Installation instructions:
 
1. Download the latest image here  – Updated April 4th – Joystick works out of the box now, with Retroarch and Mupen64Plus (N64) mappings

2. Uncompress image:

• Linux: 7zr x imagename.7z   
• Windows:  WinRAR, 7-Zip  (make sure you get a file with extension .img afterwards)

3. Flash image to an SD card:

• Linux: sudo dd bs=4M if=imagename.img of=/dev/XXX (identify target with care by running ‘sudo fdisk -l’ to avoid data destruction)
• Windows: use Rufus (very fast), Etcher or Win32DiskImager

4. Insert card into the slot and press the power button 

5. First boot will take a couple of minutes, as the sdcard will be expanded to its maximum capacity. After resizing, next reboots should take around 45 seconds. Screen keeps blank for the first 30 seconds, then you’ll see a splashscreen with initial bootup sound. 

UPDATE Jan 21th

6. Desktop entry from EmulationStation menu is currently broken. Use Armbian Desktop option from RetroPie – RetrOrangePi submenu

IMPORTANT NOTES

1. PERFORMANCE: most games from 8/16 bit generation and Playstation 1 should run without major issues. Dreamcast, N64 and PSP emulation shouldnt be expected but we’re still working to get the best performance out of the hardware, so a few games are already decent.  The Allwinner A20 CPU is weaker than H3 (the one inside Retrostone1, dual vs quad core, 960 vs 1200mhz). 

2. USABILITY: The Retrostone, Orange Pis , Banana Pis (based on Allwinner CPU) and the Raspberry Pis as well are all LINUX SBCs (single board computers). Operating system runs on EXT4 partition (LINUX only) so you won’t have native access to it using a Windows PC, unless you install 3rd party apps. The basic task (copying your games) is no big deal and it’s explained below. Learning a few Unix commands won’t hurt though. It may be difficult at first, but we’ll do our best to improve the ease of use, so please report proper feedback 

3. STORAGE: Allwinner boards (most Orange PIs, Retrostone included) are very sensitive to SD card quality. So, avoid cheap cards like the plague, even if it’s a supposedly good brand. Some 128GB sdcards dont work well with our image, so try smaller ones, 64GB and smaller. 

4. SUPPORT: hardware issues must be addressed with 8BCraft. Official software support is provided exclusively on this forum or the Github (https://github.com/retr0rangepi/), so create yourself an account and help improving the software! Search first then open a new thread with full details so support can be improved.  Being based on RetroPie does not mean everything is the same as there are exclusive features for the official Raspberry version and some others in RetrOrangepi as well. Anyway, the RetroPie wiki is a great source of info: https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki

5. WARRANTY: When you backed the Retrostone2 campaign, it was only about the hardware. Software is free/opensource and keeps surviving on donations and other kinds of support (software/hardware contributions). 8BCraft has been supporting the project with board samples and donations, so a customized image was provided in retribution. As stated in open source licenses, software is provided “as is”, without warranty of any kind, express or implied.

Other info:
 

• In case your unit does not seem to boot,  try to reformat your sd card with SDFormatter 4.0 by Trendy (with size adjustment on), AOMEI or Linux GParted (delete all partitions and recreate one).

• Default usernames and passwords are: user pi / password pi / superuser root / password orangepi . Avoid using root user. 
• Emulators are already installed, but they only appear in EmulationStation when roms are added.
• Please check this wiki page for consoles that require BIOS files to run: https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/BIOS
• Controls are already mapped, so it should be ready for operation. Check this thread to learn how to add roms.  Drop files in /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/PLATFORM, where PLATFORM is the name of the target console, e.g. snes or arcade. 
• To use the builtin wifi, go into desktop mode from RetroPie-RetrOrangePi-Armbian Desktop and run “sudo nmtui” from a terminal session and choose the access point. Onscreen keyboard should work, although an usb mouse is recommended. 
• HOTKEYS – works for all libretro cores (most platforms), except standalone emulators like Mupen64plus (N64), Reicast (Dreamcast), PPSSPP (PSP), LinApple (Apple II), Vice (Commodore), UAE4ARM (Amiga)

· Select+Start → Exit Game
· Select+Right Shoulder → Save State
· Select+Left Shoulder → Load State
· Select+Right → Save Slot Increase
· Select+Left → Save Slot Decrease
· Select+X → RetroArch Menu
· Select+B → Reset Game

Hey guys,

Friday evening I tried to make video tutorial on how to add the optional buttons and the joystick. As it was the first time I was doing so it results in horrible video rushes where I keep hesitating, doing things wrong, doing them again, being out of focus, being out of battery and so on…

Anyway the rushes are total rubish so I can’t use them to make a video tutorial. However I could use screenshots from them to make a step by step tutorial that I just uploaded on the website :

https://www.8bcraft.com/modding-retrostone/

I have tested buttons already and they work OK. Joystick has not been tested yet. I wrote a driver that should be working and I’ll be testing it later.

Some pictures of the modded RetroStone and some pictures from the tutorial :

Have a good day

Pierre

PS : it’s the last 3 days on Kickstarter for the revised version of Raspiboy, don’t miss the clear case edition 🙂

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/583173617/raspiboy-revised-retrogame-console-electronic-kit

Hey guys,

So today we have some pictures from the assembly line and test procedures. Also I have been discussing the timeline with the factory and there will be a slight delay : we should have started to ship today and PCB test took us more time than anticipated.

After discussing the matter with the partner factory it needs few more days for different reasons :

– test of PCB and assembly is taking more time than anticipated

– The pulp molded part will be received only friday.

So it will be as follow :

– First ~450 clear blue RetroStones will be ready and shipped the 28th

– Then the grey will follow and should ship from the 30th, then all units should be shipped in about 1 week.

Then shipping will take about 15-24 days depending on your country/custom service/luck. Very sorry about this additional delay..

So now about production pictures! Here is the PCB test jigg first. It is used to test the PCB one by one.

Then on the assembly line :

Back buttons step :

Connecting the LCD :

Closing the case :

Final steps :

Run/Burn test : testing all the units for about 30 minutes to make sure there is no problem on the board (shortcut, power problems…)

Also the pulp mold is finished on last friday, the parts should arrive end of week.

Have a good day,

Pierre

Hey guys!

Production is going well, PCB have been assembled, we have already about 500 PCB that are tested OK.

Full injected cases production is to arrive today so final assembly can start soon.

The pulp molded blister mold should be ready this week, first sample should be on the 12th.

Boxes and manuals are being printed now

So overall it’s going well! So that brings us to todays topic : we need to confirm the backer shipping list, so I will soon lock the shipping address (you won’t be able to modify anymore on Kickstarter). So make sure you updated it if you need to! Or to fill the survey if you have not yet! To change the address on Kickstarter backer here’s a tuto how https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfRCAZ2ZGFE

That’s it for today guys, have a good day!

Pierre

Hey guys,

Just a quick update with some pictures and news!

The PCB assembly started, here are some pictures :

The panel of 2 PCB that goes in assembly line :

The whole assembly line picture

AOI check :

Solder paste machine :

After first side SMT process :

And some components arrived :

Batteries :

 

That’s a lot of batteries!!

LCD in they bulk pack.

The L/R button PCB.

The L/R button PCB wires

 

So overall we are still on schedule to start shipping the 23rd of July! Hope it runs smoothly 🙂

Also about Retrorangepi I got news from the developper, he told me he should be able to build a retrorangepi RetroStone image soon! In which he made some nice adjustments, such as preinstalling the GPIO buttons.

That’s it for today!

Have a good day,

Pierre

PS: Raspiboy rev1.3 is on Kickstarter, here’s the link that I forgot in last update :

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/583173617/raspiboy-revised-retrogame-console-electronic-kit

Hey guys,

Just a quick update to let you know that while RetroStones are being manufactured (everything still on last schedule, not much new to repport), I just launched a small Kickstarter campaign for the release of the rev 1.3 of Raspiboy.

 

 

For the occasion I just released a limited edition clear purple case! I think it looks really neat! 🙂

I think it will probably be the last rev for Raspiboy and I might disrupt it afterwards to focus on RetroStone !

Have a good day,

Pierre

Hey guys,

Just a quick update today to let you know that production is still on schedule!

 

I received the boxes samples and the clear blue case sample. So here are some pictures of them!

 

The plastic blister should be replaced by a cardboard formed, not 100% confirmed yet as I’m waiting for supplier feedbacks.

Hey guys,

I just received pictures of an assembled clear blue RetroStone, and I think it looks really neat 🙂

I had to blur the display because I got picture with copyrighted data on them!

Deep blue

Deep blue left – light blue right

They feedback that the color difference don’t show a lot on pictures but in real life it looks more different.

 

Packaging pictures

We received the first thermoformed blister, it’s transparant and glossy instead of matte and black (or white maybe), but it gives an idea and validate the 3D shape.

They are currently sending to me the clear blue case retrostone + all the packaging samples. So I’ll be able to feel them.

Let me know if you enjoyed the update, and don’t hesitate if you have a comment/questions,

Have a good day,

Pierre

 

 

Hey guys!

I received the first blue case samples!

Supplier made 2 tones for me, if you want to help choose the one you prefer, light or deep.

If you have comment on the color don’t hesitate I can ask to change still.

 

 

Also I got some more sample pictures :

Box sample from another supplier

 

 

 

Well that’s it for today!

Pierre

Hey guys!

Meanwhile production is on it’s way I am working on the packaging. I asked samples in different color. You can help me choose the color by voting in comment down below!

There is 5 colors :

– Kraft color – Printed black

– Glossy white color – Printed black

– Glossy black color – Printed white

– Matte white color – Printed black

– Matte black color – Printed white

Personnaly I think glossy color makes it look really cheap, that’s why I asked supplier to make matte color sample. I thought I would show them to you anyway.

Kraft color – Printed black

Glossy white color – Printed black

Glossy black color – Printed white

  

Matte white color – Printed black

Matte black color – Printed white

Inside there will be a thermoformed shapped:

But it’s not ready yet, samples should come next week.

That’s it for today, Leave your color vote down below !