If you’re interested in self-hosting, gaming and emulation then you might be interested in RomM’s new (and significant) update to how things work - version 4.2
I’ve long-since befriended the dev team behind RomM, after covering their last few releases, and interviewing the team previously too! This time I got to chat to some of the members (some new to the team) and get an inside line on what they’ve been making for the new version. If you’re interested in my article, I’ll link it at the end, but I’ll also quickly dot-point what’s new in RomM here for those who aren’t interested:
(it’s looking far prettier now, too!)
Console Mode:
The new console interface is designed for big screens and easy navigation with a controller or remote. It features a grid layout, large icons, and a simplified menu structure to enhance your gaming experience from the comfort of your couch. Launch it from the navigation bar or navigate directly to /console.
Out-of-the-box PSP and DOS Emulation:
PSP and DOS play is support out-of-the-box, no custom reverse proxy settings or browser launch arguments required! You’ll now see play buttons on supported games, though please note that performance is limited by the browser’s WASM engine, and performance will vary.
Incremental RetroAchievements Sync:
A new scheduled task has been added to sync RetroAchievements progress for all users on a recurring basis. Enable the task by setting ENABLE_SCHEDULED_RETROACHIEVEMENTS_PROGRESS_SYNC=true in your environment variables, and manually run the "Convert images to WebP task in the /administration page to start generating .webp files.
WebP Image Task:
Another scheduled task has been added to convert all uploaded images to the modern .webp format. WebP images are 5-10x smaller then JPG/PNG images with no loss of quality, leading to faster load times for cover art in galleries. Enable the task by setting ENABLE_SCHEDULED_CONVERT_IMAGES_TO_WEBP=true in your environment variables.
Also curious to hear if anyone here runs RomM, and what you think of it?!
Its one of those things you can only really “know” by actually keeping an ear open. I mean, look around. Lemmy generally seems to skew left (how much of that is the tankies on dot ml is a different discussion). But there are basically two or three of us who point out that BDS is specifically calling for a boycott of Microsoft every time a gamepass or Gears of War thread comes up because fuck that shit, No Ethical Consumption Under Capitalism™ means Fuck Off Palestine New Forza Dropped.
But if you listen and ask questions when people reference Internet Lore, you too get the brainworm and can make informed decisions going forth.
Which, truth be told, is not that different than anything else. If you only watch the news when something interesting happens, you might think a nazi is a good man and father. Whereas, if you have suffered even a bit of continual psychic damage over the years, you KNOW that is bullshit and can start thinking about why CNN is glazing him and so forth.
The Internet is a spectacular pleasure box and a great way to find out information on demand. But relying solely on The Algorithm and Others to inform you is how you get… 2025.