How often to update + other stuff

[Impman66]

New Retropie user here, with a couple of questions. My set up is in my signature but basically I am running a Pi3 Model B, with version 4.3 RetroPie on it.

1. How often should I update my packages, would weekly be OK?
2. I use the Arcade choice for my MAME roms, and run them on fbalpha, which seems to work very well with most of them, also I can select and choose different emulators if I wish, but how often do new emulators come out for MAME, and is it a case of having older ROMS for older versions of MAME (still haven't found a working Space Invaders ROM yet.
3. I am unable to get access to the RetroArch menu, unless I press F1 on the wireless keyboard I have (Rii), what is the best way to set this up as I am having an issue with operation wolf where the game loads fine but there is no joystick control whatsoever, just shooting and throwing grenades, so death comes pretty quickly.

Any help will be appreciated

[barbudreadmon]

@impman66

1. I almost never update my packages, except if i know there was a major release or some bugfix. Why update what is not broken ?
2. I would say there are 4 releases a year for MAME and 2 releases a year for FBA (release = partial change of romset). Also you wouldn't have non working roms if you searched the forum/wiki (you can also click on the second link in my signature).
3. That's why i always buy controllers with some additional button for menu access (things like the PS button on dualshock). If you are in need of some good and cheap controller with such buttons, i think https://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-Switch-HORIPAD-Controller-Officially-Licensed/dp/B01NAUATSM is an awesome choice, and it has analog sticks

[dankcushions]

@impman66 said in How often to update + other stuff:

1. How often should I update my packages, would weekly be OK?

i would never update unless you want something specific. things can (and do!) break. for example, if you updated FBA blindly, eventually you'd get the next version and some or all of your old romset would stop working.

2. I use the Arcade choice for my MAME roms, and run them on fbalpha, which seems to work very well with most of them, also I can select and choose different emulators if I wish, but how often do new emulators come out for MAME

fba typically gets a significant (ie, romset and compatibility update) a couple of times a year. new versions of MAME come out all the time, but pi uses an older version of MAME. i don't anticipate any 'new' MAMEs becoming viable for pis.

and is it a case of having older ROMS for older versions of MAME (still haven't found a working Space Invaders ROM yet.

you need the right romset version of the MAME/FBA emulator you're working. that's the only one that will work. https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/Arcade

3. I am unable to get access to the RetroArch menu, unless I press F1 on the wireless keyboard I have (Rii), what is the best way to set this up as I am having an issue with operation wolf where the game loads fine but there is no joystick control whatsoever, just shooting and throwing grenades, so death comes pretty quickly.

not sure. probably uses analogue control by default. if you don't have an analogue controller, then maybe that's the issue.

[Impman66]

@barbudreadmon Thanks very much, will do as advised