Retroarch Intellivision emulation setup

[+Rev]

Has anyone used this Retroarch? 

 

 

[Sinjinhawke]

Not on the PC but I have it installed on my PS Classic with some Intellivision games.  Lot of keypad games are hard to play with standard controller.

[mr_me]

I tried it on PC when its intellivision emulator came.  Compatibility wasn't great at the time but it's improved since then.  The Retroarch user interface takes some getting use to.  It's probably fine if you use it a lot but I find it easier to use standalone emulators.  Retroarch is meant to be used with common game controllers.  It's got two levels of controller mapping to understand, i.e. setup a controller and use it for all systems.  I couldn't get an Intellivision controller setup properly.  Retroarch does have some advanced features like online multiplayer but sadly that feature hasn't been implemented in the intellivision emulator.

[patbb]

I've been using it for about a year. I like it. 

 

I don't use it as a frontend to launch the games.

I use Launchbox for that, it's easier to obtain all the boxes, screenshots and videos.

In launchbox I used a builtin function to install RetroArch and everything was automatically setup.

Then you import the roms and you're all set ... with retroarch as your emulator.

 

The most useful functionality with the FreeIntv Core for me is the keypad mapping using the xbox controller.

The right thumb stick is emulating all the numbers +  The right thumb stick button is 5, the left thumb stick button is 0 and the triggers for # and *.

So when entering the number of players and skill level you don't need a keyboard.

Also, it makes games such as Night Stalker (keypad to fire) very easy to play.

 

[Stevaside]

On 1/9/2023 at 5:41 PM, patbb said:

I've been using it for about a year. I like it. 

 

I don't use it as a frontend to launch the games.

I use Launchbox for that, it's easier to obtain all the boxes, screenshots and videos.

In launchbox I used a builtin function to install RetroArch and everything was automatically setup.

Then you import the roms and you're all set ... with retroarch as your emulator.

 

The most useful functionality with the FreeIntv Core for me is the keypad mapping using the xbox controller.

The right thumb stick is emulating all the numbers +  The right thumb stick button is 5, the left thumb stick button is 0 and the triggers for # and *.

So when entering the number of players and skill level you don't need a keyboard.

Also, it makes games such as Night Stalker (keypad to fire) very easy to play.

 

Can you tell me which button is used to start games? I've never played an Intellivision & just trying it out on Retroarch. I figured out the keypad controls & setting the amount of players, but both games I've tried so far : Diner & Dracula I swear I've hit every button on my Xbox One Controller & they won't start. I wind up just randomly mashing all buttons & can sometimes get a game to load though. IDK out of all console configs, this seems to be the least straightforward

[mr_me]

9 hours ago, Stevaside said:

Can you tell me which button is used to start games? I've never played an Intellivision & just trying it out on Retroarch. I figured out the keypad controls & setting the amount of players, but both games I've tried so far : Diner & Dracula I swear I've hit every button on my Xbox One Controller & they won't start. I wind up just randomly mashing all buttons & can sometimes get a game to load though. IDK out of all console configs, this seems to be the least straightforward

With Mattel and INTV games you usually start by pressing the disc.  When answering questions like number of players, you usually follow the number by pressing enter.

 

With Imagic games check each games instructions.  Dracula starts by pressing '8', after selecting a difficulty from the second row and number of players from the top row.

[Zendocon]

Another thing to know about the freeintv core on Retroarch is that the default controller mapping is for the second controller.  To switch to the first controller, try pressing Select if using a gamepad, or Right Shift if using a keyboard.  A lot of Mattel games don't care which controller you use, but Dracula in particular uses both discs simultaneously when you zombify a resident.

[patbb]

On 6/24/2023 at 11:42 PM, mr_me said:

With Mattel and INTV games you usually start by pressing the disc.  When answering questions like number of players, you usually follow the number by pressing enter.

 

With Imagic games check each games instructions.  Dracula starts by pressing '8', after selecting a difficulty from the second row and number of players from the top row.

  

On 6/24/2023 at 2:25 PM, Stevaside said:

Can you tell me which button is used to start games? I've never played an Intellivision & just trying it out on Retroarch. I figured out the keypad controls & setting the amount of players, but both games I've tried so far : Diner & Dracula I swear I've hit every button on my Xbox One Controller & they won't start. I wind up just randomly mashing all buttons & can sometimes get a game to load though. IDK out of all console configs, this seems to be the least straightforward

 

As mentioned, with Intellivision to start a game it's not as easy as clicking the start button like with most console.

 

With Dracula, you have to select a 1 player game or a 2 players game alternate or same time. (1,2,3)

And then a skill level (4,5,6)

 

With launchbox:

-the interface should download the manuals (I'm not sure if this requires a license and just have a quick look in it, and you should find the way to start a game.

-Also, you can add a "bezel" that shows the inlays. 

 

Included are images showing the keypad and the inlay that goes on top of the keypad.

I also included a pdf of the Dracula manual.

 

 

Dracula-Intellivision-Instruction-Manual.pdf