Updated Hyperspin Android app in 2026?

[reznnate]

WHY!?!?  It's been nearly 11 years!?!?    Well, I fell back in love with Hyperspin and decided to update the app.    I uploaded a quick 'attract' test to see if I'm the only one left here but a few people downloaded and that's enough for me, particularly for an 11 year old Android device.      Anyway, the update is coming along well and it's turned into a significant app overhaul/rewrite.    I'm quite proud of it.   There are a few remaining things to fix and then I should be able to post next month.     

[thatman84]

Happy to see you back at it, my Shield has been gone a few years now! I would be pretty amazed if your still rocking the original Portable

[reznnate]

Still rock'in the TV version.   Also have a prototype handheld that never shipped.   HUGE update to app incoming.  It will run better if NVIDIA ever releases a new Shield.   Shield is 10yrs old!

[mrfomt]

Great news! I'm still using the Nvidia Shield. Will the updated Shield version include support for more standalone emulators? Many of them no longer work.

[reznnate]

I'm not aware of any emulator launcher issues.   The current system (using .ini files) is NOT convenient (and I do intend to improve this), but it does allow the flexibility to support any (one) emulator (per wheel). 

[mrfomt]

I haven’t tried any standalone emulators in a while, but last time I had issues with auto-starting ROM files—maybe that’s no longer a problem now.

 

Are there any updates planned for the carousel itself, like being able to use a normal or horizontal layout? That would be really cool.

 

I think the Nvidia Shield has smoother animations than the PC version, so I really like it.

 

Keep up the good work!

[reznnate]

Okay, I've posted beta4.   I overhauled the app so hopefully it works okay as a drop-in replacement.  I've done a lot of testing but let me know if you have questions or run into issues with it.    Next, I'm going to see if I can simplify emulator setup.   

[reznnate]

Other than Retroarch, what are the most important emulators still being updated and maintained for Android?  With all the new Android handhelds, I expected the scene to be vibrant but the play store has become a wasteland of sorts.   I don't intend to post my app there either.

I'm working on some fixes, new features, and will have another update relatively soon. 

[thatman84]

I rarely game on droid now but occasionally on trips I will delve in, so do keep an eye on the scene a little (Not Shield specific).

3ds emu Azahar is a recent one I have seen chatter about, aPS3e/RPCS3 brings some games, NetherSX2 patch for PS2. My SD845 chip can run some stuff but I genuinely stay below PS2. With the SD elite stuff bringing so much power most of the hype has moved on to PC/Steam gaming apps like Game native and GameHub etc.

 

I'm not sure where the Shield is at in the current landscape!

Russ of retrogamecorps is usually on point.

[reznnate]

Awesome feedback, thanks.   I've been out of the scene for a long while.   The Shield is 10yrs too-old at this point but for most of the older systems I care about, it's still kicking.   Shield won't be able to handle newer emulators/systems but as ARM-based hardware gets more powerful, I will update the Hyperspin app for myself, if nothing else...        I've added a few useful features so I'll be posting another update this week.

[mrfomt]

Great update! A lot of new animations that never worked on the Shield before are now working. Thanks!
Another question: loading a .gcz ROM directly from the Dolphin emulator works fine, but when launching it through Hyperspin I get a message saying that .gcz is not a valid format.

[reznnate]

Did this previously work in prior builds?   Do other non-.gcz formats work?  In the Nintendo Gamecube .ini file, is gcz listed as a valid rom format?

 I'm actually revamping a lot of this code right now although SOME of these issues tend to be emulator-related so this feedback is useful right now.    I ran into issues with both saturn.emu (his other .emu apps work fine, I use c64.emu) and a 'newer' hacked version of Drastic (DraStic_r2.5.2.2a.apk works).   

[mrfomt]

If I remember correctly, it worked before. I have the correct romextension in the .ini file. I tried using an .ISO file with Dolphin, and I got the same error message (see attached image).
I also tried the Flycast core, auto-start roms does not work. It just opens the emulator and shows the game list instead.
It used to auto-start ROMs before Nvidia released that big update that broke the first version of Hyperspin.

 

[sonkun]

Wow I'm delightedly surprised to see this thread here, this app is the main reason I still haven't updated my Shield and have stayed on version 8.2.3 all these years, maybe I can finally update it now and help run some tests. Yo thatman84 it's been awhile. 

 

Also for everyone still using their Shield I personally put together a custom "Sonic Hacks" wheel, haven't updated it since last year to add all of lasts year's hacks but there's enough there to keep you playing for days. Grab the link in the video description:

https://youtu.be/Q3uoHHoMdNM

[reznnate]

I don't like how your sonic wheel images are squished and wondering if I could handle that scenario better.   Most wheels have wide rectangular images.  Do they have a proper aspect ratio on Windows?   Are there other wheel designs that suffer like this?

[sonkun]

Yeah that was my first attempt at ever putting together a wheel on my own so it may not look as good as your typical wheel, I forgot how I even put it all together honestly its been a while. I also replaced the link with a new one, noticed it was dead if you want to try it out for yourself and do your own thing with it. All media files etc are included.

 

I was also working on a PC-98 wheel back in 2019 trying to include every game made for it starting numerically and then from A-Z. So far I made it up to the letter M as far as making videos, wheels etc, I believe I totalled over 1000 something different entries but then just kind of fell off of it and haven't touched it since. Was amazed I was even able to find box art for most of the wheels I was creating. Not sure if I'll ever get back to continuing it.

[thatman84]

I wonder if the wheel images have not been reduced by .75 width to account for the 4:3 stretch hyperspin adds. Wow it’s been a while since I thought about! Glad your still kicking about Sonkun

[sonkun]

I think I used someone else's template when I did those wheels, don't think I even accounted if it was 4:3 or not since I just wanted to put something, anything together to have a collection of all the Genesis Sonic Hacks I could find in one place since there was literally no HyperSpin wheel on the market like that. Those hacks are really fun to play I even went back as far as 2006 to find hacks lol. 

And yeah I'm still around, I've been spending my time mostly in the RetroArch scene these days on their Libretro forum, I got a custom crt-shader/filter pack over there that seems to have spread worldwide and is used by a lot of retro gamers. I need to go back over there and update it and make it look better but I never have time these days but that's a whole different story.

My Shield of over 10 years literally died just the other day right after I grabbed that new beta, I mean the hd just stopped spinning and makes a beeping noise with the green led light still on but I don't get any picture. It finally ran its course, already put in a order for a new Shield that'll be arriving this week.

Guess that's a sign, new HyperSpin update belongs on a new Shield, can't wait to try it out.