performance and compatibility with the specific hardware, providing a seamless retro gaming experience.

  • EmulationStation: A graphical front-end for organizing and launching games on various emulators. It provides a user-friendly interface for retro gaming systems and works in conjunction with Batocera Linux to offer a streamlined gaming experience.

  • Libretro: A lightweight, modular API that enables the creation of multi-system emulators. It serves as the backbone for many emulation projects and integrates with EmulationStation, allowing it to run a wide variety of emulators through a standardized interface.

These components work together to create a cohesive retro gaming system, where Batocera Linux provides the foundation, EmulationStation offers the interface, and Libretro supports the underlying emulation functionality.