As @TheDataCereal said, open the RA menu (Select + X) while in a game and change your Input settings, you probably want Player 1 to be the NES gamepad instead of the arcade Joystick. I don't think this is caused by the auto-save-on-exit settings.
As an alternative, use @meleu's joystick configuration and you can configure - per system - which controller is which player.

@Lurker is their a detailed tutorial of this anywhere?

I remember, when reading about xboxdrv that it had a specific option for this problem. Would you be able to use xboxdrv with your current controls to work around the problem

https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/Universal-Controller-Calibration-&-Mapping-Using-xboxdrv#2d-restricting-directional-control-to-four-ways

@bassman6805 eBay and amazon have them in abundance as do RS/Farrell and Mallon. Just search square black non locking push switch. Be careful not to buy on/off latching switches which look identical but are longer.

Here are some closeups of the outside and some of the inner workings.
0_1519075723032_Mars Attacks Bartop Arcade Hyperpie (5).JPG
0_1519075744119_Mars Attacks Bartop Arcade Hyperpie (8).JPG
0_1519075841472_Mars Attacks Bartop Arcade Control Panel (17).JPG
0_1519075782743_Mars Attacks Bartop Arcade Hyperpie (13).JPG
0_1519075898307_Mars Attacks Bartop Arcade Hyperpie (14).JPG

@wxdfever Thanks for the explanation. I noticed the side button but I thought it to be for pinball games.

@alturis I've actually been looking at those exact pre-cut kits. My buddy wants to build a cabinet now and wants help. These are insanely affordable. Like you'd have a hard time buying all the materials to build a cabinet for this price, no less the time it takes to cut it properly and route it etc. That being said, there is definitely some satisfaction in cutting it all yourself. I learned so much from this build though... I am actually really considering building a new housing and putting all the guts from this one into it.

@bassman6805 said in Which Joystick for Bartop:

https://www.adafruit.com/product/3402

There are just so many options and ideas to consider. The hat is interesting. It is more than just a convenient way to connect wires for controls. It also has an audio DAC and back powers the Pi with a safe shutdown switch. If you are using an HDMI display with sound, you probably won't use the DAC on the hat.

You could also look at ControlBlock.

These solutions rely on drivers to translate GPIO input to virtual gamepad(s) or keyboard input. You could also step up to a hardware controller like an Ultimarc IPAC or others.

If I built a bartop today, I might simply use header wires or split a ribbon cable with a connector and use that to wire up controls to GPIO. I might then use a Mausberry circuit or something simpler to do safe shutdown. Finally, I might just pull audio from the jack on the Pi if my display did not include speakers.

For the actual controls, do you want a ball top style joystick? A bat design (street fighter shape)? Have you considered 4-way vs. 8-way? Ultimarc makes some sticks that allow you to switch between 4 and 8 ways. Otherwise, the HAPP Super or the Competition sticks are very inexpensive.

There are many sources of arcade hardware online. I have had success buying from Groovy Game Gear, Ultimarc, and Paradise Arcade shop. I live in Portland, OR.

I will add that sometimes you will make a decision based on form factor alone. For example, you may be building something with internal size constraints and opt for buttons that are shallow, whereas many arcade buttons are designed to go through thicker plywood and go pretty deep.

On the other hand, you might pick a joystick because of how it feels during gameplay. Do you like microswitches clicking? Maybe you want to find one with copper leaf switches for that quieter, smoother feel. You have lots of possibilities. I would browse some Paradise for ideas, or Ultimarc for some premium options and decide what you need and what you can live without given your budget.

@Newellj79

Thank you!!

@dunginhawk

I love your Iowa Hawkeye artwork. Would you be willing to sell or share it? I am building my own home arcade.

Thank you-
Matt
[link text](link url)

Hey @goyney if you don’t mind me asking what’s your config for the buttons?

I’m trying to build a similar machine and just wondering how the 6 x Hori fighter buttons on the control panel are configured and the 2 on the front?

Thanks!
Leon

Finally managed to get all player one buttons working, still messing about with customising the controls but at least I can play some games.

@herman27d said in Bartop - Donkey Kong themed:

@edmaul69
I bought a wood kit and it came with a 1 player panel and also a 2 player panel. ...didn’t think I would have 2 people playing it at one time very much so went with the single player option. ...it’s only a 19” monitor so not super huge

I did the same thing, but for different reason: my button layout uses 12 buttons and 0 joystick. For second player, I put an USB controller.

@jbob101 not yet, but soon! https://github.com/RetroPie/EmulationStation/pull/235

Thanks again for your help, pal.

Quite a bit's happened since I last looked at this thread. Primarily, I've bought another Pi! I'm putting a second one together, myself, from scratch - and I'm beginning to get my head around Raspbian. I think this second Pi will end up becoming another RetroPie platform, but one that I've tailored myself from the ground up, and attached to a TV rather than confined to a cabinet. I'm enjoying the challenge - plus, I feel slightly less of a fraud than I did a couple of months ago...!!!

Can I ask, does the Pi have a known 'threshold', when it comes to emulation? For instance, can it make a solid fist of the N64 and/or original PlayStation? And what about slightly more niche stuff from the same era, like the Saturn...?

Thanks again to anyone who can advise,

DH.

Looking good!

@zhajdu how would a complete novice use these files I'm doing my first attempt for kids Xmas

Sorry for necromancing this post. But I just noticed the "-convert_videos" flag when scraping from the command line. Is this enough to fix the YUV 4:4:4 issue? It invokes the handbrake CLI.