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.

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

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 or other means (ex. your route admin page) to obtain the IP address of your Pixelcade LCD. 

Use the Pixelcade Companion Web interface to setup your Pixelcade LCD. From any web browser on the same network as your MiSTer, go to:

http://mister.local:8080 or <MiSTer IP Address>:8080

Choose <Device Settings & Log >

Turn on “LCD Marquee” and enter your Pixelcade LCD IP address. 

Reboot MiSTer and Pixlecade LCD

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 <MiSTer IP Address>:8080

For example: http://mister.local:8080 or 192.168.1.198:8080

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

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