Shiny Relay docs

Everything for playing multiplayer with a ModRetro Chromatic and Shiny Relay: with the Shiny Gen app, shinygen.ai, a browser, or another Chromatic.

On this page

• Install or update Shiny Relay
• Pair your Chromatic
• Before you play online
• Invite your Chromatic (no code)
• Room codes (any two players)
• Link-cable games: nearby and online
• The web player
• Tetris link play patches
• If it does not connect

Install or update Shiny Relay

Shiny Relay is installed from a browser: open install.shinyrelay.com on a computer and follow its steps. The same page has the current version when there is an update. It is an install on your Chromatic, and the stock firmware can be restored.

After the install, put the Chromatic on Wi-Fi in SYSTEM > WI-FI.

Pair your Chromatic

Pairing ties the Chromatic to your Shiny Gen account, so it can join your rooms and be invited.

1. On the Chromatic open SYSTEM > ONLINE and press A to pair.
2. Scan the QR code, or enter the code at shinygen.ai/link while signed in.

SYSTEM > ONLINE shows when the Chromatic is paired.

Before you play online

• Your Chromatic has Shiny Relay installed (install.shinyrelay.com) and is on Wi-Fi.
• It is paired to your Shiny Gen account: on the Chromatic open SYSTEM > ONLINE and press A to pair, then scan the QR code or enter the code at shinygen.ai/link while signed in.
• Both sides play the same game.

Way 1: invite your Chromatic (no code)

For a Chromatic paired to the account you are signed in with.

1. In the Shiny Gen app or on shinygen.ai, open the game and choose MULTIPLAYER, then HOST.
2. Choose INVITE MY CHROMATIC and pick your Chromatic.
3. On the Chromatic, start the same game and choose MULTIPLAYER. It joins by itself.

Way 2: room code (any two players)

To host on the Chromatic:

1. Start the game and choose MULTIPLAYER. The room menu opens (or press MENU, then NETWORK).
2. Choose HOST. Your room code shows on screen.
3. The other player chooses MULTIPLAYER, then JOIN, and enters the code.

To join on the Chromatic:

1. The other player hosts and tells you the code.
2. Start the game and choose MULTIPLAYER. In the room menu choose JOIN CODE.
3. Enter the code with the D-pad, press A, then press MENU to close the menu.

Link-cable games (Tetris, Pokemon and others)

• Two Chromatics near each other: set LINK CABLE to NEARBY on both and play as with a cable.
• Over the internet: host and join a room as above, then start the game's own link mode on both.
• Turn-based games (trades, battles) play well online. Fast games that send every frame can lag.

The web player

shinyrelay.com/play plays Shiny Gen's Game Boy Color games, or a game file of your own, in a browser. Playing alone needs no sign-in, and your own file stays in your browser.

To play with a Chromatic from the web player:

1. Open the game and choose Multiplayer on the page, then sign in with your Shiny Gen account.
2. In the game choose MULTIPLAYER. On the page choose Host a room and enter its code on the Chromatic with JOIN CODE, or type the Chromatic's code and choose Join.
3. With the same account on both, choose My devices on the page and MY DEVICES on the Chromatic. They meet with no code.

For link-cable games the page has Link cable: host or join a cable there, then start the game's own link mode on both.

Tetris link play patches

Have ModRetro Tetris v1.4? Link play patches add no-wait 2-player and party battles. You patch your own copy in your browser, and nothing is uploaded.

If it does not connect

• Check Wi-Fi in SYSTEM > WI-FI and that the Chromatic is paired (SYSTEM > ONLINE shows it).
• No Chromatic in the invite list: it is paired to another account. Pair it again from yours (SYSTEM > ONLINE, A, then shinygen.ai/link). The list shows after you HOST.
• Both players need the same game. An older copy of a Shiny Gen game may say FRIEND HAS AN OLDER COPY.

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