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RALibretro

RALibretro is a multi-emulator that can be used to develop RetroAchievements.

The "multi-emulation" feature is only possible because it uses libretro cores to do the actual emulation. What RALibretro does is to connect the emulation to the tools used to create RetroAchievements.

WARNINGlink

RALibretro is a Work-in-Progress!!!

Currently the development is going on this repo: https://github.com/RetroAchievements/RALibretro

Here's a list of known issues (feel free to report new issues if you find one): https://github.com/RetroAchievements/RALibretro/issues

Installation Instructionslink

Just download RALibretro from the Downloads page and unzip it.

Basic Usagelink

  1. Launch RALibretro.exe
  2. Click on File > Load System, and click on the system you want to emulate
  3. Now go to File > Load Game and choose your ROM. Note: RALibretro currently doesn't accept zipped files!
  4. Now you can create your cheevos or just earn some!

Supported Systemslink

NOTE: some systems may require system (BIOS) files in the System directory in order to load games correctly.

Here is a list of the systems supported currently:

  • SNES
  • NES
  • Nintendo 64
  • Mega Drive
  • Master System
  • Gameboy
  • Gameboy Color
  • Gameboy Advance
  • PC Engine (TurboGrafx-16/TurboGrafx-CD)
  • Atari Lynx
  • Game Gear
  • Neo Geo Pocket
  • Atari 2600
  • Atari 7800
  • Virtual Boy
  • Neo Geo (Arcade) - new. NOTE: you need to put the neogeo.zip BIOS file on the same directory as the ROMs.
  • Capcom Play System 1, 2 and 3 (Arcade) - new

Keyboard Inputlink

Keyboard a s z x d c f v Enter Tab g h
RetroPad Y X B A L R L2 R2 Start Select L3 R3
SNES Y X B A L R Start Select
NES B A Swap disk side (FDS) Insert/Eject disk (FDS) Start Select
Mega Drive A Y B C X Z Start
Master System B A Start
GameGear B A Start
Gameboy [Color] B A Start Select
Gameboy Advance B A L R Start Select
PC Engine II I Run Select
Atari Lynx B A Option 1 Option 2 Start
Neo Geo Pocket B A Start
Atari 2600 o L difficulty b R difficulty b L difficulty a R difficulty a Start Select
Neo Geo C D A B Start Coin
CPS1/2/3* * * * * * * Start Coin

Note: the buttons for CPS1/2/3 games vary for each game.

Keyboard Shortcutslink

  • see overlay: Esc
  • pause emulation: p
  • advance one frame at a time: ; (automatically pauses emulation)
  • fast forward: =
  • fast forward toggle: - (minus signal)
  • Screenshot: PrintScreen

Save/Load state keyslink

  • Save state current slot: Backspace
  • Load state current slot: F11
  • Load state from slot 1, 2, .., 9, 0: F1, F2, ..., F9, F10
  • Save state to slot 1, 2, .., 9, 10: shift+F1, shift+F2, ..., shift+F9, shift+F10
  • Previous slot: shift+-
  • Next slot: shift++
  • Switch slot: 0, 1, 2,..., 9

Missing Featureslink

How to make AES BIOS work in RALibretro or RetroArchlink

To make AES BIOS emulation mode work in your emulator:

  1. Make sure your emulator works correctly.

  2. Put neogeo.zip to System directory (RALibretro), or a folder you keep your NeoGeo ROMs (RetroArch).

  3. Make sure the neogeo.zip consist of at least files you can see here:

If you keep only those files, AES mode will be automatically forced for any NeoGeo game (recommended).

Important! The files which are highlighted on this picture (neo-epo.bin and neo-po.bin) are the only one actually related to AES mode, and you probably will need to include them in your archive to make AES mode work for you. neo-po.bin is necessary for japanese-only titles or to make the japanese versions to work, but due to emulation issue it also forces japanese language as default, that's why you will need to remove it to display english in some games.

  1. Load any FBA compatible neo geo ROM. More complete archive (including files needed to run MVS and UniBIOS modes) might need additional configuration to force AES mode:

In RaLibretro: Settings->Emulation->Force Neo Geo Mode->AES

In RetroArch: Command->Menu Toggle->Options->Force Neo Geo Mode->AES

Changeloglink

Last 10 changes on this page:

  • [2020-10-31 15:13] HolyShinx: Removed "n64 unsupported" line and added it to supported systems
  • [2019-06-07 02:33] Salsa: Added information about how to deal with "forced japanese" issue
  • [2019-02-18 01:01] meleu: add Salsa's tutorial "How to make AES BIOS work in RALibretro or RetroArch"
  • [2019-02-17 23:55] meleu: Updated RALibretro (markdown)
  • [2019-01-01 18:39] Raphaël Zumer: Document FDS key binds
  • [2018-08-05 13:59] Raphael Zumer: Extract system file note to section root
  • [2018-07-24 18:33] John A: We didnt explain here that we also support CD version of PC Engine and that the PC Engine and TurboGrafx16 is the same console.
  • [2018-07-24 18:29] John A: Updated RALibretro (markdown)
  • [2018-05-08 20:55] meleu: removed the "can be used to earn cheevos" message
  • [2018-05-06 18:09] meleu: Updated RALibretro (markdown)