This repository contains customized jzIntv keyboard hack files that map the Intellivision's 16-button inputs to an Xbox 360 controller for a large portion of the Intellivision game library. In addition, it contains other related configuration files that should help you get jzIntv up and running on RetroPie relatively quickly.
Note that the files contained in this repository have been tested using the 20180509 release of jzIntv, but I believe they will work with newer (and some older) releases as well.
Save to /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/intellivision.
The .kbd files here were created based on my interpretation as to how best control each game using a modern controller. They were built for an Xbox 360 controller but can be easily modified to accomodate other similiar controllers. Many games can be mapped to controllers with fewer buttons, but there are a number that will require signficant modification to the .kbd files to do so. Most mappings are fairly well documented, so if you're using other controllers or are not so sure about my approach, then please feel free to change to your liking!
Note that several keyboard hack files also add functionality not normally present when using the original hardware. Specifically:
- The ability to run and shoot simultaneously. Supported games include: AD&D Cloudy Mountain, Microsurgeon, Ms. Nightstalker, Nightstalker, TRON Deadly Discs, TRON Deadly Dogs.
- True four controller support for four player games that normally require players to share two controllers. Supported games include: Beamrider, Bowling, Golf, Mountain Madness Super Pro Skiing, Skiing.
- Single controller support for games normally requiring multiple controllers for single player play. Supported games includes: Dracula (control Dracula with left analog and control Zombie with right analog).
Also note that these .kbd files create RetroPie equivalent "hotkeys" in jzIntv. My hotkey setup differs from the standard RetroPie mappings (uses the "Guide" button as the hotkey, "Back" as select, and "RB" as exit). To bring hotkeys here in sync with the standard RetroPie mappings, refer to the "Creating RetroArch Hotkey Equivalents" section under "Advanced Controller Mapping" here. Note that using "AVI" is the best choice if you want to record video.
Save to /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/intellivision. These files are necessary to launch certain games files and must share the exact name of the file to which they relate.
Save to /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/intellivision. Each launch script includes run parameters best suited to a specific subset of Intellivision games. Launch scripts are assigned to games in the section below.
Add individual lines to /opt/retropie/configs/all/emulators.cfg from this file as needed, or manually add using the Runcommand Launch Menu for each game.
Each game has been assigned to a specific launch script (.sh) based on on my testing with an Xbox 360 Controller. The goal was to map the Intellivision 16-button inputs in a way that made sense with modern controllers, present jzIntv with the appropriate input parameters, and allow it to capture analog joystick movements in the cleanest fashion by reducing dead-zone related drift.
(WIP: game sensitivity, colors, names)
Save to /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/intellivision. Without this flag, jzIntv will use its default palette, which changed significantly with the 20181225 version of jzIntv. The custom palettes available here can be enable by adding the "--gfx-" line to each launch script (.sh) as shown in the example below:
#!/bin/bash # Script to launch Intellivision games in jzIntv with bespoke keyboard hackfiles. The hackfile must named the same as rom, including extension, with .kbd added. params="$1" /opt/retropie/emulators/jzintv/bin/jzintv -p /home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS --gfx-palette=/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/intellivision/gfx-default.gfx --js0="ac,push=30,rels=25,4dir" --js1="ac,push=30,rels=25,4dir" --kbdhackfile="$params".kbd "$params" -z4 -f1 -q -v0 -s0
The options here are based on my personal preference plus alternatives sourced from the very informative discussion here. To enable a palette, simply copy that palette file to /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/intellivision and rename it as "gfx-default.gfx". Note that the "gfx-ts-x_20190726.gfx" file is what looks best on my 1080p Panasonic Plasma in THX mode.
(COMING SOON) Master Control File
(COMING SOON) Control Cards
Original Games: AD&D Cloudy Mountain ("ADVNTURE"), AD&D Treasure of Tarmin ("Minotaur"), Astrosmash, Atlantis, Beauty and the Beast, Beamrider, Bump 'N' Jump, Burgertime, Demon Attack, Dig Dug, Diner, Lady Bug, Las Vegas Poker & Blackjack, Lock 'N' Chase, Loco-Motion, Microsurgeon, Mind Strike, Mountain Madness Super Pro Skiing ("SKIING2"), Mouse Trap, Night Stalker ("STALKER"), Pinball, Qbert, Reversi, River Raid, Shark! Shark! ("SHARK"), Sharp Shot, Snafu, Space Battle, Stampede, Swords and Serpents, Thin Ice, Thunder Castle, Tower of Doom, TRON Deadly Discs, Utopia, Vectron, World Championship Baseball, Worm Whomper.
Free Homebrew Games: 2048, Christmas Carol, Dwarven Mine, Flapee Bird, Goatnom, iStar, Laser Sharks ("sharks"), Maria, MazezaM, Shape Escape, Space Patrol, Stonix, Upmonsters
Paid Homebrew Games: Aardvark, Antarctic Adventure, Battlestar Galactica Space Battle, Burgertime Super Chef, D2K, Donkey Kong Junior, ECS Controller Bundle, Gooninuff, Intellivania, Jumpking Junior, King of the Mountain, Miner 2049er, Ms. Pac-Man, Ms. Night Stalker, Mystic Castle, Same Game & Robots, Super Pro Baseball, Super Pro Tennis, Ultimate Pong
- For in-depth reviews of Intellivision games (and those for many other classic systems) check out this site.
- Many of the original games can be legally acquired by purchasing a copy of the PC version of Intellivison Lives!, Intellivision Rocks, and/or Intellivision Greatest Hits (10 or 25 game version). Add a little DOS magic and you're good to go.