MiSTer FPGA
MiSTer is fully supported by Zaparoo and is where the project originally started. Zaparoo has several MiSTer-exclusive features because of this, including MiSTer-specific ZapScript commands.
File Paths
| Item | Path |
|---|---|
| Config file | /media/fat/zaparoo/config.toml |
| Data directory | /media/fat/zaparoo |
| Log file | /tmp/zaparoo/core.log |
| Mappings directory | /media/fat/zaparoo/mappings |
The /media/fat directory is the top level of the SD card. The /tmp directory is not accessible from the SD card and is deleted when MiSTer is powered off.
Install
Zaparoo Core is available in Update All by enabling the MiSTer Extensions repository in the Tools & Scripts menu.
Alternatively, add this to your downloader.ini:
[mrext/tapto]
db_url = https://github.com/ZaparooProject/zaparoo-core/raw/main/scripts/mister/repo/tapto.json
Once installed, run zaparoo from the MiSTer Scripts menu. A prompt will offer to enable Zaparoo as a startup service.
For manual installation, download from the Downloads page and copy zaparoo.sh to the Scripts folder on your SD card.
If you previously had TapTo installed, make sure the old tapto.sh is removed from your Scripts folder and that linux/user-startup.sh no longer references it. Having both services running simultaneously can cause double-launches and detection conflicts. Zaparoo is a direct replacement. Your existing NFC cards will continue to work.
Game Tracking
Zaparoo can detect games launched outside of Zaparoo, like games started directly from the MiSTer menu. This is needed for playtime tracking to work correctly. It requires the recents setting in MiSTer's configuration.
To enable it:
- Open
MiSTer.inion your SD card (located at/media/fat/MiSTer.ini) - Look for a
recents=line. If it exists, change it torecents=1. If there's norecentsline, addrecents=1to the file. - Save the file and reboot MiSTer
This setting makes MiSTer write recent game data to the SD card each time a game is loaded. MiSTer.ini warns about the extra SD card writes, but it's not a real concern with modern SD cards.
Readers
Launchers
MiSTer supports 100+ systems including consoles, computers, and arcade games. Games launch automatically using the official core folder structure from Downloader.
See Launchers for the full list of supported systems, file extensions, special features, and alternate cores.
Main Forks
Some MiSTer Main forks are available with Zaparoo integration or features that work well with Zaparoo.
spark2k06
An alternative version of MiSTer Main by spark2k06 adds many Zaparoo-related features:
- Show status of connected reader as icon in top bar
- Zaparoo standby screen
- Box art on game load
- Many additional MGL features
See spark2k06's repository for more details.
Insert-Coin
An alternative version of MiSTer Main by funkycochise as part of the Insert-Coin project. This version hides the loading screen before cores start games, which works great with Zaparoo.
Known Issues
- Zaparoo can have conflicts with other devices that use serial USB connections such as the tty2oled project and anything else using an Arduino board. The workaround is to disable auto_detect in the config.toml file and manually set the reader path.
FAQ
Which NFC reader should I use with MiSTer?
The PN532 USB reader is the recommended choice. It works out of the box with no configuration required. The ACR122U is also supported on MiSTer but is more prone to clone compatibility issues.
Do I need the app to use Zaparoo on MiSTer?
No. Once Zaparoo Core is installed, you can write tokens using the built-in TUI from the Scripts menu or the Web UI. The Zaparoo App makes things easier but is not required.
Will Zaparoo work with SNAC or through a USB hub?
Do not plug NFC readers into the SNAC/USER port on MiSTer. It looks like USB but it's not. Use a standard USB port or hub instead. USB hubs are fine!
Do my existing TapTo NFC cards work after upgrading to Zaparoo?
Yes. Zaparoo is a direct replacement for TapTo and all existing cards continue to work without being rewritten.