lr-fuse - remapping keyboard controls

mediamogul

I had some terrible experiences with them some time ago

I definitely understand. They can be an uphill slog to learn, but once you know how to use them, it opens up an almost infinite amount of control.

DarkWolf

@mediamogul
Yeah I know... At some point of time I knew how to use it (kinda), but then decided to just use a keyboard instead of mapping different inputs for over 500 roms indevidualy.

mediamogul

@DarkWolf

Most times you can map to a whole system and avoid individual ROMs, but with computer systems that never had joystick support, you could easily end up mapping that many if not more. A trusty keyboard would indeed be the best option there. It never ceases to amaze me at how many options are available on an open platform. I look at all the commercial operating systems being turned into walled gardens and it really gets frustrating by comparison.

DarkWolf

@mediamogul
As I only wanted to play ZX Spectrum games like atic atac, which are able to use a joystick, but also need a keyboard key (like z for pickung stuff up), I had to map those individualy (they were different in each game :/)

mediamogul

@DarkWolf

I need to check out the ZX Spectrum some day. The library is massive and looks to have some great games.

DarkWolf

@mediamogul Most of them are really awesome (even though I'am 17, I really like such games)

tuki_cat

Thanks for all the suggestions, I have some time later so I will see what works.

@DarkWolf - you should definitely check out the Spectrum, there are so many fantastic games

DarkWolf

@tuki_cat I already have 140 spectrum games installed :D
Just using wireless keyboard instead of controller

tuki_cat

Sorry that was supposed to @mediamogul!

mediamogul

@tuki_cat

I look forward to checking it out. It's got to be the most popular retro system that I have no experience with. It was never really introduced over here in the States, but I've been reading Retro Gamer magazine for a few years now and I'm always impressed with the titles I read about there.

dudleydes

@tuki_cat For ZX Spectrum games that require extra keys to be mapped to a joystick, I use ZEsarUX which can be installed from the Optional Packages menu in the RetroPie Setup Script.

To map the extra key for 1942 in ZEsarUX, you would create a text file in the roms folder called 1942.tap.config, assuming the tape name is 1942.tap.

Next add the line below in the config file to map button 15, for instance, to the keystroke 1:

--joystickkeybt 15 '1'

I have written a tutorial how to create config file for these extra mappings here using Chuckie Egg, which doesn't support the Kempston joystick, and Head Over Heels, which uses the keys 'z' and 's' in addition to the Kempston, as examples.

It's worth checking the other tutorial for the default mappings in ZEsarUX.

DarkWolf

@dudleydes I already checked that out but my games are not loading or the buttons of my controller doesn't work... hope this helps @tuki_cat more than me

dudleydes

@DarkWolf Could you give an example?

DarkWolf

@dudleydes I don't really know... sry
I tried that some time ago and failed :/
Than I switched to a wireless keyboard, but I guess I was just stupid at some point. I will give it a try once again soon. If something doesn't work I will mesage you

tuki_cat

@dudleydes - Hi, I have tried using ZEsarUX and it is really good for keymapping. The issue I have is that I find the emulator slow, almost like it is stuttering.

I am running the emualators on a Raspberry Pi Zero so i don't know if it is to do with that, but the other spectrum emulators run fine.

Any idea what stuttering could be?

dudleydes

@tuki_cat I first tested ZEsarUX on a Pi 1B, which has similar specs to the zero and I didn't notice any slowdown. Which game is causing the problem?

tuki_cat

I have tried 1942 and Commando, both seem to stutter. It sounds a little like to sound is lagging

dudleydes

@tuki_cat Could you test with Chuckie Egg? The intro music is good for testing audio and the gameplay is fast.

tuki_cat

Chuckie Egg worked fine, no issues at all, so it could be rom related.

My 1942 is .sna, i have just tried a .tzx image and it is the same, still stuttering.

dudleydes

@tuki_cat I spoke a little with the developer when I first came across ZEsarUX and he recommended using the .tap format over .tzx where possible.