http://www.techradar.com/pro/linux December 2019 LXF257 79Retro-gaming TUTORIALS
Download the RetroPie image and extract
Visit https://retropie.org.uk/download to download the
right RetroPie image for your Pi. You will need to extract the IMG
file from the compressed gz file. If you’re using Linux you should
be able to right-click and choose ‘Extract here’. Windows/macOS
users will need to use a program such as 7-Zip for this – see
http://www.7-zip.org for more info.1
Configure controls
Insert your controller if you have one and boot the Pi. You’ll
see the configuration screen asking you to choose keys to assign
to each button. Visit https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-
Setup/wiki/First-Installation for details on buttons for specific
controllers. Move over OK and tap the button assigned to ‘A’ to
save your settings.3
Load ROMS
To transfer ROMs, simply create a folder named retropie
on a USB stick, then insert it into your Pi. Next re-insert the USB
into your PC and copy your ROMs into the folder. Re-insert your
USB stick into the Pi to begin the transfer. Restart the Pi once the
transfer lights stop blinking.5
Install image to SD card
The easiest way to write the image to a microSD card is by
using Etcher (www.balena.io/etcher). Mac and Linux command-
line lovers can also run cd to navigate to the folder where the
IMG is located, such as cd /home/<user>/Downloads. Next run the
command sudo dd bs=1M if=nameofyour.img of=/dev/sdX. Once
the transfer is complete, eject the SD card and insert it into the Pi.2
Connect to Wi-Fi
This step is optional, but recommended if you plan to
transfer ROMs over the network. Now that the EmulationStation
main page has loaded, press ‘Select’, then choose ‘System > Wifi’.
RetroPie will now prompt you to launch Raspi-config to choose
your region, such as enGB. You’ll now be able to choose your
Wi-Fi network from the list and enter your password. Plug in a
keyboard, type your Wi-Fi password then select OK to connect.4
Play your games!
Select your game of choice (the one shown here is the
Sega classic Altered Beast) and have some retro-gaming fun. If
you’re having trouble loading games head to https://github.
com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/EmulationStation for
tips on how to resolve some common errors.6
GET YOUR RETRO-GAMING ON
7776Decmbr rb6c2019b21Tunyo December 2019 LXF257 79
Retro-gaming TUTORIALS
DownloadtheRetroPieimageandextract
Visithttps://retropie.org.uk/downloadtodownloadthe
rightRetroPieimageforyourPi.YouwillneedtoextracttheIMG
filefromthecompressedgzfile.Ifyou’reusingLinuxyoushould
beabletoright-clickandchoose‘Extracthere’.Windows/macOS
userswillneedtouseaprogramsuchas7-Zipforthis–see
http://www.7-zip.orgformoreinfo.
1
Configurecontrols
InsertyourcontrollerifyouhaveoneandbootthePi.You’ll
seetheconfigurationscreenaskingyoutochoosekeystoassign
toeachbutton.Visithttps://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-
Setup/wiki/First-Installationfordetailsonbuttonsforspecific
controllers.MoveoverOKandtapthebuttonassignedto‘A’to
saveyoursettings.
3
LoadROMS
TotransferROMs,simplycreateafoldernamedretropie
onaUSBstick,theninsertitintoyourPi.Nextre-inserttheUSB
intoyourPCandcopyyourROMsintothefolder.Re-insertyour
USBstickintothePitobeginthetransfer.RestartthePioncethe
transferlightsstopblinking.
5
InstallimagetoSDcard
TheeasiestwaytowritetheimagetoamicroSDcardisby
usingEtcher(www.balena.io/etcher).MacandLinuxcommand-
lineloverscanalsoruncd tonavigatetothefolderwherethe
IMGislocated,suchascd/home/<user>/Downloads.Nextrunthe
commandsudoddbs=1Mif=nameofyour.imgof=/dev/sdX.Once
thetransferiscomplete,ejecttheSDcardandinsertitintothePi.2
ConnecttoWi-Fi
Thisstepisoptional,butrecommendedifyouplanto
transferROMsoverthenetwork.NowthattheEmulationStation
mainpagehasloaded,press‘Select’,thenchoose‘System>Wifi’.
RetroPiewillnowpromptyoutolaunchRaspi-configtochoose
yourregion,suchasenGB.You’llnowbeabletochooseyour
Wi-Finetworkfromthelistandenteryourpassword.Plugina
keyboard,typeyourWi-FipasswordthenselectOKtoconnect.4
Playyourgames!
Selectyourgameofchoice(theoneshownhereisthe
SegaclassicAlteredBeast)andhavesomeretro-gamingfun.If
you’rehavingtroubleloadinggamesheadtohttps://github.
com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/EmulationStationfor
tipsonhowtoresolvesomecommonerrors.6
GET YOUR RETRO-GAMING ON