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Pandory500 v3 for The A500 Mini (20240418)
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@dajoho dajoho released this 18 Apr 10:06
· 3 commits to main since this release
v3
5a996e4

Pandory500 v3 is a soft-mod for The A500 Mini console allowing you to run many more emulators and programs.

The soft-mod itself works completely from USB-stick. It does not modify your system in any way.

POWER UP Your A500 Mini: PANDORY500 V3 on a USB Stick!
YouTube Video v3

Please choose 60hz video from the A500 Mini video settings for best performance

If you have any questions/problems, join us on Discord and we will help you out: https://teampandory.com/discord

DOWNLOAD HERE: https://www.teampandory.com/pandory500/

v3 2024.04.18

Updates in this release:

  • Optimised for speed and size

    • Rebuilt everything from the ground up with A500 hardware-specific speed fixes
    • Pandory is around 200MB smaller than before and the thumbnail pack about 1GB smaller.

  • Updated Retroarch to 1.18

    • updated almost all cores to latest versions
    • fixes for some controller issues
    • more stable hotplug functionality
    • many extra optional retroarch cores to try if you have compatibility problems with a game
    • chd support for almost every cd-based core

  • NEW CORES

    • pico-8 core

  • Updated Amiberry to 5.6

    • fixed lots of bugs. new features
    • run AGS and Aminimiga in Amiberry 5.6
    • automatic kickstart setup for amiberry and retrorach -> no configuration needed.

  • Compatible with firmware 1.2.1 and 1.1.1

  • Update ScummVM to 2.8.1

    • Support for the GRIME engine - play games like Grim Fandango
    • Play lots of games that use Adventure Game Studio
    • Asylum engine: now you can play Sanitarium
    • Includes new games
      • Flight of the Amazon Queen
      • ToonStruck Demo

  • Update: OpenBOR fixes

    • rebuilt with speed optimisations for the A500

  • Update: Open Cubic Player to 2.0.109

    • support for more chiptune formats

  • NEW: Vice 3.7.1 Commodore Emulator

    • emulates:
      • C64
      • C128
      • CBM II B and P
      • PET
      • PLUS4
      • VIC-20
    • can auto-install the correct bios files from USB if they are missing

  • NEW: Vice SID Player

    • with a freeware collection of 60000 sid files to get you started

  • NEW: Doom-Core replaced with Crispy Doom

    • Now you can play Doom in HD Widescreen
    • ..and Hexen
    • ..and Heretic
    • Full mouse support
    • With General Midi Soundfont!
    • Deathmatch Doom... da da da da da!

  • NEW: INTERNET SUPPORT VIA USB LAN

    • Access the internet via your mini
    • Browse the web
    • Visit BBS Servers
    • Visit FTP servers
    • Chat with your friends
    • Play Doom online with your friends (via teampandory.com)

  • HD Quake (Darkplaces)

    • play Quake in 720p hardware accelerated mode
    • with multiplayer Deathmatch support
    • weekly deathmatch sessions Saturdays GMT 21:00 GMT / 4:00PM EST
    • version available for windows and for the steamdeck.

  • Update DOSBox Staging to 0.80

    • fluidsynth soundfont support (pre-configured)
    • mt32 support possible if you add the mt32 bios files
    • ipx/tcp networking support

  • UPDATE: PPSSPP to 1.16.2

    • new controller mappings with combo keys
      • menu + home = PPSSPP MENU
      • menu + left-shoulder = SAVE STATE
      • menu + right-shoulder = LOAD STATE
      • menu + green/x/square = HOME
      • menu + yellow/y/triangle = AXIS SWAP
    • online ppsspp homebrew store -> download homebrew directly to your mini

  • UPDATE: Flycast 2.2

    • Fixed graphic distortion on some games
    • Online Boxart Scraping
    • Now shares BIOS files with retorarch, no need to install the bios files twice
    • NVRAM Unlocks:
      • dreamcast unlocks:
        marvel vs capcom 2
        capcom vs snk 2
        street fighter 3rd strike
        ikaruga
        super street fighter 2
        puzzle fighter 2
      • naomi unlocks:
        cannon spike
        capcom vs snk
        capcom vs snk 2
        marvel vs capcom 2 (japan)

  • NEW: Native Atari ST Emulator (Hatari)

    • Moved from retroarch to a standalone emulator
    • old retroarch core is still there if you want it
    • emulates Atari ST/STE/TT/Falcon
    • Includes the free EmuTOS bios to get you started
    • inbuilt virtual midi synth, specially made for Pandory

  • NEW: Zesarux Emulator

    • emulates:
      • ZX Spectrum
      • MK14
      • ZX80
      • ZX81
      • QL
      • Z88
      • Microdigital TK80, TK82, TK82C, TK83, TK85, TK90X, TK95
      • Timex Sinclair 1000, 1500, 2068
      • Timex Computer 2048, 2068
      • Inves Spectrum +
      • Sam Coupe
      • Pentagon
      • Chloe 140 SE, 280 SE
      • Chrome
      • Prism
      • ZX-Uno
      • ZX-Evolution BaseConf (beta)
      • ZX-Evolution TS-Conf
      • ZX Spectrum Next
      • Jupiter Ace
      • Amstrad CPC 464, CPC 4128, CPC 664, CPC 6128
      • Amstrad PCW 8256, PCW 8512
      • MSX1
      • Spectravideo 318/328
      • Colecovision
      • Sega SG1000
      • Sega Master System
    • can auto-install the correct bios files from USB if they are missing

  • NEW: DOSBox Command and Conquer replaced with Vanilla Conquer

    • Play Command and Conquer Tiberian Dawn and Red Alert Full Versions
      • available to download on our github
      • let you play in HD 720p
    • LAN multiplayer and skirmish support

  • NEW: MagiTerm Telnet BBS Client

    • connect to modern BBS systems
    • preconfigured with 1000s of BBS addresses

  • NEW: EDuke32

    • Play Duke Nukem 3D at blazing speeds
    • With upscaling and widescreen mode

  • NEW: Remote access

    • Access the files on your mini via SFTP
    • Shell terminal access via SSH
      • Start the terminal and type "sshserver" to start

  • NEW: Self recovery mode

    • If the menu corrupts a Pandory startup file, they will
      be restored if you start one of the others.

  • NEW: Mystery Emulator!

    • Connect your A500 to the internet and a secret additional emulator gets activated.

  • NEW: More background music

    • we've added a few tracks from our friend XxDUSTYxX for you to listen to in the menu.

  • Developer things

    • Pandory now contains standalone modern C and C++ libraries instead of the older ones on the mini
    • We've moved and recompiled everything using the modern GCC12 compiler to take advantage of many speed optimisations.
    • We've open sourced our toolchain so you can program your own things for the A500: https://code.teampandory.com/pandory/pandory500/toolchain

  • NEW: HD MilkyTracker

    • Featuring: BodgeMouse!

  • Other stuff
    -> moved all launchers from the applications menu to THEA500 menu

v2 2022.09.05

Updates in this release:

  • Migrated the underlying udev-zero library to the better eudev library for more controller compatibility
  • Included many new automatic controller configurations. Any missing controllers can be added if you map them using the Retro Games Gamepad or using a usb keyboard.
  • Fixed a bug that retroarch was using SDL2 controller configs instead of udev.
  • New video in the media player from TheGebs24!
  • Fixed PPSSPP vcore sometimes not launching games
  • New mame2003 core which can be optionally used if needed
  • A500 Kickstarts are automounted to all the needed locations for a more smooth Amiberry5 experience.
  • Default Amiga Playlist core is now Amiberry5 (for LHA/whdload files).
  • Amiberry5 menu can now be accessed with the gamepad select button.
  • SNES9X core fixed (Thanks Barry Williams for the bug report).
  • Updated a few other minor emulator cores

Notice: We have changed a lot of the controller-handling in this release. if you have any controller issues and cannot navigate using your controller, let us know on Discord: https://teampandory.com/discord

v2

Adds many more features, including:

  • Support for firmware 1.1.1

    • You no longer need to hold back the firmware update to keep compatibility with Pandory500.
    • host-run not required. We prefer host-rum! Grog! Grog! Grog!
    • For optimal compatibility please upgrade to firmware 1.1.1: https://teampandory.com/fw111. The earlier 1.0.0 firmware has buggy libraries and poor joystick support.
    • Warning: ensure you use a good quality usb stick, power-supply and disconnect all non-essential devices before upgrading your firmware. Please be aware that some addons requiring host-run functionality may cease to function. Aminimiga and AGS addons are known to be compatible with the new firmware.

  • NATIVE (non-libretro) emulators for optimal memory usage and speed:

    • OpenBOR for beat-em-ups
    • PPSSPP for Playstation Portable games (much faster than the libretro psp cores)
    • Dreamcast/Naomi and Atomiswave via Flycast standalone (faster than libretro)
    • BIG: Native DOSBOX Staging
      • Emulated speeds of up to around Pentium 1
      • With shareware/freeware game-pack:
        • Commander Keen
        • Raptor
        • Duke Nukem 1, 2 and 3D
        • Wacky Wheels
        • Command and Conquer Demo / Command and Conquer Red Alert - Freeware version
        • .. and more!
    • Virtual passthrough retroarch-cores "vcores" to start the emulators via Retroarch, with memory-clearing before the emulators are launched.

  • New Amiberry version 5.3

    • improved emulation
    • Almost two years of new bugfixes/improvements not in the stock firmware emulator
    • including Retroarch vcore to start Amiberry5 games directly from retroarch.
    • Two further preconfigured vcores to start Amiberry as a A500 or A1200.
    • Support for many disk formats
    • Autoconfiguration of controllers and kickstarts

  • UPDATED Controller configurations

    • Use MORE gamepads than the stock firmware.

  • Native MPV HD Video player

    • With mini tutorials to help you use Pandory500.
    • With example video pack.

  • Native Opencubic Mod/MP3 Music player

    • With tracks from D4XX and Barry Leitch
    • And a few Podcasts from top retrogaming podcast Arcade-Attack

  • Retroarch Shaders and Overlay Pack

  • More free memory

    • Linux cache periodically deleted to free up memory.

  • Optional thumbnail pack containing thousands of box-art and screen grab images.

  • Soft-Shutdown

    • Power down all devices, safely unmount USB drives and enter a low-power state directly from the RetroArch menu. We still recommend to disconnect your A500 after use.

Notes:

  1. Most emulators work straight away, but some emulators require additional BIOS/system files. Put any you need inside the Pandory/.user/.config/retroarch/system folder. We cannot supply these, but there are several collections available online for you to legally use if you own the original systems. For example: RetroPie Bios Pack or Batocera Bios Pack.
  2. Dreamcast BIOS files need to be in Pandory/.user/.config/flycast/shared
  3. Amiberry uses the inbuilt A500 Amiga Kickstart files. It may require you, however, to click the Rescan paths button in the configuration window for it to detect your A500 kickstart files (Press F12 on the keyboard and navigate to "Paths").

v1

  • A new native RetroArch menu, with OpenGL video-driver support, allowing many new emulators alongside Amiga, including:
    • Megadrive
    • SNES
    • Playstation 1
    • 32X
    • Amiga PUAE
      • RetroArch has been configured with ADF and IPF support.
    • Commodore 64
    • Atari ST
    • PC-Engine / TurboGrafx
    • MS-DOS
    • Game Boy
    • Game Boy Color
    • Game Boy Advance
    • Game Gear
    • MasterSystem
    • Quake/DOOM ports
    • ScummVM (RetroArch version)
    • .. and many more ..
  • Full root access to your device via Linux Terminal
  • ScummVM (Native version)
  • Allows switching between the normal A500 menu / Pandory Menu
  • Thousands of thumbnails for many different games
  • Allows configuration and mapping of controllers not usually supported by the A500 mini -> pandory bypasses SDL2-input and uses Linux-UDEV directly.
  • Background music
  • Flexible aspect ratio configuration options

DOWNLOAD HERE: https://www.teampandory.com/pandory500/

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