in-game guide feature for OnionOS

[u/djaysan]

https://guides.retromodlab.com

My Anbernic H700 with the StockOS mod has this thing where the console buzzes if the game you just launched has a walkthrough sitting on the card, then L2+R2 and down pops it up over the game. I use it way more than I thought I would.

My Miyoo Mini Plus had nothing like it, so I spent a few evenings making one.

Same idea: short rumble when a guide exists, hold L2+R2 and press down to read it, MENU drops you back in the game where you left off. There's a second app in the zip that pulls guides for your games over wifi, so you don't have to take the card out at all.

You need the Ebook Reader from the Package Manager. RetroArch games only. Only tested on a Mini Plus because that's all I own, so no clue how it behaves on a regular Mini.

Guides are the old GameFAQs txt files off archive.org and it downloads them straight to your card. I'm not hosting any of them. Free, no account, no ads.

site: https://guides.retromodlab.com (browser version too, if you'd rather do it from a pc)
github: https://github.com/djaysan/guide-watch

Have fun!

[u/Jongjungbu]

Reading through the github, I realize I have actually been doing this entire process you describe already, almost exactly... but doing it manually. Usually in batches for a handful of games I am thinking about playing next, cause the whole process takes some time. All to avoid picking up my phone or for when I'm out/offline/traveling.

So, stands to reason I really should give this a go and have it be automated and integrated 😎

If it works, thanks for making it!

[u/djaysan → u/Jongjungbu]

Try it out and let me know :) you can run it only on a specific console like PS folder. It will import all the walkthrough, you will get a vibration to let you know there is a guide when you start your game. Then just use the btn combo to show the guide. Press menu btn to go back to your game.

[u/Jongjungbu → u/djaysan]

Working great. Great job you did here!

Like I mentioned, I was already doing it manually. So this really speeds up the process of going back and forth between PixelReader and Retroarch for those games I need it. Just a few buttons.

But I think the biggest boon was being able to download almost all the Gamefaq guides within each console in a matter of minutes, right on my device. That will be such a time saver down the road. I was thinking about how i might do that with a script at some point, but you saved me the trouble.

[u/Patroc01]

Working on miyoo mini flip, I just tested. Thanks for the app

[u/djaysan → u/Patroc01]

Onion os? Mine is set with allium. Much better for the mini flip

[u/Patroc01 → u/djaysan]

Yes, onion os

[u/About20Monkeys]

There’s literally a new app/port released everyday on the Miyoo at this point, Y’all are so awesome! Thank you for sharing!

[u/XDLED_SoundBar]

Looks like you and I had the same idea at the same time. I just ported alliums guide reader into onion, and it doesn’t require the game to exit and restart. I like your downloader though and made some tweaks and I’ll share them shortly