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
• Setting Up The Device
• Controls
• The SD Card
• BIOS Files
• ROM Files
• Workflow for Adding Content
• Setup and Optimize Emulators
• Configuring Ports
• Tools
• Bluetooth
• Some Terms / What is

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

• Batocera > Controls Overview.

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

• .keys files are in JSON files.

  {
      "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

• Batocera > DOSBox Pure
• DOSBox Pure
• dosbox.conf Settings

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

• Here is a link to a complete list of available systems of Batocera Linux, which will be larger than for the RG35XX-H, but still might be helpful.

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

• Batocera > DevilutionX

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

• Batocera > eduke32

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 Keyboard Shortcuts
• Fallout CE

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

• Batocera > ScummVM
• Libretro > ScummVM

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

• Batocera > xash32_fwgs

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

• Batocera > OD Commander

.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.