Multiple mice support in RetroArch cores (lightguns, spinners, trackballs)

dankcushions

important to note, retropie is currently hardcoded to only compile version 1.6.0 of retroarch: https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/blob/master/scriptmodules/emulators/retroarch.sh#L36

the only way you can get the current master (ie, this fix), is to edit that .sh file to remove that limitation. also i think you have to remove one of the .diff patches but i forget which.

mediamogul

@dankcushions

Looks like that's the issue. I'll look into working around it. Thanks.

mediamogul

Continued from: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/10984/wii-remote-for-use-a-gun/27

casdevel has stated that:

I think that udev related log will tell as what's going on.

Would setting the udevadm logging priority to 'info' produce the necessary information into the system log, or would the relevant udev information simply populate into a verbose RetroArch log?

dankcushions

@mediamogul said in [Experimental]Multiple mice support in RetroArch cores (lightguns, spinners, steering wheels):

Continued from: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/10984/wii-remote-for-use-a-gun/27

casdevel has stated that:

I think that udev related log will tell as what's going on.

Would setting the udevadm logging priority to 'info' produce the necessary information into the system log, or would the relevant udev information simply populate into a verbose RetroArch log?

i've not tried that before but sounds right! you also might want to set:

libretro_log_level = 0
log_verbosity = true

that should catch all other retroarch stuff in your /dev/shm/runcommand.log.

markwkidd

RetroArch 1.6.1 is now installed by default via the RetroPie setup script, so that manual step to update RetroArch should no longer be necessary.

Folks should still make sure that their lr-mame2003 core is built from the most recent github commit on May 27, 2017: d540253.

BGallagherLA

I have a Wiimote/DolphinBar setup working great on about 50 games in AdvMame with no issues whatsoever. Are there any plans to add support for console emulators like NES, SNES, Sega Master System and Genesis? Lots of great gun games that can't be played. I've tested some SMS and Genesis games on non-libretro cores like DGEN but they only half work, meaning I can fire the gun but not move the console. The emulator is really choppy also. Just curious if this is being worked on as well. Thanks.

markwkidd

@BGallagherLA This update affects all libretro cores based on emulators with multiple mice support. It opens up support for the classic consoles you mentioned. We need feedback from people willing to try to use it to hammer out remaining fixes on a (libretro) core-by-core basis.

Right now this isn't documented because it's new, but basically:

find a libretro core for SNES, Genesis, etc that is based on an emulator with multi-mouse support
configure the mice/lightguns/spiners per this thread
if multi-mouse support doesn't work, then file a libretro github issue so that the devs can take a look

I'm hoping that users will help create a list of the cores that work with multiple mice to jumpstart documentation. Right now that list is in its infancy but if you try something out, consider posting your results here or in this libretro forum thread: https://forums.libretro.com/t/help-make-a-list-of-cores-that-support-multiple-mice/10857j

BGallagherLA

Excellent. So would I nee to update my setup script to get RetroArch 1.6 before starting this then? If so I'll see if I can test some stuff out tonight.

markwkidd

@BGallagherLA The very latest updates to Retropie setup should bring your RetroArch up to 1.6.1. That's the first official RetroArch release to incorporate multiple mouse support.

In other words, you no longer need to manually modify the Retropie script to pull in the most recent github version of RetroArch -- as long as Retropie-setup is current, it will get you the version you need.

BGallagherLA

@markwkidd OK cool. I haven't updated my setup script since getting 4.2 in March so I'll do that tonight and see what happens. I don't know much about editing settings though, so could you point me in the right direction as to what I'd need to do? I'm running RetroPie 4.2 on a Raspberry Pi 2.

mediamogul

@markwkidd

as long as Retropie-setup is current, it will get you the version you need.

Unfortunately, the installation for RetroArch had to be rolled back to 1.6.0. due to an issue with the 'Enter' key not being recognised.

markwkidd

@mediamogul Well dang. Has this been fixed in RetroArch itself now, so that it is safe to compile from github source like you did earlier in the thread?

mediamogul

@markwkidd

Has this been fixed in RetroArch itself now, so that it is safe to compile from github source like you did earlier in the thread?

It's been fixed and altering the RetroArch script module as before should work fine. I've been meaning to get back at this myself and deliver as much udev log information as possible, but my real world stuff has been unrelenting here lately. I hope to be able to look at it by the weekend.

markwkidd

edit: whoops, I drew a premature conclusion. stay tuned

markwkidd

A minor update. If you have a MAME 2003 core built from the latest source, you shouldn't have to manually configure the buttons on mice 2-8 any more.

markwkidd

Knock on wood, but it seems like the latest github RetroArch + the latest github mame2003 core = multiple mice functionality! Thanks @mediamogul !

mediamogul

@markwkidd

Thank you, sir. I was glad to help test. Once we get support for absolute coordinates, RetroArch and by extension RetroPie will be a one stop shop for all light gun setups. This was a big first step in that direction and it's great to see it working.

markwkidd

@mediamogul I was in contact with casdevel from the beginning of their work on multiple mice. Right now I think there is some forward momentum -- if we can get a well-described and logged Issue together regarding absolute vs. relative coordinates I feel like now is the time when help is available.

I'm on Windows mostly this summer, but that is one of the platforms that casdevel has been supporting.

Do you know of a test case -- core + ROM + hardware -- that illustrates the problem with absolute vs. relative coordinates?

edmaul69

@mediamogul so is there any way of playing the nintendo light gun games with a mouse?

mediamogul

@markwkidd

if we can get a well-described and logged Issue together regarding absolute vs. relative coordinates I feel like now is the time when help is available.

I would love to see this happen. Let me know how I can help.

Do you know of a test case -- core + ROM + hardware -- that illustrates the problem with absolute vs. relative coordinates?

I've tested with what I believe to be every core that has light gun support and currently none recognize absolute coordinates. If one core were to become the focus, I would suggest either lr-mame2003 to continue the work already done there, or perhaps lr-nestopia, as the NES was arguably the most popular home console light gun system.

@edmaul69

so is there any way of playing the nintendo light gun games with a mouse?

If played with a standard desktop mouse, or just about any airmouse, lr-nestopia already has functional light gun support. NstDatabase.xml has to be installed at /home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS, which I thought it was by default, but I can't find any mention of it anywhere. Unfortunately, until RetroArch can register absolute coordinates, USB arcade guns and devices like the DolphinBar are left out in the cold.