[iOS] Free: RetroArch & PPSSPP PSP Emulators @ Apple App Store

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  Jimothy Wongingtons on 16/05/2024 - 10:42

  oh damn!

  are we entering a renaissance of mobile retro gaming?

  (also, is anyone else following the new anbernic rg35xx sp news?)

  • 

    RichardL on 16/05/2024 - 10:44

    +1

    (also, is anyone else following the new anbernic rg35xx sp news?)

    Trying to restrain myself from picking up another handheld device…

    Already have the RG35XX H (same chipset, different form factor), Miyoo Mini, Miyoo Mini Plus, Odin 2 Max…I think I might have a problem haha.

    

    RichardL on 16/05/2024 - 10:44 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
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      Jimothy Wongingtons on 16/05/2024 - 10:55

      rg35xx sp

      picking up another handheld device…

      True

      Buttttt

      Did you see the black/blue transparent ones can be customised with a paper insert?

      • 

        RichardL on 16/05/2024 - 11:03

        +1

        I'm torn between the transparent (paper insert and matches my Odin 2 but has light bleed) and the solid silver (matches my original Gameboy SP from childhood which I still have).

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          Jimothy Wongingtons on 16/05/2024 - 11:13

          @RichardL: Ooh That is a bloody tough choice. My OG game boy sp is longggggg gone :(

          • 

            RichardL on 16/05/2024 - 13:12

            @Jimothy Wongingtons: In other news, specs for the Odin2 Mini has been revealed.

            Same processor as the Odin2 with a smaller battery and 5" mini LED display, and 8GB/12GB RAM options.

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              Jimothy Wongingtons on 16/05/2024 - 13:33

              @RichardL:

              mini led display

              ohhhhh

              ergonomics

              ptsd flashbacks of the poor ergonomics of the og ps vita

              • 

                RichardL on 16/05/2024 - 13:35

                +1

                @Jimothy Wongingtons: Apparently will be more expensive than base Odin2 due to being mini LED so 🤷‍♂️

                • 

                  Jimothy Wongingtons on 16/05/2024 - 13:35

                  @RichardL: i seem to remember people whinging about odin 2 screen quality…

                  mini led = license to print money hey haha

                  • 

                    RichardL on 16/05/2024 - 18:40

                    @Jimothy Wongingtons: Yikes at the Odin2 Mini Prices:

                    Base Model 8+128GB - US$339
                    Pro Model 12+256GB - US$399

                    IMO at those prices the base Odin2 is the better option.

                    • 

                      Jimothy Wongingtons on 16/05/2024 - 18:58

                      @RichardL: Well that is well and truly out of the impulse buy range for me haha

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    AustriaBargain on 16/05/2024 - 11:21

    Thank the EU for this. It's the alternate app stores that have forced Apple's hand.

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  xers on 16/05/2024 - 10:49

  +1

  Yay finally an emulator with Apple TV support.

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  mboy on 16/05/2024 - 10:51

  Yes, finally! RetroArch is also available for Apple TV. Can confirm 100%, just downloaded it on my ATV. Thanks OP.

  My evening's sorted then. The hard part is going to be how to store cores and roms on the ATV memory given that tvOS doesn't give apps persistent storage (beyond a very small amount for config). So the moment tvOS wants memory back, it could just wipe out the cores, roms and (probably more importantly..) saves. If RetroArch has the option to connect to network storage or cloud storage for those files it could be perfect, but I'll have to explore.

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    ericc on 16/05/2024 - 14:33

    doesn't ATV have local storage? you should be able to use third-party app to inject roms and cores into the app directory. That's what I did on my phone and iPad. I don't own an ATV so apologies if it's not the same.

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      mboy on 16/05/2024 - 15:00

      +1

      It does have local storage, but unlike iOS, there is no persistent storage for apps (beyond a very small amount - 500kb for config). Storage in tvOS is treated like a cache, which means the OS will purge the data without warning if it needs to reclaim that space, for whatever reason.

      RetroArch explain it better in their iOS/tvOS documentation:

      Warning: tvOS does not provide apps with a persistant storage area; instead it allows for up to 500kb meant for configuration data. The disk space shown through the web UI is a cache space. If the OS needs to reclaim disk space, it will delete files from that cache space without warning. This includes state and saves! When this happens, you will immediately see that the appearance of RetroArch is wrong, as the assets will need to be re-downloaded.

      Unfortunately I've spent some time in the RetroArch on ATV just now and there don't appear to be any options for network, cloud or external storage, which frankly makes the whole tvOS release a bit half baked. I don't know if I feel comfortable investing a bunch of time to configure RetroArch, just to have tvOS purge all my work because the YouTube app needed extra cache space. Even if I were to repurpose my ATV so that it was solely an emulation box and nothing else (which I don't really want to do), there are no guarantees that tvOS won't arbitrarily purge the data anyway.

      But I reckon there will be an update to the RetroArch ATV app in the future that allows for using non-local storage; it's the only thing standing in the way of the ATV being a brilliant little emulation box.

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  QuickToThePointless on 16/05/2024 - 11:21

  what a time to be alive

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  DemocracyManifest on 16/05/2024 - 11:24

  Screw Nintendo haha

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  QuickToThePointless on 16/05/2024 - 11:39

  how long till back on xbox?

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  barge-in hunter on 16/05/2024 - 12:50

  This is genuinely awesome news

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  YoursTruly on 16/05/2024 - 21:08

  Fantastique!!

  The kid inside me is so happy to try out various past favourite Saturn games on the iPhone!

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  Allan on 31/05/2024 - 16:15

  PPSSPP temporarily removed from app store

  https://www.ppsspp.org/news/temporarily-down-ios/

  Everyone should always grab these apps before they disappear for whatever random reasons