Tag: android

Guides, odin

AYN Odin & Odin 2 Starter Guide

by Russ41 Comments on AYN Odin & Odin 2 Starter Guide
AYN Odin & Odin 2 Starter Guide

Last updated: 30APR2024 (see Changelog for details)

The AYN Odin handhelds are a perfect storm of emulation gaming goodness — they provide excellent performance for their price, great battery life, and a nice screen, all will solid controls and ergonomics.

This guide will work with any AYN Odin and Odin 2 model, with notes for each distinct device when necessary.

Android Starter Guide
RetroArch Starter Guide

Because the AYN Odin runs on an Android platform, setting up the device is similar to setting up any other Android device for the purpose of game emulation. I already have complete Android and RetroArch guides on this website, which will serve as the foundation of setting up your Odin. There are some unique setup aspects for the Odin which we’ll cover in this guide, to complement the two guides above, but I would highly encourage you to check out those two guides if you want to take a deeper dive into the platforms.

Are the Odin devices pre-loaded with games? No, the devices ship as a general Android phone or tablet, with only essential apps (Play Store, Chrome, etc.) pre-installed. You are on your own to find the emulated game files (ROMs) to play on this device. There are no copyrighted files on this website.

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Guides, RG552

Anbernic RG552 Custom Firmware Guide

by Russ3 Comments on Anbernic RG552 Custom Firmware Guide
Anbernic RG552 Custom Firmware Guide

Several months into its lifecycle, the Anbernic RG552 finally has some great options when it comes to improving the user experience. Let’s take a look at three different firmware options (two on Linux, and one on Android) which will give you better gameplay performance and some nice quality of life upgrades, too.

Buy one here:
AliExpress ($227 before sales)
Amazon Prime ($249 with fast shipping)

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Apple, Guides, Mini PCs, PS Vita, Retroid Pocket 2, RG552, xbox

RetroArch Starter Guide

by Russ27 Comments on RetroArch Starter Guide
RetroArch Starter Guide

Last updated: 28FEB2022 (see Changelog for details)

RetroArch is one of my favorite programs to use for retro game emulation, because it can emulate many systems. But it does have quite a steep learning curve. In this guide I’m going to demystify some of the more peculiar things about this emulation frontend, and show you how I set up RetroArch on my own gaming platforms.

This guide is meant to help you get set up with various RetroArch iterations. The video will primarily be done on Windows PC, but the same method will apply to MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Vita, and Xbox platforms, and more.

RetroArch really shines on retro systems, particularly PlayStation 1 and below games. For more modern consoles, it is often more efficient to rely on standalone emulators, which are generally more optimized than RetroArch. However, if you are using a system that relies primarily on RetroArch for emulation (like Xbox), or you have a beefy PC that can run well regardless of optimizations, you may find success in emulating higher-end systems in RetroArch, too.

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Retroid Pocket 2, Reviews, RG552, steam deck

The 9 Handhelds to Consider in 2022

by RussLeave a Comment on The 9 Handhelds to Consider in 2022
The 9 Handhelds to Consider in 2022

Let’s look at nine retro handheld gaming devices currently on the market or coming within the next few months, and which ones will give you the best value for your money.

Devices featured:
Anbernic RG552
PowKiddy X18S
Retroid Pocket 2+
AYN Odin
GPD XP
Steam Deck
Nintendo Switch Lite

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Guides, Mods

PowKiddy X18S Firmware Upgrade (LineageOS, Android 11)

by Russ1 Comment on PowKiddy X18S Firmware Upgrade (LineageOS, Android 11)
PowKiddy X18S Firmware Upgrade (LineageOS, Android 11)

In this video I’ll show you how to upgrade the operating system on the PowKiddy X18S to the slim and stable LineageOS from Black Seraph. We’ll also test out emulation performance with this new OS running N64, PSP, Dreamcast, GameCube, PS2, and more.

PowKiddy X18S
Black Seraph’s Patreon
JimRPG’s GameCube settings
Taki Udon’s PS2 settings

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Guides, Reviews

Review and Guide: PowKiddy A20

by Russ4 Comments on Review and Guide: PowKiddy A20
Review and Guide: PowKiddy A20

The A20 is the latest device from PowKiddy, and sports an upgraded chip that can provide excellent N64 and PSP performance. But getting the device up and running is quite a bit of work, and there are some frustrations along the way. In this review we’ll take a look at its setup and performance, and help you determine whether this bargain-priced option is a good fit for you.

Buy one here

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