Can't get controller working in Reicast

joelkolb

@Efriim The ability to go into the Reicast menu seems to have been added with a more recent build. Previously +Start Reicast would just take you to the Dreamcast BIOS. Now it takes you to the Reicast menu where there is the option to boot to the BIOS and many other configuration options.

The mapped numbers for both my 8BitDo and RetroFlag controllers were also in the +300 range and far different from what's in es_input.cfg which are single and double digit numbers. However, when remapping my RetroFlag controller in the Reicast menu the numbers changed to the 200+ range.

@mitu Sure thing, I will upload the files soon. It might take a few hours though. It's very late where I am and this issue has been keeping me up but now that I've got it licked I really need some sleep. But I definitely want to help figure out if there's a bug in whatever way I can.

Efriim

@joelkolb
That is really cool, I had to update to check it out. I saw it earlier in another post but I thought it was Attract Mode front end or something.

joelkolb

@mitu OK, decided to stay up a little longer to get this done. I am getting a message from the forum when I try to attach the files saying that I don't have enough privileges so I'm embedding their contents below. I hope that's OK.

es_input.cfg

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<inputList>
  <inputAction type="onfinish">
    <command>/opt/retropie/supplementary/emulationstation/scripts/inputconfiguration.sh</command>
  </inputAction>
  <inputConfig type="joystick" deviceName="RetroFlag Wired Controller" deviceGUID="03000000830500006020000010010000">
    <input name="pageup" type="button" id="4" value="1"/>
    <input name="start" type="button" id="7" value="1"/>
    <input name="down" type="axis" id="1" value="1"/>
    <input name="pagedown" type="button" id="5" value="1"/>
    <input name="right" type="axis" id="0" value="1"/>
    <input name="select" type="button" id="6" value="1"/>
    <input name="left" type="axis" id="0" value="-1"/>
    <input name="up" type="axis" id="1" value="-1"/>
    <input name="a" type="button" id="0" value="1"/>
    <input name="b" type="button" id="1" value="1"/>
    <input name="x" type="button" id="2" value="1"/>
    <input name="y" type="button" id="3" value="1"/>
  </inputConfig>
  <inputConfig type="joystick" deviceName="Pro Controller" deviceGUID="050000007e0500000920000001000000">
    <input name="rightanalogdown" type="axis" id="3" value="1"/>
    <input name="rightanalogleft" type="axis" id="2" value="-1"/>
    <input name="pageup" type="button" id="4" value="1"/>
    <input name="start" type="button" id="9" value="1"/>
    <input name="rightanalogup" type="axis" id="3" value="-1"/>
    <input name="down" type="hat" id="0" value="4"/>
    <input name="leftanalogright" type="axis" id="0" value="1"/>
    <input name="pagedown" type="button" id="5" value="1"/>
    <input name="right" type="hat" id="0" value="2"/>
    <input name="select" type="button" id="8" value="1"/>
    <input name="left" type="hat" id="0" value="8"/>
    <input name="leftanalogup" type="axis" id="1" value="-1"/>
    <input name="up" type="hat" id="0" value="1"/>
    <input name="a" type="button" id="1" value="1"/>
    <input name="b" type="button" id="0" value="1"/>
    <input name="leftanalogdown" type="axis" id="1" value="1"/>
    <input name="x" type="button" id="3" value="1"/>
    <input name="leftanalogleft" type="axis" id="0" value="-1"/>
    <input name="y" type="button" id="2" value="1"/>
    <input name="rightanalogright" type="axis" id="2" value="1"/>
  </inputConfig>
</inputList>

Below are the faulty files generated by Emulation Station that did not work properly.
controller_ProController.cfg

[emulator]
mapping_name = Pro Controller
btn_escape = 296

[dreamcast]
btn_a = 288
btn_b = 289
btn_c =
btn_d =
btn_x = 290
btn_y = 291
btn_z =
btn_start = 297
btn_dpad1_left =
btn_dpad1_right =
btn_dpad1_up =
btn_dpad1_down =
btn_dpad2_left =
btn_dpad2_right =
btn_dpad2_up =
btn_dpad2_down =
axis_x = 0
axis_y = 1
axis_trigger_left =
axis_trigger_right =

[compat]
btn_trigger_left = 292
btn_trigger_right = 293
axis_dpad1_x = 2
axis_dpad1_y = 3
axis_dpad2_x =
axis_dpad2_y =
axis_x_inverted = no
axis_y_inverted = no
axis_trigger_left_inverted =
axis_trigger_right_inverted =
axis_dpad1_y_inverted = no
axis_dpad1_x_inverted = no

controller_RetroFlagWiredController.cfg

[emulator]
mapping_name = RetroFlag Wired Controller
btn_escape = 294

[dreamcast]
btn_a = 289
btn_b = 288
btn_c =
btn_d =
btn_x = 291
btn_y = 290
btn_z =
btn_start = 295
btn_dpad1_left =
btn_dpad1_right =
btn_dpad1_up =
btn_dpad1_down =
btn_dpad2_left =
btn_dpad2_right =
btn_dpad2_up =
btn_dpad2_down =
axis_x = 0
axis_y = 1
axis_trigger_left =
axis_trigger_right =

[compat]
btn_trigger_left = 292
btn_trigger_right = 293
axis_dpad1_x =
axis_dpad1_y =
axis_dpad2_x =
axis_dpad2_y =
axis_x_inverted = no
axis_y_inverted = no
axis_trigger_left_inverted =
axis_trigger_right_inverted =

Below are the good files generated in Reicast that did work properly
evdev_Pro Controller.cfg

[compat]
axis_dpad1_x = 16
axis_dpad1_x_inverted = no
axis_dpad1_y = 17
axis_dpad1_y_inverted = no
axis_dpad2_x = 18
axis_dpad2_x_inverted = no
axis_trigger_left_inverted = no
axis_trigger_right_inverted = no
axis_x_inverted = no
axis_y_inverted = no
btn_trigger_left = 308
btn_trigger_right = 309

[dreamcast]
axis_trigger_left = 2
axis_trigger_right = 5
axis_x = 0
axis_y = 1
btn_a = 305
btn_b = 304
btn_d = 317
btn_dpad1_down = 547
btn_dpad1_left = 544
btn_dpad1_right = 545
btn_dpad1_up = 546
btn_start = 313
btn_x = 307
btn_y = 306

[emulator]
btn_escape = 312
mapping_name = Pro Controller mapping

evdev_RetroFlag Wired Controller.cfg

[compat]
axis_dpad1_x = 16
axis_dpad1_x_inverted = no
axis_dpad1_y = 17
axis_dpad1_y_inverted = no
axis_dpad2_x = 18
axis_dpad2_x_inverted = no
axis_trigger_left_inverted = no
axis_trigger_right_inverted = no
axis_x_inverted = no
axis_y_inverted = no
btn_trigger_left = 292
btn_trigger_right = 293

[dreamcast]
axis_trigger_left = 2
axis_trigger_right = 5
axis_x = 0
axis_y = 1
btn_a = 288
btn_b = 289
btn_c = 306
btn_d = 317
btn_dpad1_down = 547
btn_dpad1_left = 544
btn_dpad1_right = 545
btn_dpad1_up = 546
btn_start = 295
btn_x = 290
btn_y = 291
btn_z = 309

[emulator]
btn_escape = 294
mapping_name = RetroFlag Wired Controller mapping

I hope that is helpful.

Efriim

@joelkolb The ones that don't work are really similar to mine that don't work, with only the x and y or a and b being swapped. I tried the gui, it is really good, and the new mapping works alright.

joelkolb

@mitu I never heard back from you. Is what I posted good? Is there anything more I should add?

mitu

@joelkolb Sorry, got sidetracked with other things, but I've saved the info you posted. I'll take a stab at trying to reproduce the issue.
One more thing more to ask - when you did the configuration, was your RetroPie version the latest ? I know there was a fix for the Reicast configuration generator some time ago - definitely after the 4.4 image was cast, an year ago.

joelkolb

@mitu Yes, definitely the latest. Just before producing those files I clean flashed a new micro SD card with the 4.4 image and then did a full update to make sure my results were clean. So, it was definitely the absolute latest it could be at the time.

mitu

@joelkolb I've looked over the scripts involved and can't figure out what's wrong. I have a similar - SNES style - controller and looked to be working fine with the mapping generated by the input scripts, but I don't use Reicast that often and it's mostly for testing.

funkotron77

I’m having the same problem and I tried using an Xbox controller with an analog stick and getting same thing. Only button that works on wired 360 controller is select which shuts the emulator down. Want to get reicast working because lr-flycast performance isn’t as good. Just updated retropie to 4.5

Efriim

@funkotron77
configure the controller using Retropie Setup, found in configuration > reicast (keyboard required).

You may have to monkey around with the configs. SSH or Samba and programmer's notepad are most apt.

samba:\\ipaddress\configs\dreamcast\mappings\

I'm still uncertain about the namespace for these controller configs, I also recall there was an alternate(or altogether separate) folder where it loads these configurations from.
(Which might be located in the root filesystem at:
/home/$USER/.config/reicast/)

There should be one for the XBOX controller, and the input numbers (544, 543, 312, etc.) need to match what was displayed when configuring the reicast-input.

Using SSH the reicast-input can be called directly. (excuse if this isn't correctly recalled from memory, use ls "directory" if the file is called something else)
/opt/retropie/emulators/reicast/bin/reicast-input

I think you could also use
evtest /dev/input/event# (the controller event # will be 0-6 depending on whatever it was assigned)
or
jstest /dev/input/js#

sudo apt install evtest if evtest isn't installed.

Using one of the test apps you will be able to read the events from the controller and discern the number that needs to be applied to the controller_~xbox.cfg using pn(programmers notepad).

If simply editing the cfg and saving doesn't work, then the file may have to be renamed to evdev_~xbox.cfg or it may need to be copied to that alternative directory mentioned before, I'm fairly uncertain about this but at least it is thorough monkey business.

If there was an easier way, it would be automatic configuration. And it is possible that all that needed to be done is to once again initialize "Configure Input" from the EmulationStation startmenu after reicast was installed for it to work.

Could also try running the reicast-input with root.
sudo /opt/retropie/emulators/reicast/bin/reicast-input
or
sudo /opt/retropie/emulators/reicast/bin/reicast-config I don't remember.

funkotron77

@Efriim thanks for the detailed reply pal. I tried the evtest thing and what is being output seems to match the .cfg file for the joysticks I’m trying to use. I’m going to try resetting the input config from ES and see if that works.

Efriim

@funkotron77
I have a feeling it is this alternate directory I mentioned.
You should be able to find it by:
sudo find /home/pi -name evdev_*
find /home/pi -name reicast
sudo find /opt/ -name evdev_*
sudo find /etc/ -name evdev_*
sudo find / -name evdev_*
in that order, it is most likely in /home/, but i'm not an expert with using find.

If you find this directory, there should be mappings somewhere and by my postulation you should find an evdev_xbox.cfg with the correct mapping for exit and none others.

manjo

@joelkolb Maaaaaaaaaan, you saved my 2 weeks of trying trying, searching.... i have this controller issue since i bought a lenovo m93p thinkcentre for my ne arcade cabinet. The PS4 Controller works without mapping, but i couldn't map my arcade controllers with USB encoder. Anyway thank you so much for your post. I'm so happy after all this houers to fix that problem. Thx a lot...

drewjbx

@manjo said in Can't get controller working in Reicast:

@joelkolb Maaaaaaaaaan, you saved my 2 weeks of trying trying, searching.... i have this controller issue since i bought a lenovo m93p thinkcentre for my ne arcade cabinet. The PS4 Controller works without mapping, but i couldn't map my arcade controllers with USB encoder. Anyway thank you so much for your post. I'm so happy after all this houers to fix that problem. Thx a lot...

hey can you go over the steps you did to make this work, I too am trying to configure arcade controls via usb encoder.

Plex7

@joelkolb

Thanks for the long explanation, but you forgot to mention how you remapped your working controller. Through emulation station or the script with reicast or ```
sudo /opt/retropie/emulators/reicast/bin/reicast-joyconfig

joelkolb

@Plex7 I most certainly did mention how I remapped my working controller. It would have been a pretty pointless explaination otherwise.

tl;dr: You must use a controller with an analog stick to run "+Start Reicast" to navigate the Reicast menu and go to Settings/Controls and then remap your buttons on the controller without an analog stick. reicast-joyconfig incorrectly maps exit and start to clicking on the analog sticks. This will cause you to get stuck once you launch a game using a controller without an analog stick. Remapping your buttons in this interface will fix this and get your analog-stick-less controller working in Reicast.

Plex7

@joelkolb Sorry you're correct. I am unable to get to settings though using a logitech F710 and a F310. You used a Pro controller? So far this one and an xbox controller works....

joelkolb

@Plex7 I used an 8BitDo SN30 Pro as my controller with analog sticks for the setup. If I had to take a guess at why you're having trouble I'd say it has something to do with the fact that your controllers all use Xinput. The controllers I used are all Dinput. Unfortunately, if that is the issue I don't know what to tell you to get it working with Xinput controllers.

Plex7

@joelkolb

I think you're onto something. All my logitech are set to Xinput. I will switch to Dinput and report back.

Plex7

@joelkolb My logitech F310 has a switch to switch from one or the other. Did a fresh remap using emulationstation and the script, and the analog stick is still unresponsive to enter settings in start reicast.

Tagged you in my personal thread. I posted my config files.