RetroArch C64 Border: A Tiny but Mighty Solution

When it comes to designing a bezel for RetroArch's C64 emulator, one of the biggest challenges is finding a way to make the design compact and visually appealing without sacrificing functionality. In this case, we're going to focus on keeping the design small by placing it in one of the bottom corners of the border, similar to how a TV manufacturer would display its brand logo.

This solution was initially inspired by the PSX-PLACE logo, which was a prominent feature in previous versions of the image. However, after careful consideration, we decided to modify the design to fit better with the overall aesthetic. The result is a more cohesive and visually appealing bezel that still pays homage to the original inspiration.

One area where we can improve the visual look of this bezel is by adding bevel effects and refining the internal borders. These subtle touches will help make the design feel more realistic and immersive.

From the beginning, our goal has been to ensure that our work does not give the impression that we are 'stealing' from the official RetroArch team or any other users. We want to submit all of our code improvements to the official port and eventually help complete the port to psl1ght.

Rebuilding this bezel requires a significant amount of time, and we've had to create several versions before arriving at the current design. In the previous iterations, we experimented with reducing the curvature of the borders to give it a more modern look, but ultimately decided that a larger curvature was more effective in capturing the retro aesthetic.

In the last few tests, we've focused on rebuilding the CRT bezel for PIC1.PNG, and while it's still a work in progress, we're very satisfied with the current design. The colors are vibrant, and the internal white tones preserve the '3D bump' effect of the tiles well. We've also made sure that the black pixels around the edges are visible at all times when moving the cursor around in XMB, making it easy to see the icon over any background color.

As with any design, this bezel is still open to modifications and suggestions from critics and users alike. We're happy to make changes to ensure that it meets the needs of the RetroArch community. For those who want to try out the new design, we've included a 7z file below containing the necessary files for installation.

Download the images at biggest quality here: Remember, this is still a work in progress, and we're always open to feedback and suggestions on how to improve the design. With your help, we can create a bezel that not only looks great but also serves as a tribute to the classic Commodore 64 aesthetic.

Installation instructions:

1. Download the 7z file from above.

2. Extract the contents of the file to your RetroArch installation path.

3. Restart your emulator and enjoy the new bezel design!

Retroarch c64 border