Greetings friends and fellow enthusiasts!
This is Mikhailov from Team Retrogue, where we like retro games and the devices that bring them to us.
The Gamma Squeeze released a beta of GammaOS Core for several RockChip devices this week, and is available via his Patreon page. I took the liberty of installing the beta on my Powkiddy RGB30 in order to give some initial impressions. I have to admit, the beta has completely changed and reinvigorated the RGB30 for me, and I find myself using the device a lot more. This article will showcase some elements of GammaOS Core that I am really excited about.
Retroarch Pre-Configured
You can use RetroArch as your only launcher if you so choose.
Setting up and configuring RetroArch can be a pain, but GammaOS core takes all the guesswork out. The popular emulation app is preinstalled with all hotkeys preconfigured and cores are already downloaded.
If you have a ROM setup on your second SD card already, GammaOS Core will recognize it as an external SD card. If you want RetroArch as your only frontend, you can be gaming in a matter of minutes.
Gamma also optimized several of the cores for you. Try Game Boy Advance. You won’t be disappointed.
Plain Launcher
Plain but Effective.
GammaOS Core is a stripped-down version of Android that functions on systems with no touchscreen. Those of us who owned Retroid Pocket 2 handhelds back in the day know how hard it is to set up Android handhelds without a touchscreen.
Thankfully, this operating system comes equipped with Plain Launcher, which can very easily be navigated with the Powkiddy RGB30’s buttons.
The keyboard design can also controlled with the system’s onboard controls, as well as the files app. I did not find it hard at all to install certain compatible apps.
Holding the power button will open up a menu allowing you to control settings such as the screen brightness, go back to the home screen, and kill background apps that might be bogging down the system.
ES-DE Compatible
ES-DE with a MinUI Theme Applied
You can sideload Emulation Station Desktop Edition if you want something other than RetroArch. It works just as it should. You can scrape boxart and download themes as you can on any Android device. However, I found some issues running ES-DE on a weaker handheld.
Scraping box art occasionally freezes the device and causes it to run warm. Scraping box art one system at a time is essential. I settled on a MinUI-Based theme, which might be a little counter-productive because one could just load MinUI on handhelds like these. I like it, however, and I can change whenever I feel like it.
Aurora Store and Standalone Emulators
The Android version of Drastic on the RGB30!
I really wanted to try Drastic on the Powkiddy RGB30 and was able to download it from the Aurora Store. Drastic, in my opinion, is the best way to experience Nintendo DS other than actual hardware. I needed an external mouse in order to properly set everything up, but once I did, I assigned a virtual stylus to the bottom screen and set the pointer down to R2. In this way, I managed to have a good approximation of playing DS games on a 1:1 screen with virtual touch controls.
I intend to try PPSSPP next and am looking forward to seeing what that experience is like.
Closing Thoughts
For being an initial beta, this is a very fleshed-out operating system, albeit with a few bugs. It did freeze on me a couple of times, and the device did run a bit warm. However, the experience left me excited for further betas and the official release of GammaOS core, and I am really enjoying my Powkiddy RGB30 as a result of The Gamma Squeeze’s hard work.
Check out some videos on GammaOS Core and the Powkiddy RGB30 below:
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