Perhaps one of the best pieces of news for users of the Raspberry Pi is its compatibility with recalbox, And that's because these tiny computers can be used for a gran number of projects, especially for retro games.
This is how a wide variety of projects focused on the video game emulation and luckily recalbox It is one of the easiest to set up.
In this way, this operating system This will allow you to have greater interaction with video games. That's why we're explaining a little more here. What is it for and how do I install it on my PC motherboard?
What is Recalbox and what is it used for on Raspberry Pi development boards?
Consists in an operating system that is primarily characterized by including a wide variety of consoles video games, arcade systems and PCs, which is why it has become one of the better alternatives For users looking for a bit of fun. Therefore, it will allow you to emulate a console to enjoy a large number of titles, all from the comfort of your home. your Raspberry Pi.
It is primarily supported by the user interface of EmulationStation2, RetroArch and piFBA like emulators and has a very simple installation system thanks to being based on NOOBS. That is how recalbox It is currently one of the best emulators for mini PCS because it offers ease of use and many configuration possibilities.
This way, if you have recalbox and a Raspberry Pi You'll be able to do many things. One of them is connecting it to your TV or screen and giving it a energy to turn it on and thus be able to have a multimedia center Of reproduction And it's a fairly complete game, so you won't need any external hardware. If what you're looking for is play videos You can do it from anywhere USB device connected to the Raspberry Pi.
All of this has been developed with the purpose of work on Kodi and all its endless features that have made it one of the best multimedia centers available today. But best of all, you'll be able to switch from Kodi to RecalBox where you will have immediate access to all the ROMs of classic machines like Super Nintendo or Master System or for systems more modern ones like Nintendo 64 o PlayStation.
It is worth noting that all of this is possible. Thanks to the potential of Raspberry Pi boards, which are capable of supporting quite demanding emulationsFinally, it is important to mention that recalbox It comes pre-configured so that files can be sent from any other device connected to the same local network. Raspberry Pi gamesTherefore, no wired connections are needed. All of this is done through the browser client connected by Samba.
Features and functions of Recalbox: What can we do with it on a Raspberry Pi?
As mentioned earlier in the post, the function of this operating system is quite clear; it is as follows: recalbox It will allow what is emulation of video game consoles from your Raspberry Pi Without much difficulty, all this is thanks to its easy setup and the fact that it allows you to transfer games without a cable connection, so any device connected to the same local network as the board can send it games.
Among the most important and outstanding features of this operating system for emulating video game consoles are the following:
- It can update online.
- WiFi support.
- It has support for console controllers of XBOX 360, PS3, 8BitDo and USB and Bluetooth controllers
- supports multitude of languages.
- You can do the favorite list.
- Its latest downloadable version incorporates a A large number of new features and very interesting updates.
- It offers what are the kernel updates, updates from the scrapers for the game data you have there.
Hardware requirements for playing retro games on Raspberry Pi with Recalbox: What do I need to get the most out of it?
Before you start running your favorite games on your Raspberry Pi through recalbox, You will need to take into account all the necessary requirements for this, as well as the most suitable hardwareAll of this will allow you to take full advantage of the Maximize your emulation of your favorite consoles.
Therefore, the main requirements you should keep in mind are the following:
- The first thing you need is your Raspberry PiLuckily recalbox It is compatible with almost all of them.
- A wired charger micro USB that allows you to power your motherboard. It works for any motherboard that provides at least 5V to 5V, So, a tablet or smartphone charger will probably work. However, if you want to be absolutely sure, you can buy a charger that delivers up to 2.5 A.
- Un usb keyboardThis will be much more convenient for setup; if you don't want a USB one, you can use one via Bluetooth.
- Cable HDMI.
- Un gamepad, This is where all the magic happens, if you connect a controller of Xbox 360 or a PS3 Sixaxis They will be detected on the fly and automatically without any prior configuration steps. However, if the pad is different, you can configure the equivalencies through the menu.
- You clearly need to have one Micro SD cardIt's important to remember that the Raspberry Pi doesn't have internal memory and needs to install the necessary files. Start RecalBox.
- If the network connection will not be made by Ethernet cablethen a USB WiFi receiver, This will be more than necessary to view and send games and movies from the local network.
As for the hardware requirements The following will be needed, but first, keep in mind that the new version It is better suited to the characteristics of the most common hardware. That is how Recalbox 6.1 It has compatibility with the Retroflag GPi Case.
It's a portable console that promises hours of fun and works successfully with a Raspberry Pi Zero. But if you're looking to play at home without spending too much money and without sacrificing performance, then you can use a Raspberry Pi 3 or Raspberry Pi 3A+ with only 512 MB of RAM and with the same processor as the Raspberry Pi 3 B +.
Recalbox versions and editions: What are all the existing versions and their respective new features?
As has already been mentioned, it is about an operating system of open source which will allow you to emulate a large number of retro console and computer gamesBut it doesn't just allow you to interact with it through games; it also offers multimedia work where you can listen to audio or see videos.
Furthermore, one of its main features is that it is constantly updated thanks to a very active developer community. Perhaps one of the most important steps for this system was the arrival of the RecalBox version 6.0. This marked a major change in the development of this distribution and served as the basis for the release of the latest stable version. RecalBox 6.1.1, this being the most recent.
In this way it can be said that RecalBox OS It's basically a distribution. GNU / Linux which is optimized for multimedia and retro gamingIt has been programmed to be used in Raspberry Pi from the startbut which has also arrived for Odroid and x86 systems in version 4.1It's worth mentioning that this project reached one of its peak points thanks to the version 6.x where it was already capable of emulating a large number of consoles.
As if that weren't enough, it includes the powerful Kodi for multimedia, including all the advantages this offers. It has a Graphic interface for much more comfortable navigation and control, and thanks to its good performance, it was included in the Raspberry Pi Foundation to include it in NOOBS.
Learn step by step how to install Recalbox on a Raspberry Pi from scratch to play retro arcade games on your single-board computer
recalbox not only can it be installed in a Raspberry Pi, but you can also install it on a Android or PC. However, in this case we're going to show you how install it on a microcomputer in a very simple way, although keep in mind that this process is very similar in either case.
Therefore, follow each of the steps that we are going to teach you below:
Download Recalbox and record to the micro SD card
Once you are ready to carry out the installation and have all the requirements ready, then you will just have to follow each of the steps that we will indicate below:
- The first thing you will have to do is Download the Recalbox image file from the following address:
https://download.recalbox.com/en/Here you need to find the correct image file for your hardware. - Next, you will need to enter the Micro SD card on the computer and format the card through the file system FAT32Please note that formatting this card will erase all files stored on it, so it is recommended that you make a backup beforehand.
- Once the card has been formatted, you will need to download one of these two programs. “Win32DiskImager” o “Etcher”. Once you download it, you will need to use it to record. the Recalbox image file in the micro SD card.
Download Win32DiskImager for Windows
Download Etcher for Windows
Download Etcher for macOS
Download Etcher for Linux
- Finally, you must remove the SD card from the computer and then insert it into the Raspberry Pi and turn it on. In this case recalbox It will be installed automatically; please note that this installation process usually takes a few minutes.
Driver configuration
- After recalbox Once it is installed and ready to use, the next thing you should do is configure the driver correctly, as this will ensure that it functions properly.
- In some cases, the controllers usually work automatically, as is the case with the Xbox 360 USB controller. If this is your case, then you won't have to do any of this; however, if the controller doesn't work, you will need to configure it.
- To do this, you will need to connect a usb keyboard and press the key "Enter", The menu will open there. Recalbox. In that menu, using the arrow keys on your keyboard, scroll down to the option of “Configure input” and click on the A key to select it. Then you will have to select the item from “Configure a controller” and press again the A key.
- From here on you must follow each of the instructions that appear on the screen in order to map the buttons on your controllers. As usual, recalbox Name the buttons based on the controller of Super nintendo. Once you have mapped all the buttons, you can then use the controller to navigate through Recalbox, If everything is working without a problem, then feel free to disconnect the keyboard if you find it more comfortable.
Connect to the network
- It's important that you know how to carry it out the network connection, To do this, you will need to access the Recalbox menu using the key "Enter" from your keyboard or the button "Start" in your controller. Here you'll need to scroll down and select the “Network settings”From there you will be able to Turn on WiFi.
- When you get there you will select “WiFi SSID” Next, you will need to enter the name of the network you will be using. To complete this step, you will need to select the item. “WiFi Key” and enter your network password to connect.
ROM transfer
As mentioned earlier in the post, game transfer is possible in this case, and if you installed this operating system, it's clearly to enjoy some games. In the case of ROM transfers There are two different ways to do it, if you are using a computer with Windows, Then you must open the window of “File Explorer” and in the address bar write “Recalbox”, to be able to connect to your Recalbox via the network.
Here you will have to click twice on "Compartir" And there you will have to locate the folder “roms”. Once you're inside that folder, you'll see that it corresponds to all the video game systems that Recalbox is capable of emulating. Therefore, You just need to drag them to the appropriate system folder.
As an alternative to this procedure, you will be able to use the interface of Recalbox web browser for like this transfer your ROMsTo do this, you will need to open your web browser. Now, in the address bar, type http://recalbox.local/ This should send to the web interfaceFrom there you will be able to manage your ROMs, BIOS files, among others.
Scraping the ROM collection
This is the final step in this entire procedure; this means that at the moment of scrape your ROM collection You are provided with metadata such as synopsis, release date information, and box art for each of your games.
To begin scraping, you will need to go to the menu and scroll down to the option of “Scraper”. Now, from the next screen, you will need to scroll down until you find the option to “Scrape now”, Here you'll be able to change some of the settings, but if this is your first time scraping your games, then just select the "Starts”.
This scraping procedure usually takes some time, although the exact time will depend on the individual. the number of games that's in the collection. When everything is complete, each of your games should have the box art and relevant metadata. Of this Recalbox mode It will combine a simple interface with a simplified setup process.
Recalbox vs RetroPie: Which is better for turning your Raspberry Pi into a retro arcade machine?
There is no doubt that these microcomputers have achieved a popularity that perhaps no one imagined at the beginning, especially today when they allow a large number of projects to be carried out, including creating a Own Retro Arcade MachineThis is how it allows you to take advantage of classic game emulator softwareAll this thanks to projects like Recalbox or RetroPie, both considered very good alternatives for this.
That's how you'll have the opportunity to create your own retro arcade machine like a true professional, especially if you have a Windows environment, HyperSpin which are presented as a spectacular ROM management and launcher software, while the Raspberry Pi, the focus of attention is on the RetroPie projects and as a main alternative Recalbox.
All of this has created a major dispute between these two. arcade systems regarding which of the two is the best alternative for users. In the case of recalbox He is considered the newcomer. But the truth is that each of them has their own characteristics. In the case of recalbox It should be mentioned that it is much more easy to configure, but of RetroPie that stands out its speed with which he expands and improves his creation.
However, since this is not an easy decision to make, we're going to show you the main differences between the two so you can decide which one to choose:
Retropie
Initially, it was a small-scale project launched almost at the beginning of its creation, so at that time it was the only available option to be able to create an arcade machine with the plate.
Over time, this system was improved, so much so that it is currently one of the largest projects whose main objective is to emulate as many games as possible. As support for all of this, You can mention the large community they have todayAmong some of the most notable elements is their ability to be updated every time a new version is released. new version or model of a Raspberry Pi, thus simplifying many aspects with each of its updates.
recalbox
It is considered the main one RetroPie alternativeBut despite being launched later, it has created a very good strategy to compete with them. They've done something very similar, but this time they've simplified many of their features. max out the functions, thus significantly reducing the problems of the installation and configuration of the games.
The ease of use offered by this system is what has made it one of the top choices for most users. It should be mentioned that It doesn't have as large a community as RetroPie, Although it is estimated that over time they will equalize, so it can be said that currently recalbox It is one of the favorite options for many, especially because of the ease it offers, something that in RetroPie It has caused many headaches, especially when configuring games.
