BATLEXP G350 Glossary
Retro Handhelds Glossary[edit]
A[edit]
AmberELEC
A Linux-based operating system designed for retro handheld gaming devices, particularly those based on the RK3326 chipset. AmberELEC offers a user-friendly interface, extensive emulator support, and customization options to optimize the retro gaming experience. It is a popular choice for devices like the Anbernic RG351 series.
Analog Stick
A control stick on a handheld device used to provide a range of motion inputs for controlling games.
ArkOS
A Linux-based operating system specifically designed for retro handheld gaming devices. ArkOS provides a user-friendly interface, robust emulation support, and various customization options to enhance the gaming experience. It is often used on devices like the RK3326-based handhelds.
Aspect Ratio
The proportional relationship between a display's width and height.
B[edit]
Backlight
A light source behind the screen that enhances visibility, especially useful for playing in low-light conditions.
BIOS Files
Firmware files required by emulators to replicate the behavior of original hardware systems. BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) files contain essential code for system initialization and hardware control. They are used to enable compatibility and proper functioning of games and software on emulators by providing the necessary low-level system functions.
Bootloader
A small program that loads the main operating system or firmware of a device.
Brick
A state in which a device is rendered unusable, often due to failed firmware updates or modifications.
C[edit]
Clock Speed
The speed at which a handheld's processor operates, measured in MHz or GHz, affecting performance.
Custom Firmware (CFW)
A modified version of the device's firmware that adds extra features or removes restrictions.
D[edit]
D-Pad (Directional Pad)
A flat, typically four-way directional controller found on most handheld consoles.
Distro (Distribution)
A packaged version of an operating system that includes the core OS along with additional software, tools, and configurations. In the context of retro gaming, a distro often refers to a customized Linux distribution designed for emulation, such as RetroPie or Lakka, providing a ready-to-use environment for running games and emulators.
.dtb Files (Device Tree Blob)
They indicate to the actual driver the location and type of the display hardware (and everything else in the system), because there's no automatic discovery on ARM platforms ([source](https://www.reddit.com/r/SBCGaming/comments/1e9o5nc/comment/lemam7s/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)).
Dumping
The process of copying a game or system's data to a digital file.
E[edit]
EASYROM Partition
A pre-configured storage partition on a device or SD card designed for easy management and organization of ROMs, emulators, and related files. It simplifies the setup process for retro gaming systems, allowing users to quickly access and run their games.
eMMC (embedded MultiMediaCard)
A type of flash storage used in some handheld devices.
Emulator
Software that mimics the hardware of a retro console, allowing games to be played on different devices.
Emulation Station
A popular graphical frontend for emulators, media players, and other applications.
F[edit]
Fast Forward
A feature in emulators that increases the game speed beyond its normal rate. Used to quickly skip through slower or repetitive sections of a game, it allows players to progress faster by temporarily accelerating the gameplay.
Firmware
The permanent software programmed into a device's read-only memory, controlling its basic functions.
Flash Cart
A cartridge with re-writable memory used to run homebrew software or backups of games.
Flashing Firmware
The process of installing or updating the low-level software (firmware) that controls a device's hardware. This involves erasing the old firmware and replacing it with a new version to fix bugs, add features, or improve performance. It requires following specific steps and precautions to avoid rendering the device inoperable.
FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array)
A type of integrated circuit used in some modern emulation devices for accurate hardware emulation.
FPS (Frames Per Second)
The number of frames displayed per second in a game, affecting smoothness of gameplay.
G[edit]
GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output)
Pins on a microcontroller or SBC (Single Board Computer) used for interfacing with other hardware.
Grayscale
A display mode that shows images in shades of gray, commonly used in early handheld consoles.
GUI (Graphical User Interface)
A visual interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices through graphical icons and visual indicators.
H[edit]
HLE (High-Level Emulation)
An emulation technique that mimics the behavior of the original hardware rather than replicating it exactly.
Homebrew
Software created by hobbyists and developers for a closed platform, often used on retro handhelds.
Hotkey
A keyboard or controller shortcut that performs a specific function or command in software or games. Hotkeys are often used to quickly save states, load states, take screenshots, or access menus in emulators and other applications.
I[edit]
Input Lag
The delay between a user input and the corresponding action occurring on screen.
Integer Scaling
A method of resizing images or video by scaling each pixel to a whole number multiple of its original size. This technique preserves the sharpness and clarity of the original graphics, avoiding blurriness and artifacts often associated with non-integer scaling, making it ideal for retro games on modern high-resolution displays.
IPS (In-Plane Switching) Screen
A type of LCD with better color reproduction and viewing angles compared to standard TFT screens.
J[edit]
Jailbreak
The process of removing restrictions imposed by the device manufacturer to allow for the installation of unauthorized software.
Joystick
A control device that can be tilted in various directions to control a game.
K[edit]
Kernel
The core component of an operating system that manages system resources and communication between hardware and software. The kernel handles tasks such as memory management, process scheduling, and hardware device control, providing a foundation for all other software on the device.
L[edit]
Launcher
Software that organizes and starts games and applications on a handheld device.
LED (Light Emitting Diode)
A type of display technology known for its bright and energy-efficient screens.
Lithium-Ion Battery
A type of rechargeable battery commonly used in handheld devices for its high energy density.
M[edit]
MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator)
A popular emulator for running arcade game ROMs.
MicroSD Card
A small, removable memory card used for storage in many handheld devices.
Modding
The act of modifying hardware or software to add features or enhance performance.
Multicart
A game cartridge containing multiple games, often used for older consoles.
N[edit]
NAND Memory
A type of flash memory used for storing firmware and other data on a handheld device.
Nostalgia
A sentimental longing for the past, often driving interest in retro gaming.
O[edit]
OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode)
A type of display technology known for its high contrast ratios and vibrant colors.
Open Source
Software with source code that anyone can inspect, modify, and enhance.
OTG (On-The-Go)
A USB feature that lets a handheld device connect directly to accessories such as controllers, keyboards, mice, USB storage, and Wi-Fi adapters, commonly used to expand gaming and emulation capabilities.
Overclocking
Increasing a handheld's clock speed beyond its factory setting to boost performance.
Overlays
Graphical elements or images that are displayed on top of the main screen content in emulators or gaming interfaces. They can be used to enhance the visual experience by adding custom borders, button guides, or additional information without modifying the underlying game or application display.
P[edit]
Pixel Density
The number of pixels per inch (PPI) on a screen, affecting sharpness and clarity.
Port
A version of a game that has been adapted to run on a different platform from the original. This can involve changes to the graphics, controls, or other aspects to suit the new platform's capabilities.
Patch
A piece of software designed to update or fix issues in existing programs or games.
Q[edit]
Quick Save
A feature that allows players to save their game progress instantly, often used in emulators.
R[edit]
Raspberry Pi
A popular single-board computer often used in DIY handheld projects.
Release
The official launch or distribution of a game, software, or hardware to the public. In the context of retro handhelds, a release can refer to the availability of a new game, firmware update, emulator, or hardware model.
RetroArch
A popular open-source frontend for emulators, game engines, and media players. It provides a unified interface for running various emulators, allowing users to configure settings, load games, and manage save states through a single platform. RetroArch supports a wide range of retro gaming systems and is highly customizable.
RetroArch Emulator Cores
Modular software components within RetroArch that emulate the hardware of various gaming consoles. Each core corresponds to a specific console or platform, such as SNES, NES, or PlayStation, allowing RetroArch to run games from multiple systems through a unified interface. Users can download, configure, and switch between different cores as needed.
RetroPie
A software package for the Raspberry Pi that allows for the emulation of various retro gaming consoles.
RGB (Red, Green, Blue)
A color model used for displays and lighting, providing vibrant and accurate color reproduction.
RK3326
A system-on-a-chip (SoC) developed by Rockchip, commonly used in retro handheld gaming consoles. It features a quad-core ARM Cortex-A35 CPU, making it suitable for running emulators and retro games.
ROM (Read-Only Memory)
A digital copy of a game’s data, typically dumped from original media, that can be played on an emulator. Legal use varies by region and ownership of the original game.
Root
The administrative access to a device's file system, allowing for complete control over software and settings.
S[edit]
Save State
A feature in emulators that allows players to save a game's exact state at any moment and resume from that point later.
Screen Tearing
A visual artifact that occurs when the display shows information from multiple frames at once.
SoC (System on a Chip)
An integrated circuit that combines all the components of a computer system, including the CPU, GPU, and memory.
T[edit]
TFT (Thin Film Transistor) Screen
A type of LCD display technology commonly used in older handhelds.
Touchscreen
A display that responds to touch inputs, allowing for more intuitive interaction with games and software.
TwisterOS
A Linux-based operating system designed for SBCs (Single-Board Computers), like the Raspberry Pi, providing a desktop environment optimized for gaming, emulation, and multimedia tasks. TwisterOS combines user-friendly features and high performance, making it popular for retro gaming setups and general-purpose computing.
U[edit]
UI (User Interface)
The part of the software that allows users to interact with it, often via buttons, icons, or menus.
Upscaling
The process of increasing the resolution of an image or video to fit a higher resolution display.
V[edit]
Vertical Sync (VSync)
A display setting that synchronizes the frame rate of a game with the refresh rate of the display to prevent screen tearing.
Vibration Feedback
A feature in handhelds that provides tactile feedback to the player through vibrations.
Virtual Console
A service offered by Nintendo that allows players to purchase and play classic games on newer systems.
W[edit]
Widescreen
A display format that has a wider aspect ratio than the traditional 4:3 aspect ratio of older TVs and monitors, commonly used in modern gaming.
Wi-Fi
A wireless networking technology used in many handhelds for connecting to the internet or other devices.
X[edit]
XInput
A controller input standard used primarily by Xbox controllers and compatible devices.
Y[edit]
Y Button
A standard face button found on many game controllers.
Z[edit]
Z-Layer
Refers to the layering of graphical elements, where items at higher "Z" layers appear above those at lower layers. In retro gaming, this is important for rendering sprites and backgrounds correctly.
Other Projects at the Handhelds Wiki
