Homebrew Official Retroarch WiiU (wip.)

[neverendsDull]

The performance is better than overclocked standalone emus for sure. The thing is that RA for Wii U is still lacking some cores such as N64, so it's not an all in one solution. But mostly everything that is available is better compared to the vWii side.

As for PSX emulator I am not so sure, as last time I checked the Retroarch core has no vibration/force feedback

 

[PlushSnuggyOrbs]

Thanks for the advice. Decided to migrate over.

I uninstalled CBHC/Haxchi without any issues.
Installed aroma with no issues.
Installed tiramisu with no issues.
Installed Retroarch + forwarder channel, but forgot the sigpatches for each environment so I made sure to copy those over.
On the first launch of Retroarch it froze, so I deleted the HBL rpx file.

After my first launch, I started scanning my rom directories and at some point it rebooted into the vWii menu. Not a big deal, I'm sure I can fix it, but it was weird that it happened at all.

4/13 EDIT: Now whenever I scan certain directories, it'll crash and I'll get a DSI error. First it was where I have the neo-geo roms, then it was the directory where I have like five Sega CD games. I'm assuming, with no actual knowledge of how this stuff works, that it may have something to do with my file structure or that something doesn't match between games and playlists. I'll mess around with it a bit before I report back.

 

[FanNintendo]

I'm still using CBHC/Haxchi with the overclocked standalone emulators but they're getting pretty long in the tooth and clunky these days. I've been watching this thread off and on, and I'm pretty intrigued by the possibility of an all in one solution. Are we at a point with RA, whether under Tiramisu or Aroma, where core performance is as good or even better than the standalone gx emus?

i have 2 Wii U Cold boot Haxchi long time ago and i am not changing any but if i get 3rd Wii U then i would

Post automatically merged: Apr 14, 2025

Thanks for the advice. Decided to migrate over.

I uninstalled CBHC/Haxchi without any issues.
Installed aroma with no issues.
Installed tiramisu with no issues.
Installed Retroarch + forwarder channel, but forgot the sigpatches for each environment so I made sure to copy those over.
On the first launch of Retroarch it froze, so I deleted the HBL rpx file.

After my first launch, I started scanning my rom directories and at some point it rebooted into the vWii menu. Not a big deal, I'm sure I can fix it, but it was weird that it happened at all.

4/13 EDIT: Now whenever I scan certain directories, it'll crash and I'll get a DSI error. First it was where I have the neo-geo roms, then it was the directory where I have like five Sega CD games. I'm assuming, with no actual knowledge of how this stuff works, that it may have something to do with my file structure or that something doesn't match between games and playlists. I'll mess around with it a bit before I report back.

Thats alot of work!

 

[FattyMcButterPants]

Wii-U Issue w/RA

what would cause RA to crash the whole system to where it powers down on it's own completely (after selecting game to play) - it happens with all consoles. Sometime it'll load the game (bringing up the white WiiU screen first)

It's happend with SNES, NES, and PCEngine so far.

 

[september796]

Wii-U Issue w/RA

what would cause RA to crash the whole system to where it powers down on it's own completely (after selecting game to play) - it happens with all consoles. Sometime it'll load the game (bringing up the white WiiU screen first)

It's happend with SNES, NES, and PCEngine so far.

For instance, if RA is open and you turn off the gamepad by long pressing its power button, the console won't shut down until you load/close content, or exit the app.

 

[FattyMcButterPants]

For instance, if RA is open and you turn off the gamepad by long pressing its power button, the console won't shut down until you load/close content, or exit the app.

So, I'll go to load a rom, gamepad both on and/or off... and the entire console shuts down, to where the power light goes to red. it varies rom to rom and core to core. I've loaded "game x" with say SNES9x (2005) and it behaves as mentioned the console turns off. I've loaded that same game with say SNES9x (2010) and it works. I'll load "Game Y" with (2005) and it works, but crashes with (2010)

 

[Zeox-gamer]

So, I'll go to load a rom, gamepad both on and/or off... and the entire console shuts down, to where the power light goes to red. it varies rom to rom and core to core. I've loaded "game x" with say SNES9x (2005) and it behaves as mentioned the console turns off. I've loaded that same game with say SNES9x (2010) and it works. I'll load "Game Y" with (2005) and it works, but crashes with (2010)

snes9x current is a best core for wiiu retroarch work perfectly FX games fixed issues in Top gear 3000 and Stunt Race FX correct Speed on Street fighter alpha 2 and others

 

[FattyMcButterPants]

Wii-U Issue w/RA

what would cause RA to crash the whole system to where it powers down on it's own completely (after selecting game to play) - it happens with all consoles. Sometime it'll load the game (bringing up the white WiiU screen first)

It's happend with SNES, NES, and PCEngine so far.

So, i got a ton of stuff to load this afternoon with no crashing the system. However, the second I turned off the gamepad and turned on the PS4 Controller and went to load a game that worked perfectly fine this afternoon -- El Crasho.

Would it yield the same results with a Wii U Classic Controller? - i have no interest in spending more money on this console, but....

 

[september796]

So, i got a ton of stuff to load this afternoon with no crashing the system. However, the second I turned off the gamepad and turned on the PS4 Controller and went to load a game that worked perfectly fine this afternoon -- El Crasho.

Would it yield the same results with a Wii U Classic Controller? - i have no interest in spending more money on this console, but....

Pressing the power button on the gamepad will send a shut down signal to the console and it will do so the moment you load/close content.
The best choice is to use the padcon plugin (assuming you setup Aroma) and use a button combo to turn off the gamepad if that's what you want.

 

[FattyMcButterPants]

Pressing the power button on the gamepad will send a shut down signal to the console and it will do so the moment you load/close content.
The best choice is to use the padcon plugin (assuming you setup Aroma) and use a button combo to turn off the gamepad if that's what you want.

waitwaitwait... so what you're telling me, and pardon my slow brain, that I'm actually causing the issue by turning off the controller, and when it loads the game, the Wii wakes up and says "oh crap... he's powering me off" ?

I just wanna use the ps4/5 controller. granted, i have to find my PS5 controllers, but... thanks for making me realize I'm the issue though.

 

[september796]

waitwaitwait... so what you're telling me, and pardon my slow brain, that I'm actually causing the issue by turning off the controller, and when it loads the game, the Wii wakes up and says "oh crap... he's powering me off" ?

I just wanna use the ps4/5 controller. granted, i have to find my PS5 controllers, but... thanks for making me realize I'm the issue though.

That's what I'm telling you lol
In a normal context, the power button on the gamepad or wiimote is used to shut down the entire system.
In Retroarch, however, since it works in isolation from the system (so to speak) the console doesn't shut down until you return to the Wii U menu. When Retroarch loads/close content, it briefly returns to the Wii U menu, hence it reads the shutdown signal you sent and shuts down.
If you want to turn off the Wiimote it will do so if you leave it for a couple of minutes, as long as you're not using it.
The gamepad, on the other hand, since it's part of the system, it's not meant to be turn off ever; for this, there's the padcon plugin for Aroma.

 

[bigbadbassman]

Thanks to all the people involved in this, works great for Sega Genesis so far.

I would love to see a somewhat working PUAE for this, is there anyway we can help? Maybe in building/testing/porting? Seems like there is demand, but no progress here (no offence meant, just an observation).

Using the current Tiramisu PUAE des not work - it boots the included AROS, but no other Kickstarts or Disk-files can be used due to the sd://->vol:// change.

 

[azy77]

Thanks to all the people involved in this, works great for Sega Genesis so far.

I would love to see a somewhat working PUAE for this, is there anyway we can help? Maybe in building/testing/porting? Seems like there is demand, but no progress here (no offence meant, just an observation).

Using the current Tiramisu PUAE des not work - it boots the included AROS, but no other Kickstarts or Disk-files can be used due to the sd://->vol:// change.

In the meantime I am using Tiny Launcher for Wii, it works quite well.

https://gbatemp.net/threads/uae-wii-tiny-launcher.642011/#post-10638587

Ploggy had an overclocked forwarder on the Seta GX thread on the Wii forum which defo speeds things up.

 

[KirbyBot]

RetroArch officially updated for 1.21.0, including the Wii U release, but sadly it looks like it's Tiramisu only, as it uses a .rpx file. :/

 

[Yu_ri]

RetroArch officially updated for 1.21.0, including the Wii U release, but sadly it looks like it's Tiramisu only, as it uses a .rpx file. :/

Is Retroarch still better with Tiramisu than Aroma? I wonder if Aroma support will advance much...
I tested it for a short time on Aroma (I play on the computer), but I want to play some things on the TV and I'm thinking again about finding the best way to do this (without having to put the PC on the TV, since I'm also looking to use Retroachievements).

 

[Turme]

Has anyone already tested the PSX core in this new version? Which one works better, the one for Tiramisu or the one for Aroma?

 

[Zeox-gamer]

Is Retroarch still better with Tiramisu than Aroma? I wonder if Aroma support will advance much...
I tested it for a short time on Aroma (I play on the computer), but I want to play some things on the TV and I'm thinking again about finding the best way to do this (without having to put the PC on the TV, since I'm also looking to use Retroachievements).

still better in tiramisu more options and many cores
retroarch in aroma still beta all cores is not ported for aroma version too
one day aroma still better one day

 

[ploggy]

Hi guys, Sorry for lack of updates, tbh there hasn't been alot of movement recently But that doesn't mean there hasn't been any changes

• More cores have been added, we should be pretty close if not the same as Tiramisu in terms of core compatibility. Thanks to Vague Rant, Maschell, QuarkTheAwesome
• PS1 Core should have another perf bump too, with extra threading additions to the ingame options menu. Thanks to vrda
• We now have the ability to open the WiiU Menu and close Retroarch with the Home button. Just like an official app Thanks to Maschell
• Added ability to use Threaded Video.. Option added to Video/Output Setting. Thanks to vrda
• RA's Assets (which was the cause of the slow loading) is now built into the Retroarch wuhb, so it doesn't have to read it each time you switch Core/load rom, that helps loading speeds massively!
• Other misc changes I cant remember right now

This should be the best build for Aroma RA until the PR gets merged to Libretro

https://www.mediafire.com/file/8md8k64ph7pa0q0/WiiU_Aroma_Current_Build.7z/file

 

[azy77]

Hi guys, Sorry for lack of updates, tbh there hasn't been alot of movement recently But that doesn't mean there hasn't been any changes

• More cores have been added, we should be pretty close if not the same as Tiramisu in terms of core compatibility. Thanks to Vague Rant, Maschell, QuarkTheAwesome
• PS1 Core should have another perf bump too, with extra threading additions to the ingame options menu. Thanks to vrda
• We now have the ability to open the WiiU Menu and close Retroarch with the Home button. Just like an official app Thanks to Maschell
• Added ability to use Threaded Video.. Option added to Video/Output Setting. Thanks to vrda
• Other misc changes I cant remember right now

This should be the best build for Aroma RA until the PR gets merged to Libretro

https://www.mediafire.com/file/e9ia88jqc0yb5in/WiiU_Aroma_Current_Build.7z/file

Some quick observations when compared to initial build

-Big speed up in loading Mame 2003 Plus core
-PCSX now runs full speed on high demand games like Tobal 2 with core threaded rendering set to the first option that turns it on
-P-UAE 2021 now working and seems to be full speed, however everything seems speeded up even when changing to locked Pal refresh it runs too fast. Even games that could run in NTSC mode that would retain correct speed end up running too fast in PAL mode, but maybe it's still a setting on my end, will test further later on.

Overall a significant improvement.

A massive thanks to Vague Rant, Maschell, QuarkTheAwesome, vrda and of course Ploggy for helping also

 

[ploggy]

Some quick observations when compared to initial build

-Big speed up in loading Mame 2003 Plus core
-PCSX now runs full speed on high demand games like Tobal 2 with core threaded rendering set to the first option that turns it on
-P-UAE 2021 now working and seems to be full speed, however everything seems speeded up even when changing to locked Pal refresh it runs too fast. Even games that could run in NTSC mode that would retain correct speed end up running too fast in PAL mode, but maybe it's still a setting on my end, will test further later on.

Overall a significant improvement.

A massive thanks to Vague Rant, Maschell, QuarkTheAwesome, vrda and of course Ploggy for helping also

I very proud of the PS1 Core, from where we started a couple years ago to now is a massive improvement
I'm not sure why Puae Core is playing too fast? but I'm sure there's a setting in the options somewhere to address that?
Though its nice to see an issue where things are running too fast on WiiU RA, nice change of pace lol