Once done, you can move to the following section, and learn 4 ways to install new games on Retropie. 4 ways to add games on Retropie. As I told you in introduction, here are the 4 main ways to add games on Retropie You’ll certainly find the perfect one for you in this list. Installing RetroPie on your Raspberry Pi 3 is simple. You can do it in 15 steps and in under 20 minutes. This online tutorial is for mac users only.
Don't run out of games to play when you're stuck at home make your own retro gaming console. For less than the cost of a Nintendo classic system, you can build a Raspberry Pi system that'll play all the retro games your heart could possibly desire. I built my own and slapped that puppy in an old NES case, and it's everything I hoped it would be and more. I have it loaded with every NES, SNES, Master System, and TurboGrafx game ever released. Quite simply, I love this handcrafted retro gaming powerhouse, and you can have one as well.
The following article hopes to help guide you down the path to your first Raspberry Pi retro emulation system.
Products used in this guide
- The brains of the machine: Raspberry Pi 4 B ($42 at Amazon)
- Storage for your games: 32GB SanDisk Micro SD card ($8 at Amazon)
- Power supply: Enokay Power Supply for Raspberry Pi ($9 at Amazon)
- A quality HDMI cable: MonoPrice Certified Premium HDMI Cable ($7 at Amazon)
- A keyboard for initial setup: AmazonBasics Wired Keyboard ($14 at Amazon)
- A retro controller: Buffalo Classic USB Gamepad ($37 at Amazon)
- A really cool looking case: Retroflag Raspberry Pi case ($21 at Amazon)
On your computer: Setting up the image on the SD card
- Go to https://retropie.org.uk/download and download the 'Raspberry Pi 2/3' image. Make sure to remember where you save it!
Go to https://www.balena.io/etcher// and download the correct version for your system, then install. I prefer Etcher for its simple interface and compatibility with Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Source: iMore
- Open up Etcher and click Select image.
Navigate to where you saved your RetroPie image and select it.
Source: iMore
- Next click Select drive.
Choose your SD card (Make sure you select the correct drive letter. You don't want to write your OS drive with an image of Retropie!) Then click continue.
Source: iMore
Click the flash button.
Source: iMore
It will take a few moments, but once it's done writing, you will have an SD card that's ready to roll!
On the Raspberry Pi: Initial setup for your RetroPie
- Insert your newly flashed micro SD card into your Raspberry Pi.
- Connect the network cable to your Raspberry Pi.
- Plug an HDMI cable to your Raspberry Pi and then to a TV or monitor.
- Plug your USB controller into your Raspberry Pi.
Finally, plug your micro USB power supply into a wall outlet and to your Raspberry Pi. Your Raspberry will now begin its first boot.
Source: iMore
Follow the on-screen instructions to configure your USB controller.
Source: iMore
On the Raspberry Pi: Setting up your Wi-Fi connection
If you are not going to hardwire your system to the internet, now is the time to set up your WiFi. You are going to need a USB keyboard to do that, so go ahead and plug your keyboard into your Raspberry Pi.
- Navigate to the Retro Pie configuration page.
Scroll all the way down to the bottom and select the Wi-Fi option.
Source: iMore
- Next select Connect to Wi-Fi Network.
Now select the network you wish to connect to.
Source: iMore
- You will then be prompted to enter your Wi-Fi password. This is where you will need that USB keyboard.
Once you have connected to your network, be sure to take note of your IP address.
Source: iMore
Adding the games
Your new Raspberry Pi/RetroPie system comes with all the emulators you could need pre-installed. Emulators use things called ROMs to boot and play games. Think of ROMs as the modern-day equivalent of a game cartridge. No cartridge, no games, so you are going to have to load up your system with all the ROMs you want to play. Now, I can't tell you exactly where to pick up ROMs, but if you have at least marginal google-fu skills, you should have no problem finding a resource that'll fulfill all your needs.
There are a few different methods of moving ROMs onto your system. My favorite method is to use RetroPie Manager. It allows you to move ROMs from the computer you downloaded them directly onto your Raspberry Pi using your computer's browser.
On the Raspberry Pi: Enabling RetroPie Manager
The first thing you are going to need to do is to enable RetroPie Manager on your Raspberry Pi.
- Navigate to your settings menu on your Raspberry Pi and select Retropie Setup.
Select Manage Packages.
Source: iMore
- Select Manage experimental packages.
Scroll almost to the bottom and select Retropie manager.
Source: iMore
Select Install from source. Your system will now run a script which will download and install Retropie manager for you.
Source: iMore
- Once it has completed select Configuration/Options.
Select Enable Retropie Manager on boot.
Source: iMore
Finally, reboot your system.
Source: iMore
Back on your computer: Moving the ROMs
The computer you are going to be using needs to have all your ROMs, and it needs to be on the same network as your Raspberry Pi.
- Open the internet browser of your choice. In the address bar, enter the IP address of the Raspberry Pi, which you noted earlier followed by ':8000'. The address should look something like; 192.168.X.XXX:8000. This will take you to the RetroPie Manager page. There are all sorts of interesting and helpful data here, but for now, all you need to do is…
Click on Manage Rom files for emulated systems.
Source: iMore
- Here you will find all the emulated systems on your Raspberry Pi. Select the system you would like to add ROMs for and click on it.
Now all you have to do is drag and drop your ROMs into this window. Easy Breezy!
Source: iMore
Once you have all your ROMs loaded onto your system, give your Raspberry Pi a reboot and you're all ready for a retro gaming party to beat the band.
Source: iMore
The computer
Raspberry Pi 4 B
The brains of the machine
This tiny little computer can do some much, it's the reason making your own retro-gaming system is this possible, not to mention, this fun!
While other mini-computers on the market could do the job, the Raspberry Pi is just the simplest and most inefficient machine for making a retro gaming system in this method.
Storage for your games
32GB SanDisk Micro SD Card
Fast, reliable storage
This class 10 micro Sd card is all you need to make a system like this one hold all your favorite retro games.
When you're talking about storing your retro games, you don't need a ton of space, because the game files are very small in size. A fast, inexpensive, but reliable micro SD card will do the trick!
Power supply
Enokay Power Supply for Raspberry Pi
Give it power
Enokay makes great supplies for the Raspberry Pi, and their MicroUSB power supply is perfect for powering your retro gaming console.
We especially love that this one comes with an external power button n the cable, giving you the ability to cut off to your Raspberry Pi whenever you want.
Additional Equipment
The Raspberry Pi itself is a pretty simple machine to use and set up, but here are some additional product you may need, if you don't have any lying around, that will ensure your building process goes off without a hitch.
MonoPrice Certified Premium HDMI Cable($7 at Amazon)
A simple, high-quality HDMI cable will ensure you can hook your new retro gaming system up to your favorite TV or monitor.
AmazonBasics Wired Keyboard($14 at Amazon)
You can use any USB keyboard to get the job done, but if you don't' have an extra laying around the house, this basic one will help you out.
Buffalo Classic USB Gamepad($37 at Amazon)
If you're going to make a retro gaming system, your controller should look the part! The Classic USB Gamepad has all the buttons you need and that retro look and feel you've been craving!
Buffalo Classic USB Gamepad($21 at Amazon)
Move Games To Retropie Mac Download
If you want you can wrap your Raspberry Pi up into this neat little case that looks like an NES — perfect for completing that retro look
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Board games for kidsKid-friendly board games to keep your children entertained
Games can teach kids teamwork, strategy, help with basic math skills, and even give their critical thinking skills a good test. Plus, board games are fun as heck, so here's a list of our favorite games you can play with your kids!
Retropie Macintosh
I was one of those guys that bought the Wii off of eBay shortly after its release at a scalper's ransom. For months my roommates and I would drink beer, talk trash, and play Wii Sports bowling for hours on end. Of course the Wii never got many quality games but the console was worth the price alone for all the fun we had with Wii Sports.
A decade later my Wii doesn't work very well; the discs are scratched and the Wii usually spits out any disk I put into it, which is a shame because my four year old is just getting into gaming. After a bit of research I've found that Dolphin, the emulator I found to play Gamecube games, can also emulate Wii games. It took a few hours of experimentation but I finally figured out how to play Wii games on my Mac. Let's have a look!
Step 1: Get Dolphin
The Dolphin app is an emulator for both Gamecube and Wii. Download and install Dolphin emulator and you should see this screen when you open the app:
Step 2 (Optional): Get the Wiimote Dependencies
This step is only required if you want to use real wiimotes to play wii games on your Mac. Many gamers have mentioned that the Xbox controller is an excellent alternative.
Start by opening System Preferences
> Bluetooth
and ensuring Bluetooth is turned on. Despite being a bluetooth device, the wiimote does require a bit of extra software to work as desired:
- foodhid: OSX IOKit driver for implementing virtual HID devices (joypads, keyboards, etc.)
- WJoy: Nintendo Wiimote driver for Mac OS X. Unfortunately the current version of the original repository has an immediately disconnecting defect so use this forked version which contains fixes so your Wiimote can stay connected.
The WJoy utility may not be needed to play games with Dolphin but it's a very useful app for using a Wiimote for any purpose on Mac. WJoy displays in the menu bar and allows you to open or close Wiimote discoverability. Click the 'Begin Discovery' menu item, then grab your Wiimote and hold the red pairing button near the Wiimote's batteries; WJoy will quickly discover and pair your Wiimote!
Step 3: Configure the Wiimote or Other Remote within Dolphin
Dolphin does not initially detect your Wiimote so you'll need to manually configure your Wiimote (or Xbox controller) within the Options
> Controller Settings
menu. Find the 'Wiimotes' heading and choose either 'Emulated Remote' (for a controller other than Wiimote) or 'Real Wiimote' if you have a Wiimote.
Notice that you can use up to four real Wiimotes (it works!). You'll also want to turn on the 'Continuous Scanning' option under the 'Real Wiimote' heading.
Move Games To Retropie Mac Free
After initial setup, Dolphin will remember any configuration you've created. Once Dolphin recognizes your Wiimote, the Wiimote will rumble and make the typical Wiimote chime.
Move Games To Retropie Mac Pc
Step 4: Load an ISO and Play!
Click Dolphin's 'Open' icon and choose an Wii game ISO file. The game will start and you're ready to play!
My 2017 13' MacBook Pro plays Wii Sports flawlessly, even without the Wii sensor bar. The swinging and other Wiimote motions are just as responsive as my old Wiimote. Kudos to the developers of Dolphin and the Wiimote drivers for making all of this Magic happen!