Retropie with keyboard only ?

Seeker

Hi everyone. I have installed retropie on my pi zero.
I don't have a gamepad/joystick and I plan to use it only for computer emulators.
How can I skip the gamepad calibration part so I can move on an d use my keyboard/mouse combo?
Thanks.

AlexMurphy

@Seeker You still need to calibrate in order to browse the menus.

AlexMurphy

@Seeker Your keyboard should be recognised as a attached. Then you should map that as you wish.

Seeker

Can I do that with a keyboard with track pad?

AlexMurphy

@Seeker Track pad? You mean like a mini USB keyboard with the track pad in it? What do you want it to do?

AlexMurphy

@Seeker If you mean an upward gesture to be recognised as an "up" on a d-pad, then no.

Seeker

@AlexMurphy said in Retropie with keyboard only ?:

@Seeker Track pad? You mean like a mini USB keyboard with the track pad in it? What do you want it to do?

it's a microsoft keyboard with a trackpad on the right. I was hoping to play commodore and atari games with the keyboard.

AlexMurphy

@Seeker You can. Have you even tried?

Seeker

@AlexMurphy said in Retropie with keyboard only ?:

@Seeker You can. Have you even tried?

Yes, but I wrongly assumed it wanted a gamepad because it was asking for all kinds of buttons, there's no way I can remember them all from the keyboard. I thought I can use the keyboard and trackpad as they were meant to be used and add a gamepad later on.
Thanks

AlexMurphy

@Seeker If you don't have / need a gamepad, then don't use one! Just use your keyboard.

Seeker

@AlexMurphy
Ok, I'll try it again now. At some point there is an OK button at the calibration screen that I can't figure out how to press.

AlexMurphy

@Seeker I set my Keyboard up to use the arrow keys to be up, dwn, lf, rt. I set enter as A etc.., Jeez, man , figure it out!!!

Seeker

OK, thanks.

Fustigator

@seeker That's exactly what I get. I configure all the keys then the ok button becomes focussed - but I can't figure how to press it. F4 drops me to a command line but no config has been saved when I do that.

rkeefer

@fustigator Once it's all been configured, you've got to use whatever button is mapped to the "A" button on your keyboard. The whole user interface is focused / dedicated to a gamepad/controller. Once you make it through the keyboard mapping, the "OK" and subsequent UI all uses that mapping of buttons.

PeriodicLogic

@fustigator You may also just need to exercise more patience. I find there is a delay from the end of the controller configuration selections to Emulation Station going back to the main screen (probably as joystick configurations are applied through the retroarch systems). But yes, you should be able to run RetroPie with just a keyboard.

VictimRLSH

Glad to see this one was answered, my next build is going to be a palmtop, with emphasis on the Desktop and games secondary, so just using a mini keyboard.