"Steam Deck: Running Game Boy Games Guide"

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Steam ROM Manager

With your games in the right folder, reopen the EmuDeck program and follow these steps:

• Click 'Steam ROM Manager' on the left panel.
• Select 'Yes' to close the Steam client and click 'Next'.
• In the 'Parsers' screen, toggle 'Parsers' off.
• Click on the three Game Boy tabs.
• Select 'Add Games'.
• After the Steam ROM Manager finishes adding the games and their cover art, select 'Save to Steam'.
• Wait for the "Done adding/removing entries" message and close the Steam ROM Manager.
• Exit EmuDeck and return to Gaming Mode.

Playing Game Boy Games On The Steam Deck

Now that your games are added, you can play them from your Steam Deck library:

• Press the Steam button.
• Open the 'Library'.
• Go to the 'Collections' tab.
• Select a Game Boy collection.
• Choose a game and tap 'Play'.

Customize The Game's Colors

Some Game Boy games have built-in color options, which you can enhance through RetroArch:

Not all Game Boy games support color options.

• Launch a Game Boy game.
• Press the 'Select' button (with two squares above the left analog stick) and the 'Y' button to open the RetroArch menu.
• Navigate to 'Core Options'.
• Open 'GB Colorization'.
• Choose 'Auto' for color or 'Off' for a more authentic Game Boy experience.

Using Emulation Station For Game Boy Games

While you can launch your Game Boy games from the Steam Library, Emulation Station offers an alternative method, which can be useful if you encounter issues with the Steam interface:

• Press the Steam button.
• Open the 'Library'.
• Navigate to the 'Collections' tab.
• Select the 'Emulators' window.
• Open the 'Emulation Station' window and select 'Play'.
• Scroll to the Game Boy icon and press the 'A' button to open it.
• Press 'A' again to launch your Game Boy games.
• The RetroArch command (Select + Y) also works through Emulation Station.

Install Decky Loader On The Steam Deck

To optimize the performance of your Game Boy games, the EmuDeck developers recommend installing Decky Loader and the Power Tools plugin. Here's how to set them up:

For easier navigation, connect a wireless or wired keyboard and mouse. If unavailable, use the onscreen keyboard and trackpads.

• In Gaming Mode, press the Steam button.
• Open the 'Power' menu and switch to 'Desktop Mode'.
• Open a web browser and visit the GitHub page for Decky Loader.
• Scroll down and click the large 'Download' icon to start the download.
• Once downloaded, double-click the launcher and select 'Recommended Install'.
• After installation, restart the Steam Deck in Gaming Mode.

Installing The Power Tools Plugin

With Decky Loader installed, you can now add the Power Tools plugin to enhance your Game Boy gaming experience:

• In Gaming Mode, access the Quick Access Menu (QAM) and select the new plugin icon at the bottom of the side menu.
• Click the store icon next to the settings cogwheel to open the Decky Store.
• Use the search bar to find and install the Power Tools plugin, or scroll down to locate it.

Power Tools Settings For Emulated Games

• Press the Steam button to open the 'Library' and launch a Game Boy game from the 'Collections' tab or the 'Non-Steam' library list.
• After launching the game, press the QAM button to access Decky Loader and select the 'Power Tools' menu.
• Select 'Turn off SMTs'.
• Adjust the slider and set 'Threads' to 4.
• Press the QAM again to access the 'Performance' menu.
• In the 'Performance' menu, click 'Enable Advance View'.
• Turn 'Manual GPU Clock Control' on.
• Increase 'GPU Clock Frequency' to 1200.
• Enable the 'Per Game Profile' feature to save customized settings for each game.

Restoring Decky Loader After A Steam Deck Update

Major Steam Deck updates can sometimes disrupt third-party apps like Decky Loader. Here's how to restore it and any installed plugins, including Power Tools:

• Switch back to Desktop Mode by pressing the Steam button and selecting the 'Power' menu.
• Once in Desktop Mode, launch a browser.
• Navigate to the Decky Loader GitHub page and click the 'Download' button again.
• After the download, select only the 'Execute' option, not 'Open'.
• When prompted, enter your pseudo password in the pop-up box.
• If you haven't set a pseudo password yet, follow the onscreen steps to create one. (Choose a strong password for future unofficial app installations.)
• Restart the Steam Deck in Gaming Mode.
• To confirm that your Decky Loader app, settings, and plugins are restored, press the QAM button to access your program. If a Steam Deck update ever removes your Decky software, repeat these steps.

With these steps, you're now equipped to enjoy Game Boy games on your Steam Deck, with the ability to customize settings to your preference. The larger screen of the Steam Deck makes it an ideal platform for reliving these classic games.

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