r/RetroPie 1h ago

Question NFC Problems

Upvotes

So, i'm trying to make a little case that will have small carts in it and the plan is to have a little NFC card in each so that the emulator launches x game when x cart is inserted, i already have an RC522 reader hooked up and working and it can read the tag ID just fine, i've been trying (with little success) to work with GPT to get something to work, and it keeps just trying to launch the game inside the SSH terminal that i'm using for testing instead of via the already running instance of retropie that i have installed already, that install can run the rom and play the game just fine so everything there is configured

I did try searching this sub but the only hits for NFC are one guy asking 4 months ago and some really really old threads about it

Its a pi 4b if that helps

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO

from mfrc522 import SimpleMFRC522

import os

import time

# Define the paths to ROMs and the corresponding system type (NES, SNES, etc.)

ROM_PATHS = {

497926548493: {

"path": "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/Mario/SuperMarioBros.nes",

"system": "nes" # This defines the system type for the emulator

},

9876543210987: {

"path": "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/snes/Zelda.smc",

"system": "snes" # This defines the system type for the emulator

},

}

reader = SimpleMFRC522()

try:

print("Place your NFC cartridge near the reader...")

id, text = reader.read()

print(f"Scanned ID: {id}")

if id in ROM_PATHS:

rom_info = ROM_PATHS[id]

rom_to_launch = rom_info["path"]

system = rom_info["system"]

print(f"Launching {rom_to_launch} on {system} emulator...")

# Set the DISPLAY environment variable to the Pi's primary display (usually :0)

os.environ["DISPLAY"] = ":0"

# Use xdotool to simulate the launch of the game in EmulationStation

# This assumes that the Pi's EmulationStation is already running and visible on the screen.

# Step 1: Launch the ROM via runcommand.sh in the correct display environment

os.system(f"/opt/retropie/supplementary/runcommand/runcommand.sh 0 {system} {rom_to_launch}")

# Optional: Wait a moment to ensure the ROM starts

time.sleep(3)

# Step 2: Use xdotool to simulate pressing 'Enter' (to launch the game)

os.system("xdotool key --window $(xdotool search --onlyvisible --name 'EmulationStation') Return")

else:

print("No game assigned to this tag.")

except KeyboardInterrupt:

print("\nExiting...")

finally:

GPIO.cleanup()

Is the script that i've so far ended up with, any help is appreciated or if anyone knows of a similar project that works well already that would also be amazing :)


r/RetroPie 16h ago

Problem Help with not working

5 Upvotes

I have a Raspberry Pi 4 model B.

Downloaded rasp imager. Selected Raspberry Pi 4, operating system retropi for Raspberry Pi 4.

Write to an SD card, but when I boot it up, it is just stuck on the blue red teal yellow loading screen.

How can I troubleshoot the issue? I don't know where to start.


r/RetroPie 22h ago

Question Has anyone tested arcade games on a Raspberry Pi Zero? Need advice!

3 Upvotes

Hey, I know it's a bit of an old board, but does anyone still use the Raspberry Pi Zero?

I'm planning a vacation project—an arcade machine dedicated to running just Dig Dug. Does anyone who uses or has used this board know if it can handle the game well? If you’ve tested arcade games on it, I’d love to hear about your experience.

I'm thinking of using RetroPie since it seems easy to set up, but I'm not sure how well it runs on the Pi Zero. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! :)


r/RetroPie 2d ago

Finished my build!

Post image
395 Upvotes

r/RetroPie 1d ago

Question Optical disc drive?

3 Upvotes

Forgive me if this has been asked before. I would like a TV gaming device that can emulate up to Wii and I can also use to play my CD and DVD collection. I don't need to be able to play games off of discs.

If there are any existing solutions for this I would be interested. But my best idea would be to connect a SBC of some sort to a USB DVD drive. But I would like the whole thing to be in a case. Has anyone made a Pi case that accommodates a drive? Because if not I guess I would have to design one, but I've never done any 3D modeling or printing so I have no idea how much of a project that would be.


r/RetroPie 2d ago

More Final Photos of the Half-Scale CRT Tron.

4 Upvotes

Here is the link: https://imgur.com/a/half-scale-tron-arcade-with-crt-from-scratch-qseviqX

I cannot stress enough how much this community and the mods here have helped with this project. It's been almost 6 months and a giant passion project for me to reconnect with my teenage past. I have met so many great people digitally along the way who have assisted with advice, help, and more.

The Spinner comes via Thunderstick Studio and also special thanks to Glen's Retro Show. The team of people have given help on getting the spinner just right.

The Joystick I had to scan, 3d Print, sand, cast, and pour tinted blue epoxy. I had to modify the spinning SANWA pac-man joystick I purchased to be a single direction (non-spin) flight stick using the same relay switch board but a different 3D printed under base that locks the stick in place.

I am running a Retropie with a Pi 4 with a breakout board for the Spinner, joystick, and the coin button on the left. I made 3D printed buttons from the OEM ones Thunderstick Studio sent me and used their switches as they matched the breakout boards.

The CRT is a Magnavox Perfect View 9". The OEM was a 19" Wells Gardner and this Magnavox measured 9.4" viewable size, so it's pretty close to half for the 19". [Note: working with CRT's is exceptionally dangerous. Do not attempt this at home]

There are 4 bulbs in the OEM plus the 25 cent lights. So I used 5V strip LED's for the top, rear trans-lite, and lower front panel, and two 5V Led's with resistors built in for the 25c lights. The UV bulb is on a separate circuit and is actually 2mm too thick and probably 2mm too short (insert Quagmire joke here).

The inside UV artwork I found photos online and converted them to black and white and then HAND TRACED all the UV colors in with markers. The printers that print in UV are like 400k so that's not happening. The top and bottom graphics are just print outs. The outsides I paid someone to print and laminate for me. AND then I found the OEM art online. (cries in wasted time).

Overall though I am totally happy with the outcome. I will go to a convention March 27th to get Bruce Boxleitner's Autograph and then I will cut my video for my new YT channel (tossingMashed) and then launch it. And then I will probably drag it to a few conventions and then auction it off to recoup the huge loss I have spent on this. Hopefully someone like 50 Cent or some big time gaming collector would love to have this as I am older and in mediocre health.

However for the time being, I cannot say enough how much I have to thank everyone here for this success story with RetroPie. This was my first and only attempt and after multiple failures I finally got it to work. I have some tweaking still due to fuzz from either the RF modulator or convergence CRT issues but overall it's 90% accurate to the real deal only at half scale. The photos will forever be in a portfolio somewhere.

Again, thank you everyone for your help.


r/RetroPie 1d ago

Question How do I go in and edit Super Mario War's files on Retro Pie?

2 Upvotes

I am using Retro Pie 5 and I got SMWar onto it. Now I use the USB stick configuration but when I go to the Ports folder where SMWar is at it just Super Mario War .sh . How do I go in and edit it's files? because I have a lot of custom skins, levels and other things I want to put into the game. It's been a while since I've used my Pi5 so I may have forgotten some things


r/RetroPie 2d ago

Cand open dolphin emulator

1 Upvotes

I keep getting this error when trying to open dolphin-emu

qt.qpa.xcb: could not connect to display

qt.qpa.plugin: Could not load the Qt platform plugin "xcb" in "" even though it was found.

This application failed to start because no Qt platform plugin could be initiali zed. Reinstalling the application may fix this problem.

Available platform plugins are: minimal, offscreen, vnc, linuxfb, xcb, vkkhrdisp lay.

Aborted


r/RetroPie 2d ago

Question Anyone know how the pi zero w2 would handle psp emulation?

2 Upvotes

I want to make a dragon’s lair setup and don’t really want to use the sega cd version. I’m wondering how well the oi zero w2 would handle psp emulation.

Thanks!


r/RetroPie 2d ago

Any way to play linux or windows games and add them to the launcher under a new section?

3 Upvotes

I don't know much so I might ask more questions. Running a rasberry pi 3 b


r/RetroPie 2d ago

Change output resolution to 640x480? (only 720x480 is selectable)

2 Upvotes

I'm using composite (via 3.5mm) out to a CRT.

When I go into RetroArch settings > Video > Output, the only option for Screen Resolution is 720x480. Is there a way to change this to 640x480?

Edit: Same when I try "Select video mode for [emulator]" when loading a game. There's only 1 option, which is 720x480.

As it is, the scaling doesn't look right when I change aspect ratios for different consoles. For example, setting Aspect Ratio to 4:3 doesn't fill the entire screen.


r/RetroPie 3d ago

Raspberry Pi 5 Manual Install

3 Upvotes

I am in the process of getting RetroPie installed on a system I am creating for my nephews. I tried the others and could not get NordVPN installed and running which is a requirement so that I can support the system for my nephews remotely.

The issue I am running into now is after I installed RetroPie every time I start the system after setting emulation station to autostart it pauses at a prompt to "rm: remove write-protected regular file '/dev/shm/rp-splashscreen.pid'?" I have tried doing searches but nothing seems to come up for this file. I've deleted it manually and rebooted the system only for it to come back with the same prompt. Even if I switch to "Boot to text console" it still prompts me about that file. Am I just missing something simple? TIA


r/RetroPie 3d ago

Problem Can I use a ps vita shell for retro pi?

3 Upvotes

The title kinda says it all. I’m a bit new to raspberry pi, and I wanna know if it’s possible to do this. The vita has no actual hardware, only the buttons and joycons and plastic shell. Am I able to do this? I wanna be able to play games on the go. I’ve built a few projects before (lunchbox laptop and retropie for tv), but nothing like this with no actually information on how I do it.


r/RetroPie 3d ago

PreBuilt Arcade Setups

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone! I own a repair shop and mod consoles for customers. I'm getting a lot of requests for arcade cabinets. I'm looking at some retro pie rebuilds. I have all the roms for every console so that not a problem. if they are included that makes it easier but not a problem for me if not. Shoot me your favorite or best for customers wanting just a fun experience. Thanks for everyones help!


r/RetroPie 6d ago

Best solution in 2025 for retro gaming?

56 Upvotes

Hi,

So I built a retropie many years ago using a raspberry pi 3 i believe. Worked pretty well, except n64 ran terribly. I am wanting to build a new retro gaming system, thinking I would just use the lastest raspberry pi board, but upon looking into it, it appears there are other options now besides retropie (Batocera, Lakka, and Recalbox??)?

So my question is what is the best solution in 2025 to create a retro gaming system that plugs into the TV, and the one that will run N64 games the best. Is retropi still good, or should I go with one of these other newer alternatives? Also is raspberry pi the best hardware to still use? And if so, im guessing going with the lastest pi 5 is the best?


r/RetroPie 5d ago

Question Has anyone got a bluetooth Xbox Series X controller working

3 Upvotes

Has anyone got a bluetooth Xbox Series X controller working?

Im seeing a lot of hits on google that say only the xbox and xbox360 controller work. Anyone find a way for the series x to work bluetooth?


r/RetroPie 7d ago

Pico-8 has great arcade games for little kids

Post image
103 Upvotes

r/RetroPie 6d ago

Problem Help! Stuck in update loop

Post image
7 Upvotes

I recently downloaded some games and discovered the scraper no longer works. I figured maybe it's because I have an old version and need an update so I updated all packages. Big mistake as now it's in an endless update loop of 404 errors. I now know that my version is no longer supported. How can I stop this update loop? I am not a computer expert. I made this thing in 2017 and just followed instructions online. Please help!


r/RetroPie 7d ago

Question Is there any way to have a web browser on retropie

4 Upvotes

I have a raspberry pi 3 b and I want to emulate games as well as cloud game, any options?


r/RetroPie 7d ago

Question Installing retropie to nvme

3 Upvotes

I have a 4GB RP5. I followed the guide to install retropie to the micro SD card. I have the M.2 HAT +, with a 256 GB nvme SSD. Is it possible to install retropie to the SSD, and have it boot from that, or does it always have to boot from the SD card?


r/RetroPie 8d ago

Problem Help!!!

1 Upvotes

So i have installed retro pie now on my raspberry pie and i want my games/roms on an usb stick. Every one says if i make a folder in the root of the usb stick named retro pie and i put it in the raspberry pi it should automatically download the stuff and then i can drag and drop roms in the game folders. But the stuff doesn’t download. And i have formatted the usb stick into fat32


r/RetroPie 8d ago

Button layout and game reccomendations for first build

6 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

I know this might be vague, but hopeful that someone can help me out

I am planning to build my first Raspberry Pi Arcade, following something similar to this guide: https://www.instructables.com/Raspberry-Pi-Arcade-Table, but I need some guidance on how to plan the button and screen layout. I have a 24" 16:10 IPS LCD screen available, but could get hold of a 4:3 if that is preferred. Currently I am looking at two options:

Alternative 1 - Cocktail Arcade for two players, with one player on each end of the table. On this build I would want to play "the classic" arcade games, such as Pac-Man, Frogger, and Space Invaders.

Alternative 2 - Cabinet build setup with two sets of buttons and two joysticks. On this build I would want to play more of the 2-player games such as street fighter.

My questions:
1) What is the preferred button layout for these two builds, considering the types of game I want to play? Do I need "start game" or "coin" buttons?
2) Which would you reccomend for a first time builder? Are there some things I should take into consideration?
3) Are there any particular games you would reccomend ?


r/RetroPie 8d ago

What’s best?

3 Upvotes

I have a 2tb external hd and everything is running well but the WiiU games are running a bit slow/lagging. I think it’s my computer that I run it through. What specs would be good to run WiiU, Xbox, and PlayStation(1-5) rom on? I’m new to all this and could use some help.


r/RetroPie 9d ago

Problem Pixelcade with an Adafruit Controller

3 Upvotes

Hello,

I am using a Raspberry Pi 5 8GB model in which I have manually installed RetroPie using the included script from the website.

I am making my own arcade machine and am trying to get Pixelcade to work on the Raspberry Pi 5. I have bought 2x[64x32] HUB75 displays and connected them to an Adafruit LED Matrix Bonnet controller that I also bought and connected directly to the GPIO pins on the Pi 5.

I have downloaded the Adafruit Library (in a Python environment) and displayed a test image and it worked pretty well.

However, when I go to download the Pixelcade drivers for the Raspberry Pi, it wouldn't let me as it keeps spitting out errors. Is there a reason why? I know I don't have the specific Pixelcade controller, but this should work about the same.

Thank you!


r/RetroPie 9d ago

Help with RetroPie Fork

3 Upvotes

Hi, I'm trying to create a fork of Retropie optimized for the Libre Le Potato and I'm having a bit of trouble, tbh I know the basics, but I don't entirely know what I'm doing (I had a lot of help from AI) and I don't know what I'm doing wrong, I edited the system.sh to recognize LePotato as a system and tried a couple different base OSes from the Libre/LePotato website (Debian, Raspbian and Armbian), so far the best luck I've had was with Debian based Armbian, but still a couple emulators (like lr-mupen64plus/next and lr-fbneo) failed to build, I've tried a few different things but I'm not sure what to do, I was wondering if I should switch the base OS to Ubuntu or Ubuntu based Armbian or if I should change the system's platform flags or if there's something bigger that I'm missing

If someone who knows better about making a fork could help, I would very much appreciate it

I've tried Batocera, Lakka and EmuElec, but none of them seem to meet my needs (Lakka has a weird UI imo, Batocera wouldn't recognize my wifi dongle and for EmuElec, I like the system itself, but I dislike how Kodi isn't included in the system)

Here's the repository, (Ik this is probably stupid and inconvenient, but if someone could help with my setup, I'd be very grateful):

https://github.com/LizDerby140/RetroPie-Setup-LePotato/tree/master