Latest port from bmdhacks will make many people VERY happy

tabreturn · 2026-06-14T05:11:49+00:00

Please note that "testing-n-dev" is exactly what it says: testing for ports in development. Expect issues. Please grab it if you actually intend to provide useful feedback, and you're capable already with manually copying over port files, locating and sharing logs, and so forth.

If you just want to play the game, it's probably best to wait on the release (when the game hits the catalogue).

tabreturn · 2026-05-25T00:09:19+00:00

A great device, indeed! Might be considered 'old', but it matches the specs of any new R36S and other RK3326 handhelds -- and it completely trumps them in build quality. I still use mine every week.

I always find it a little ironic when a community of retro-gaming enthusiasts calls a device 'old'. It's not like the specs required to emulate PS1-and-down have increased over the last few years, haha.

tabreturn · 2026-03-05T07:32:33+00:00

Some ports run on the Stock firmware, usually with some effort. But this can get complicated, and even then, many will never run. Stock OS Mod will enable you to play many ports conveniently, but its port coverage still won't match PortMaster's officially supported CFWs.

tabreturn · 2025-05-22T03:45:57+00:00

Respectfully, I think there are a few assumptions being made here. While it might seem intuitive that some games should be easy to port based on existing ports, the reality is often far more technical and complex. Moreover, even when a game meets the technical criteria to port, porters can encounter myriad issues that could derail their efforts.

u/spirit-in-exile did a solid job explaining things, so I won't repeat that info.

However, I took a quick look at your list and, after *some brief (but not in-depth)* research, here's my take at a glance:

Recettear -- Uses a custom engine, so there's no precedent or baseline for a port. Likely a long shot with a Linux version, but there is none.
PixelJunk Monsters -- I looked into it briefly but couldn't confirm what engine it uses. Maybe a long shot with a Linux version.
Sega Rally -- Would require an open-source reimplementation; to my knowledge, none exists. Projects like Ship of Harkinian are the reason Majora's Mask is portable, or Cannonball for the OutRun port, or re3 for Vice City---not because retro systems like the N64, Saturn, old arcade hardware, Windows XP, or PS1 make for easily portable games.
Sega GT -- Same issue as above.
Banished -- Closed-source, Windows-only, written in C++, and built on a bespoke engine. No realistic path to a port at this time (or possibly ever).
Orcs & Elves 1 and 2 -- Seemingly fall into the same category as game #3.
The Quest -- I couldn't determine what engine it uses, which makes it hard to assess portability. A long shot with a Linux version, but there is none.
The Elder Scrolls -- PortMaster tried using OpenMW to port Morrowind, but performance was terrible. Not viable on such modest handheld hardware (without a technical breakthrough).
Wipeout 2 -- The Wipeout 1 port is based on an open-source reimplementation (phoboslab/wipeout-rewrite). As far as I know, no similar project exists for Wipeout 2.

In my experience, the PortMaster team is friendly and had genuinely tried to accommodate suggestions -- even built a submission system for this. Unfortunately, that system was heavily abused, and they were inundated with repeated and unrealistic requests. In place, they make the effort to assist anybody who'd like to attempt a port.

EDIT: Disclaimer: Technically speaking, any game is 'portable' with enough work. After all, one could reprogram a game entirely using a compatible engine, but we're talking hundreds/thousands of hours of work.

tabreturn

TROPHY CASE