Controller Issues

Grumbles

I'm having some issues with my controllers while using my Retropie.

Issue #1:

I have a wired 8BitDo Pro 2 controller. For some reason, Retropie doesn't detect the controller by default. After doing some googling, I found that I have to hold down the B button while I plug in the controller and then it is detected properly. If I turn the Retropie off/on then the controller is no longer detected and I have to do the hold B & plug it in plan again. This seems like a real pain to have to do for each controller of this type every time I turn on the system. Does anyone know how to fix this?

Note 1: I already downloaded 8BitDo's firmware updater and updated the controller's firmware.
Note 2: I don't have this issue with the wireless 8BitDo Pro 2 (even when it's connected via a wire).

Issue #2:

I have multiple controllers plugged into my Retropie and for most systems they work fine. However Arcade games only seem to recognize one controller at a time. Does anyone know how to get it to see all the controllers? Most of my arcade games are Final Burn Neo. I'm not sure if this problem exists with the Mame games, I'll go check that later.

If anyone could help me with these issues, it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Pi Model or other hardware: Raspberry Pi 4 (4gb)
RetroPie Version Used: 4.7.1
Built From: Pre made SD Image on RetroPie website
Devices connected: 1 XBox controller, 1 8BitDo Pro 2 (wired version), 1 8BitDo Pro 2 (wireless version, but connected by a wire)

mitu

Please add some info about your setup, as detailed in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first.

Set the mode switch on the back of the controller to X (Xinput) and connect the controller, then see if gets detected as an Xbox compatible controller. Make sure you're using the latest firmware (1.08), the update mentions it Fixed the unavailable usage problem with X-input mode while on USB connection.
Is the game supporting more than 1 player ? Do you add coins for the 2nd player also, so it can start/join the game ?_

Grumbles

Added some info into the first post.

For the controller, the issue I'm having is with the "Wired" version of the 8BitDo Pro 2 (the version where the wire is permanently connected). That version of this controller doesn't have the mode switch on the back like the wireless version has. I think that's why I had to do the "hold the B button while plugging it in" trick.
I've tried it for many arcade games, which are supposed to support more than one player (ex: Street Fighter 2). I don't know if there's a setting in "Arcade" specifically I need to set, but it doesn't recognize any other controller. I can't add coins or press start or anything with any controller but the first one.

Grumbles

Well... I just updated to the latest version of Retropie (4.8.2), and it fixed my issues with Arcade games not detecting controllers. No idea why, but it fixed it.

I still have my problem with the wired version of the 8BitDo Pro 2 controller though. Maybe this controller just isn't a good option for RetroPie?

mitu

@Grumbles said in Controller Issues:

For the controller, the issue I'm having is with the "Wired" version of the 8BitDo Pro 2 (the version where the wire is permanently connected). That version of this controller doesn't have the mode switch on the back like the wireless version has. I think that's why I had to do the "hold the B button while plugging it in" trick.

I thought it was the same controller (the Bluetooth one), but connected via USB. For the wired variant, I think the controller tries to be 'smart' and detected whether is connected to a PC or a Nintendo Switch, while pressing B will force the Dinput mode.

From their FAQ:

Why there is no respond when it’s connected to Raspberry Pi?

The working modes of the devices that the Pro 2 Wired controller is able to auto recognize and connect are normally X-input & Switch mode whereas for the device like Raspberry Pi that is required to use D-input, you need to manually activate the working mode as hold the B button first, then connect the controller to the device.

Leaving aside the poor English translation, that's wrong - the Pi can work with an XInput or Switch controller. Assuming the controller tries to mimic a Nintendo Switch Pro controller first, you can try to install the hid-nintendo driver and see if the controller gets detected and can be configured.

Grumbles

@mitu Thanks for the suggestion, I tried it and it didn't work though.

Sucks that this controller doesn't have a mode switch on the back - I like the feel and weight of it (wireless version is a lot heavier). Guess it's just not great for RetroPie, unless there's a solution we haven't found yet (or I'll have to re-plug it in every time)

Grumbles

bump

Ok my issue with my controllers not being detected by arcade games is back.

I have multiple controllers connected (all 8 BitDo Pro 2s)
They all work fine in the Retropie menus
They all work fine in games for other systems

Problem: When I start up an Arcade game that allows multiplayer (ex: Turtles in Time), only the controller that is considered plugged into port 1 is detected. It's the only controller I can add coins with, press start with, have any inputs detected at all.

Anyone know why this is? Why are my Arcade games struggling to detect controllers?

EDIT: In fact, now it's detecting 2 of the 3 controllers in Arcade games (slots 1 and 3, but not slot 2). I have no idea what's happening here.

mitu

Post a verbose log (see the docs) on pastebin.com for the game that doesn't work.

Grumbles

@mitu

https://pastebin.com/83NeYxnc

A quick look at it I see:

[INFO] [udev]: Keyboard #0: "8BitDo Pro 2" (/dev/input/event2).
[INFO] [udev]: Keyboard #1: "" (/dev/input/js2).
[INFO] [udev]: Keyboard #2: "8BitDo Pro 2" (/dev/input/event1).
[INFO] [udev]: Keyboard #3: "" (/dev/input/js1).

Which seems like it detects only 2 controllers, even though there's 3 plugged in and all 3 are detected elsewhere (and I see 3 popups when the game launches, one for each controller it sees plugged in)

mitu

@Grumbles said in Controller Issues:

Which seems like it detects only 2 controllers, [...]

They're detected as keyboard devices, not gamepads - that may be the reason they're not separately detected.

Rename the /opt/retropie/configs/arcade/retroarch.cfg file and re-install lr-fbneo, then try again starting an arcade game to see if multiple controllers are detected correctly.

Grumbles

@mitu Before I change things with lr_fbneo, I just checked my mame games (most games I have are fbneo, but a few only run on mame).

I have the exact same issue with mame games, here's the pastebin: https://pastebin.com/bztL7iqT

Looks like the controllers are registered as keyboards here too.

Since it's on both emulators the problem probably lies elsewhere right?

Grumbles

I just set up a different SD card with a totally fresh image of Retropie on it, and this controller issue doesn't happen there. However, the verbose logs still look weird (3 controllers worked properly here):

[INFO] [udev]: Keyboard #0: "Microsoft Wired Keyboard 600" (/dev/input/event0).
[INFO] [udev]: Keyboard #1: "Microsoft Wired Keyboard 600 Consumer Control" (/dev/input/event1).
[INFO] [udev]: Keyboard #2: "Microsoft Wired Keyboard 600 System Control" (/dev/input/event2).
[INFO] [udev]: Keyboard #3: "8BitDo Pro 2" (/dev/input/event4).
[INFO] [udev]: Keyboard #4: "" (/dev/input/js1).
[INFO] [udev]: Keyboard #5: "8BitDo Pro 2" (/dev/input/event5).
[INFO] [udev]: Keyboard #6: "" (/dev/input/js2).
[INFO] [udev]: Pad #0 (/dev/input/event3) supports 0 force feedback effects.
[INFO] [udev]: Pad #1 (/dev/input/event4) supports force feedback.
[INFO] [udev]: Pad #1 (/dev/input/event4) supports 16 force feedback effects.
[INFO] [udev]: Pad #2 (/dev/input/event5) supports force feedback.
[INFO] [udev]: Pad #2 (/dev/input/event5) supports 16 force feedback effects.

I'm so confused and frustrated, I don't know what is happening here. Maybe I just have to start completely from scratch and reset up my entire Retropie image?

mitu

@Grumbles said in Controller Issues:

I'm so confused and frustrated, I don't know what is happening here. Maybe I just have to start completely from scratch and reset up my entire Retropie image?

Since it only happens on the arcade system, my advice was to reset the RetroArch configuration for it - as I mentioned on my previous reply. Did you try that ?

Grumbles

@mitu said in Controller Issues:

Rename the /opt/retropie/configs/arcade/retroarch.cfg file and re-install lr-fbneo

How do I "re-install lr-fbneo"? I've been trying to figure out how and I can't find the documenation I need.

Also, after more investigation, what appears to be going on is whichever controller is connected to "port 2" is the one that doesn't work. If I plug in 4 controllers, doesn't matter which controller goes where, 1 3 and 4 work, and the controller in port 2 doesn't work (only for arcade).

This is my retroarch.cfg: https://pastebin.com/C3G0X5m2

By the way, thanks for all the help.

mitu

@Grumbles said in Controller Issues:

How do I "re-install lr-fbneo"? I've been trying to figure out how and I can't find the documenation I need.

https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Updating-RetroPie/#updatinginstalling-individual-packages

Grumbles

@mitu This seems to have solved the issue, thanks!