Arcade controllers now working?

mitu

Please add more info about your system, as requested in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first.

owld

It has an old dell monitor don't know exactly what type), model B, version 4.4,built from an SD image, have 2 encoders (Zero delay easyget encoders) (connected which have 8 buttons, and a joystick connected to each encoder. No error messages, I didn't use any guides, figured it myself. And I have an average 5v phone charger powering every except speakers, and the monitor.

carranz

I am having the same issue. I just got around to setting up my machine that i have been working on. Download retropie watched a few videos and then set it up. The pi started up fine and the setup screen appeared and i did what it said. I am using a arcade joystick controller you get from amazon. Everything set up fine and then once i got into a game no controls worked. I can plug in a keyboard and then that works but the arcade controller will not. Any help would be great thank you.

mitu

@carranz Please add the same details as requested - https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first. What kind of controller you have - model, make ? Is it recognized in Emulationstation ?

mitu

@owld Seems like your controller might be wired incorrectly. Use the command line and test your controller using jstest /dev/input/js0 and jstest /dev/input/js1 and check if the buttons/joystick are correctly recognized - see https://retropie.org.uk/docs/RetroArch-Configuration/#determining-button-values for how jstest works.

Clyde

@owld Which SD image did you build it from? Only the official one from https://retropie.org.uk/download/ can be supported here, because third-party images could be configured very differently (many are messed-up) and produce unpredictable problems.

If you're using a third-party image, please re-install with the official one.

In addition to what @mitu said, if you have two identical zero delay encoders, you'll have to wire them exactly the same, because both will use the same configuration file named after them in the directory /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch/autoconfig.

Furthermore, only the first controller of both should be configured in Emulation Station, because only that controller can use the "Hotkey" button for special functions (like "Hotkey" + "Start" to exit most of Retropie's emulators).

carranz

@mitu Thanks for the reply. I am not sure what the controllers are i bought them like 3 years ago. i just ordered and new EG STARTS Zero Delay USB Encoder. This way i know i can wire the buttons and joystick up correctly. I did download the image from this page. i am also using a pi 3 B+. I just got a new one yesterday because i shock mine old one with static.

mitu

@carranz I can give you the same advice as before - try using jstest to see if the controller(s) are detected and the buttons/joysticks are registered by the OS. Maybe the controllers are registered an keyboard inputs ? You can run

cat /proc/bus/input/devices

and check how are they registered (keyboard or gamepad).

carranz

Thanks for all the help. the new piece was the key and now the controls are working!

Clyde

@carranz Good to hear, thanks for reporting back.

owld

Thank you! I will try!