Retrogaming; Capcom Home Arcade+Analogue pocket (thoughts+praise)

[Den - aka Wolfgang]

Cheers I'll make sure I do that part., Got a feeling the buttons have been a bit mashed to death on this.
Took a faff to update from 1.51 (which was so laggy) to 1.71 as it didn't like my wifi password, so had to change it to 12345678 briefly, then testing a couple of games things seem to occur without me pressing occasionally. When I've gone into controller test there's no ghost actions occurring there, and all buttons seem to work...odd

Ah yeah, apparently the original firmware was really picky re; which WiFi it would connect to. I side stepped that by doing the clocks hack straight away, as I think it also brought the firmware up to date too.
Keep in mind, the newer firmware has the ability to switch on scanlines (scanlines with smoothing looked the best to me + changing the aspect ratio setting)
Buttons prob need a clean, as might be gunk in there. Worst case scenario, you could put brand new sanwa buttons in there.
I'll switch my pc on in a bit and show you screenshot of how my usb stick looks re, file structure, as if you are missing a little file in each roms folder, your cha won't recognise the uab stick/roms folders.

 

[Deleted member 5505]

Ah yeah, apparently the original firmware was really picky re; which WiFi it would connect to. I side stepped that by doing the clocks hack straight away, as I think it also brought the firmware up to date too.
Keep in mind, the newer firmware has the ability to switch on scanlines (scanlines with smoothing looked the best to me + changing the aspect ratio setting)
Buttons prob need a clean, as might be gunk in there. Worst case scenario, you could put brand new sanwa buttons in there.
I'll switch my pc on in a bit and show you screenshot of how my usb stick looks re, file structure, as if you are missing a little file in each roms folder, your cha won't recognise the uab stick/roms folders.

Top man, thank you

 

[Deleted member 5505]

@Den - aka Wolfgang dang done the FEL mode and the CHA won't power on normally now.
Got a feeling I've goosed one of the replacement files when doing the FEL, or the micro usb power is damaged.
I can still get into FEL, see the drive and run boot etc.. just does nothing when I reconnect to TV with micro usb now.

Are the original device files anywhere online that I can copy over ?

 

[Den - aka Wolfgang]

@Den - aka Wolfgang dang done the FEL mode and the CHA won't power on normally now.
Got a feeling I've goosed one of the replacement files when doing the FEL, or the micro usb power is damaged.
I can still get into FEL, see the drive and run boot etc.. just does nothing when I reconnect to TV with micro usb now.

Are the original device files anywhere online that I can copy over ?

Don't panic; the stick is probably just booting in usb *joystick mode

First though, try just holding the power button in for a few seconds....release and see if the power light comes on. It might be you get a black screen for a bit, as the CFA might need to install some files or something.
I've found on my cha sometimes it'll look like it's powering on for a second and then nothing. I have to hold th power button in for a second or two, let go, then it powerd up.

*incase it's in joystick mode, try holding p1 and p2 credit buttons as you boot it up. I had the same thing as you and thought I'd ballsed mine up.

 

[Deleted member 5505]

Don't panic; the stick is probably just booting in usb *joystick mode

First though, try just holding the power button in for a few seconds....release and see if the power light comes on. It might be you get a black screen for a bit, as the CFA might need to install some files or something.
I've found on my cha sometimes it'll look like it's powering on for a second and then nothing. I have to hold th power button in for a second or two, let go, then it powerd up.

*incase it's in joystick mode, try holding p1 and p2 credit buttons as you boot it up. I had the same thing as you and thought I'd ballsed mine up.

Tried the above, I've found a guide to factory install the firmware so I'll see if I can unbrick it.

 

[Deleted member 5505]

Re-installed 1.71fw and it's booting up again now ....

 

[Deleted member 5505]

Hack working now on boot, screwing it all back up and will start the USB compilation stuff later cheers @Den - aka Wolfgang

 

[Den - aka Wolfgang]

Hack working now on boot, screwing it all back up and will start the USB compilation stuff later cheers @Den - aka Wolfgang

My advice would be don't put the bottom screws back in yet, unless you want to try different installs, such as Chokko + lakka, although if you are sticking to capcom/neo geo, you are good to go

 

[Deleted member 5505]

Added the Automatic Game list files to the USB then added roms from an old CHA_MOD archive, two different Metal Slugs restarted the CHA while seconds into the first Level.
I'm hoping it's a USB low power issue from the TV or the incorrect core is in use.
Not gonna fiddle anymore tonight, will check stuff tomorrow with a proper USB plug to start with

 

[Deleted member 5505]

Started over with the USB, cps1/cps2/cps3/fbneo folders and some of the things that played ok before now restart the CHA

Might need @Den - aka Wolfgang help please to just point me in the direction of the best rom/core combo's
Got to grips with the the choko boot menu / selecting cores / list updater etc.

 

[Den - aka Wolfgang]

Started over with the USB, cps1/cps2/cps3/fbneo folders and some of the things that played ok before now restart the CHA

Might need @Den - aka Wolfgang help please to just point me in the direction of the best rom/core combo's
Got to grips with the the choko boot menu / selecting cores / list updater etc.

Will switch my pc on after work and send some pics of the contents of my usb stick.
The install/image I'm uaing is the Choko + Lakka imagine, but I'll check.
I remember Metal Slug 3 not working at first, so I grabbed a different rom (a larger one, like 80MB) and that worked (atleast with Lakka)
Can't remember if I had other crashes, but I'd imagine knocking the memory stick could crash things, if your roms are running from the stick.

 

[Deleted member 5505]

Will switch my pc on after work and send some pics of the contents of my usb stick.
The install/image I'm uaing is the Choko + Lakka imagine, but I'll check.
I remember Metal Slug 3 not working at first, so I grabbed a different rom (a larger one, like 80MB) and that worked (atleast with Lakka)
Can't remember if I had other crashes, but I'd imagine knocking the memory stick could crash things, if your roms are running from the stick.

Thanks mate, not running lakka currently. Just the 'CHA Choko Games List' on the USB with ROMS I've found added.
With archive.org being down I've not been able to use the ones I did for my RG28xx

 

[Den - aka Wolfgang]

Thanks mate, not running lakka currently. Just the 'CHA Choko Games List' on the USB with ROMS I've found added.
With archive.org being down I've not been able to use the ones I did for my RG28xx

Right, so here are pics of how my usb stick is set up. Key is having the CHA game list folder on the root of the usb stick (included a pic of the sandisc 3.0 32gb stick I used too (think it was a pack of 2 from amazon for £7.99 or something)
Also included a pic of where I belive I got my Choko and Lakka imagine from (githib page) the one I used will be the more recent one.

 

[Deleted member 5505]

Thanks for the above, my folders look the same and using a Sandisk. Most CPS stuff seems to play stable with FBAlpha (default) and some NeoGeo works depending on which FBNeo core chosen (there's 3 including the weekly build which doesn't work on most bizarrey) if the CHA didn't just crash and restart it would be less annoying than it going back into menu.

I think I'll try the expanded partition version and add the CPS games direct to have a solid base of games.
I'm assuming as this is an .img file I'll run this in win32diskimgr same as when I re-flashed v1.71 to unbrick the CHA, then copy the rest of the CHOKO / Automatic List files again.

Ideally I'd like my go to NeoGeo's added here so I can use the scanlines/smoother/bezel options, however the FBNeo USB boot loader does work ok for Konami/Data East just takes a while to scrape the drive each boot.

 

[Calimori]

I have been following this, having started off last year introducing my kid to retro gaming and they really enjoy it. I kept planning to build a mobile Retropie but have so many projects I might as well buy into something recommended by the community.

Analogue pocket appears to be costly but the ANBERNIC RG35XX H seems to be a reasonable price, but then I see a RG40XX H for a bit more and then I procrastinate about do I need more storage. Is the base RG35XX H a good enough place to get a kid to enjoy some retro gaming in the car?

 

[Deleted member 5505]

I have the rg28xx as it's smaller than my phone. The stock Os is basic but plays all the 64gb of games included fine, the odd thing is retroarch is installed as a separate app so you can play some of of the same games here and others which don't appear in the other. Retroarch has the funky bezels, filters, shaders etc already setup too.

 

[Calimori]

Sounds like you are saying that I don't need a 40, grab a reasonable price 28 or 35 and just use it...

 

[Deleted member 5505]

I think the 35 plus has updated hardware over the older 35, the 28 is very small so not ideal for long playing sessions.

 

[Den - aka Wolfgang]

Thanks for the above, my folders look the same and using a Sandisk. Most CPS stuff seems to play stable with FBAlpha (default) and some NeoGeo works depending on which FBNeo core chosen (there's 3 including the weekly build which doesn't work on most bizarrey) if the CHA didn't just crash and restart it would be less annoying than it going back into menu.

I think I'll try the expanded partition version and add the CPS games direct to have a solid base of games.
I'm assuming as this is an .img file I'll run this in win32diskimgr same as when I re-flashed v1.71 to unbrick the CHA, then copy the rest of the CHOKO / Automatic List files again.

Ideally I'd like my go to NeoGeo's added here so I can use the scanlines/smoother/bezel options, however the FBNeo USB boot loader does work ok for Konami/Data East just takes a while to scrape the drive each boot.

I believe the Choko/kakka image/version does expand the partition.
My plan is; Capcom + Neo Geo copied to internal (if it all fits, otherwise just capcom) - using whichever emu is default, as the scanlines look great.
+use Lakka (with whichever emy runs 100% with scanlines) for say the metal slug games, so I can turn the blood on.

 

[Den - aka Wolfgang]

Update re; my Analogue pocket.
Had a right hassle just ordering a dock for it. UPS I'd up the initial delivery attempt, then had to wait a week for them to deliver it to a UPS drop off point.
Going to collect the dock and try it out tonight.

Regrettably, what with a new pin hopefully on the horizon I'm probably gonna sell my Analogue Pocket with the Dock (and some other stuff; mini consoles, JPN sega saturn, Dreamcast, modded megadrive with overdrive, super famicom etc - prob my Xb series X too)

 

[Deleted member 5505]

I believe the Choko/kakka image/version does expand the partition.
My plan is; Capcom + Neo Geo copied to internal (if it all fits, otherwise just capcom) - using whichever emu is default, as the scanlines look great.
+use Lakka (with whichever emy runs 100% with scanlines) for say the metal slug games, so I can turn the blood on.

I just put CHA into FEL mode, wrote CHA.v1.7.1.with.Choko.Hack.v13.2.0.expanded.partition.new.version.img in Windisk32imgr over.
Drive appeared, so I copied over the CHOKO files. Opened disk utility and could see the unnamed partition so gave new volume name & as FAT32
Copied the 'CHA Choko Games Lists' folder to the new partition and added some Roms in the correct folder.
Turning the CHA on, the Choko boot menu is still looking for a USB and without just goes straight into the original games.

The instructions I've found so far aren't clear for this method, so I made some assumptions here and clearly I'm wrong

 

[Den - aka Wolfgang]

I just put CHA into FEL mode, wrote CHA.v1.7.1.with.Choko.Hack.v13.2.0.expanded.partition.new.version.img in Windisk32imgr over.
Drive appeared, so I copied over the CHOKO files. Opened disk utility and could see the unnamed partition so gave new volume name & as FAT32
Copied the 'CHA Choko Games Lists' folder to the new partition and added some Roms in the correct folder.
Turning the CHA on, the Choko boot menu is still looking for a USB and without just goes straight into the original games.

The instructions I've found so far aren't clear for this method, so I made some assumptions here and clearly I'm wrong

When I had an issue where the CHA wasn't showing the games on my usb stick, it's was because I didn't have the right files in the root or rom folders (can remember), so you might want to refer back to the pics I posted in an earlier post.

 

[Deleted member 5505]

When I had an issue where the CHA wasn't showing the games on my usb stick, it's was because I didn't have the right files in the root or rom folders (can remember), so you might want to refer back to the pics I posted in an earlier post.

This was the none USB method, I was trying to expand the partition to add games internally

 

[Deleted member 5505]

Contacted someone on Reddit who had created a CHA choko pre populated internal image file so USB no longer required to run additional games from standard menu.
Here's the link to the .img @Den - aka Wolfgang Mega CHA internal .img
Enter FEL mode, then just write over with balena etcher (rufus did not work correctly) if you want to check it out too.


The mature content is a bit juvenile and crap but must have some nostalgia for the creator

 

[Den - aka Wolfgang]

Contacted someone on Reddit who had created a CHA choko pre populated internal image file so USB no longer required to run additional games from standard menu.
Here's the link to the .img @Den - aka Wolfgang Mega CHA internal .img
Enter FEL mode, then just write over with balena etcher (rufus did not work correctly) if you want to check it out too.

View attachment 265562
The mature content is a bit juvenile and crap but must have some nostalgia for the creator

Wicked! Thanks mate Does it allow you to have scanlines on the whole time?
I'm asuming you just flash the CHA in ELF mode and it expands the internal storage partition(s) and installs everything?
Was gonna post on here with an update, as I realised the other day that the Choko/lakka imagine I'd mentioned didn't actually increase the internal partition, as could only fit all of the CPS1 games on there, as not enough space:-(

Also, sold my Analogue pocket to put towards pinball stuff. If anyone else takes one with a dock to computer exchange beware; they might try and give you some bullcrap because they dock only comes with a U.S plug

 

[Deleted member 5505]

Does it allow you to have scanlines on the whole time?

Yes, everything there uses the original menu and options except for the FinalBurn Neo at the bottom of the menu as that's it's own static loader.

I'm asuming you just flash the CHA in FEL mode and it expands the internal storage partition(s) and installs everything?

Correct, no other steps required everything you see is added to the 3.5gb internal storage with the flashing of the .img.

You can still use a USB too and that populates the choko list with that prefix in the above menu
Only thing I'm trying to figure out now is getting my laptop to recognise the internal space partition so I can delete the Mature folder crap.
Disk Utility isn't being helpful and is only giving me a Delete Partition option otherwise I think it's the way to go with this device for sure.


EDIT: Apparently this is an EXT4 conundrum, and you have to use the Choko Automatic List tool to change anything in this partition.

 

[Deleted member 5505]

 

[Deleted member 5505]

Inserting a choko USB is required to add/remove Games, this allows changes on Folder level rather than individual Roms.
Using the USB also gives the Emulator options on choko menu to save preferences (not present on internal only menu)
I've noticed some CPS games on this .img crash with FBNeo so have changed to FBAlpha for now.

View attachment 06 - (Un)Installing Games.mp4

 

[Deleted member 5505]

An annoying quirk I've found is changing the overclock settings in none original Cha games requires either erratically moving the joystick around until it eventually highlights the setting. Or playing an original from the game setting menu option, immediately exiting the game and going to another game setting where that section is oddly still highlighted.

 

[Den - aka Wolfgang]

An annoying quirk I've found is changing the overclock settings in none original Cha games requires either erratically moving the joystick around until it eventually highlights the setting. Or playing an original from the game setting menu option, immediately exiting the game and going to another game setting where that section is oddly still highlighted.
View attachment 265613 View attachment 265614

That's annoying, but be careful messing with that; could produce somewhere results
I think it's only useful for a few games where there's a bit slowdown, but some shmups for example kind of use that as part of the game)
I'd finally got round after a couple of months of being nagged, to putting the CHA away sight unseen, but I'll be getting it out again when I'm home, taking the screws back out and flashing it with that image- thanks again.