Using a Raspberry Pi, create a Retro Gaming device that can connect to a TV or computer monitor (HDMI or RCA).
Equipment needed:
*Raspberry Pi 3 B+ or Raspberry Pi 4 with Power Adapter
*Micro SD Card & Reader
*PC to setup the SD Card
*USB Keyboard
*HDMI Cable or 3.5MM Video AV Component Adapter
Category: Gaming
Connect a PC to a Commodore 1541/1571 drive
Did you ever want to transfer files from your old Commodore 1541/1571 drive between your computer and a real drive? Did you also want to use a real Commodore floppy drive with the VICE emulator? Me too! 😉 Both of these things are possible with the zoomfloppy device being offered by Retro Innovations. You can download basically anything you want from arnold.c64.org (or any other commodore software source) and transfer it right to your floppy device so it can be used on a real Commodore 64 or Vic 20.
This device is unlike other solutions that only worked with specially built cables and DOS. You simply plug a USB cable between your zoomfloppy and your computer and then the serial cable between the zoomfloppy and the floppy drive. Once the physical connections are made, you simply run the OpenCBM software to transfer files or backup disks.
Here’s how to install a zoomfloppy device to your Ubuntu computer.
sudo apt-get install libusb-dev build-essential linux-headers-generic git
Install the CC64 Compiler:
cd ~ git clone https://github.com/cc65/cc65.git cd cc65 make sudo prefix=/usr make install
Compile and install OpenCBM
cd ~ git clone git://git.code.sf.net/p/opencbm/code opencbm cd opencbm/opencbm make -f LINUX/Makefile sudo make -f LINUX/Makefile install install-all install-plugin-xum1541 sudo ln -s /usr/local/lib/libopencbm.so.0 /usr/lib/libopencbm.so.0
Add udev rules for the ZoomFloppy hardware itself:
sudo pico /etc/udev/rules.d/45-opencbm-parallel.rules
Add this to the bottom of the file, then save and quit:
SUBSYSTEM!="usb_device", ACTION!="add", MODE="0666", GOTO="opencbm_rules_end"
# zoom floppy
ATTRS{idVendor}=="16d0", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0504", GROUP="users", MODE="0666"
LABEL="opencbm_rules_end"
Restart udev:
sudo service udev restart
Check the ZoomFloppy and IEC device status:
cbmctrl detect
Bonus: Get VICE to use the zoomfloppy interface to utilize a real 1541 Commodore Floppy Drive!
1. Settings -> Peripheral Settings -> Device #8 -> Enable IEC Device 2. Settings -> Peripheral Settings -> Device #8 -> Device Type -> Real Device Access
8bitdo Sega Genesis Receiver Review
8bitdo Sega Genesis Receiver Review
The 8bitdo Genesis Receiver allows your Sega Genesis or Mega Drive to use a modern gamepad such as the PS4, PS3, XBox or Wii U (pictured) as well as a wide assortment of Bluetooth controllers. Also pictured on the right is another device used in a similar way for devices that accept USB such as the Nintendo Switch, the Mini Playstation, PCs, etc.
Install Sony Playstation Now (PS Now) on Ubuntu
I’m always looking at ways to play video games on Ubuntu Linux. This one is a doozy. With Playstation Now, you can play over 700 real PS2, PS3 and PS4 games on your Ubuntu computer. The technology uses streaming from remote server where the gaming console exists. Sony typically will give you a couple weeks as a free trial though the deals vary. I was able to take advantage of a Black Friday sale with one full year of PS Now for only $70. Fantastic deal.
Here’s how to install PS Now on Ubuntu:
First install wine if it’s not already installed. Wine is a Linux program that helps us run Windows programs on the Linux platform.
sudo apt install wine-stable
Next, download winetricks into your downloads folder.
cd "${HOME}/Downloads"
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Winetricks/winetricks/master/src/winetricks
chmod +x winetricks
Now install some Windows apps with winetricks.
./winetricks corefonts ./winetricks vulkansdk ./winetricks dxvk ./winetricks vcrun2013
Now we are going to install Lutris, which is a program that helps you install games and other apps on your Wine Windows installation.
sudo apt-get install lutris
Once you find Lutris in your application menu and launch it.
Now visit the Lutris website and launch the PS Now installer.
https://lutris.net/games/playstation-now/
After you select ‘install’ you will see a Playstation Now icon in the Lutris application.
Here’s where I ran into trouble with this installation Mind you, I figured all this out by using directions cobbled together from many broken install methods I found on the web! When I tried to launch PS Now from Lutris, I was met with a message that said, “Vulkan is not installed” even though I installed it with winetricks (above).
Here’s the fix:
Right-click on the Playstation Now icon in Lutris.
Select “configure”.
Select the “runner options” tab.
Turn “Enable DXVK” off.
Save and relaunch. After poking on a couple dialog boxes, you should be good to go!
Sega Master System
If you are unfamiliar with the 8-Bit Sega Master System, the game system that Sega sold before the 16-Bit Sega Genesis – you are in for a treat. This third generation video game system debuted in 1985 in Japan as the Sega Mark III. The name wasn’t very well revived so when it debuted in 1986 in North America, it was relabeled the Master System. The system competed with the Nintendo NES, which debuted a year earlier. In Japan and North America, the system was far less popular than it was in Europe and Brazil. The incredibly popular Sega Genesis followed in the market two years later, making the Master System a footnote outside of Europe and Brazil. Despite this, many great games were created. I put together a list of the best games, though there are many more. If you are interested in checking out what the system offered, check out the titles below. Also, just for fun check out this embeded youtube video with 25 popular Master System titles.
A Sega Master System console will run you around $50 on ebay. Just like any other retro game system, the game cartridges can run anywhere from $10 to $300 depending on the rarity, condition, desirability, and completeness (box, manual, etc.)
If you have a gen 1 or gen 2 Sega Genesis, you can use a “power base converter” (which ranges between $50-100 on ebay) to play Sega Master System games.
Another option is to buy a Mega EverDrive X7, which will allow you to load up Master System, 32X and Genesis cartridge roms. Don’t ask me for roms or where to find them!
Another interesting option is to emulate the system with a Raspberry Pi using RetroPie. There are plenty of youtube videos around to show you how to do this. Essentially, you are going to install an OS image onto a micro SD card, put it in your Raspberry Pi, then install your rom images to the rom directory. This is a great option and highly encourage!
Good luck and happy gaming!
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Gaming on the Raspberian Stretch Desktop
It really surprises me that there isn’t a Raspberry Pi gaming scene. I’m not talking about emulation. I’m talking about games that run native on the Pi in Raspbian. Old machines like the Atari 2600, Colecovision, ZX Spectrum and the Commodore 64 have an embarrassing wealth of new games coming out all the time. The Vic 20 still gets releases for God’s sake! So where is the love when it comes to our tiny Pi friend, which is much, much more capable?
Here’s a small list of games you can run on the Stretch Desktop. There are more but these seem to be the most popular. Let me know if you have any favorites you want added to the list!
For the 3D games, a Raspberry Pi 3 B+ is highly recommended!
Battleball – a 3D Tank arcade
sudo apt-get install battleball
Flare – Diablo-like RPG
sudo apt-get install flare-game
Freesweep – a console based Minesweeper
sudo apt-get install freesweep
Funny Boat – funny arcade game
sudo apt-get install funnyboat
Gnome Nibbles – a snake game
sudo apt-get install gnome-nibbles
Quake 3
-> Setup:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get install quake3
game-data-packager quake3 -i
Open Arena – open source version of Quake with different maps
sudo apt-get install openarena
OpenTTD – based upon Transport Tycoon Deluxe sudo apt-get install openttd
TINT – a Tetris game
sudo apt-get install tint
distantdark 