User Guide

***Please note the PlayPal Handheld Console comes pre loaded with over 15'000 games playable straight from the box, however this console has untapped potential accessible for the tech savvy, using this comprehensive user guide... 

CONSOLE SPECS:
Display: 640 x 480 pixels, 3,5 inch IPS
CPU: RK3326
GPU: Mali-G31
RAM: 1 GB DDR3L
Operating system: ArkOS
Weight: 192 gram
Battery: Model 8040662 Li-ion, 3200 mAh, 3.7 volt, 2 pin JST 1.25mm

CORRECT WAY TO POWER OFF:
The power button only powers the device on and switches to stand-by. It does not turn the device off, unless
you press and hold for a forced shutdown. This is not recommended, as it can be harmful.
To power off the console, from the main menu (console selection):
START BUTTON (= menu) > QUIT > SHUTDOWN SYSTEM.

HOW TO EXIT A GAME:
press FN + START

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
ROM: Software package of a game, like Tetris
CORE: Emulator of a game console, like Atari 2600
BIOS: Supporting file(s) necessary for certain cores (emulators) to function
OS (ARKOS): Operating system on which the console runs
RETROARCH: The frontend (what you see onscreen) for running cores in ArkOS

CHARGING:
Charge battery through the LEFT USB port, not the right one. A slower charger (0.5A – max 2A) is best to maintain battery health. The LED turns off when charging is complete. Do not leave the device on the charger overnight.

KEY COMBOS AND BUTTON LAYOUT:
Power off: Start (menu) > Quit > Shutdown System
Standby: Single press power button
Exit running game: Press FN + START (2x if Quick Exit is disabled)
Adjust brightness: Start (menu) > Display Settings and Info > Brightness
Add/remove game to favourites: In game selection list, press Y (* = favourites list)
OPEN QUICK MENU
In order to either save/load progress or configure game/console related settings, make sure this game is running.
press R3 + X  R3 = press right hand thumbstick
SAVE/LOAD STATES (GAME PROGRESS)
Progress in a game can be saved in multiple save states:
1. In a running game, enter quick menu (R3 + X)
2. First, pick a slot: State Slot
3. Select Save State to save current progress in this slot or Load State to open progress saved in this slot.
NINTENDO DS 
Because of the double screen on NDS, the console needs to switch screens where necessary to play a game.
This can be done with the FN button. The quick exit option (FN + START to exit a game) does not work on NDS.
In order to exit a Nintendo DS game, press the left hand thumbstick and go down to the last line of very tiny text on the popup menu.

CONFIGURATION AND MENU
Follow these steps for an optional, practical setup
→ NOTICE ABOUT POWERING OFF / REBOOTING
START (menu) > QUIT > SHUTDOWN (or REBOOT)
Always use this procedure to power off, never press-hold the power button unless absolutely necessary.
1. Insert memory card(s)
Make sure they include the updated OS, the EASYROMS partition with at least one ROM (game) and the \BIOS folder with necessary files to run the desired emulator(s).
Power on the console
2. Adjust the look and feel of the main menu
Below is an example of a nice menu theme, but make adjustments based on your preferences:
START (menu) > UI SETTINGS > THEME > ES-THEME-ARKOS-CARBON
Go back to activate this theme. Then, enter the same menu again, under THEME CONFIGURATION:
Gamelist View Style: DETAILED
Default Grid Size: AUTOMATIC
3. Switch A and B keys (optional)
By default, the console uses the “Nintendo configuration” of A and B keys, where A = confirm and
B = back/exit.
If desired, these can be switched for all emulators to the “X-Box/Playstation configuration:”
START (menu) > ADVANCED SETTINGS > SWITCH A/B BUTTONS IN EMULATION STATION

MEMORY CARDS:
Choosing and preparing memory cards for games (ROMs) and operating system (OS) (we recommend this for the tech savvy users only, as if done incorrectly can introduce system problems)
One can either use 1 memory card to store both games and OS, or use 2 memory cards to separate games and OS. Maximum capacity of memory cards is 256 GB. In case of a two card setup, the OS card needs a minimum of 32 GB capacity.
In case of 1 memory card, use the right hand card slot.
In case of 2 memory cards, use the left hand card slot for games and the right hand slot for the OS.
Using 2 cards has the advantage of storing more games (although 1 card is usually plenty) and not losing games when the OS is re-flashed.
→ The device comes with stock cards, although adequate for gameplay, we offer upgraded cards that offer better performance. 
→ Make a backup of the original card(s), especially the \BIOS folder in the EASYROMS partition. This contains necessary files for several emulators, which might be hard to find online if you lose them. 

ARKOS AND/OR NEW MICRO SD CARD
Follow these steps while updating OS or using a new memory card
A new console most likely comes with an older version of the ArkOs operating system, although fit for gameplay some users may wish to update the software to unlock maximum potential from their console. To update ArkOS to the latest version, and improve functionality and stability of the console:
Look for the RG351MP/R35S version of ArkOS or a dedicated R36S version. Using these download sources:
https://github.com/AeolusUX/ArkOS-R3XS
https://github.com/christianhaitian/arkos/releases

1. Download the ZIP file containing the latest version of ArkOS
2. Unzip the .IMG file (around 8 GB)
3. Use a Disk Imager software to flash your memory card, e.g Rufus
4. Insert the memory card in your PC, start Rufus and make
sure the right card is recognized:
5. Select the ArkOS image file and hit START. Flashing will
take a few minutes.
6. Once complete, the card will show a partition called
BOOT.
7. While the console is powered off, insert the card into the
right hand card slot.
Notice: although there will be a ROM partition (EASYROMS)
on the card directly after flashing, do not yet add games to
it, since the partition might not have the right size yet. First,
boot the console once with the new card inserted. This will
further prepare the EASYROMS partition for adding ROMs.

→ Using 1 memory card for both OS and ROMs (games)
Power on the device containing the flashed memory card in the right hand slot. First boot takes a couple of minutes to configure everything. Once booted (the display shows the main menu), power off the console, place
the memory card back in your PC and add your selection of ROMs to the EASYROMS partition (see ADDING AND MANAGING GAMES)
→ Using 2 memory cards, the separate card for ROMs (games) is a new card
Power on the device containing the flashed memory card in the right hand slot and a new, empty card for ROMs (games) in the left hand slot. Power on the console, first boot takes a couple of minutes. Once it shows the main menu, go to:
SCRIPTS SETUP > ADVANCED > SWITCH TO SD2 FOR ROMS
If this option isn’t available, first select READ FROM SD1 AND SD2 FOR ROMS
and after that go back to the same menu and select SWITCH TO SD2 FOR ROMS
The ROMs card will now be configured with the proper folder structure.
Power off the console, place the left hand memory card back in your PC and add your selection of ROMs to the EASYROMS partition (see ADDING AND MANAGING GAMES)
→ Using 2 memory cards, the separate card for ROMs already contains games
Power on the device containing the flashed memory card in the right hand slot and a card containing ROMs in the left hand slot. Power on the console, first boot takes a couple of minutes. Once it shows the main
menu, the ROMs card should be recognized and available right away. If case you do not see your games, go to:
SCRIPTS SETUP > ADVANCED > SWITCH TO SD2 FOR ROMS
If this option isn’t available, first select READ FROM SD1 AND SD2 FOR ROMS
and after that go back tot he same menu and select SWITCH TO SD2 FOR ROMS
Micro SD card capacity recommendation:
1 card setup: at least 64 GB
2 card setup: 32 GB for OS, 64 to 256 GB for ROMs
Important notice with regards to memory cards:
Never eject or insert a memory card while the console is powered on. Memory cards can easily get damaged doing so.

ADDING AND MANAGING GAMES:
While the console comes with a huge selection of games, so you may want to make your own collection and obtain a more manageable list of games in your emulator menus.
Also, your consoles stock card(s) might get corrupted, so its advised to download and keep proper ROM collections. A very good source, with complete collections sorted by console, can be found here:
retro-arcade-v-04-rg-35-m-p directory listing (archive.org)
In order to prepare new memory cards, see MEMORY CARDS section.
NOTICE:
Although not necessary, it is recommended to keep a backup of your ROM collection. Make sure that this
backup also includes the \BIOS folder with the necessary files for all the emulators. In case of a memory card
failure, you can easily use this backup to restore your own game collection.
Optional method for adding / managing ROMs (games)
This method is, of course, not mandatory, but is very convenient, combined with keeping a backup on an external hard drive.
Both the backup and the memory card with EASYROMS partition will have the same structure: separate folders
per console/emulator with the proper names that the console will put in the EASYROMS partition when a new memory card is first configured. Each console folder will also have a subfolder containing media (boxart images
and/or videos/screenshots)

1. When you have downloaded ROM collections on your PC, open three windows:
- 1. subfolder \MEDIA or \MEDIA IMAGES in a selected console folder
- 2. folder with unsorted ROMs of this particular console
- 3. corresponding ROM folder on your backup drive
2. Use the media folder (1) to browse and decide which games you want to add to your collection.
3. Select these titles in the middle (2) window
4. Copy them to the right (3) window, to build your game collection on the backup drive.
5. After making your selection (this can of course be done in parts), you can scrape the boxart and additional screenshots/example videos to build your game menus. For this, see SCRAPING BOXART section.
ARCADE GAMES (\MAME)
Games from the good old arcade machines in stead of home game consoles, can be played with the MAME
(Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator). Do not unzip these ROMs, as they contain multiple files with similar
names and can be run from inside the ZIP files anyway. Copy these zipped ROMs to the \MAME subfolder.
Several additional files in the \MAME folder might be needed to run these games, so make sure to obtain these
files from the stock card that came with the console and add them to the backup as well. 

SCRAPING BOXART (getting additional game artwork)
Images (and videos) to present in the game selection lists on the R36S
Boxart images are available in the ROM collections on Archive.org (see link above), but in order to add
additional images and videos, boxart can be scraped from scratch very easily by using the free application
Skraper. This can be done on your PC, so you do not need to find the proper hardware to obtain a wifi
connection on the R36S.
1. If not yet available, first install Skraper on your PC:
Go to Skraper.net > Download > Download for Windows. Unzip and start the .EXE file. It is not necessary to
create an account. Be aware that the first download of resources takes some minutes.
2. Start Skraper and select RECALBOX > NEXT (or use the Wizard in the main menu)
3. Click the folder icon and select the ROM folder on the backup drive.
Skraper will now show the consoles of which the corresponding subfolders contain ROMs.
4. Check “Include non-Recalbox rom folders”, click Next > Next.
5. In the main screen, select GAME LIST: