RetroPie forum home
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Home
    • Docs
    • Register
    • Login
    Please do not post a support request without first reading and following the advice in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

    Guide: Setting Up a RetroPie controls using IPAC2 Controller - Extensive Tutorial + Preconfigured files

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Help and Support
    guideipac2controllerconfigurationtutorial
    58 Posts 24 Posters 80.1k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • caver01C
      caver01 @theink
      last edited by

      @theink i think you could overcome the panel differences with just a few statements like, "when building an arcade control panel, there are many considerations that can affect your layout. Not all games are the same, so you will have to decide how many buttons you want to have and where they are located. No single layout will fit every arcade game perfectly, so there is always some compromise between what works for the games you want to play and what is practical." Then you can go on using your own example, "in the following example, we have an 8 buttons design for players 1 and 2," and so on.

      My 4-player cocktail style cabinet built as a custom "roadcase"

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • R
        rolrod66 @theink
        last edited by

        @theink
        Do you have the raw image file(ie Photoshop file if thats what you used) for this so, I can edit it with my custom buttons... I really like it... Once again you have done a great job!!!
        0_1490668526965_upload-49467365-c002-4583-bd62-348b5cf5b873

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
        • A
          alexp
          last edited by alexp

          Hi @theink ,
          Thanks so much for your extensive guide about setting up Retroarch with different controllers and MAME !
          I think it is the best guide ever, on the internet there are so many "guides" and partly right or wrong statements where you get completely lost...
          I am working on my arcade cabinet to make an update on my first install which was not 100% OK, using your guide step by step on Github. If you are interested I can keep you informed about the progress and the end result...

          I have only one question at the moment:
          I tried to import your xml file into my IPAC2 but it failed, saying there is an unexpected error in line 42....
          I am using my IPAC2 with Winipac version 1.0.8.10 under Windows 10 home, my IPAC board has hardware version 1.33.
          Can you take a look at your xml file "IPAC2 Config - v4.xml" or do I need to upgrade to the recent firmware?

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • W
            Waimea
            last edited by

            Step 5: Does anyone have I-PAC2 Config for 2 players with 6 buttons?

            T 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • T
              tuki_cat @Waimea
              last edited by

              @waimea I have one, is the retroarch.cfg that you want? I'm not at home at the moment but I can send it to you later.

              W caver01C 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • W
                Waimea @tuki_cat
                last edited by

                @tuki_cat

                Perhaps you could upload it here so I can edit my retroarch.cfg?

                T 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • caver01C
                  caver01 @tuki_cat
                  last edited by

                  @tuki_cat You will also need to include a wiring table for which SW# inputs are wired to which button locations and what keyboard key is configured for each.

                  There are layers of abstraction here, so by the time you get to the retroarch.cfg, you have already made several config decisions upstream.

                  My 4-player cocktail style cabinet built as a custom "roadcase"

                  W 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • T
                    tuki_cat @Waimea
                    last edited by

                    @waimea - Here is the relevant section of my retroarch.cfg (https://pastebin.com/bPhzKrLr)

                    @caver01 - I am using all of the standard IPAC keys as outlined on the Ultimarc website - https://www.ultimarc.com/ipac2.html. I haven't changed any of them, they are all default settings. That being the case is there any reason that you know of why @Waimea can't use this layout?

                    caver01C 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • W
                      Waimea @caver01
                      last edited by Waimea

                      @caver01

                      I think there is new firmware that makes the I-Pac 2 register as two gamepads.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • caver01C
                        caver01 @tuki_cat
                        last edited by caver01

                        @tuki_cat he can use it, but the missing link is "six buttons". You are using Ultimarc defaults, that is a good start. But what switch#s are wired to what buttons? Ultimarc does not decide how you wire your buttons and where you drill the holes in your panel. Unless @Waimea has that detail from you, the configs may match, but the buttons won't. Make sense?

                        My 4-player cocktail style cabinet built as a custom "roadcase"

                        caver01C T 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • caver01C
                          caver01 @caver01
                          last edited by caver01

                          @caver01 For example, I have my panel wired like this for Players 1 and 2:

                              UP         SW1   SW2   SW3
                          LEFT  RIGHT
                             DOWN        SW4   SW5   SW6
                          

                          My 4-player cocktail style cabinet built as a custom "roadcase"

                          W 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                          • T
                            tuki_cat @caver01
                            last edited by

                            @caver01 @Waimea

                            I have my buttons set up like this (the LP, MP, etc is Street Fighter II specific!):

                            Player one

                            Top row from left to right
                            LP - lctrl (P1 button 2)
                            MP - lalt (P1 button 3)
                            HP - space (P1 button 5)

                            Bottom row from left to right

                            LK - lshift (P1 button 1)
                            MK - z (P1 button 4)
                            HK - x (P1 button 6)

                            caver01C 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                            • caver01C
                              caver01 @tuki_cat
                              last edited by

                              @tuki_cat Ha ha ha. Now you see my point! Your switch locations are totally different than mine. Yours maybe simplifies things for fighting games. Mine probably leads to remapping. But mine is how I have been wiring the Ultimarc for over a decade.

                              My 4-player cocktail style cabinet built as a custom "roadcase"

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • W
                                Waimea @caver01
                                last edited by

                                @caver01 said in Guide: Setting Up a RetroPie controls using IPAC2 Controller - Extensive Tutorial + Preconfigured files:

                                @caver01 For example, I have my panel wired like this for Players 1 and 2:

                                    UP         SW1   SW2   SW3
                                LEFT  RIGHT
                                   DOWN        SW4   SW5   SW6
                                

                                I have my panel wired the exact same way for Player 1 and 2. I can't get this to work though in game, I setup Player 1 in emulationstation and from there I want to config RA.

                                caver01C 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • caver01C
                                  caver01 @Waimea
                                  last edited by

                                  @waimea I started a wiki page for setting up keyboard controllers. It is a bit of a work in progress, but it does help explain a few of the details. You might need to verify you are running the IPAC in keyboard mode. We all do things a little differently, so one size almost never fits all.

                                  My 4-player cocktail style cabinet built as a custom "roadcase"

                                  W 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • W
                                    Waimea @caver01
                                    last edited by

                                    @caver01
                                    I'm using what I think is new firmware for the I-pac2 which makes the I-Pac2 register as two gamepads. Instead of a keyboard and one gamepad which the old firmware did.

                                    T 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • T
                                      tuki_cat @Waimea
                                      last edited by

                                      @waimea my setup is with the IPAC in keyboard mode.

                                      Maybe that is the issue, although the IPAC firmware is registering as two pads but maybe retroarch doesn't recognise them both.

                                      You could try and contact Ultimarc, they may be able to provide with some info, I have always found them helpful when I have contacted them.

                                      W 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • W
                                        Waimea @tuki_cat
                                        last edited by

                                        @tuki_cat

                                        I did a fresh install of Retropie 4.3 and now it works perfectly!

                                        caver01C T 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • caver01C
                                          caver01 @Waimea
                                          last edited by

                                          @waimea Hey, nice!

                                          I am always at a bit of a loss helping new IPAC owners, as mine is very old. I don't have a gamepad option, so mine is one keyboard, over, done. This is convenient because it is easy to understand. Two gamepads might make more sense considering all of the documentation around using them.

                                          All of these variables are why it is difficult to just provide a config file for people to use. It has to come with a bunch of documentation about firmware, wiring diagrams and so on. Not everyone agrees on what works best either. It is better to understand your own configuration details than to use someone else's anyway. In any case, I am glad you have it working.

                                          My 4-player cocktail style cabinet built as a custom "roadcase"

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • T
                                            tuki_cat @Waimea
                                            last edited by

                                            @waimea great!

                                            @caver01 I've learnt two things from this thread -

                                            1.) That I can put my reasonably new IPAC2 into a duel game pad mode, I might give that a try.

                                            2.) That I shouldn't offer my retroarch configuration details unless I have all the info to back it up, otherwise it could cause more problems than it solves!

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                            • First post
                                              Last post

                                            Contributions to the project are always appreciated, so if you would like to support us with a donation you can do so here.

                                            Hosting provided by Mythic-Beasts. See the Hosting Information page for more information.