Button mapping for HID mode selection

Dear all,

A firmware update is knocking on the door. Besides a few technicalities, there are two main features in the new version: support for two N64 controllers (yay! Played my first round of Super Mario 64 last night, with proper analogue controls), and an option to set the HID Mode upon startup without having to edit the config.

Please find the firmware and updating instructions on this page. As always, I’d be glad if you could give it a test run, and report if something doesn’t quite work the way it’s supposed to. Here’s the full list of changes:

 Read more… »

No text today :)

Our new tutorial section is beginning to grow – our old friend Muzer has just written up a detailed tutorial for Windows users. If you are having trouble setting up your Retrode, make sure to check it out. Thanks Muzer for your effort!

→ Want to contribute a tutorial? Let us know at editors@retrode.org!

We recently received reports about glitches with the SNES controller readout (controller doesn’t work, sometimes works, or goes nuts when you press B button). If you are suffering from such problems, please make sure to flash your device to the latest firmware v0.17f, and let us know if it helps. We consider this an essential update since it also fixes a nasty glitch with savegame writing.

Find the latest firmware here.

v0.17f (2012-03-19)
- Essential fix for SNES controllers ("B Button
  Problem" and others)
- Bugfix SRAM writing: didn't check against total size

At last, I have managed to find some time and prepare a set of plug-in prototypes! Those beauties are already pretty close to the real production run that is planned for later this year. The three models are as follows:

• Game Boy (GB/GBC/GBA) plug-in with additional unpopulated N64 slot because, well, why not? :)
• Nintendo 64 (N64) plug-in
• Master System (SMS) plug-in

These are plug-ins for the three cartridge systems for which we managed to source connectors. Always eager to hear about potential suppliers for historic cartridge connectors so we can grow our plug-in range! Since people keep on asking: We currently do NOT plan for a commercial NES plug-in since technical limitations of the NES cartridge system would not make it a lot of fun to use anyway.

Those of you who have been following the project closely may notice that there are a few design changes compared to earlier versions. The GBx and N64 combo plug-in was split into two separate boards (although the GBx one still has the soldering pads for a N64 slot because it doesn’t cost anything extra). The SMS plug-in in its current revision does not feature solder pads for an optional Game Gear connector (had been planned as a user retrofit but didn’t make it into this prototype for lack of space).

And now, tell me: Are they not lovely? :)

Dear all,

We are currently in the process of gathering step-by-step tutorials that provide assistance through the process of setting up your Retrode under various operating systems and emulators. We hope that these tutorials will be of use for people who are new to emulation and USB game controllers.

Our first entry explains the setup of the Retrode under SuSE Linux, and we hope to collect lots more over time. As we all know, the thing with tutorials is, there can never be enough of them. To help others enjoy their Retrode as much as you do, we therefore ask you to contribute! Whenever you solved a specific problem in a non-obvious way, please write it up. Any material, including screenshots, links to instructional videos, etc., can be sent to editors@retrode.org, and we will be more than happy to take care of it.

Thank you for your effort!

Matthias and the retrode.org Editing Team