Amiberry 5.1 controller mapping problem (since upgrading from 3.x)

mbernier

Hi,

I found that my problem is about the same as this one here:

https://issueantenna.com/repo/midwan/amiberry/issues/917

It seems that we need to go to GUI at least once (and exit immediatly without doing any change) to have custom controls working.

for example, with Thexder i want to map the button "left shift" to be able to activate the shield:

i copy default.uae to a new file called Thexder_v1.2_0392.uae
i open amiberry GUI, i go to CUSTOM CONTROLS and map a gamepad key to LEFT SHIFT, and i save the new file. Here is the result in the thexder .uae file:
```
joyport1_amiberry_custom_none_b=Left Shift
```
i leave the game/amiberry, i restart the game and the custom controls don't work until i go to the GUI and immediately go back to the game

Do you know if it has been solved ?

regards,

mitu

@mbernier said in Amiberry 5.1 controller mapping problem (since upgading from 3.x):

Do you know if it has been solved ?

Looks to be fixed in the 5.2 version, while RetroPie has 5.1. We'll need to bump the version in RetroPie to get the fixes.

mitu

Try updating now - both RetroPie-Setup and the amiberry package - and you should have the 5.2 version. See if you still have the issue reported.

mbernier

@mitu

Hello !

I updated to 5.2 (confirmed by looking at the version number in GUI) but the problem is still happening. I also recreated the Thexder_v1.2_0392.uae file just in case. Weird. I think the best thing to do is to wait for further updates, since this is easily repeatable i suppose i won't be long (unless there is something i do not do or understand correctly). The problem is not related to this specific game, but for all games that requires control customization (but fortunately most of the time the default configuration is perfect).

Regards,

nemo93

@mbernier thanks again for testing and reporting. Can you please delete any .uae you've created and simply run the game as is (should be ending with .lha)? By the naming of your file I assume you're relying on WHD packages which is the recommended 'format'. Then bring up the GUI and assign any custom controls you like. Close GUI and check how it goes. We'll continue from this point on afterwards.

You shouldn't require default.uae at all by the way. It might be simply a case where not the right file is picked up by the emulator.

mbernier

@nemo93

Hi, thanks for your reply. Here is is what i have done since your mail:

I tried with Thexder_v1.2_0392.lha & Turrican_v2.0_NTSC_1838.lha

1- deleted default.uae
2- deleted all game related .uae (ex: Thexder_v1.2_0392.uae)
3a- for thexder: i assigned a custom control for LEFT SHIFT and this is working, but of course as soon that i quit and restart the game, the custom control disappear because i have not saved it (but i think this is what you wanted me to do in your troubleshooting step).
3b- for turrican, this is very interesting: without any custom control file, i start the game and only the FIRE button is working. I go in the GUI and go back in the game and other button suddenly starts working (the energy line button in this case, that is the SPACE key on the keyboard).

Of course, i verified the PATHS menu and everything seems at the right place:
system ROM = /home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/
Configuration files = /opt/retropie/configs/amiga/amyberry/conf/
https://pastebin.com/MREhDtT9 (retroarch.cfg)
https://pastebin.com/4xVhAyFH (amiberry.conf)
Controller files = /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch/autoconfig/
https://pastebin.com/KQPfVJ40 (Logitech Gamepad F710.cfg)
RetroArch configuration file = /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg
https://pastebin.com/xa6scLqY (retroarch.cfg)

I greatly appreciate your help.

Rinusch

A little side-step, but very related: I have an issue with custom controls in Amiberry 3.3 (Retropie 4.7.1).

No matter what I try, mapping to the parallel port joystick adapters won't work. You can make the mapping, but without any result. I tried with Dynablaster for example (all controller configurations the WHD load offers), but also with other 4 player games and even with a dedicated joystick tester under Workbench: no input is being registered. I can succesfully map the same controllers to keyboard input for example, but not to the parallel port adapter.

This appears to be a bug in Amiberry to me...as if the parallel port isn't being emulator correctly..?

I've started a thread about this in the past but never got any response. I recently ran into this again..
It would be much appreciated if anyone could spend 5 minutes or so and verify whether this can be confirmed.

mitu

@Rinusch Please use a separate topic instead hijacking an existing topic.

Rinusch

@mitu I'm sorry, you're right..

nemo93

@mbernier thanks for reporting back. I see few issues with your setup.

Kickstart ROMs have to be stored under > /home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/amiga/
you should have a <controller_name>.cfg file under /opt/retropie/configs/amiga/amyberry/conf/
=> in your case it should be named after Logitech Gamepad F710.cfg
=> check that wiki page to be sure of the format as yours look to have many lines (there's an example at the bottom). Some lines/parameters are not even required. Please clean that file up and make sure it's located in /opt/retropie/configs/amiga/amyberry/conf/.

To wrap things up, your /opt/retropie/configs/amiga/amyberry/conf/ should contain the following files:

amiberry.conf
retroarch.cfg (in fact a symlink to /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg)
Logitech Gamepad F710.cfg (or any name matching your controller)
you may have 2 other default config files A500 and A1200 which are optional

Regarding your issue with Thexder do the same steps as above (ensure no .uae, run the game, assign some custom controls) but this time save the config. Open GUI > Configuration > click Save as a name should be already set for you. A file named Thexder_v1.2_0392.uae will be created in /opt/retropie/configs/amiga/amyberry/conf/. Re-run the game and see how it goes.

Not sure to understand your issue about Turrican as this looks expected. Like many Amiga games it's a one-button joystick game hence why only the fire button will work by default on your controller. There's no custom controls for that game set by default by Amiberry. You'll have to assign a custom control for binding space key to your controller.

Assuming your issue is sorted I'd like to add more custom controls to Amiberry (so that custom will be there by default and available to all users). Thus far there's only a few games with custom (list). If you're willing to help let me know. Don't worry all I require is the same as you provided above, eg. for game XYZ:

joyport1_amiberry_custom_none_b=Left Shift

Hope this helps.

mbernier

@nemo93

Good evening,

Thank you for reply :-)

I have done all the changes you proposed:

system ROM = /home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/amiga
Configuration files = /opt/retropie/configs/amiga/amiberry/conf/
https://pastebin.com/qync2PGq (retroarch.cfg)
https://pastebin.com/yx6z6Y3n (amiberry.conf)
Controller files = /opt/retropie/configs/amiga/amiberry/conf/
https://pastebin.com/r4QUW3Kb (Logitech Gamepad F710.cfg)
RetroArch configuration file = /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg
https://pastebin.com/xa6scLqY (retroarch.cfg)

I also pressed the rescan path button and the save configuration (default.uae).

i also used a brand new "Logitech Gamepad F710.cfg" from here: https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Logitech-Controller/ to be sure starting clean. I added some mapping to exit emulator and access GUI but that is 99% the same file:
input_enable_hotkey_btn = "10"
input_menu_toggle_btn = "2"

I created a Thexder_v1.2_0392.uae with the LEFT SHIFT mapped to a button, a new line appeared in the file:
joyport1_amiberry_custom_none_b=Left Shift

Thexder_v1.2_0392.uae is here = https://pastebin.com/ZxWYAnww

But when i load the game, this custom control does not take effect until i go in the GUI menu at least once and going back to the game (hotkey+X in my case). After having access the GUI (and go back), all the custom mapping are working correctly. I am not sure if this is related, but in the custom control menu, the input device (Logitech Gamepad F710 has an [R] at the end, for RetroArch i suppose...

I am sorry, i do not want to waste your time because i feel that it may be specific to me. If i am the only one reporting it, it may be what i call a CODE 17 problem, that mean the problem is 17 inches in front of the screen: ME ! LOL

Concerning the custom control database, i will have to make it for myself for my own games so i will be glad to share it with your to make the amiberry experience even more "plug and play" for the community ! A couple of hours for sure parsing through the old games manuals and write custom button mapping to make games 100% playable through a gamepad without having to use a keyboard or mouse (when it make sense of course).

regards,

nemo93

@mbernier thanks again for testing and reporting. I'm now investigating this as there may be issues indeed with Custom Controls.

UPDATE: ticket created.

Regarding adding more custom controls there's no obligation! Do that only if you want and have the time. Feel free to post ticket(s) on that github (one per game).

nemo93

@mbernier ticket is progressing and a scenario identified. Not sure about a fix though. Let's be patient!

mbernier

@nemo93

Thanks ! Let's hope we will be able to customize control soon !

nemo93

@mbernier Amiberry 5.3 has just been released with fix for custom controls (among other stuff). I'll see on the best way to get it in Retropie asap.

UPDATE: 5.3 has been merged in. Once again big thanks to @mitu for the ever swift response.

sirhenrythe5th

@nemo93 thanks for the info nemo93!
I just upgraded yesterday and i am one step further indeed:
now, when i use my 8BitDo-Pad wireless i dont have the freeze anymore!
But the game selection in ES falls back to the AmiberryGUI, so it seems to loose the ability to use the direct loading of the WHD-files/*.lha.

When i connect the Pad by USB/Wire everything runs perfect.
Dont know why this happens (BT-connection produces issues?), but it is ok for me.
Just for Info ;)

nemo93

@sirhenrythe5th apparently same issue as described here which occurs only with 8BitDo. I don't have such myself and everything works fine with a Xbox One controller (over BT). Please confirm your exact controller model.

sirhenrythe5th

@nemo93 i have got the 8BitDO SN30Pro.

8Bitdo-SF30-Pro-Wireless-Bluetooth-Gamepad-Game-Controller-Dual-Classic-Joystick-For-Switch-Android-Game-Pad.jpg

mitu

I wonder if it the same issue as https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/31569, where SDL reports some joystick axis movement immediately after the initialization of the joystick sub-system, even if there was no input from the user.

I do have an 8BitDO SN30Pro that I use occasionally and I could test with it. @sirhenrythe5th are you using the latest firmware version on your gamepad ?

nemo93

@sirhenrythe5th thanks for clarifying. There's an open ticket with the exact same controller. The other user confirms no problem over USB only over BlueTooth.

@mitu now that you mention it I got a similar issue. Anytime I turn on my controller (xbox one over BT) > direction goes haywire like someone is pushing a direction even if I don't press any button. I can reproduce this each time. Not sure it's related and this would perhaps deserve a separate ticket in order to stay on-topic :)