jelos.org/docs/systems/pico-8.md

# Pico-8

## Overview

| Game Path | Supported Extensions |
| --- | --- |
| `roms/pico-8` | ++".png"++ ++".p8"++ |

## Emulator/Core

| Name | Documentation |
| --- | --- |
| Pico-8   `default` | [https://www.lexaloffle.com/pico-8.php](https://www.lexaloffle.com/pico-8.php) |
| Fake-08 | [https://github.com/jtothebell/fake-08](https://github.com/jtothebell/fake-08) |

## Instructions

### Option 1: Running Pico-8 through the native engine

Pico-8 games are best played with the default emulator as it supports all native features without any limitations.  You need to purchase it from [Lexaloffle](https://www.lexaloffle.com/pico-8.php) and we do recommend that you buy a copy if you can. Its an awesome piece of software and it also comes with the tools to make your own games.

#### Setup

Once you have purchased a license; the files you need will depend on the device you are using. These instructions will walk through how to set things up to work on all of our supported devices.

- Go to [Lexaloffle's download page](https://www.lexaloffle.com/games.php?page=updates)
- From that page download the `Linux 64-bit` zip file and the `Raspberry Pi` zip file
- From the Linux 64-bit zip file...
    - Create a directory in `roms/pico-8` called `x86_64`
    - Upload the `pico8_dyn` and `pico8.dat` from the Linux 64-bit zip to this directory (you do not need any other files)
- From the Raspberry Pi zip file...
    - Create a directory in `roms/pico-8` called `aarch64`
    - Upload the `pico8_64` and `pico8.dat` from the Raspberry Pi zip to this directory (you do not need any other files)

``` bash title="Folder Structure"
/roms/pico-8/
    ├─ x86_64/
    │   ├─ pico8_dyn
    │   ├─ pico8.dat
    ├─ aarch64/
    │   ├─ pico8_64
    │   ├─ pico8.dat
    └─ Splore.png
```

#### Playing a game

Once the above is set up is you have 2 options for playing games through Pico-8's native engine:

1. Using Splore
    - Splore is awesome as it allows you to browse and play the entire library of user created games with an internet connection.  
    - To use this method simply launch `Splore` from the gamelist.
    - Note that you will need an internet connection to browse the pico-8 BBS (If you don't have an internet connection you can still use it to launch games you have downloaded previously)
    - To exit a game and return to EmulationStation you can either (1) press the ++"START"++ button while highlighting a game in Splore then selecting `Options > Shutdown` or (2) Press ++"L1"++ + ++"SELECT"++ + ++"START"++
2. Through .png or .p8 files added directly `roms/pico-8` or `roms/pico-8/carts`
    - Browse the list of games (aka. "Carts") on [Lexaloffle's website](https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?cat=7&carts_tab=1#mode=carts&sub=2)
    - Download the .png or .p8 file for any game you are interested in playing and upload it to either `roms/pico-8` or `roms/pico-8/carts`
        - `roms/pico-8` is recommended if you want to have your games show up directly when you open the Pico-8 system in ES
        - `roms/pico-8/carts` is recommended if you plan to use Splore directly and also want to see your downloaded carts in the Splore interface.
    - Refresh EmulationStation by pressing ++"START"++ to open the Main Menu then select `Game Settings > Update Gamelists`.
    - You should now be able to launch the game by selecting it from the gamelist.
    - To exit a game and return to EmulationStation you can either (1) press the ++"START"++ button then selecting `Options > Shutdown` or (2) Press ++"L1"++ + ++"SELECT"++ + ++"START"++

### Option 2: Running through RetroArch Fake-08

!!! warning "Fake-08 does not support all the native features of Pico-8 so its not guaranteed that every game will work with it."

- Set the default emulator for Pico-8 to Fake-08
- Browse the list of games (aka. "Carts") on [Lexaloffle's website](https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?cat=7&carts_tab=1#mode=carts&sub=2)
- Download the .png file for any game you are interested in playing and upload it to `roms/pico-8`
- Refresh EmulationStation by pressing ++"START"++ to open the Main Menu then select `Game Settings > Update Gamelists`.
- You should now be able to launch the game by selecting it from the gamelist.

## Controls

### Emulator/Core: Pico-8

| Button | Action |
| -- | -- |
| ++"A(SOUTH)"++ | X/V |
| ++"B(EAST)"++ | O/Z/C |
| ++"START"++ | Menu |