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Dolphin - General Guide

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Dolphin feature rich a GameCube and Wii Emulator.

Dolphin

Resource Link
Dolphin - Webpage Link
Dolphin - Wiki Link
Dolphin - Game Compatibility Link
Dolphin - Performance Guide Link
Dolphin - Github Link

Where to put the games?

Gamecube:

Should be put under the retrodeck/roms/gc/ directory.

Wii:

Should be put under the retrodeck/roms/wii/ directory.

What file formats are supported?

File Format Description
.ciso Compressed ISO image file
.dff Digital Forensics File
.dol GameCube executable file
.elf Executable and Linkable Format
.gcm GameCube disc image file
.gcz Compressed GameCube disc image
.iso Standard ISO disc image
.json JavaScript Object Notation file
.m3u Playlist file
.rvz Compressed GameCube/Wii disc image (Recommended)
.tgc GameCube disc image format
.wad WiiWare and Virtual Console game file
.wbfs Wii Backup File System image
.wia Compressed Wii disc image
.7z Compressed archive file
.zip Compressed archive file

NOTE:

.wbfs and .wad are the original format supported by the Wii console.

Does Dolphin require BIOS or Firmware?

File Name Description
IPL.bin GameCube boot animation (optional)
segaboot.gcm Triforce BIOS.

Where to put the GameCube BIOS?

Dolphin looks for the IPL.bin in the save folders. Put each region's IPL.bin in the corresponding saves folder.

File Name Directory Comment
IPL.bin EU retrodeck/saves/gc/dolphin/EU/ dolphin-emu/GC/EUR/
IPL.bin JP retrodeck/saves/gc/dolphin/JP/ dolphin-emu/GC/JAP/
IPL.bin US retrodeck/saves/gc/dolphin/US/ dolphin-emu/GC/USA/

Where to put the Triforce BIOS?

File Name Directory Comment
segaboot.gcm retrodeck/bios/Triforce/ dolphin-emu/Trifoce/

Directory structure

Dolphin

This shows what folder corresponds to each folder in the standard Dolphin structure

Type Directory Comment
Dump retrodeck/storage/Dolphin/Dump/ dolphin-emu/Dump
GameCube Saves EU retrodeck/saves/gc/dolphin/EU/ dolphin-emu/GC/EUR/
GameCube Saves JP retrodeck/saves/gc/dolphin/JP/ dolphin-emu/GC/JAP/
GameCube Saves US retrodeck/saves/gc/dolphin/US/ dolphin-emu/GC/USA/
Triforce BIOS retrodeck/bios/Triforce/ dolphin-emu/Trifoce/
Mods retrodeck/mods/Dolphin/ dolphin-emu/Load/GraphicMods/
ROMs Gamecube retrodeck/roms/gc/
ROMs Wii retrodeck/roms/wii/
Screenshots retrodeck/screenshots/Dolphin/ dolphin-emu/ScreenShots/
Shaders retrodeck/shaders/Dolphin/ dolphin-emu/Shaders
States retrodeck/states/dolphin/ dolphin-emu/StateSaves/
Texture Packs retrodeck/texture_packs/Dolphin/Textures dolphin-emu/Load/Textures/
Wii Saves retrodeck/saves/wii/dolphin/ dolphin-emu/Wii/

How-to: Change the language of Dolphin

  1. In the Configurator open either Dolphin.
  2. Navigate to Options → Configuration → Interface .
  3. Select preferred language in the drop-down menu.
  4. Close the Emulator, Configurator and return to RetroDECK.

How-to: Enable GameCube Boot Main Menu

Prerequisite: Place the GameCube IPL.bin BIOS in the save folders (see above).

  1. Open Dolphin in RetroDECK Configurator by selecting Open Emulator → Dolphin.
  2. Go to Options → Configuration → GameCube and uncheck Skip Main Menu.

How-to: Enable Wii System Menu - Online Update

  1. RetroDECK Configurator → Open Components.
  2. Launch Dolphin
  3. Go to Tools → Perform Online System Update → Select the Region you want for the System Menu and install it.
  4. You can open the System Menu by going to: Tools → Load Wii System Menu.

How-to: Enable Wii System Menu - BootMii NAND Backup

  1. RetroDECK Configurator → Open Components.
  2. Launch Dolphin
  3. Go to: Tools → Manage NAND → Import BootMii NAND Backup then select your backup file.
  4. You can open the System Menu by going to: Tools → Load Wii System Menu.

WiiLink is an open source replacement for Nintendo's servers for both WiiConnect24 and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, allowing online connectivity for all, even after the original servers were discontinued.

Prerequisites: Wii System Menu / NAND Backup

  • You must have either the Wii System Menu installed or a full BootMii NAND backup.
  • The Check Mii Out and Everybody Votes channels require a genuine BootMii NAND dump.
  • Make sure Enable WiiConnect24 is checked in Dolphin: RetroDECK Configurator → Open Components → Launch Dolphin → Options → Configuration → Wii → Enable WiiConnect24.

How-to: Install the Channels

  1. Download the latest WiiLink Patcher Releases for Linux from the GitHub releases page and extract it.
  2. Make the WiiLinkPatcherGUI executable and launch it.
  3. Choose Custom Setup in the installer.
  4. Select the desired channels and their regions.
  5. Set Platform to Dolphin Emulator.
  6. Choose your system region.
  7. The patcher downloads the selected files to ~/Downloads/WiiLink.
  8. RetroDECK Configurator → Open Components.
  9. Launch Dolphin
  10. Go to Tools → Install WAD
  11. Install WiiLink Address Settings.wad first, then install the remaining WAD files you downloaded in ~/Downloads/WiiLink.
  12. Go to Tools → Load Wii System Menu and launch it.
  13. Inside the systems menu go to: Wii Options → Wii Settings → WiiConnect24 and accept the EULA.

Adding Mods

The ~/retrodeck/mods/dolphin/ that represents the /load/GraphicMods folder.

Note:

Some texture packs could made for a specific version or region of a game.

Make sure you have the right game and textures for it.

GAME_ID is different for every game.

Enable Mods

  1. Open up Dolphin inside RetroDECK Configurator by pressing Open Emulator - Dolphin.
  2. Press Options → Graphic Settings.
  3. Enable Graphics Mods and set it to On.

Adding the mods

  1. Extract any mod files from compressed .zip or any other format into folders.
  2. Go into mods folders, they contain folders that are all named by GAME_ID.
  3. Move the mods into the right folder:

Dolphin: ~/retrodeck/mods/dolphin/<GAME_ID>

If all is correct the mods should be loaded on next game launch.

Adding Texture Packs

The ~/retrodeck/texture_packs/dolphin/Textures represents the /load/Textures folder.

Some texture packs could made for a specific version or region of a game. Make sure you have the right game and textures for it.

GAME_ID is different for every game.

Enable Custom Textures

  1. Open up Dolphin inside RetroDECK Configurator by pressing Open Emulator - Dolphin.
  2. Press Options → Graphic Settings
  3. Load Custom Textures & Prefetch Custom Textures and set them to On.

Adding the textures

  1. Extract any texture pack files from compressed .zip or any other format into folders.
  2. Go into texture pack folders, they contain folders that are all named by GAME_ID.
  3. Move the textures into the right folder:

Dolphin: ~/retrodeck/texture_packs/dolphin/Textures/<GAME_ID>

If all is correct the textures should be loaded on next game launch.

Gamecube / Triforce Controls

The controls here are described as an Xbox Layout style controller.

Action Button Comment
A A
B B
X X
Y Y
Z R2 or L2
START START
Control Stick Left Stick
C Stick Right Stick
D-Pad Up D-Pad Up
D-Pad Down D-Pad Down
D-Pad Left D-Pad Left
D-Pad Right D-Pad Right
Triforce Test Mode L3
Triforce Service Mode R3
Triforce Insert Credit SELECT

Wii Controls for Controllers

The controls here are described as an Xbox Layout style controller.

There are hotkeys in the Radial Menus to change the Wii Mote from Upright / Sidways.

Action Button Comment
1 Y
2 X
A A or Left Mouse Click
B B
C R1
D-Pad Down D-Pad Down
D-Pad Left D-Pad Left
D-Pad Right D-Pad Right
D-Pad Up D-Pad Up
Home R3
+ Start
- Select
Shake Nunchuck L1 + L2
Shake Wii Mote L1
Z L2

Wii Motion - Pointer Emulation

  • Mouse movement is the general way to to get the pointer emulation.
  • Left Mouse Click that correspons to a press of the A button (as that one is the one mostly used for Wii games that are based around pointing as the primary button).
  • RetroDECK Hotkeys features several ways to enable Joystick as Mouse Emulation.
  • You could also use a mouse / touchpad.

Wii Motion - Tilt Emulation

Tilt emulation is made possible by holding the L2 button and moving the Right Joystick.

Action Button Comment
Tilt Down L2 + Right Joystick Down
Tilt Left L2 + Right Joystick Left
Tilt Right L2 + Right Joystick Right
Tilt Up L2 + Right Joystick Up

Using Real Wii Remotes

How-to use Real Wii Remotes and Nunchuck hardware?

Read more here: