A small update so people don't think I just abandoned the whole thing.
I've successfully attached a 5" monitor, setup Ren'Py, installed a fan which for now is manually controlled via a button on the menu, installed an amplified speaker and a few various other tinkerings, but I've come to the conclusion that there's still a few errors that I cannot fix (namely, for some reason my audio stops ~10-20 seconds after boot, but only on the analogue channel.)
I'm trying to convert an ALPS touchpad I took out of a Dell laptop, into PS/2 serial which I can then attach to the Pi. At least, thats the plan. I doubt I will pull it off. This won't be necessary should I manage to figure out why Ren'Py doesn't recognise "taps" from the touchscreen.
So I'm going to do a wipe and Flash of another SD card (or rather, already have) and will be beginning again, this time following PyTom's advice.
As soon as everything is working smoothly, I'll be making a BACKUP of this card, since I am very tired of waiting literally hours for things to reflash, recompile, update, etc.
If all goes to plan, I should have a working, fully functioning system within the next few days, given that my motivation stays above 0
Pictures and blueprints/schematics around the same time, again, dependant on motivation levels.
Remember, the video driver required for this to work at all is beta, meaning it is still in it's experimental stage and WILL have problems. For now, the best we can hope for is the drivers to function as smoothly as they have for me so far.
Finally, assuming everything works flawlessly, or close enough to, I'll probably upload a copy of the image somewhere so anyone else with a Pi3B (should work on a Pi2B but I would avoid it) can simply write the image to a blank mSD card and try it out for themselves.
Should I actually get to this stage, I'd like to hear some opinions on experience with running Ren'Py as a whole.
The more feedback I can get, the better I can address any potential issues.
Current plans and considerations:
I'm seriously contemplating removing 2 of the USB jacks and converting them into internal USB headers. A few reasons for this, mostly so I can use the USB headers as a power source but also because 4 USB ports are unnecessary. One of these internal headers could be used to connect the previously mentioned ALPS touchpad, if I can manage to convert a serial signal, to USB. I am NOT going to write a USB stack for this device, I have no idea how to, so a converter is my only option.
On this same note, I am also considering removing the Ethernet port and routing it to the rear of the setup.
This is merely for a tidy design. I don't know if I can pull this off as reports indicate desoldering the RPi3B is extremely difficult, even for experienced solderers.
Using a multi-meter, I've determined there are a few round copper pads on the rear of the Pi that I can use to install a secondary audio jack with.
Exact design isn't yet thought out, but I'd like to be able to have a sliding switch that will send the audio signal to either the 3.5mm jack on the Pi or splice it and output the signal to the amplifier / internal speakers.
I think I may have to use the jack on the Pi regardless and install my own additional jack with the slider switch choosing between the two. Not sure, as I said - I haven't really thought about this one much.
I am running low on GPIO.
I have not yet accounted for buttons. Though I only need a couple, I still need to allow for them on the GPIO header. From researching, my chosen monitor doesn't seem to actually use every single GPIO pin it is attached to, so one by one I will remove them according to what I found out the other day, and see which it needs, and which it doesn't via process of elimination.
Hopefully Pin 18 is free (PWM0) as I would like this pin freed up.
Anyway, rant over, lots of stuff to do, it's still going well. Some hiccups here and there, but mostly coming along.
Additionally, I bought a Pi0w yesterday, which I picked up in the mail today.
This board sucks and definitely won't run Ren'Py (It struggles to load the YouTube home page)
This was not my intention with the board though and I'm not even sure why I'm mentioning this
Edit: Tried out the above instructions, they work great.
One minor typo:
Code: Select all
mkdir -p ~/newbuild
cd ~/newbuild
git clone https://github.com/renpy/renpy-deps
./renpy_deps/build_pi.sh
Should be
Code: Select all
mkdir -p ~/newbuild
cd ~/newbuild
git clone https://github.com/renpy/renpy-deps
./renpy-deps/build_pi.sh
Only two issues I've noticed so far:
Some games tell me I am using software rendering, and then proceed to lag like shit to the point the buttons don't work.
One game won't launch at all despite working flawlessly elsewhere because apparently it cannot find the "game_menu"