FB Alpha 2012 CPS-1 in RetroArch: Source-Based Setup Guide

FB Alpha 2012 CPS-1 is a libretro core documented in the official RetroArch library docs. It is built from a snapshot of the Final Burn Alpha codebase from around 2012 and supports CPS-1 arcade games only. The documentation describes it as intended solely for RAM-constrained platforms, such as certain console or embedded platforms, that cannot load the full core together with large games. The documentation states that most users should use an up-to-date FBNeo instead.

Prerequisites from the documentation

• - A libretro frontend (such as RetroArch) capable of loading the FB Alpha 2012 CPS-1 core.
• - Content matching FB Alpha v0.2.97.28 ROM sets; the core is documented as compatible with those ROM sets.
• - CPS-1 titles only — the core variant is documented as being for CPS-1 games only.
• - A RAM-constrained platform is the documented intended use case; the core exists solely for platforms that cannot load the full core along with large games.
• - Optional: a 'hiscore.dat' file placed in the system/fbalpha2012/ folder if you want high score saving.

Loading content

• 1. Confirm the content is a CPS-1 title, since this core variant is for CPS-1 games only.
• 2. Confirm the content is packaged for FB Alpha v0.2.97.28 ROM sets.
• 3. Confirm the content uses the .zip extension, which is the documented extension the core can load.
• 4. Load the .zip through the libretro frontend with the FB Alpha 2012 CPS-1 core selected.

Documented frontend features

The documentation lists the following frontend-level settings or features as respected by the core: States, Rewind and Core Options.

Core options

The core exposes the options below from the core options menu. The documentation shows default values in bold; the defaults are restated here as the starting values. Option identifiers are shown as published so the settings can be matched by name.

• - CPU Speed (%) [fba2012cps1_cpu_speed_adjust] — default 100; steps of 10 up to 200. Enables overclocking of the emulated CPU. The documentation notes it can reduce slowdown but may cause glitches.
• - High scores [fba2012cps1_hiscores] — default disabled; can be enabled to save high scores in supported games. Requires the file 'hiscore.dat' in your system/fbalpha2012/ folder.
• - Core-Provided Aspect Ratio [fba2012cps1_aspect] — default DAR; alternative PAR. Selects the preferred content aspect ratio and only applies when RetroArch's aspect ratio is set to 'Core provided' in the Video settings.
• - Rotate Vertically Aligned Games (Restart) [fba2012cps1_auto_rotate] — default enabled. Automatically rotates the display for vertically aligned games. When disabled, D-Pad input is rotated to match on-screen directions. The option label notes a restart.
• - Audio Filter [fba2012cps1_lowpass_filter] — default disabled. Enables a low pass audio filter to soften the 'harsh' sound of some arcade games.
• - Audio Filter Level (%) [fba2012cps1_lowpass_range] — default 60; range 5 to 95 in steps of 5. Sets the cut-off frequency of the low pass filter; a higher value increases the perceived strength of the filter.
• - Frameskip [fba2012cps1_frameskip] — default disabled; options disabled, Auto, Manual. Skips frames to avoid audio buffer under-run (crackling) at the expense of visual smoothness. 'Auto' skips when advised by the frontend; 'Manual' uses the Frameskip Threshold (%) setting.
• - Frameskip Threshold (%) [fba2012cps1_frameskip_threshold] — default 33; range 15 to 60 in steps of 3. Used when Frameskip is set to Manual; specifies the audio buffer occupancy threshold below which frames are skipped.
• - Diagnostic Input [fba2012cps1_diagnostics] — default disabled. Toggle on, then resume content, to open the service menu.

Documented limitations

• - CPS-1 only: the core variant is for CPS-1 games only.
• - ROM set generation matters: compatibility is documented against FB Alpha v0.2.97.28 ROM sets, so other set generations are not covered by the documentation.
• - The core exists solely for RAM-constrained platforms and is not presented as the general-purpose choice; the documentation states most users should use up-to-date FBNeo instead.
• - CPU overclocking may cause glitches, per the CPU Speed option description.

Recovery notes

For the rotate option, the label indicates a restart is needed for the change to take effect. For issues with the core, the documentation points to the project's issue tracker as the place to report them.

Project and licensing notes

The core is authored by Team FB Alpha and licensed as Non-commercial. Its library name is 'FB Alpha 2012 CPS-1'. Distribution terms are governed by that license.