pyRetro

pyRetro is an open source, portable and freely distributed graphical application implemented in Python, using the PyGame library, and designed from the offset to act as a GUI (Graphical User Interface) front-end to the powerful and popular MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) project.

Features at a glance

The application is easily configurable, and it’s main target are arcade machine cabinets. Various key bindings are used for using the software, including arrows (left, right, up, down) for moving across roms list, left ALT or C to add and remove to/from favorites, Space to change the current listing mode, and left CTRL to commit the yes/no dialog choice.

Getting started with pyRetro

For your convenience, pyRetro is distributed as a native installer for Debian/Ubuntu-based operating systems, as well as an all-in-one archive that contains the project’s source code, which can be optimized for a specific operating system and hardware architecture.

To install pyRetro on your GNU/Linux machine, we strongly suggest to first search for a pre-built binary package for your distribution on choice, or use the Ubuntu/Debian native installer. If none of these methods apply to you, then download the tarball (tar.gz) archive and save it locally.

Extract the contents of the archive on a location of your choice, open a terminal emulator and execute the “sh runme.sh” command, without quotes, which will install the pyRetro software on your computer. To use it, access the executable via the main menu of your desktop environment of through the command-line.

The AGES Live CD

pyRetro is heavily used in the AGES (Arcade Genuine Entertainment System) Live CD Linux operating system, which is based on the world’s most popular distribution of Linux, designed to provide users with a live environment that allows them to play retro games independent from the operating system that is installed on their computers.

What is new in this release:

• pyRetro/ScreenSaver.py: fixed execute last game showed when exit the screensaver with non game.
• Added the first version of transitions.

Requirements:

• Python
• pygame
• MAME