Save/Load button for Mame using Controlblock

[Axxaran]

Hello Retropiers,

i have read a lot about this load/save button in Retropie, but i still cant get it working. I build a controller using the controlblock from petrockblock and now i want to setup two buttons for load/save in Mame.

I did the following:

root@axxarca:/opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch-joypads# cat ControlBlockGamepad.cfg
input_device = "ControlBlock Gamepad"
...
input_enable_hotkey_btn =
input_save_state_btn = "4"
input_load_state_btn = "3"

I didnt want a hotkey, because the buttons are only for this function. What now happens is, that Mame still asks me "select position to save". How can i get over this without attaching a keyboard and press a positition?

Thanx in advance
Axxaran

[Axxaran]

I completely restarted with my settings and followed these older post:

http://blog.petrockblock.com/forums/topic/how-to-save-games-in-retropie-retroarch/

In this post there was the question:
"Is it possible to save “states” by only using one button? And another for loading states?"
and the answer:
"Yes, but you wouldnt want to use the button for another function, so you need an unused one really.
Then you just keep hotkeys enabled (so no need for an enable_hotkey button)"

I followed the instructions in the video but still got the same result. Looks like the AdvMame-Emulator doesn't accept these Retroarch settings. The only working setting was to map the load and save button using the Mame-GUI to the "Save State" and "Load State" setting. But then AdvMame continues to ask me "select position to save".

Any hints?

[Axxaran]

Oh, btw, heres a picture of my controller with the Load and Save Button on the left side:

http://g51i.imgup.net/joyd39e.JPG

[Finhead]

@Axxaran Advmame does not use retroarch, it's not a libretro core emulator.

Did you go to TAB menu, Input (general), User Inerface then scroll down to the Save state and Load state options and map your buttons?

[Axxaran]

@Finhead : Aha, thats what i suspected, it ignores the retroarch setting.

Yes, i mapped the buttons to the "Save State" and "Load State" option in the AdvMame GUI. Pressing the Save-Button results in the question "select position to save", but because i have no keyboard connected, i cant press a key to select a save-slot. What i need is a button which saves the game to one slot and another one that loads this slot. Any Idea?

[Axxaran]

I read the following on the MAMEDEV.org-FAQs:

"To save the state of a game, use the default save state sequence of Shift + F7. At this point, you will get a prompt asking you to select a slot. Type a letter from 'a' to 'z' and the game's state will be saved.
...
To restore a saved state, use the default load state key F7. Again, you will prompted to select a slot to load from, and the state will be loaded."

So maybe i can assign another button as a substitute for a letter on the keyboard?