[catrinisin]

Hey thanks for the info. I may try this to see if I can get it working with the ipac2.

I wasn’t able to get my controller working with it by configuring it with emulation station. I think it is because these wireless xbox controllers don’t show up the same way as a true usb controller. For instance, my wireless dongle for the xbox can handle up to four controllers. So all four are technically coming in through the one usb port. I guess this is why emulation station doesn’t set it up correctly for this emulator. But anyways, I was able to manually modify the InputAutoCfg.ini and get it working.

[catrinisin]

Yes Floob is correct, the default N64 emulator does not use the retroarch config. If you don’t want to use the lr version as suggested above, you’ll need to map your controls in this file:
/opt/retropie/configs/n64/InputAutoCfg.ini

[catrinisin]

You may need to tweak settings in the config.txt file for your video settings. You can access that file by putting the sdcard into your PC.

[catrinisin]

You’ll have to download these from the internet. Do a Google Search for the BIOS you need. LIke ROMS, it may not be legal to use a BIOS file unless you own the system itself. This is why the downloads are not provided by the Retropie project for BIOS or ROMS.

[catrinisin]

Hi,

Yes, I did make progress by editing the file you mentioned. It took some trial and error but I did get it working with my wireless xbox controller. It actually works really well and I’m happy with it. I have not yet tackled getting a second controller working but will try that soon.

The ipac controller I was using for other emulators won’t ever work for N64 since this system requires the analog stick. PSX also has analog but is playable with the 8 way joystick that the ipac is connected to in my setup.

[catrinisin]

[quote=115685]Are those 5v or 12v leds?

[/quote]

They work with both 5v and 12v. I have them wired for 12v. They look really bright in the pics, but in person they are not bright like that. The lettering is just printouts on normal inkjet paper, cut into circles and inserted under the lid of the buttons.

These are the buttons I used:
Arcade Buttons on Ebay

[catrinisin]

[quote=115676]Very nice! I’m planning to build something similar. I noticed in another post of yours referencing this one that you use XBox controllers in combination with the arcade sticks. I posted a question in another thread about something similar. I would like to be able to use the sticks with nothing else plugged in, but then also be able to plug in retro USB gamepads. How does the controller hierarchy work with this? I would like the sticks to be player 1/2 unless I plug something else in, then that becomes player 1 or 2. Will this work with the iPac2 interface? I’m trying to figure out what parts to buy to interface my joysticks/buttons with the Pi.

[/quote]

Thanks!
Yes it will work the way you want. This is how I have it working. The ipac2 gives both player 1 and 2 because of the mappings i’ve programmed. Then in the Retroarch menu, I’ve also mapped my xbox controller to player 1. (I also have a bluetooth Wiimote with classic controller for player 2)
So in the Retroarch menu, it will see the usb controller (Wireless or plugin) as gamepad buttons, while it sees the ipac2 as a keyboard input. Retroarch lets you have both programmed for each player if you want.
So for me, I can use either the arcade controls, or the xbox controller without touching any settings. They both work at the same time for player 1. My Wiimote works for player 2 at the same time as my arcade player 2 buttons. For my arcade setup, this is ideal.
With the wireless xbox controller, I don’t even have to have it turned on when booting the Pi. I can turn it on at any time and it just works right away, even mid game.
The only emulator that absolutely requires the controller is N64. Playstation is a lot easier too with the analog sticks.

[catrinisin]

No i mean map energy button, select the option called “bind all” under the player number you want

[catrinisin]

Did you actually go through and map each button in the green retroarch menu? Also make sure it is set to save settings on exit. Watch the video above for a complete how to.

[catrinisin]

The answers are in this thread. Read up

[catrinisin]

Thanks!

I like it a lot so far, the L + R being at the bottom allows you to use your thumb while also pressing the other buttons at the same time. Think of how a console controller is, the L + R are used while using the other buttons.

I did several prototypes to decide which I would suggest you do as well. See attached pics.

You can also reference this link to view various layouts:
http://www.slagcoin.com/joystick/layout.html

[catrinisin]

Hey @jwh02017

I edited the config.txt file which you can find in the /boot folder, or if you put the SDCard back into your Windows PC you’ll find the file there.

The only lines I added were:
hdmi_group=2
hdmi_mode=81
hdmi_drive=2
hdmi_force_hotplug=1

The hdmi_drive=2 forces the output to be hdmi so the Pi won’t switch to composite when the TV is still waking up.

The hdmi_mode=81 specifies the screen resolution of my TV. You need to specify this because the auto detect doesn’t seem to work when using the hdmi_drive=2 line.
To find the correct code to use for this, use the following link and look for your TV’s native resolution under the “hdmi_mode” DMT section: (You’ll need to look up in your Vizio’s specs what the native resolution is)

http://elinux.org/RPiconfig

Hope this helps!

[catrinisin]

Thanks, I really appreciate all the info and I’m sure others will too.

In my case the unit I’m doing this with is a bartop arcade I built:

Large Bartop Arcade

I’m using an ipac controller that has a shift key option that allows me to have many different keyboard buttons available so it isn’t the end of the world if I have to reach over to the arcade controls to perform an action like bringing up a menu, etc.
I’m using the xbox controllers personally for every emulator but my kids use the arcade controls mostly. Originally I needed a controller for emulators like n64, psx, etc. but I love that I’m now going to be able to use it for all the older systems as well. I had no idea it could emulate a mouse!

[catrinisin]

This is really cool, I love the different options you can do. How did you learn the syntax for the alt-config files? Is that in the documentation somewhere?

[catrinisin]

Thanks! It was really fun to do, and I’m still tweaking the software side of things.

[catrinisin]

Sweet, thanks man!

[catrinisin]

[quote=114523]
I haven’t played with that particular emulator, but if you’re having control issues, take a look at the xboxdrv documentation. There are some really handy features for the controller. (IMO the xbox 360 controller is hands down the best controller for the pi.) In particular, look into creating some extra config files and the --next-config option. The default behaviour of the xbox button is to change controller modes. I use this to be able to control atari 5200, 800, and ST, as well as c64 and Amiga. If you want more details I can provide some of my controller config files, and what you need to modify in rc.local to get that working.

http://pingus.seul.org/~grumbel/xboxdrv/xboxdrv.html

[/quote]

Oh wow, yes please do share those configs, thanks! I agree that this is the controller I want to use for pi. I’ll start looking at the documentation also.

[catrinisin]

My issue with the xbox controller is also solved thanks to this great community. Thanks everyone!

My only issue left is trying to figure out how to get it to work with the new default mupen64plus emulator which doesn’t use Retroarch. (Retropie 3.3)

[catrinisin]

Yes setting to udev is correct. Are you able to configure the controller in ES? If yes, then the driver part is working I would think.

[catrinisin]

Hey Davidemol,

Have you configured the keyboard in Emulation Station (ES)? If so, then in the retroarch menu you’ll need to use the keys that you configured in ES for up, down, etc. use the key you configured to be A button to select things in the retroarch menu and the B button to go back, etc.

If your trying to use the arrow keys and enter key, but configured different up and down keys in Emulation Station then the arrows and other “standard” keys won’t work.

I had this problem too and figured out that you need to pretend you are in a game as far as controls go for this menu.

Hope this helps
Chris

[catrinisin]

So I cheated and switched the default emulator to lr-mupen64plus and my controls work fine thanks to retroarch. But since version 3.3 now defaults to the better mupen64plus that does not use retroarch, no controls work. I thought I was fine with this until MarioKart64 didn’t work. It runs in the beter mupen64plus but not in the libretro version.

So I guess I need to somehow figure it out. Have you made any progress @jbounds286 ?

[catrinisin]

I have the same problem with Retropie 3.3. Can’t make sense of the InputAutoCfg file. In my case it is a wireless 360 controller and it works in all retroarch emulators but not the Mupen64plus for N64.

[catrinisin]

Okay, so i had this same problem.

Watch this video carefully and do the steps in the green looking menu. (Retroarch config)

https://youtu.be/AhkEnDdygbQ

Basically you have to configure the controller in both Emulation Station and the Retroarch config. (“Bind all” in the Retroarch menu per the video)

Also make sure to change the “save on exit” option in Retroarch. That was the last mistake i made before the settings took permanently.

[catrinisin]

With this:

https://github.com/retropie/retropie-setup/wiki/Setting-up-the-XBox360-controller

The automatic method works fine. I tried the manual configuration as well and that worked also.

[catrinisin]

Okay I got it working! Sort of, noob issues still, questions below.

I found that when I was in an emulator and then went into the retroarch menu I noticed that the gamepad selected was my Ultimarc ipac2. (This is an arcade bartop I built) So I changed that to say the xbox gamepad. Then I followed what you have in the video and re-mapped the user 1 binds with the controller. Finally, I went into the core options and enabled the analog setting to get that part working. When I then select resume content under quick menu, the controller is working!

However it didn’t remember that next time I launched that game, and if I go to a different emulator. I think I have to either try doing this at the global level using the Retropie menu in ES like the video shows; Or at least save the current config while in the emulator retroarch menu?

Anyways, progress for sure. I’ll post again with final findings.

Thanks again!!

[catrinisin]

okay thanks for replying. I’ll see if I can just start over again and hopefully get it working. Maybe I missed a step somewhere.

[catrinisin]

Yes I followed that guide first. I’ve tried both the automatic method and the manual way.

Both methods allow me to configure the controller in ES. Then the yellow text says configured. But alas, no button response in emulator :(

[catrinisin]

Thanks for the reply Herbfargus! I went through this step by step and I still have the same result for some reason. The driver is set to udev, the config is being created automatically as well as manually when I try that.

When I open the emulator, the yellow test shows my xbox controller as configured. But no buttons do anything at all.

I also made sure my wireless receiver (Zetta Guard) is plugged into port 0, although I don’t think it matters now that I watched your video.

I’m sure I’m missing something completely obvious and making a noob mistake of some kind. What are your thoughts?

[catrinisin]

So as a test I used a spare sdcard and loaded a fresh image of 3.3 as well as trying 3.2.1. In both versions I have the same exact issue, controller works in the UI and not in any games. Both PS3 and xbox controller. I at a loss at this point.

[catrinisin]

Update: My xbox 360 controller has the same issue. No emulators work, but the UI does. Arg

[catrinisin]

I have the same issue but these steps are not helping for me. My input_joypad_driver in the all/retroarch.cfg is set to udev now. I;ve rebooted and reconfigured the controller in emulationstation but still nothing when I launch any game in any emulator.

I am running 3.3. that I upgraded from 3.2.1 using the binary install option.

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