R36, 36S, 36 Ultra User Guide (EmuELEC)

Level Up Your Nostalgia: The Ultimate R36 Ultra Quick-Start Guide

Packing decades of gaming history into your pocket is nothing short of magic, and the R36 Ultra delivers a massive hit of nostalgia right out of the box with its pre-loaded game library. But with so many different classic consoles packed into one device running EmuELEC, figuring out the specific controls, menus, and system quirks across a range of R36 handhelds in Australia can feel like learning a cheat code from scratch.

Whether you are trying to remember how to insert a virtual coin for Arcade games, figure out the dual-screen controls for the Nintendo DS, or want to know how to safely turn the thing off without losing your save files, we’ve got you covered.

In this comprehensive user guide, we break down the R36:

• The Basics: Powering on, navigating the massive EmuELEC library, and understanding the notorious “A/B button swap.”
• System Management: How to properly exit games, use quick saves, and safely shut down your console to protect your SD card.
• Console-Specific Controls: Tailored control breakdowns for tricky systems like the Nintendo DS, PlayStation 1, and classic Arcade machines.
• Expanding Your Library: A foolproof, step-by-step tutorial on how to safely connect your SD card to a PC and add your own games to the system.

Ready to dive back into your childhood favorites? While there are varied R36 handhelds, variations, and custom firmware options, they share many elements, including navigation, cores, and RetroArch.
So check out the full guide below on how to get the absolute most out of your R36, R36S, and R36 Ultra!

A Note on Emulation Magic: Packing decades of gaming history into your pocket is pretty incredible! Because this little device emulates so many different classic consoles and thousands of titles, keep in mind that not all titles will work or work perfectly. That said, there is still an excessive amount of nostalgia-fueled gems that run beautifully. You’ll have a mountain of childhood favorites ready to play!

1. Getting Started & Navigation

• Powering On: Press and hold the power button on the side of the device for a few seconds until the screen lights up.
• The 128GB Library: Your device is pre-loaded with a massive 128GB card full of games. Take your time exploring!
• Navigating Consoles: Use either the D-pad or the Left Joystick to scroll up and down through the range of available console systems.
• Selecting Games: Press A to choose a console. Inside a console’s menu, use the D-pad or Joystick to scroll up and down through the games list.
• The “A/B Swap” Quirk: Keep in mind that the A and B buttons might feel reversed depending on what you are doing. In the main console menus, A is typically your “Select” button, and B is “Back.” However, once you launch into certain classic console games, the emulator might swap them, meaning B becomes your primary action/select button.
• Favorites: While highlighting a game you love, press the X button to add it to your Favorites list for quick access later.
• Search: Press the Y button while in a game list to open the Search function and quickly find a specific title.

2. Gameplay & System Management

• Exiting a Game: To instantly quit your current game and return to the main EmuELEC menu, press Start + Select at the same time.
• Safe Shutdown (Crucial): Never hold the power button to turn off the device, as this can corrupt your game card and save files. To safely power down, press Select on the main menu, choose Quit, and then select Shutdown System.
• Kiosk Mode Unlock: If your device is stuck in “Kiosk Mode” (a locked-down UI, with hidden settings), you can try entering the sequence A, A, A, B, A to access unlocked mode. Proceed with caution once unlocked, as changing core system settings can affect console performance.

3. Controls by Console Type

Because retro consoles featured completely different controller designs, the R36 Ultra will allocate buttons depending on each system.

• Nintendo DS: The DS relies heavily on its touchscreen. Use the Left Joypad to move the on-screen stylus/pointer. To “tap” the screen or make a selection, press down on the Left Joypad (clicking the stick inward).
• PlayStation 1 (PS1): The Left Joypad should work for movement in most PS1 titles. However, because many early PS1 games were designed before analog sticks existed, the joypad might not map/respond in some games. If your character isn’t moving, switch to using the D-pad for movement.
• Arcade Machines (MAME / NeoGeo / FBNeo): To play arcade games, you must simulate inserting a coin. Press Select to add coins/credits, and then press Start to begin the game.

4. How to Add Games to the R36 Ultra

The R36 Ultra ships with a single-SD-card configuration loaded with EmuELEC custom firmware and games. Adding your own games is straightforward:

• Connecting to Your PC: Eject the microSD card from the TF-OS slot on the right side of the device and insert it into your computer using a microSD card reader.
• Accessing the Drive: As a Windows user, the system should automatically pick up the new drive for you to view. Look for it in Windows Explorer (the drive letter will depend on your specific computer). The new drive may have an SD icon next to it.
• Ignore the Warning: Windows may prompt you with a message saying “something is wrong with the card.” Ignore this prompt.
• Finding the Console Folders: Open the drive folder, and you will directly see a list of folders labeled with console names (e.g., CPS1, Mame, NeoGeo).
• Transferring Games: Check the desired console folder to ensure you are using the supported file format. For example, CPS1, MAME, and NeoGeo all use ROMs with the .zip extension. Then copy and paste your ROM file into the appropriate folder.
• The Golden Rule for Folders: Only add games to folders that already contain games. If a console folder is empty, the system likely lacks the necessary BIOS files to run that emulator.
• Safely Ejecting (Crucial): Once your files are copied, do not just pull the card out! Right-click the drive in Windows and select Eject. This safely unmounts the card and prevents your data from being corrupted.
• Booting Up & Finding Your Games: Re-insert the SD card into the TF-OS slot on your R36 Ultra and power it on. The system will automatically scan for new games during the boot sequence.
• A Quick Note on Artwork: Keep in mind that games you manually add will not automatically display box art or preview videos like the pre-loaded titles do; they will appear as text in the games list.