How To Set Up HyperSpin on the Nvidia Shield (Beginners Guide)

[thatman84]

As badhemi said. Rom name not matching database or extension not added to ini file or rom is zipped when needs to be unzipped

[epayson85]

Also remember that Android doesn't like XML code for any symbols / punctuations. Android also will not read "&" symbols at all. You can fix xmls to and remove it's code for punctuations and just use them like apostrophes. A simple find and replace will fix them all. "&" Unfortunately... unless someone has found something differnt... you need to change to "and" on XML,rom, and all media... yea it sucks lol so I am kind of hoping someone found something different.

Also something you can do is change your Android settings file for each system to only show roms you have. You won't get errors but you will be missing Roms not spelled correctly or have these symbols in them.

[ejay81]

Question on naming convention for .ini files, database files, and media files.

​So I'm a bit confused on how things need to be named.  I'm guessing Hyperspin is looking for a specific name of the .ini (settings) file for each system... What name should it be? 

​Example:

Emulator: SNK Neo Geo

Should settings.ini be = SNK Neo Geo, or Neo Geo?

 

Also based on what the answer above is, I'm guessing that the database file needs to match the .ini file name, as well as the Media folder name for that system?   

 

The Emulator folder and rom folder don't matter as long as the .ini file has that proper directory added.  So the main question is again what names do the .ini, database and media files/folders need to be for Hyperspin to find them?

[thatman84]

So the simple answer is you can name them whatever you like so long as they all match.

The reason is that most things "official" use the more specific names.

So if you use sync programs or get you database from HyperList they will most likely come like that. You can rename them but then things like main menu themes, videos etc will all need renaming to match.

Use HyperList for your names mainly.

[WILLShorty]

Hi, I am new to this. I have made a small hyperspin project on pc in the past so have a small amount of knowledge however I am struggling getting a setup to work on my NVidia shield tv.

I started off small and just went for a NES setup. I have all the videos, artwork and main hyperspin setup working however the first problem I encountered was it not finding roms. They where extracted and I had put correct rom types on XMLS and so on, I found that removing the path from xml solved my problem and it now finds the roms.

The problem I'm coming across now is when I click a game hyperspin flickers and it goes straight back to the game I have tried to start in hyperspin, retroarch doesn't seem to be starting up, I assumed maybe I didn't have the right cores so I uninstalled retroarch, tried hyperspin without and it showed up that retroarch was missing so I know originally it was finding it, I then reinstalled retroarch downloaded all the cores however same scenario hyperspin just flickers.

If anyone could possibly point me in the right direction of what maybe wrong that would be great. I am using hyperspin 1.4.

[thatman84]

Your rompath sounds incorrect

in the Nes ini settings file leave the "roms only" filter set to true. 

where are your roms located?

get retroarch setup again and test some Nes roms with it directly before moving on to Hyperspin setup.

search this forum for (tutorial) I have one one Hyperspin settings

[WILLShorty]

No problem I will do that asap, my rompath is:

rompath=Emulators/Nintendo Entertainment System/roms/

the roms are located within that folder.

The Hyperspin folder in on the root of my sd storage on Nvidia Shield.

[thatman84]

Maybe take the / off at the end of your rompath

if you have roms only filter set to true your wheel should only show up if Hyperspin can see your roms. Rompath and extensions (nes) need to be correct for roms only filter to see them.

 

[WILLShorty]

I'm just leaving my house for work sadly as I'm really looking forward to getting this sorted. Here is what my ini has in it. I will remove the / from the end of roms and I will also set roms only filter to true. Thanks for that I didn't even think about doing that, hopefully it will help me sort it.

[exe info]
path=
rompath=Emulators/Nintendo Entertainment System/roms/
userompath=true
exe=com.retroarch/com.retroarch.browser.retroactivity.RetroActivityFuture
romextension=nes
parameters=cores/nestopia_libretro_android.so
searchsubfolders=true
pcgame=false
winstate=HIDDEN
hyperlaunch=true
Per_Game_Modules=false
Skipchecks=false

[thatman84]

All looks good

take that last / off and let us know if they launch fine from retroarch

[WILLShorty]

Ok just only had a chance now to try this out, they launch fine in retroarch, I removed the / and also put true on roms only filter. Roms still show however still same thing screen just flashes when I try to launch a game ?

 

Ive even just tried a complete fresh install using the your HS Android Base Pack, again just nes, no extra artworks or vids just inserted roms edited ini and same thing all roms show but when clicked screen flickers then back to same point.

[thatman84]

Sorry man I have forgotten the causes for this now, have some notes somewhere!

it will be something very simple don't go to mad changing things. 

[WILLShorty]

Thanks for the help, I do appreciate it, and yes it is driving me mad  Ive been looking a lot through the forum and on youtube videos etc but I cant seem to figure out where im going wrong. I was even thinking about factory resetting my NVidia shield tv and starting again .

 

Haha just after writing this I've just been looking on forum again and came across basically the same problem but it involved the marshmallow update, they resolved this problem by installing a nightly of retroarch... wondering if you think this might help ? also could you point me in the right direction to download a nightly build of retroarch ?

[thatman84]

I doubt it's the RA version if everything runs well outside of HS. Just to cut out the simple problems you are testing in RA with the nestopia core?

be aware that RA and HS use different retroarch.cfg files aswell so it does all make for hard work in the beginning.

 

concentrate on your file extension, exe & parameter lines in the HS setting file for NES. Check the all capitals are correct as its case sensitive

Make sure the setting file is named the same as it is in the main menu.xml, folder in Media and NES database all matching (case sensitive)

for the nightly configs have changed so full config per core are out and overrides are fully supported but I have not switched yet but testing on my PC and it looks sweet. Retroarch 1.4 is soon to be released so gonna wait for that .

For the nightlies go here and grab one of the dated retroarch files. Then uninstall your current ra and side load the nightly

http://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/android/

i have some info on my website http://emulationguide.com/my-guides

[WILLShorty]

I did everything you said went through all of the lines and they was all perfect still no joy. I unistalled retroarch and hyperspin. Installed the latest nightly build of retroarch, reinstalled hyperspin, copied the same files over that ive been using and good news all working great. Ive got 3 systems working now. 

Just wondering on the nvidia shield controller what button do people use to exit a game ? Ive set mine to r3.

 

Thanks for all your help

[thatman84]

Good news.

I use the hotkey function. I set enable hotkey as R2 then exit as back key. I had trouble using the thumbstick press.

Badhemi uses just the back key mostly I believe, not seen many other posts about it.

I like then hotkey function as it gives you more options. Only downside is it takes a little getting use to for timing and you have to hit the enable key befor the shield button to get into the menu.

 

[mako1200]

Sorry, I must be blind.  Where did you find the latest nightly of RA?  I couldn't find one in http://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/android/.

I'm having the same issue on my shield TV. My inis looks solid, but still get a screen flicker when I try to launch a rom. No error messages :-/

[thatman84]

1 hour ago, mako1200 said:

Sorry, I must be blind.  Where did you find the latest nightly of RA?  I couldn't find one in http://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/android/.

I'm having the same issue on my shield TV. My inis looks solid, but still get a screen flicker when I try to launch a rom. No error messages :-/

your not blind, they seem to have gone.

Maybe they are updating just have to check back another time or post in their forum

[WILLShorty]

Would i be allowed to upload the apk file I used ? I still have it

[thatman84]

put in a cloud drive or mega and link to it.

[mako1200]

New nightly was posted this morning.  Downloaded and installed...and so far so good. Thanks for the help!

[phantasy]

On 10/3/2015 at 8:12 PM, reznnate said:

Another thing to confirm is that your usbdrive is named USBDRIVE*... I've seen a few scenarios where Android names a drive something odd.

Yes! I am trying to avoid my sd cards getting assigned random names as I suspect this is my issue with getting HS to run on Android. I assume HS cannot "see" any intended path of internal, sdcard1, or sdcard if, for example, I have a path like:

  /storage/F78B-1F23/Android

I've tried a simple "rename" in Android, it says it did it successfully but then all file browsers still show it with the strange naming.  Anyone have a fix?

Also, I am trying to set up my Android build for both a Shield TV and a tablet. Is there anything different one must do for both to work or are they interchangeable? 

[phantasy]

Wow this is hard. I am hoping someone releases a pre-config folder setup for shield or regular android. I've spent many intensive months with HS on PC but cannot get this loaded up on Android.  On a Marshmallow tab, loading HS only backs right out. This is on a rooted Cyogenmod build and using the Hyperspin apk from https://apkpure.com/hyperspin/com.shieldcade.hyperspin.

On the shield tv, I've gotten previously as far as the HS video loading and the wheels, but nothing loads... now I'm not even getting that. I've watched every tutorial and read the forums here. Roms and paths match perfectly, case sensitive correct, and even tested with one game and one system for minimal troubleshooting. I've tried loading it in RetroArch first, and the "eject card out and put back in again" trick. My roms are not zipped except for mame. I don't understand why the path starts with H:\ but deleting it or keeping it still won't work. I've even "fixed" the strangely wrong default paths like "master system' to 'Sega Master System' ... it is most frustrating when instead of providing an error message like RocketLauncher, Android just bumps out leaving you guessing from the HS log file.  Anyone have a lifeline to throw?

[thatman84]

Have you tried my android base pack? There are some notes on settings included

i did correlate some of the other guides into some settings tutorials. They may help

this pack is not designed to work with a PC though. 

 

[phantasy]

hey thatman84,

That guide of yours is fantastic especially the added detail and pre-config files.  I would caution that the ini files in the Settings_Android zip file (optional step) can replace your initial GOOD changes with the old bad habits again:
"path=H:\hyperspin\emulators\master system\"  

I have heard that Android ignores this line, but the replacement also erases your good "rompath=Emulators/Sega Master System/roms" with "rompath=ADD YOUR ROMPATH" which defeats the troubleshooting- one shouldn't mess with alternate paths until they have everything working with the defaults.

Still, ignoring that optional step, the guide is great and gets me much farther... HS loads and wheels turn. I'm using Sega Master System as an example.  When loading a game, it bumps me right back.  If I go load it in Retroarch first and then load HS, loading the game takes me over to my game already in progress. Also, if I stop the game and leave Retroarch in the blue menu, HS will bring me to THAT point when loading a game.  Seems loading a game in HS just brings me to whatever current state of Retroarch it is in...if not loaded at all, HS just bumps the game selection back to the HS game selection.

Is there a setting to USE retroarch rather than LINK to Retroarch?