Pixelcade for MiSTer
You’ll need at least 1 GB free on your USB drive for the Pixelcade installation.
From a computer on the same network (Ethernet or WiFi) as your MiSTer, SSH into your MiSTer using the username of root and the password of 1.
ssh root@mister or ssh root@<Your MiSTer IP Address>
Then copy and paste the command below to install Pixelcade.
Pixelcade Installer Command
curl -kLO -H "Cache-Control: no-cache" https://raw.githubusercontent.com/alinke/pixelcade-linux-builds/main/install-scripts/setup-mister.sh && chmod +x setup-mister.sh && ./setup-mister.sh
The installation script will take around 20 minutes to complete and is for both Pixelcade LED and LCD marquees.
After the installation has finished, reboot your MiSTer and then your Pixelcade should be changing dynamically as you browse and launch games from the MiSTer Front End.
If Pixelcade is NOT changing, then SSH back into your MiSTer and run this command manually to see what is happening.
cd /media/fat/pixelcade/ && ./runpixelcade.sh
Shortly after MiSTer has booted, Pixelcade LED should go blank. If it is not changing after that, then open this file
/media/fat/MiSTer.ini
And ensure that this line is present in the file (the installer script should have added this line automatically):
log_file_entry=1
For reference, Pixelcade has been tested on MiSTer V220413, V210906, V221224, V23108, V240505, V250305, V250525
Pixelcade LCD Setup
Follow these steps in addition if you have a Pixelcade LCD marquee.
Note that unfortunately Pixelcade LCD over USB is not supported due to limitations in the MiSTer linux OS. You must first connect your Pixelcade LCD to your WiFi following these instructions or connect with Ethernet.
Use the Pixelcade Companion windows app on a Windows PC that is connected to the same network as your MiSTer or other means (ex. your router admin page) to obtain the IP address of your Pixelcade LCD.
Then once prompted from this installer script, enter that IP address (without :8080)
Reboot MiSTer and Pixelcade LCD
You may also use the Pixelcade Companion Web interface to browse artwork from any web browser on the same network as your MiSTer, go to:
<Your Pixelcade LCD IP Address>:8080
Note that unfortunately MiSTer does not support mDNS so only an IP address can be used for Pixelcade LCD. IP addresses can change so it’s highly recommended to reserve this IP address for your Pixelcade LCD marquee in your home network router’s admin page.
Some artwork will be present but you’ll most likely need to do some file renaming for some games following this guide.
Pixelcade Companion Web Interface
Use the Pixelcade Companion Web interface to browse marquee artwork. From any web browser on the same network as your MiSTer, go to:
http://mister.local:8080 or http://mister:8080 or <MiSTer IP Address>:8080
For example: http://mister.local:8080 or 192.168.1.198:8080
If using Pixelcade LCD, then <Your Pixelcade LCD IP Address:8080>
Pixelcade Widgets
While not in Arcade marquee mode, Pixelcade can display weather, act as a clock, display sport scores, and stock prices. Please note this widgets are currently experimental.
Weather
http://batocera.local:8080/weather?location=x
x can be a zip code or a city/country name
Clock
http://batocera.local:8080/clock
Sports Scores Ticker
http://batocera.local:8080/sports/x
x can be: nfl, nba, nhl, mlb
Stock Ticker
http://batocera.local:8080/stocks?tickers=x,y,z
where x,y, z are ticker names
ex.
Pixelcade Command Line Parameters
Pixelcade will start automatically utilizing the user-startup.sh built in startup script of MiSTer located at:
/media/fat/linux/user-startup.sh
which then calls
/media/fat/pixelcade/runpixelcade.sh
Pixelcade has additional command line parameters for customization. Use this command to see the possible parameters.
cd /media/fat/pixelcade && ./pixelweb -h
Usage of ./pixelweb:
-b string
optional bind address (default “0.0.0.0”)
-check-artwork
check Pixelcade artwork for updates. Exits with code 0 if no update available, 1 if update is available, 2 if directory does not exist, 3 if unknown error.
-d string
path to pixelcade device. Set to auto to scan for device. On Windows use COM# (default “auto”)
-debug
debug log level
-delay int
time (in seconds) to delay device init
-devicescan
scan for device if not found or not specified with -d (default true)
-font string
default font for text (default “Arial Narrow 7”)
-fontcolor string
default font color for text (default “red”)
-fontcolorrandom
random default font color. Overrides -fontcolor
-fontsize int
default font size for text (default 28)
-fuzzy
enable fuzzy matching for images
-image string
optional image to display on startup (default “mame/pixelcade.png”)
-install-artpack string
install art pack with license code
-install-artwork
install Pixelcade artwork to pixelcade root. Exits with code 2 if artwork already installed.
-logfile string
optional log file
-nointro
skips playing the startup text and logo. Screen will be black on startup.
-p string
path to pixelcade root (default “/userdata/system/pixelcade”)
-port int
optional port to listen on (default 8080)
-progress-stdout
print progress output as stdout only
-startup
startup mode
-swapbluegreen
swap blue and green. Only needed for certain panels.
-system-image string
optional system image to display on startup. Overrides -image
-text string
optional text to display on startup (default “Welcome to Pixelweb”)
-trace
trace log level
-update-artwork
install Pixelcade artwork to pixelcade root
-version
display the version number