Use Raspberry Pi as a game console - that's how it works with Recalbox
The mini-computer Raspberry Pi can be converted into a retro game console with just a few hand movements as a "Recalbox". In this practical tip you will learn how to proceed to turn a Raspberry Pi into a Recalbox.
Raspberry Pi as a game console: Hardware required
Before you can start, you need the following hardware:
- A Raspberry Pi 3 (Bluetooth is only supported from version 3),
- a case for the Raspberry Pi,
- a micro SD card (at least 16 GB storage capacity),
- an HDMI cable to connect the Recalbox to the TV,
- either a USB or Bluetooth gamepad,
- a Bluetooth dongle (to use the controller via Bluetooth),
- a micro USB cable (at least 1.5 amps).
Raspberry Pi as a game console: assemble hardware
You have assembled the Recalbox in just a few steps. This usually only takes a few minutes:
- Assemble the Recalbox by disassembling the housing and inserting the Raspberry Pi in the position provided. Then reassemble the housing.
- Plug the Bluetooth dongle into one of the USB ports on the Raspberry Pi.
- Open the micro SD card using a card reader on your PC.
Installation of the Recalbox software
To ensure correct functioning, the micro SD card must first be formatted. Then install the Recalbox operating system:
- Format your micro SD card using the "SD Formatter" software. Formatting using Windows' own formatting tool is unfortunately not possible.
- Download the Recalbox operating system, unzip it and then copy the files to the previously formatted micro SD card.
- Then insert the memory card into the designated slot on the Raspberry Pi.
- Connect the Recalbox to your television using an HDMI cable and connect it to the power supply using the micro USB cable.
- The operating system is now automatically extracted. No further steps are necessary. Your Recalbox is set up and can be used immediately.
Copy games to the Recalbox
You can then use your PC to copy Roms to the Recalbox via the network:
- Open Windows Explorer.
- Enter the domain "\\ Recalbox" in the address bar of the Explorer to establish a network connection to the Recalbox.
- Open the first folder "Share".
- Then navigate to the "Roms" folder, into which the corresponding Rom files, ie the games, must be copied. The folders are sorted by console (eg "psx" for Playstation One).
- Copy the games into the appropriate folders. In each folder there is a text file that gives you information about the format in which the Roms must be available in order to be supported.
- As soon as the games have been copied to the Recalbox, the game list must be updated on the Recalbox itself. This works via the main menu.
Important instructions:
- Never disconnect the Recalbox from the mains without shutting it down first. Shut down the system via the main menu under "Exit".
- To get the correct information in the selection of the game overview, you can call up the information about the "Scraper" from the main menu.
- Rome is not always legal. These are copies of games. Such a copy is not legal if copy protection is bypassed when you create it. It is controversial whether the consoles on which older games have been saved are to be regarded as copy protection. Downloading Rome from the Internet is not legal. The only exception are Rome, which are under a free license.
- On the official website of the Recalbox you can find out whether your gamepad is compatible, because not every gamepad is supported.
Tested under Windows 10 with a Raspberry Pi 3 and a Sony PS3 wireless controller. In our next practical tip, we will present the 5 best extensions for the Raspberry Pi.
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