Forced to re-map EmulationStation controls every time on boot

lghtanddrk

I finally got it working. The sticks are showing up as the same GUID as the PSX controller so as soon as I mapped one it overwrote the other. I have itworking now so the sticks map correctly and work in ES. The PSX is incorrect but works fine in the PSX emulator so I can live with it. 2 questions though. In the Retroach XMB I disabled bezels and it permanently saved when I saved the overrideit but if I enable the analog stick it doesn't save even though I am saving an override. Any idea why? And, the second question, is there a way to assign different GUIDs to devices so my sticks and the PSX controller are not on the same GUID?

mitu

@lghtanddrk said in Forced to re-map EmulationStation controls every time on boot:

And, the second question, is there a way to assign different GUIDs to devices so my sticks and the PSX controller are not on the same GUID?

I don't know how XMB works, but if you want to globally configure RetroArch, you should make all the configuration after starting RetroArch from the RetroPie menu, as opposed to starting it from a random game/rom.

For the GUIDs conflict, one solution would be to hide/mask the original controller using xboxdrv - https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Universal-Controller-Calibration-&-Mapping-Using-xboxdrv/.
Since your PS3 controller will always be P3, use it to mask the /dev/input/js2 input device. You'll have to re-configure it again in ES/RA, since it will appear as a different device.

lghtanddrk

I'll take a look at the RetroArch tool. Thanks. I read the instructions for masking the ID. Looks pretty complicated. Is there an easier method? Is it common that a completely different controller would share the same GUID? Is there another brand Playstation controller or similar controller that you can recommend that would just work automatically on a different ID? Would a PS4 controller plugged in via USB need a driver and would that operate off of a different ID?

mitu

@lghtanddrk said in Forced to re-map EmulationStation controls every time on boot:

Is it common that a completely different controller would share the same GUID?

It's not common - just lazy vendors that stuff the same controller chip in their controllers without bothering to add a separate name or VID/PID.

Is there another brand Playstation controller or similar controller that you can recommend that would just work automatically on a different ID? Would a PS4 controller plugged in via USB need a driver and would that operate off of a different ID?

The Sony PS3/PS4 controllers have their own driver and are well supported, if you have the option to use them - then do so.

lghtanddrk

So I wouldn't need to install any drivers for a PS3 controller? I can use a wireless one with a USB charging cable and just plug it in? Or do I need to find a wired PS3 controller? Should it be a Sony factory original in order to ensure the ID and driver works?

mitu

@lghtanddrk For the PS3, they can connect via Bluetooth, for which you need the sixaxis or the ps3controller driver - see https://retropie.org.uk/docs/PS3-Controller/.
It doesn't have to be a genuine PS3 controller, a lot of the clones work with the drivers.

lghtanddrk

@mitu If I just plug in PS3 or PS4 controller with a USB cable is it just plug and play? Or do I still need a driver?

lghtanddrk

I think I installed both drivers in case I ever wanted to use them. I am not going to use it wireless so should I uninstall both drivers? If I did ever want to use wireless which driver is better? These are also for PS3. What about PS4?

mitu

@lghtanddrk PS4 doesn't need any drivers - wireless or not. If you intend to use the PS3 style controllers wired only, I don't think you'll need any driver, so my advice would be to uninstall them.

lghtanddrk

Thanks

lghtanddrk

Hi, I am running into new issues now. I uninstalled the sixaxis and PS3 drivers and plugged a Ps4 controller in with a USB cable. It worked in EmulationStation but had no luck at all with the Retroarch GUI or in any emulators. So I decided to just keep using my PS1 wire controller. BUT, now after spending hours on this I can only get it working in the Retroarch menus and not in any games. I am only using it with PCSX and PCSX Rearmed. I deleted all the CFG files and made sure that the controller order for those emulators had the controller assigned to P1. Any ideas on how to get my Retroarch back in shape? I really don't want to wipe everything out on the SD card and start over. Thanks.

mitu

@lghtanddrk said in Forced to re-map EmulationStation controls every time on boot:

It worked in EmulationStation but had no luck at all with the Retroarch GUI or in any emulators.

Maybe because it's the 3rd controller and it's assigned to P3. Make sure you configure the controller in Emulationstation, then use the configuration editor and re-order the gamepads so that gamepad no. 3 is set as P1.

Clyde

@meleu's joystick-selection tool is another easy way to re-order the controllers.

lghtanddrk

I did use the joystick selection tool. When I am in the RGUI for the emulator it shows input for P1 as the correct controller. I even mapped all the controls. Like I said, the PSX controller will work in the RGUI after doing that but I just can't get it to work as P1 for either of the PSX emulators. I had it working briefly including the left analog stick working. Something got messed up when I tried to add the PS4 controller. I even went as far as deleting all the retroarch configs and the PSX emulator configs and then copying the files back from a different image where the controls are working. But that didn't work either.

mitu

@lghtanddrk Post a log file (/dev/shm/runcommand.log), taken after running the game. Make sure you enable verbose/debug logging with the Runcommand launch menu, then run the game, exit, take the log file and post it on pastebin.com.

lghtanddrk

@mitu I went to the link but I am not understanding how to enable verbose/debugging. Where do I go to enable it?

mitu

@lghtanddrk When you launch a ROM, you can press a button (usually A) to open the Runcommand menu. From there, if you're using a RetroArch based emulator core, you have the option to Launch with verbose logging.

lghtanddrk

Thanks. I will let you know as soon as I have it posted.

lghtanddrk

Here's a pastebin for Symphony of the Night which I launched for the first time tonight using lr-pcsx-rearmed. Could not even get keyboard support for RGUI. Select on controller exited the game.

https://pastebin.com/UsQ6W0QB

And here's a pastebin for Gauntlet Legends that I was messing around with and could at least get into the RGUI via keyboard. I also was playing it at one point with the Dragonfire PSX controller but the setting for left analog stick would not save in overrides. Now on launch of the game tonight keyboard support is no longer working. Again, everything seemed to break after having tried setting up a PS4 controller.

https://pastebin.com/KMkcVSA0

Looks like there are permission issues. Note: I am having the exact same issue on a fresh Retropie install and a burned image. If it is a permissions issue, how do I fix that?

I was going to attach pastebins after having launched with pcsx-rearmed but there was no verbose logging option.

Here's a pastebin for es_input.cfg.

https://pastebin.com/ACjBZLRB

Here's a pastebin for retroarch.cfg which seems to indicate that no mappings are being saved. Note: /retroarch/config/remaps folder is also empty and I think I had tried to save a remapping too during my troubleshooting.

https://pastebin.com/am37xsma

What's interesting is if this is a permissions issue it is saving changes for when I remove the bezels and stuff like that. I do have controls working in other emulators. I confirmed with Mame and Sega Genseis so far which I think uses Pico. I remapped Genesis buttons with no issue but I am also playing those games on the sticks and not the Dragonfire controller.

Finally, here's the code showing in PCSX-REARMED.cfg

config_save_on_exit = "true"
input_menu_toggle_gamepad_combo = "4"
input_overlay_enable = "false"
input_overlay_hide_in_menu = "false"

AS mentioned, I did use the joystick select tool to assign Dragonfire which is on gamepad 2 to p1 for PSX console. And in the RGUI for inputs it did indicate that.

mitu

Your runtime (runcommand) logs are incomplete, I can't see anything regarding controllers initialization.

Looks like there are permission issues. Note: I am having the exact same issue on a fresh Retropie install and a burned image. If it is a permissions issue, how do I fix that?

I don't see where is that - the only 'permission denied' I see is from the joystick-selection.cfg file, which is not part of RetroPie stock installation, but a separate install from @meleu's repository. You might have mistakenly run the install as root or some other step that put the wrong permissions there.

Here's a pastebin for es_input.cfg.

I don't see a PS4 controller configured here, did you configure the PS4 controller in Emulationstation after you added to the system ?

Here's a pastebin for retroarch.cfg which seems to indicate that no mappings are being saved. Note: /retroarch/config/remaps folder is also empty and I think I had tried to save a remapping too during my troubleshooting.

The controller mapping are not saved there, there is a separate folder that contains the auto-configuration for each controller - /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch/autoconfig/.

Finally, here's the code showing in PCSX-REARMED.cfg
[...]

I don't see anything here related to controller re-ordering - must be because you're using the joystick selection tool from @meleu.

I don't have the full picture, since I don't know in what order you've tried to configure/install things (joystick-selection, RGUI, overrides, etc.) and the logs you've provided are scarce and don't show any controller related messages.
Using 'Save Configuration'/'Save Configuration on Exit' from RetroArch is making things worse and I don't recommend you use it. Each system has it's own retroarch.cfg and saving settings for one system will not automatically transfer to other systems. You can use the Core Input remapping options from the RGUI if you want to re-map your buttons/inputs.

My advice would be to use the stock RetroPie settings and

configure all your controller first in Emulationstation. This should generate the correct mappings for Emulationstation and RetroArch.
regarding the psx system, where you want to use the Sony controller as P1, use either

the Configuration editor and - for the lr-pcsx-rearmed core - change the order of the controllers.
(or) the joystick selection tool to re-arrange your gamepads. Make sure you install it properly, so there are no permissions related issues.