XBOXDRV Guidance Needed

[hansolo77]

Looks like the first entry was the correct one. So now, using XBOXDRV, I have a fully working onstart script that allows me to play not only Streets of Rage Remix with my Xbox Controller (and fully exit the game) but I can now also "hot plug" in an NES controller if I want to play with those classic controllers. The XBOX controller still works in NES as a default Player 1 (through the RetroPad's xpad driver) and then the NES controllers are controlled via keyboard emulation through XBOXDRV. I did it this way so I could have multiple player 1 controllers working, since the way RetroArch configures the autoconfigure settings, there would be no way to accomplish this. Here is the working script for that:

# the line below is needed to use the joystick selection by name method
bash "/opt/retropie/supplementary/joystick-selection/js-onstart.sh" "$@"

if [ "$1" = "sorr" ]
then
sudo /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv > /dev/null 2>&1 \
    --evdev /dev/input/by-id/usb-©Microsoft_Xbox_360_Wireless_Receiver_for_Windows_E1594E70-event-joystick \
    --detach-kernel-driver \
    --silent \
    --force-feedback \
    --deadzone-trigger 15% \
    --deadzone 4000 \
    --mimic-xpad \
    --dpad-as-button \
    --evdev-absmap ABS_X=x1,ABS_Y=y1,ABS_RX=x2,ABS_RY=y2,ABS_Z=lt,ABS_RZ=rt \
    --evdev-keymap BTN_SOUTH=a,BTN_EAST=b,BTN_NORTH=x,BTN_WEST=y,BTN_TL=lb,BTN_TR=rb,BTN_THUMBL=tl,BTN_THUMBR=tr,BTN_MODE=guide,BTN_SELECT=back,BTN_START=start,BTN_TRIGGER_HAPPY3=du,BTN_TRIGGER_HAPPY4=dd,BTN_TRIGGER_HAPPY1=dl,BTN_TRIGGER_HAPPY2=dr \
    --ui-buttonmap x=KEY_X,a=KEY_C,b=KEY_V,lb=KEY_A,Y=KEY_S,rb=KEY_D \
    --ui-buttonmap guide=KEY_B,start=KEY_ENTER,back=KEY_ESC \
    --ui-buttonmap du=KEY_UP,dd=KEY_DOWN,dl=KEY_LEFT,dr=KEY_RIGHT \
    -- \
&
fi

if [ "$1" = "nes" ]
then
sudo /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv > /dev/null 2>&1 \
    --evdev /dev/input/event3 \
    --detach-kernel-driver \
    --device-name "NES Pad Player 1 (xboxdrv)" \
    --evdev-absmap ABS_X=x1,ABS_Y=y1 \
    --evdev-keymap BTN_TRIGGER=a,BTN_THUMB=b,BTN_THUMB2=back,BTN_TOP=start \
    --dpad-only \
    --ui-axismap x1=KEY_LEFT:KEY_RIGHT,y1=KEY_UP:KEY_DOWN \
    --ui-buttonmap start=KEY_T,back=KEY_E,b=KEY_B,a=KEY_A \
&
sudo /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv > /dev/null 2>&1 \
    --evdev /dev/input/event4 \
    --detach-kernel-driver \
    --device-name "NES Pad Player 2 (xboxdrv)" \
    --evdev-absmap ABS_X=x1,ABS_Y=y1 \
    --evdev-keymap BTN_TRIGGER=a,BTN_THUMB=b,BTN_THUMB2=back,BTN_TOP=start \
    --dpad-only \
    --ui-axismap x1=KEY_G:KEY_H,y1=KEY_I:KEY_J \
    --ui-buttonmap start=KEY_KP9,back=KEY_KP0,b=KEY_M,a=KEY_K \
&
fi

---

Like I said earlier, my next step is getting my original Atari Joysticks to work inside the Atari800 emulator. Getting the stick recognized inside the emulator just wouldn't work. I can even make the XBOX controller work with it. I think this is due to the way the emulator is programmed. The Streets of Rage game only excepted input from whatever was connected to /dev/input/js0 which in my particular case is a wireless keyboard/mouse dongle. So by simply moving the Atari Sticks to js0 and js1, that should be all that's needed. But if moving them doesn't fix it, I'll have to try remapping them inside an XBOXDRV command.

@mediamogul - What was the method you were able to use to make it work in your case?

[mediamogul]

@hansolo77 said in XBOXDRV Guidance Needed:

Getting the stick recognized inside the emulator just wouldn't work.

Yeah, there are a few emulators that try to map the joystick for you and if it doesn't work, you have to look for outside options.

What was the method you were able to use to make it work in your case?

For the Atari800 emulator, I have a two player key-map setup for the default software assignments, including the 12 button 5200 keypads which are mapped to the right joysticks. I also threw in a toggle function to where you can switch the left joysticks to a mouse-mapping for analog paddle, trackball and mouse-based games.

[hansolo77]

Woot! Got Atari800 working, and using $2 = atari800 in the onstart script. This now works with the Atari 5200 and the Atari 800. Next up: mapping the joysticks to work with the Atari 2600/7800/ST.

:)

Question to @mediamogul - Do you have an occasional hiccup with the Atari800 emulator not recognizing the keyboard when you boot it up through XBOXDRV? I've had maybe 1 in 3 boots where the keyboard is dead and I have to hit F9 to exit the emulator and try again. It's pretty annoying, especially when you have to use the keyboard to select what size ROM you have in the 5200 system. Also, I noticed in like the Frogger 2 game, I can't move unless I press the fire button, was it always like that? In Galaxian on the 800 system, I couldn't get the joystick to work right (it was left/right reversed) unless I set it to play 2 players. Any idea what that's all about?

Thanks again!

[mediamogul]

@hansolo77 said in XBOXDRV Guidance Needed:

Do you have an occasional hiccup with the Atari800 emulator not recognizing the keyboard when you boot it up through XBOXDRV?

I believe that's all tied into a bug found in the Atari800 emulator itself. After almost any setting is altered from the Atari800 GUI and saved, it will corrupt the configuration file and cause these types of issues. If this is the case, you'll need to delete the current configuration file and allow the program to generate a new one to regain stability. Once recreated, you can still alter any settings you wish from an external solution such as nano without issue.

[hansolo77]

Thanks for that. I'll try doing that. It's too bad RetroArch never established any kind of open-source port of an emulator for these systems.

[mediamogul]

@hansolo77

I think they're currently working on an Atari800 core, but I might be mistaken. There are ups and downs to RetroArch cores though. If you look at their implementation of Stella for example, it lacks the capability to play many 2600 games, due to a lack of keypad, paddle and trackball support. I'm sure they'll get around to adding all that some day, but until then I'll be using the standalone version with bonus Mindlink support.

[hansolo77]

LOL!!! "My head hurts from playing with my eyebrows".

Got Atari 2600 and Atari 7800 working now too. Since they're both RetroArch, their configurations were the same. :) :) :) Next up.. ST.

[hansolo77]

Ok I'm lost. I realized I don't have my Atari ST stuff set up yet, so I'm moving on to Sega Genesis/MasterDrive. Now to start, the default/auto configuration using both original 6-button pads works fine. But to remap inside XBOXDRV is giving me a migraine tonight. I'm using the same connectors as I did with the Atari joysticks, so I'm using the same "device name" and event numbers. The only thing I'm really changing is the addition of the extra buttons. Player 1 works fine. Once I go to add the Player 2 though, I can't get the START button to work. I'm testing in Mortal Kombat 3, since I know it defaults to 6-button layout and has 2-player support. The idea of the game is that you start it up to the character selection screen, then press START on Player 2 to add that player. Nothing works, and the timer eventually ticks out and the game starts. Here is my current test script:

#!/bin/bash
sudo /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv \
    --evdev /dev/input/event5 \
    --detach-kernel-driver \
    --device-name "ATARI_SEGA Player 1 (xboxdrv)" \
    --evdev-absmap ABS_HAT0X=x1,ABS_HAT0Y=y1 \
    --evdev-keymap BTN_TR=back,BTN_TR2=start \
    --evdev-keymap BTN_SOUTH=y,BTN_EAST=b,BTN_C=a \
    --evdev-keymap BTN_NORTH=lb,BTN_WEST=x,BTN_TL=rb \
    --dpad-only \
    --ui-axismap x1=KEY_LEFT:KEY_RIGHT,y1=KEY_DOWN:KEY_UP \
    --ui-buttonmap y=KEY_Y,b=KEY_B,a=KEY_A,lb=KEY_L,x=KEY_X,rb=KEY_R,start=KEY_T,back=KEY_E \
&
sudo /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv \
    --evdev /dev/input/event6 \
    --detach-kernel-driver \
    --device-name "ATARI_SEGA Player 2 (xboxdrv)" \
    --evdev-absmap ABS_HAT0X=x1,ABS_HAT0Y=y1 \
    --evdev-keymap BTN_TR=back,BTN_TR2=start \
    --evdev-keymap BTN_SOUTH=y,BTN_EAST=b,BTN_C=a \
    --evdev-keymap BTN_NORTH=lb,BTN_WEST=x,BTN_TL=rb \
    --dpad-only \
    --ui-axismap x1=KEY_G:KEY_H,y1=KEY_J:KEY_I \
    --ui-buttonmap x=KEY_N,a=KEY_K,b=KEY_M,lb=KEY_P,y=KEY_O,rb=KEY_Q \
    --ui-buttonmap start=KEY_KP9,back=KEY_KP0 \
&
/opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch -L /opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-picodrive/picodrive_libretro.so --config /opt/retropie/configs/megadrive/retroarch.cfg "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/megadrive/Mortal Kombat 3 (USA).md"
sudo killall xboxdrv

Now I have done all kinds of testing, and everything looks correct. I thought maybe RetroArch was having trouble with the mapping of the Player 2 Start button to "NUM_9", but it turns out it works fine for the NES. I then thought maybe my Player 2 controller wasn't working, so I swapped it, and it's working fine. I then opened up an SSH terminal, ran the command for just Player 2's xboxdrv, then opened another SSH terminal to do a jstest and evtest on the newly created entries. Both of them seem to be picking up all the correct signals. EVTEST even shows that the key being transmitted is the correct KEY_KP9. So I'm completely lost here.

Got any ideas?

[mediamogul]

@hansolo77

Well, you're nothing if not thorough. You've tried just about everything I would recommend. If you eliminate xboxdrv from the equation, do the assigned keys function if entered from a keyboard?

[hansolo77]

Hmm, never tried that. I'm actually shocked I didn't think of it. I used to be Tier 3 tech support. Going "off the script" and thinking of absolutely everything to eliminate all possibilities is just how I operate. I think that's why I'm probably able to grasp this better than other people. I've been trained on detective work, in a sense.

I've turned off my system for the night. I gotta eat dinner real quick and head to bed, work early tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll give it a go when I get home tomorrow!

[hansolo77]

Ok, just got home, tried running the game from within EmulationStation (rather than my test script). Pressing num0 and num9 doesn't register in RetroArch. The EVTEST I ran yesterday confirms it's at least sending it. So the problem must be that RetroArch doesn't recognize that as a valid mappable key. I did some Googling, as RetroArch has NOTHING on a list of available keys. Turns out the left shift (shift) and right shift (rshift) ARE available, so I edited the retroarch.cfg file and changed Start to shift and select to rshift. Loaded up the game, and it works! So, either you're using an outdated keymap list for your player 2, or maybe you just never encountered a need to press Start on Player 2. After thinking about it, there was no reason to do that in my tests on the NES. I was testing with Bubble Bobble, because I knew it had a 2 player option, but that 2nd player is set up from the opening menu, rather than you pressing a button to activate it.

I'm glad I got it figured out. That would have been a hex on the whole thing if I couldn't make it work. Thanks again for that suggestion to test it. Had I not done that, I would have been completely lost.

[mediamogul]

@hansolo77 said in XBOXDRV Guidance Needed:

or maybe you just never encountered a need to press Start on Player 2

This is most likely the case. Looks like I'll have to switch things up a bit myself.

Thanks again for that suggestion to test it.

Not a problem. I'm glad it helped lead to a solution.

[hansolo77]

@mediamogul - Off another day tomorrow (typically Sundays and Thursdays) so that means more XBOXDRV time. :) I have a further need of your assistance, but I'm getting close to nailing this! Have you managed to map any "shifted" button combinations? The only thing my mini Sega Genesis hub is missing is a RESET button (which I have configured to exit out of games on my NES full size case). Since I'm primarily using the Sega hub with some USB controlled Sega 6-button controllers, I don't have a good clean way to exit out of games that aren't automatically supported through RetroArch. I'm speaking, of course, of the "Streets of Rage Remix" port. The only way I can exit out of that game right now is by having a keyboard attached and hit the ESCAPE key on the main menu, or turn the system off. I'd like to program (in XBOXDRV) a similar escape method of START+BACK (mode in Sega's case). Since the Start and Mode buttons are already mapped in the system, I wasn't sure how to set up a combo. Would it work if I did something like:

--ui-buttonmap start=KEY_A,back=KEY_B,start+back=KEY_C

Where I have a key for start, a key for back, and a third key for start+back? I thought I read in the official documentation for the driver (not the RetroPie wiki) that this is possible. I might have the commands wrong though. I'm just looking for confirmation that this is a viable option (I'll fix the commands proper later).

[mediamogul]

@hansolo77 said in XBOXDRV Guidance Needed:

Have you managed to map any "shifted" button combinations?

Sure. I actually have all my emulators and ports mapped to exit out by pressing 'Select+Start'.

I might have the commands wrong though.

Your instincts are in fact right on the money. Also, if you should ever need to map this functionality to an emulator/port that uses a key combination to exit (let's say 'ctrl+q'), then the formatting is no more difficult than:

--ui-buttonmap back+start=KEY_LEFTCTRL+KEY_Q

[hansolo77]

So this will still work even I have those buttons mapped to something else individually? Awesomesauce!

[mediamogul]

@hansolo77

yesireebobbyjimbo.

[hansolo77]

Grumble Grumble

@mediamogul

I hate opening up old threads, but it looks like I'm back into this whole XBOXDRV again. Turns out, I'm having issues where the RunCommand menu won't trigger with my Xbox controller on any of the systems I configured in the runconmmand-onstart.sh file. To counteract this, I tried adding a mapping inside the if/then statements to include the Xbox controller. But that doesn't work. I wonder if it's a mapping issue, and not necessarily a driver issue. I just did a simple cut and paste without really thinking about it.

For starters, I'm having trouble with NES. Originally, I only had the Xbox controller, and it sent over proper autoconfigs from EmulationStation into RetroArch. I could also access the RunCommand menus with it just fine. Then I added the XboxDRV into the mix to use the original NES controllers. While they worked fine with the remapping, I lost the ability to access the RunCommand. This might be due to the re-working of my plugs on the Pi, and having to move them around. Right now, I can navigate ES, RetroArch, and play games with my Xbox Controller, but I can't access the RunCommand. If I attach an NES controller, I can access the RunCommand, but then I can't navigate inside it, nor does the controller work inside a game. The only way I can navigate RunConmmand is by using a keyboard, after triggering it from the NES controller.

Sounds confusing.

Xbox Controller - Works in ES, Doesn't Trigger RunCommand, Doesn't work in RunCommand, Works in RetroArch/Games
NES Controller - Works in ES, Triggers RunCommand, Doesn't work in RunCommand, Doesn't work in RetroArch/Games
Keyboard - Works in ES, Triggers RunCommand, Works in RunCommand, Works in RetroArch/Games

Perhaps you can take a look and help me? :)

Example from runcommand-onstart.sh :

if [ "$1" = "nes" ]
then
sudo /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv > /dev/null 2>&1 \
    --evdev /dev/input/by-id/usb-©Microsoft_Xbox_360_Wireless_Receiver_for_Windows_E1594E70-event-joystick \
    --detach-kernel-driver \
    --silent \
    --force-feedback \
    --deadzone-trigger 15% \
    --deadzone 4000 \
    --mimic-xpad \
    --dpad-as-button \
    --evdev-absmap ABS_X=x1,ABS_Y=y1,ABS_RX=x2,ABS_RY=y2,ABS_Z=lt,ABS_RZ=rt \
    --evdev-keymap BTN_SOUTH=a,BTN_EAST=b,BTN_NORTH=x,BTN_WEST=y,BTN_TL=lb,BTN_TR=rb,BTN_THUMBL=tl,BTN_THUMBR=tr,BTN_MODE=guide,BTN_SELECT=back,BTN_START=start,BTN_TRIGGER_HAPPY3=du,BTN_TRIGGER_HAPPY4=dd,BTN_TRIGGER_HAPPY1=dl,BTN_TRIGGER_HAPPY2=dr \
    --ui-buttonmap x=KEY_X,a=KEY_C,b=KEY_V,lb=KEY_A,Y=KEY_S,rb=KEY_D \
    --ui-buttonmap guide=KEY_B,start=KEY_ENTER,back=KEY_ESC \
    --ui-buttonmap du=KEY_UP,dd=KEY_DOWN,dl=KEY_LEFT,dr=KEY_RIGHT \
&
sudo /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv > /dev/null 2>&1 \
    --evdev /dev/input/event3 \
    --detach-kernel-driver \
    --device-name "NES Pad Player 1 (xboxdrv)" \
    --evdev-absmap ABS_X=x1,ABS_Y=y1 \
    --evdev-keymap BTN_TRIGGER=a,BTN_THUMB=b,BTN_THUMB2=back,BTN_TOP=start \
    --dpad-only \
    --ui-axismap x1=KEY_LEFT:KEY_RIGHT,y1=KEY_UP:KEY_DOWN \
    --ui-buttonmap start=KEY_T,back=KEY_E,b=KEY_B,a=KEY_A \
&
sudo /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv > /dev/null 2>&1 \
    --evdev /dev/input/event4 \
    --detach-kernel-driver \
    --device-name "NES Pad Player 2 (xboxdrv)" \
    --evdev-absmap ABS_X=x1,ABS_Y=y1 \
    --evdev-keymap BTN_TRIGGER=a,BTN_THUMB=b,BTN_THUMB2=back,BTN_TOP=start \
    --dpad-only \
    --ui-axismap x1=KEY_G:KEY_H,y1=KEY_I:KEY_J \
    --ui-buttonmap start=KEY_LEFTSHIFT,back=KEY_RIGHTSHIFT,b=KEY_M,a=KEY_K \
&
fi

I checked the input devices, and can confirm that even though I moved their locations physically on the Pi, the evdev /dev/input/device ## is stll the same.

[hansolo77]

DERP - I think the problem with the controller INSIDE a game might be because I had to restore the original default retroarch.cfg file because the latest update to RetroArch was broke. GRR now I have MORE work to do. :(

[mediamogul]

@hansolo77

Good to see that you nailed down what the problem was. Half the time that's the hardest part.

[hansolo77]

@mediamogul Yeah, but I'm not much closer now than I was a couple hours ago. Back to the old starting grounds.