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Amiberry – Commodore Amiga Emulator

Amiberry is a unique Amiga emulator package primarily designed for Raspberry Pi, but also can be used on MacOS & other Linux systems. Designed to work seamlessly with RetroPie, it allows users to emulate a wide range of classic Amiga hardware and software. One of its standout features is support for WHDLoad, a system that simplifies running pre-installed Amiga games in the .lha format.

Amiberry Download

Select which version you require below to be taken to either the official website or app store for your device where you can download:

Linux
apple [#173] Created with Sketch. macOS

Amiberry Setup Instructions

This guide will walk you through setting up and using the Amiberry WHDLoad Booter solution with RetroPie for hassle-free Amiga game emulation.

Installation and Setup Requirements

Before beginning, ensure you have the following:

  • RetroPie 4.4 or later (available for download from RetroPie’s website).
  • Internet connection for downloading and updating files.
  • Amiga Kickstart ROM files (commonly called BIOS files in RetroPie).
  • Pre-installed WHDLoad games in .lha format (self-created or sourced).

This guide focuses on the quickest route to getting your system operational.

Step 1: Install RetroPie

You’ll need RetroPie 4.4 or above. Detailed installation instructions can be found on the RetroPie website. Below is an outline of the process:

Install RetroPie

  1. Flash the RetroPie image to a microSD card.
  2. Insert the card into the Raspberry Pi and boot the system.
  3. Allow the system to configure the card and reboot as needed.

Set Up RetroPie

  • Configure a controller in EmulationStation on first load.
  • Connect to the internet via:
    • Ethernet or
    • Wi-Fi (RetroPie Menu > WiFi > Enter Network Details).
  • Optionally enable SSH for file transfer:
    1. Open RetroPie Menu > Raspi-Config.
    2. Select Interfacing Options, then SSH, and choose Yes.
    3. Reboot the Pi.

Step 2: Install the Amiberry Emulator

Amiberry is the recommended Amiga emulator for this setup.

Installation Process

  1. Open RetroPie Setup from the EmulationStation menu.
  2. Select Manage Packages > Manage Optional Packages > Amiberry.
  3. Choose Install from source.
  4. Wait for installation (approx. 10-15 minutes on Raspberry Pi 3).
  5. Once complete, reboot the system.

Verification

  • From EmulationStation, select the Amiga menu.
  • Confirm the presence of +Start Amiberry.

Step 3: Install Kickstart ROMs (Amiga BIOS Files)

Requirements

  • Obtain Amiga Kickstart ROM files. These must be stored in the folder:bashCopy code/home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/amiga

Important Notes

  • Use correct Kickstart versions, such as Kickstart 3.1 (A1200). Other versions (e.g., A4000) may not work.
  • Ensure the following Kickstart ROMs are available for improved compatibility:
    • Kickstart v1.2 rev 33.180 (A500)
    • Kickstart 1.3 34.005 (A500)
    • Kickstart 3.1 rev 40.68 (A1200)
  • Files should match Amiberry’s configuration directory:bashCopy code/opt/retropie/configs/amiga/amiberry/whdboot/save-data/Kickstarts/

Troubleshooting

If the emulator defaults to AROS ROMs or displays errors:

  • Verify the System ROM path in Amiberry settings.
  • Click Rescan Paths in the Paths panel.

Step 4: Add WHDLoad Game Files

Adding Games

  1. Place .lha game files in the Amiga ROMs directory:bashCopy code/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/amiga
  2. Restart EmulationStation to display new games in the menu.

Resolving Errors

If you see errors like WHDLoad: Unknown Command:

  • Open the Amiberry menu (F12 or RetroArch Menu Combo).
  • Navigate to Paths and select Update WHDLoad Database/XML.

Step 5: Tips and Tricks for Running Amiberry

WHDLoad AutoBooter

  • Amiberry generates auto-load scripts using an XML database. Ensure the database is updated regularly via the Paths panel.

Customize Settings

  • Modify the hostprefs.conf file in:bashCopy code/opt/retropie/configs/amiga/amiberry/whdboot/hostprefs.conf
  • Adjust controller mappings, graphics, and audio settings.

Game-Specific Configurations

  • Use .uae files to manually adjust game-specific settings or slave file selections.
  • Refer to the WHDLoad website for additional customization options.

Ownership Fix

  • Restore file ownership via RetroPie settings or command line:luaCopy codesudo chown -hR pi:pi /home/pi/RetroPie