Which GamePad would be best for 64bit console gen gaming? 64bit feasible on Pi 3?
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So I've ordered a Raspberry Pi 3 to use as my console emulator with my living room TV. I have only an old Gravis GamePad Pro USB spare, which obsidianspider says works for them (thanks again :-) ). I don't like to share controllers, as it's annoying with leads everywhere, and especially Bluetooth pairing issues when switching from device to device.
But I wonder what would be a good gamepad to buy if I want to get into 64 bit era emulation which requires more buttons, and analog sticks as well. I understand from my reading that the Pi 3 ought to be fast enough for 64bit console emulation like the N64, yeah?
So what controllers do you guys use for this purpose? Wired is preferred, because I subscribe to the KISS principle, but wireless is fine if the controller is worth it. I like something comfy to hold for extended play sessions. I can't stand bad D-pads like the 360 controller has - bleh :-D So I know that's out right off the bat. My hands can cope with bigger controllers so they're fine. I don't need or want anything mini for travelling.
TIA for your help :-)
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The Raspberry Pi 2/3 really shines playing the 8bit, 16bit and 32bit games.
I understand from my reading that the Pi 3 ought to be fast enough for 64bit console emulation like the N64, yeah?
You might check out the N64 ROM Compatibility List first because not all N64 games work and several have slowdowns.
I'm not sure if the PSX is 64bit but I've found it plays games surprisingly better than I would think a $35.00 computer could handle!
I was also happy about several Dreamcast games working (is the Dreamcast 128bit?) but not as well as the PSX emulation.
Dreamcast Compatibility ListThere's some less processor intensive PSP games (like Patapon) that will work. As well check PSP Compatibility List.
The Atari Jaguar is 64bit but the emulation is way, way too slow to actually play a games! Same slowness with the Panasonic 3DO!
The Saga Saturn emulator just isn't mature enough (or not as mature as the PSX ones) to really be very useful.
I like something comfy to hold for extended play sessions. I can't stand bad D-pads like the 360 controller has - bleh :-D
What?! "Them's Fightin' Words!" I have nothing wrong with my D-pads! ;-)
I use 3 official Microsoft Xbox 360 wireless controllers with a Generic Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver and it works like a charm. You can also get a PS3 controller and either use Bluetooth or buy one of those USB cables for it and plug directly into the Pi3. They make wired only version of the PS3 and Xbox controllers as well.
What you probably need is a generic N64 USB controller if all you're going to play are N64 games!
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Playstation 1 or 2 controller with USB adapter is my suggestion. Cheap and works great (although I prefer the Xbox 360 D-Pad to be honest...MUCH easier to get moves like down+right to work IMO...even for games like Castlevania for NES when you need to walk diagonal to go up/down stairs it beats the PS controllers).
None of the aftermarket controllers I've ever tried beat the quality of stock video game console controllers - I won't even look at PC-specific USB controllers anymore after trying many of them.
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@Dochartaigh I have the d-pad mapped to the left analog stick for te older style consoles on my PS1/PS2 style controller. In some games it just works a lot better (primarily shooters and most anything Atari 2600).
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@Wizardling I've been thoroughly enjoying the 8 Bitdo Famicon Pro controller. It's a bit on the pricey side, but it gives you all of the buttons you need ( B/A/X/Y, Start/Select, D-Pad, L/R 1 and L/R 2, and dual joysticks), along with a solid and responsive bluetooth connection and a pretty solid battery life. It works great for everything I've tried it on thus far, and I love it.
Of course, if you want a more authentic experience, you can pick up a USB knockoff for a very reasonable price (IIRC, $15-$20), but it lacks the connector for the peripherals, so you'll be missing out on some of what made the controller unique.
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@MagiusRetro
On the 8 Bitdo Famicon Pro controller, can you press in the analog sticks like buttons to give you the L/R 3? -
@backstander Yep. The Left and Right joysticks do click for L3/R3, so they're fully compatible with pretty much everything not motion controlled. I should also mention that it does take a little bit of work to get the controller to automatically synch up with the system whenever you start it up - but I think it's well worth doing.
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@Dochartaigh I have the d-pad mapped to the left analog stick for te older style consoles on my PS1/PS2 style controller. In some games it just works a lot better (primarily shooters and most anything Atari 2600).
I do too! But I was trying to do some Street Fighter D-Pad moves the other day (Shuriken!) and couldn't do them quite as well on my PS controller when compared to my Xbox D-pad (tried the analogs too). ...maybe it needs like a clear and concise Down then Right signal, instead of Down (6 o'clock), then 5 o'clock, 4, 3 o'clock (right) sweep type motion (like using the analog stick would give it) ...or I just suck at remembering old game moves - I am super out of practice ;)
@Wizardling I've been thoroughly enjoying the 8 Bitdo Famicon Pro controller. It's a bit on the pricey side, but it gives you all of the buttons you need
I seem to be one of the few who would tell you to stay away with these. I hated mine. Would never connect 100% of the time on several different Pi's. I always tell people to browse though the forums and see how many topics there are about problems with these (and other Bluetooth controllers).
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@Dochartaigh Yeah, I ran into that same issue when I first picked up the controller. It would kind of work for a bit, then it would just stop working. However, I found this guide talking about how to get it to work, and have managed to get two controllers working nearly perfectly (when I plug a controller in to charge, I tend to get duplicated inputs in RetroStation), and have done so twice (due to an unreliable power source corrupting the memory card and forcing me to start nearly from scratch). So, it does take some doing to get it to work reliable, but it's well worth putting the effort in, IMO.
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@MagiusRetro
I'm pretty sure I tried that exact tutorial and like 10 others to be honest. Tried these 8BitDo's on my two main Pi's, and my friends I was building (with his own 8BitDo controllers). They worked great when they worked, but that ~15% of the time it wouldn't connect for no reason drove me crazy. I gave up on mine, returned it, and switched over to 360 controllers + dongle and am MUCH happier. -
@Dochartaigh
I don't regularly use the Bluetooth on my Pi but I do have an ASUS Gamepad that I pickup on clearance and it seamed to work great connected to Bluetooth. The only trouble I had is when I would pair that controller with my laptop then I would have to re-pair it with my Pi before it would work again.I've also read that there's been several updates to the Bluetooth code in the more recent versions of RetroPie so you might give it another go!
I picked up a COD:MW themed Xbox 360 controller from a local pawn shop for cheap and it had some sticking buttons so I took it apart and cleaned it and now it works great! Lucky for me my friend already had the special screw driver you need to take those things apart so I didn't have to buy it.
I should also mention that it does take a little bit of work to get the controller to automatically synch up with the system whenever you start it up - but I think it's well worth doing.
Sometimes I have more fun trying to figure out how to get something like this working than actually playing video games. I don't know if other people fill that way but it's kinda like a game to me :-)
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@backstander said in Which GamePad would be best for 64bit console gen gaming? 64bit feasible on Pi 3?:
I've also read that there's been several updates to the Bluetooth code in the more recent versions of RetroPie so you might give it another go!
Most recent I tried was RetroPie 4.0.2 (think there might have been a slight update after this too). I returned it before 4.1 came out.
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Most recent I tried was RetroPie 4.0.2 (think there might have been a slight update after this too). I returned it before 4.1 came out.
I think most of the Bluetooth updates happened for the 4.0.x versions so it sounds like you already tried it then. I could be wrong but I wasn't aware of any Bluetooth updates for version 4.1.
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@Dochartaigh Street fighter is really best with an arcage stick. Since I already have the Playstation controller adapter, I have been thinking of getting a Playstation fighting stick. They seem to be somewhat reasonable (I have been eyeballing the old Asciiware ones for around $30-40).
Can't say much about wireless. I tried a couple times to set up Wiimotes and it was a nightmare. I had a better time with 3.8 and 4.0 setting up a bluetooth keyboard, but it's still a bit finicky. I just have to put controllers away when I'm not playing and at least replacements and additional cord extenders are pretty cheap. It's hard for me to mess with wireless when the PS1/PS2 remotes just work right straight away.
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@mrbwa1 said in Which GamePad would be best for 64bit console gen gaming? 64bit feasible on Pi 3?:
Street fighter is really best with an arcage stick
Or not : http://kotaku.com/the-2014-evo-champ-just-won-using-a-ps1-controller-1604535870
It's just personal preference, i prefer "fighting pad" like SS gamepad or Hori FC -
@barbudreadmon Preference is a good thing. I played a lot more Tekken that street fighter, but strangely, we could adapt between a Playstation controller and the Arcade machines.
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Is the Wii U Pro Controller any good with RetroPie and N64 games?
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