Dingoonity.org

Where to buy

https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20190505034600&SearchText=LDK+game
https://retromimi.com/

This guide should also works for RS-97



1.1 Hardware in summary

Review : https://boards.dingoonity.org/ingenic-jz4760-devices/ldk-game-review/msg186265/#msg186265

Specifications : https://boards.dingoonity.org/ingenic-jz4760-devices/ingenic-devices-guide/msg185810/#msg185810


1.2 Firmware

Stock firmware dump :
https://boards.dingoonity.org/ingenic-jz4760-devices/ldk-game-vertical-stock-fw-dump/

If you're happy with the stock firmware, just use that. You can skip this section (1.2) entirely

Otherwise, you can go here for LDK firmwares :

RetroFW/Useless Firmware : https://jutleys.wixsite.com/retrogamers97-90

Difference between RetroFW and Useless Firmware : RetroFW is newer one, and recommended by most, but currently with less supporting games/softwares. More games and softwares are added gradually along time.

So if you just want the emulation and don't really care about the native apps/games go with RetroFW. Better features, better emulation overall. There's no reason to stick with Useless Firmware, other than the native apps/games.

Useless firmware is the older one but with more supporting games/softwares. Closer to stock rom that was preinstalled when you first received your LDK.

You should use either, since they actually feel the same, most changes are done under the hood.

It's all up to you. But then again, if you still use stock and happy with it, then there's no need using the above firmwares.

Image Writer (write .img file to SDCard)

Etcher : https://etcher.io
Rufus : https://rufus.ie

Etcher is the most recommended, clean and barebone, simplistic interface.

Use Rufus only if you had problem with Etcher.

There're others such as win32diskimager or tons of other programs thar can handle .img files, but I suppose those two are simple enough and do their job wonderfully.

Partitioning

Partitioning only needed if you need to expand/shrink the FAT32 partition. If the firmware is working and you got no missing space on your SD, then there's no need to do any partitioning.

Also, there's an unallocated 8mb partition before the EXT3, but just leave it like that.

You can use any partitioning tools out there.

For Windows you can use Minitool Partition Wizard here :
https://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html

For Linux you can use GParted.

The SDCard written with the firmware will have 3 partitions; EXT3 (Linux; about 128 mb), SWAP (Linux swap partition; about 256 mb) and FAT32 (should fill the rest of the space; do the math yourself).

You can use Partition Wizard to hide EXT3 and SWAP partition so Windows don't mount them, which will causes Windows to tell you to format the card.

Full guide on installing RetroFW Firmware here :

https://boards.dingoonity.org/ingenic-jz4760-devices/how-to-install-retrofw-on-your-ldkrs-97/


1.3 Copying files to the SDCard

There's no need to take the SDCard out everytime you want to copy stuffs to it.

Method 1 : just turn your LDK on, then plug the USB cable, it will prompt you to choose whether to use the USB connection for charging or for copying files. Windows won't see the linux and swap partition, only the FAT32 partition. After you're done, it will go back to the UI/desktop. This is my preferred method. Only works on RetroFW, not Useless Firmware.

Method 2 : Connect your USB cable while the LDK is off, switch your LDK on. Windows will detect LDK and on LDK it will ask you for connection options. After you're done, the LDK will turn itself off/reboot. Works on RetroFW and Useless Firmware

1.4 External SDCard

You can use the external SDCard slot (on the left side of your device)

Both cards (internal and external) are accessible from /mnt or /media



2.1 Games

ROMS (ARCADE/SNES/NES/GBA/GENESIS/MASTERSYSTEM, etc)

You need to look for the roms yourself on the internet.

After you download them, you can place the roms within "roms" folder, and point the emulators to the games you want to play.

Most of the emulators will prompt you to file browsers directly at start.

SDLPal

English translation guide here :
https://boards.dingoonity.org/ingenic-jz4760-devices/sdlpal-(the-legend-of-sword-and-fairy)-english-translation/

Cannonball

Find outrun arcade rom, extract all the contents to .cannonball/roms

If you can't find the .cannonball folder, you can create it yourself. Create folder with any name (say "aaa"), use cmd, make sure you're at where "aaa" folder is located, then type (without the quote) "ren aaa .cannonball". Then create the "roms" folder inside it.

OpenBOR


OpenBOR itself is an engine. You need to download the .pak files (you can find them on the link above) and place it inside the pak folder within the OpenBOR folder. After that, just start up OpenBOR, then pick the .pak file you want to play. You can get the pak files here :

http://www.chronocrash.com

Most of the games are beat-em-ups, Final Fight/Streets of Rage clones, but there're some exceptions, like Contra Locked and Loaded.

NOT ALL game modules (pak) would run on LDK though.

On the side note, this firmware :
https://boards.dingoonity.org/ingenic-jz4760-devices/ldk-retrogame/msg186707/#msg186707

Have paks file inside openBOR folder, and (probably) curated.

You can flash that firmware to another SDCard or USB stick, then extract the paks.

Eduke32
Shareware version included. But can use the duke.grp from Duke Nukem 3D Megaton edition/Atomic edition or the original Dos version. Replace the duke.grp within the eduke folder.

Doom engines



Can use either official/full version .wad files (doom.wad, doom2.wad, plutonia.wad, tnt.wad, heretic.wad, hexen.wad) or these free alternatives :

Chocolate Doom
freedoom wad : https://freedoom.github.io/download.html

Chocolate Heretic
blasphemer wad : https://www.doomworld.com/vb/freedoom/70732-blasphemer-discussion/

Chocolate Hexen
Zauberer wad : https://www.doomworld.com/vb/freedoom/72519-zauberer/

Unfortunately Hexen Deathkings of the Dark Citadel isn't supported.

You can place the wads either within the chocolate-doom folder or separated folder (i.e. "wads" inside "roms" folder)

Stand alone iwads for modern ports works too, HACX is confirmed can run without doom2 iwad, so other similar projects should work as well (as long as chocolate doom supports it)
https://www.doomworld.com/idgames/themes/hacx/hacx12

ECWolf/Wolf3D
Shareware version included. But ECWolf can use .wl6 files (full version files).

For Wolf3D however :
https://boards.dingoonity.org/ingenic-jz4760-devices/wolfenstein-3d-won't-accept-full-version/

TL:DR, you need to find the EXACT full version recognized by the program. Which one? I don't know. I haven't succeeded myself. Moving on to other games.

Quake & Quake 2
Shareware version included. But can use the full version of pak0.pak and pak1.pak (id1 folder for Quake 1, baseq2 folder for Quake 2), replace them in your RetroFW SDcard.

Scummvm
Game engine mostly intended to play Lucasarts and Sierra 90's point and click adventure games. You can point out the game folders within ScummVM UI. Most likely supports more than Lucasarts and Sierra's games. You'll have to look it up yourself.


2.2 (currently) Stock/Useless Firmware Only

Bermuda

Need to use Bermuda Syndrome files. Place all the files from the full version within "data" folder inside bermuda folder. Intro movies don't work (only sounds), but the game itself works.

OpenTitus

Need to use dos version of Titus the Fox files. Place all the files from the full version within "titus" inside opentitus folder.

REminiscence

Need to use Flashback for dos files. Place it inside "data" folder within reminiscense folder.

OpenJazz

Shareware version included. But can use full/CD version of Jazz Jackrabbit 1. Place all the files from the full/CD version within openjazz folder.

Rise of the Triad
Shareware version included. But can use the .wad, .rtc, .rtl files from full ROTT version. Place the files within ROTT folder.

2.3 Emulation

PS1 compatibility list
https://boards.dingoonity.org/ingenic-jz4760-devices/psx4all-compatibility-list-14066/
https://boards.dingoonity.org/ingenic-jz4760-devices/jordanjackal27's-psx-ldk-compatability-list/

This list is for dingux but seems to reflect and relevant to the psx4all on LDK/RS-97 :
https://boards.dingoonity.org/dingux-emulation/quick-psx4all-compatibility-overview/

Game specific tweaks
https://boards.dingoonity.org/retrogamers-97/game-specific-psx4all-settings-for-rs97/

PocketSNES
If you're having problem with SNES emulation on RetroFW set the frameskip to "auto"
https://boards.dingoonity.org/ingenic-jz4760-devices/ldk-retrofw-snes-performance/

Arcade
Mame4all uses 0.37b5 mame romset. I didn't test them all.

CPS1, CPS2 and NeoGeo games runs flawless on FBAlpha. So it is very recommended that you use FBAlpha for these 3 systems. Some vertical shoot em up displayed sideways on FBAlpha A320 version. This can be set with the GCW version.

For other systems outside CPS1, CPS2, NeoGeo, some will run good on Mame4all, some will run good on FBAlpha. You have to test them all by yourself.

(Useless Firmware only) Picodrive
Picodrive don't work on Useless Firmware? Try this one :
https://boards.dingoonity.org/retrogamers-97/uselessrs97-internal-firmware-for-revision-2-1/msg184239/#msg184239
Replace all the files within picodrive folder with that one, and you're set.

2.4 Skins and Customizations

Most older gmenu2x skins still works (at least on Useless Firmware).





https://dl.openhandhelds.org/cgi-bin/gp2x.cgi?0,0,0,0,61

The whole stuffs only sized about 6 mb

Extract the skins you download, then check the folder structure (see the default skin folder in your gmenu2x for reference)

After that, just copy them to apps\gmenu2x\skins

NOT tested with RetroFW (GMenuNX), but it should work, since I've tested using GMenuNX default skin in GMenu2X, and it works.

4.1 LR Buttons

Don't have much to inform about the parts (or yet), but just yesterday suddenly my L button stuck down and cannot be pressed.

Upon inspecting, the L R button uses tiny silicon pads, which was glued (taped to be exact) to the post which reach out to the switch. In this case, the pad went slip out from between the post and the switch.

I'm predicting this will be a common problem for LDK owners, since the pads' glue are very weak, and the buttons aren't well sit on its place. They're still moving around back and forth.

I tried to glue the pad back. Superglue don't play well with silicones and rubbers. So I tried UHU.



And leave it cure for couple of hours.

The pad still rocking back and forth, so to prevent it from detaching from the post again I reinforce it by dripping couple of drops of superglue around it, but leaving the upper part of silicone pads untouched.

If you do that, remember MAKE SURE the superglue is CURED 100%. Superglue have VERY strong vapor, and that vapor WILL leave marks to anything near it in form of white residue; it can affect other components near it. So just leave it cure for 2 days or something. You can still use the LDK anyway albeit lesser comfortable LR buttons.

The final result looks messy, but it works anyway.

This LR button issue definitely needs to be addressed on LDK2, if they use the same shell/similar form factor (which I wish they should). It is apparent this is a slap in/last-minute solution, probably a miscalculation from the button molds.

4.2 Screen

Defect

The screen got (most likely common) defect, on which the acrylic would touch the LCD surface all the time (may cause damage in long term). I saw pictures of LDK with the EXACT same problem, EXACT same location as mine (black blob/spot on the screen).

Using tempered glass will greatly reduce this defect.

Compatible screen

Discuss it here

https://boards.dingoonity.org/ingenic-jz4760-devices/ldk-screen-mod-(not-mine)/

4.3 Teardown

This is the LR button "mod" I described above. Still going strong. The white things on it are the superglue residue, so like I said, just be careful with it as those comes from the vapor and may affect nearby components.


Was hoping the membrane uses standard parts from other consoles, but seems they're custom made. The whole facebuttons are just one part.


The mainboard. There're better pictures around, definitely. This is as far as I'm willing to go.


Screen cable. Can't make it up how many pins it have, or what type is it. But as the old saying goes, don't fix it if it ain't broken. Also the screen was "inserted" into a slot in the front shell and glued tightly. So if you do want to do stuffs with the screen, keep that in mind.

reserved

Great Guide for noobs like myself. I have done everything but add games and I am still a bit confused lol.

If I download 10 snes games and 10 master system games. Do I just extract them and add them to the correct folders which are already created on the LDK? If I use the side slot to add games, I can?t do that can I?

Thanks




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote from: DonKRuler on May 11, 2019, 05:09:35 pm

Great Guide for noobs like myself. I have done everything but add games and I am still a bit confused lol.

If I download 10 snes games and 10 master system games. Do I just extract them and add them to the correct folders which are already created on the LDK? If I use the side slot to add games, I can?t do that can I?

Thanks

The emulators recognize zip files.

You can place them anywhere you please, since the emulators will give you file browser anyway.

Oh I see, So when I click on a emulator, it will just recognise the files, even if they are not placed in that folder.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote from: DonKRuler on May 11, 2019, 07:24:47 pm

Oh I see, So when I click on a emulator, it will just recognise the files, even if they are not placed in that folder.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You need to point out the files using the emulator's file browser.

So where you want to place them it's up to you.

Did you even read the guide above?

I've written about this part too.

I read everything lol remember your language will be different to someone?s else, so when you say Point to files, I?m thinking what? lol. Anyway, I downloaded some SNES files and placed them in SNES folder and the emulator recognised it. I have some Nintendo 64 files which are in a zip, so I unzipped one and left the others zipped but it didn?t recognised them. So it will only recognise certain files

Cheers


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote from: DonKRuler on May 13, 2019, 08:48:01 am

I read everything lol remember your language will be different to someone?s else, so when you say Point to files, I?m thinking what? lol. Anyway, I downloaded some SNES files and placed them in SNES folder and the emulator recognised it. I have some Nintendo 64 files which are in a zip, so I unzipped one and left the others zipped but it didn?t recognised them. So it will only recognise certain files

Cheers


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wut? There's no N64 emulator on this device

LOL see how am I meant to know. It worked on my other device. I just thought I could download any Nintendo games. Imma stick to those sites which were recommended to me and download.


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Hi Exorio,

Great post, thanks for putting the time in, sure it will help if I get stuck adding RetroFW.

I'm going to buy an LDK next week and wondered if you could give anymore info re the screen protectors, I'd like to have something suitable for when it arrives ideally. Are the GBA ones good enough would you say? Do you have an example?

it's in the guide

Also does Streets of Rage Remake work on this? If so how well does it run?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

yes and good

Received my hardshell case from Aliexpress. Fits good, pretty good but about almost an inch too tall. Canvas pouches for GBA SP is still the best solution for LDK.

Updated the accessories section.

Great guide mate, very clear and helpful. Good on you!

Thanks.

Seems some pictures are missing. I don't have any idea where to upload them. Will fix if I do have the mood.