Getting Started

A Guide to Getting the Most Out of Your retroPortable

Whether you're considering buying the retroPortable or have just picked one up, this guide will provide you with everything you need to make the most of this nostalgic device.

The information here is straightforward but essential to ensure you avoid frustrating situations that could disrupt your experience.

Let’s get started!

How to Properly Save Your Game

This works the same way as it would on the original hardware. The emulators on the device come with pre-installed memory (such as memory cards for PS1 and PSP), allowing you to save your progress, exit the game, and resume whenever you like. This is the recommended method for saving.

    Important: After saving your game, you must exit the game properly by pressing SELECT + START twice. This ensures the emulator closes correctly and returns to the main menu. If you save your game and then press the reset button or turn off the device without exiting properly, the emulator will ignore your most recent save, and you’ll have to start over. Following this step is essential for the best experience.

    You can also take advantage of save states. By pressing SELECT + R1, you can create a save state that lets you return to the game at that exact moment. To load the save state, simply press SELECT + L1.

    This feature is incredibly useful when you need to stop playing but can’t reach a save point, or if you’re in the middle of a long cinematic.

    Don’t forget to exit the game properly using the SELECT + START shortcut mentioned earlier.

    How to Turn Off Your Device

    By default, pressing the power button on the R36S only turns off the screen; it does not power down the device.

    To safely turn off the R36S:

    1. Press the Start button to open the Main Menu.
    2. Select the Quit option at the bottom.
    3. Choose Shutdown System.

    Using the Shutdown System option is the safest way to turn off your device. This process saves your settings and safely unmounts the SD card, preventing data corruption.

    How to Add Games to the R36S

    The retroPortable supports a dual SD card setup, meaning you can use one SD card for the operating system (OS) and a second SD card specifically for games.

    It’s highly recommended to use a second SD card for adding new games. If the included SD card becomes corrupted or misplaced during this process, the device could become unusable.

    To safely add new games:

    • Purchase a high-quality SD card. Cheap SD cards can cause performance or compatibility issues.
    • Use the new SD card exclusively for storing your games.
    Setting Up the Dual SD Card System
    1. Insert the blank SD card into the TF2-GAME slot on the left side of the device.
    2. Turn on the retroPortable and wait for the main menu to appear.
    3. Navigate to the Options menu using the Up or Down arrows.
    4. Under Options, open Advanced and scroll to the bottom to find the option Switch to Second SD for ROMS.(A series of text will scroll across the screen, indicating that files are being copied or moved. Once the process finishes, you’ll return to the Options screen.)
    5. Turn off the device, remove the TF2-GAME SD card, and insert it into your computer.
    6. On your computer, the SD card will appear with a file structure similar to the EASYROMS partition from the single card setup.
    7. Copy your game ROMs into the appropriate folders named for each emulated system.

    For copyright reasons, we are unable to provide information on how to obtain ROMs. However, they can be easily found online. To ensure the best emulation experience, refer to the information below to check the correct file extensions your game files must have to run properly on the device.

    System Name | File Extension

    Nintendo Entertainment System .ZIP, .NES

    Super Nintendo .SMC

    Sega Mega Drive .MD

    Game Gear .MD

    Neo-Geo .ZIP

    CP System .ZIP

    Game Boy .GB, .ZIP

    Game Boy Color .GBC, .ZIP

    Game Boy Advance .GBA, .ZIP

    Nintendo DS .NDS, .ZIP

    Nintendo 64 .N64, .Z64, .ZIP

    PSP (PlayStation Portable) .CSO, .ISO

    PlayStation .CHD, .PBP

    Nintendo GameCube .RVZ

    MAME .ZIP

    Dreamcast .CHD, .CDI

    How to Adjust the Brightness on Your retroPortable

    It’s very simple! Use the shortcut by pressing R3 (pressing down the right joystick) + DOWN or UP on the D-Pad to adjust the brightness to your desired level.

    That’s all you need to know for the best experience. If you require additional support, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

    Special Commands for Emulating Nintendo DS

    • While playing NDS games, press L2 or R2 to switch between screens.
    • Use the right joystick as the stylus, and click the joystick to interact with the screen.