This app was mentioned in 30 comments, with an average of 2.00 upvotes
I got it for ~£140 brand new, it's definitely not cheap. Get what you pay for though, it feels very high quality and has a lot of nice features (status LED, so you know when it's charging etc).
It running Android is the most important thing for me. It means I installed a new launcher, can play Android games with physical buttons, and can do all kinds of cloud sync / backup stuff with my main Google account. Plus, I already know the OS well, so no struggling with basic stuff.
I spent a week or two researching, and it seemed like the best option. It can run PSP games smoothly too :)
PS: Shoutout to /r/EmulationOnAndroid
Excellent. Feels solid, nothing wobbly, looks and feels like a recent Nintendo device.
It has a ton of nice extra features too, like a little led coming on when the device is closed + screen is off, so you know it's in standby. It comes with some emulators + games, but since it's Android I just installed my own launcher and my preferred emulators.
I wouldn't say that Android emulation is hacky but it is unfortunate that Android doesn't really have a nice frontend app for emulators. I've heard of Gamesome Frontend but I haven't tried it yet. I also know there's RetroArch but I've never been a fan of the UI.
The emulators that I use and have worked well for me are: *Drastic (DS)
*ePSXe (PS1)
*Snes9x EX+ (SNES)
*PPSSPP (PSP)
*MegaN64 (N64)
the best way Ive found to use retroarch is to get THIS!.
Then set up ROM locations, choose which retroarch cores you want for each system, set up gamepads(optional) and away you go.
Let us know how you do...
Based on this video ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r09SQMWcgzE ), it's pretty obvious that all they did was install a launcher with large custom ugly icons that launches into the rom frontend called gamesome ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vektor.gamesome&hl=en ) For box art, some systems have 3D boxes, these were downloaded from hyperspin or emumovies. If you google the system of interest and 3D boxart you'll get links to the sets. Depending on where you got your roms from, you may have to rename some of the picture files to match your rom names but it should be very easy to emulate the Maxdroid look if you really want it.
Personally I feel that Arc Browser or RetroX give a much nicer look than Gamesome but everyone has their own preferences.
Once you've got Retroarch, or some other emulators installed... I'd highly recommend grabbing "Gamesome Frontend" to use as your menu / frontend. Once you've hooked it up to your emulators, and and ROM folders, jumping into a game is relativly simple.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vektor.gamesome
I dunno, I just use Nova Launcher and organize by folders on my main screen, with a folder for emulators, a folder for native games below it, and a folder for video apps (BSPlayer, Netflix, Amazon, Youtube) below that. Then I just put other common apps like Chrome, Moon+ Reader, Play Store, and a few others on the dock.
I wanted to as well as RCB and Kodi never worked for me and I hate the feel of Retro Arch. If you find a solid solution you let me know. I've been told this isn't a bad solution https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vektor.gamesome&hl=en
Gamesome has some really weird quirks and you need a mouse at first but it works decent enough once it's set up.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vektor.gamesome&hl=en
That's what I was using on my old Fire TV. I was able to play Fire Pro Wrestling D on the first generation with reicast so I'm curious to see how much more I can push it with the added hardware. Also to see if the included controller plays nice with the majority of emulators.
My desktop setup is over 500 gb, It took a while and technically I'm adding to it every day. The setup of hyperspin is very much a hobby itself so I can understand people not wanting that kind of involvement. For android there's a front-end called gamesome that kind of just works. Never tried it myself so your millage may vary.
Backing Out of ReiCast can be a problem. Since the menus are for mouse mode, the only way to exit is to push the circle. This doesn't properly close the app and suspends the processes.
So if it glitches(my controller did) going out/into the app won't fix it.
Most emulators work fine, though.
Also, get Gamesome.
I use Gamesome
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vektor.gamesome
It has some annoying quirks but it's decent enough to link to in Kodi.
don't know if you're still looking, but I use and personally like gamesome (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vektor.gamesome&hl=en) for my S7e and Nvidia Shield TV.
Agreed. The controller plus Gamesome frontend is awesome for retro gaming on an android device.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vektor.gamesome&hl=en
Could just use a frontend like this
Yeah, google around, there are lots of ROM sites that you can download from using a browser. Also, /r/emulation is a great resource. I have an Nvidia Shield (dedicated gaming device that runs Android) and for emulation I use the following setup.
I use the .emu series of emulators and they have been the easiest set and forget apps I've ever used for emulation. These aren't free unless you want to compile the sources yourself, but I found it worth it since they recognize individual controller profiles automatically. If I plug in a new controller with a different button set it just works, and I have like 4-5 diff kinds of controllers that I switch often.
If you pair that with a nice frontend you can have an easy to use setup going fairly quickly. I use Hyperspin, but that takes a lot of effort to configure, there are others like Gamesome, Nostalgia, and Arc browser that are simpler to setup.
Is your device rooted or unrootable? If so we'll proceed from there and it will save you a lot of trouble emulating certain consoles, trust me.
Before we go on we'll need a frontend to organize your ROMs and the best frontend is Gamesome! It is simple to set up and is compatible with more than one device (looking at you ARC Browser, Nostalgia, and Hyperspin). You can even make custom profiles for various systems and emulators quite easily as long as you can fill in the blanks. Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vektor.gamesome&hl=en&referrer=utm_source%3Dgoogle%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_term%3Dgamesome&pcampaignid=APPU_1_KZ7lWbaDJ5iajwPW37YQ Once you reply, I'll send you the files and instructions needed to set it up.
The main emulator you'll need is RetroArch. Anything else should be used to supplement it. If you want to know what systems it emulates, just check the online updater. It's free, open-source, and has no ads while still offering plenty of features! Get the nightly build here: http://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/android Do not get the aarch64 version unless you have a 64-bit device!
Before we move on from RetroArch there is one thing you must do before we move on. You must download the files from this link (https://mega.nz/#!HggynbyK!vRoCnJzFi5Gk2Xo3YUwTWZEOyWG6cEaFD1M5uz3BNX4), unzip them, and move them to the '/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.retroarch/files' directory using MK File Explorer (or another file explorer) and rename the old 'retroarch.cfg' file to 'retroarchold.cfg' and restart RetroArch. Go into the online uodater and install the CaPriCe32 core, the Frodo core, and the Hatari core so that you have more core options for the Amstrad CPC (CaPriCe32) and the Commodore 64 (Frodo), as well as access to Atari ST (Hatari) emulation. Then go back into the '/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.retroarch/files' directory and delete the new 'retroarch.cfg' file and rename 'retroarchold.cfg' to 'retroarch.cfg', leaving behind the 'retroarch-core-options.cfg' file. Original tutorial here (its in French but I'm sure you can see what's going on): https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pLBxFZwzzo4&feature=youtu.be
Now that I've covered all the bases with RetroArch here's a list of emulators for systems not emulated by RetroArch:
Play! - PlayStation 2 Emulator: http://purei.org/downloads/play/weekly
Reicast (CI Build) - Dreamcast Emulator: http://builds.reicast.com
Dolphin - GameCube & Wii Emulator (very annoying, must check device compatibility by trial and error): https://dolphin-emu.org/download
jzintv4droid2 - Intellivision Emulator: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.libsdl.jzintv4droid2&hl=en&referrer=utm_source%3Dgoogle%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_term%3Djzintv4droid2&pcampaignid=APPU_1_rablWeGlG8mU0gKF0KeADw
Beebdroid - BBC Micro Emulator: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.littlefluffytoys.beebdroid&hl=en&referrer=utm_source%3Dgoogle%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_term%3Dbbc+micro+emulator+"android"&pcampaignid=APPU_1_FaflWdCjMYKe0gK746vICQ
Pyldin 601 - Pyldin 601 Emulator: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pdaxrom.pyldin601&hl=en_GB&referrer=utm_source%3Dgoogle%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_term%3Dorao+emulator+google+play&pcampaignid=APPU_1_9anlWdqnA-va0gLCj7moCg
BkEmu - BK-0010/11M Emulator: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=su.comp.bk&hl=en
xMillenium - Sharp X1 Emulator (if someone could find the original link to this port of this emulator, I will link it here): https://mega.nz/#!rcRXXDIA!YKQi-Nc7aGcmeXW-Y5_CykPO-E0xqkFT7P_FF3PG1oU
XM8 - PC-88 Emulator: http://retropc.net/pi/#download
xRoar - CoCo and Dragon32 Emulator: http://www.6809.org.uk/xroar
PC6001VX - PC-60 Emulator: http://eighttails.seesaa.net/article/305067428.html
XM8 - PC-88 Emulator: http://retropc.net/pi/#download
There are many more to find, but I'll leave that up to you. If you're getting into emulation you're going to need to know how to patch games with IPS patches and other patch formats for things like fan translations. Here is a good ROM patching program called ROM Patcher (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?hl=en-gb&id=com.xperia64.rompatcher&referrer=utm_source%3Dgoogle%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_term%3Dgoogle+play+rom+patcher&pcampaignid=APPU_1_zLPlWdaaMJC0jwPvpbCACQ [link doesn't work where I am but the app doesn't have this problem]). It patches in a wide variety of formats like IPS and xDelta.
Lastly, certain emulators (DOSBox) require you to use a keyboard. I'd reccomend the Hacker's Keyboard (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.pocketworkstation.pckeyboard&hl=en&referrer=utm_source%3Dgoogle%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_term%3Dhacker%27s+keyboard&pcampaignid=APPU_1_0bTlWeafFovMjwPwx77gBQ) because it has the whole array of keys. Even CTRL, ALT, FN, and ESC!
Not an emulator, but the Gamesome frontend can get the ad free version. Great for multi platform emulating.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vektor.gamesome
If you are looking for Legitimate Legal emulators and not hacked/cracked Chinese pirates. I would recommend the entire collection from Robert Broglia.
I own the GPD XD, JXD S7800 and JXD S192, and it works great. I would also look into GAMESOME front end. Roberts Emulators work great with gamesome.
John's Emulators are also very good, however develpment has not moved very fast and appear to have stalled. It is also not supported in Gamesome. But If you don't plan on using a front end to organize they are excellent emulators.
List of apps that go on every one of my Android game devices.
Gamesome
ScummVM-SDL Edition Far better than any play store version
DOSBOX Turbo
Gearoid
Jzintv4droid
Mupen64 Plus
Frotz
I also keep retroarch for anything there is not a better emulator for. but last resort.
Hmm, just found Gamesome. This is what I'm looking for -- anything else like it?
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vektor.gamesome&hl=en
Gamesome seems to be The only Frontend on Android. Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vektor.gamesome
try setting up gamesome
Use this APK Downloader and grab it right from the Google Play Store: http://apps.evozi.com/apk-downloader/
URL to paste: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vektor.gamesome