Getting started
Step 0: Prerequisites
This is a guide on how to get started with RetroDECK
What do I need?
You need to meet the following prerequisites before you start following this guide:
- You need to have a device to install RetroDECK on.
- Have related BIOS & Firmware ready
- Have game backups of various formats ready that you want to play
Step 1: Installation & Configuration
Only install RetroDECK from the official channels via Flathub!
Steam Deck - Installation
Read and follow the following guide
Steam Deck - Installation and Updates
Linux Desktop - Installation
Read and follow the:
Linux Desktop - Installation and Updates
Other SteamOS / Linux gaming devices - Installation
(more information later)
Step 2: BIOS & Firmware
NOTE: On the Steam Deck this step needs to be done in Desktop Mode
Information
Read up on Manage your BIOS/Firmware
- The BIOS & Firmware files go into the
~/retrodeck/bios/
directory
Example:
You have a BIOS for the PSX called exampleBIOSPSX.bin
, you just put that file into the ~/retrodeck/bios/
folder.
Step 3: ROMs
NOTE: On the Steam Deck this step needs to be done in Desktop Mode
On ROMs
Rom files needs to be put in their corresponding system directory inside the roms
folder.
Note that the roms
folder location can be different depending on where you choose to put it during the installation process. The following options are available during the installation:
Choice: Internal
If during the installation of RetroDECK you choose the Internal option for the roms folder:
The roms folder is:~/retrodeck/roms/
Choice: SDCard
If during the installation of RetroDECK you choose the SDCard option for the roms folder:
The roms folder is: <sdcard>/retrodeck/roms/
(Please note that the <sdcard>
is an example and not called so inside your Linux/SteamOS system but rather your unique per SDCard ID number).
Choice: Custom
If during the installation of RetroDECK you choose the Custom option for the roms folder:
The roms folder wherever you choose.
Let us get started on ROMs/Games:
Read up on RetroDECK Management ๐๏ธ
section of this wiki.
- Put the corresponding roms inside the corresponding system folder
Example:
You have an example NES game called ExampleNESGame.nes
You must put that game into the /retrodeck/roms/nes
folder.
Step 4: Playing the Games
Steam Deck - Gamemode
Return to gamemode on the Steam Deck and start up RetroDECK. Now the systems you put rom files for should be shown and be able to be played.
Example:
The NES column should now be shown with our ExampleNESGame.nes
from Step 3
Linux Desktop
Start up RetroDECK from Steam. Now the systems you put rom files for should be shown and be able to be played.
Example:
The NES column should now be shown with our ExampleNESGame.nes
from Step 3
Step 5: Making the games "pretty" with videos, images, and art.
Do the following:
- Make an account on Screenscraper
- Read up on scraping and the various settings that exist for it in the ES-DE User Guide
- Login to your screenscraper account inside RetroDECK.
- Setup the scraping how you want it.
- Start scraping.
- Look at your nice pretty games.
Step 6: ES-DE Themes
You can download more themes for ES-DE's frontend with the built-in theme downloader you can find it in:
UI Settings - Theme Downloader
Switch between them and in:
UI Settings - Theme Set