Raph-net dual N64 to USB adaptors with RetroPie

sula_rob

Hi all,

I am new to RetroPie and have just got myself up and running with a Pi 3B, mainly for old console games. I’m a big Nintendo nut, and am interested in purchasing an N64 to USB adaptor to enable use of original pads, as the PS3 pads I currently use border on unusable for Mario 64, Starfox & F-Zero X. Whoever designed Sony’s ‘analogue’ sticks should be shot in my opinion.

Anyway, I have read numerous recommendations that convince me that the ones to get are Raph-Net. Having emailed him three times now with zero response, although I feel distinctly less inclined to spend money with him, if he has the solution then I still want one. Just wondering if anyone can help me with a couple of questions I have and want to clarify on it before ordering, please. My questions relate particularly to the dual 2 player version, but any real world experience and input would be gratefully appreciated.

The main reason I want to use a proper N64 pad into the Pi is because the analogue sticks on the PS3 pads I presently use are hopeless, and almost digital (so it’s virtually impossible to make Mario walk slowly, for example). Would it be much closer to the original N64 performance where you have a huge range of analogue movement in the sticks with a Raph-net adaptor? I have read that the 8BitDo Bluetooth ones suffer from similarly poor and ‘digital’ analogue sticks, which defeats the point entirely, convenient as they would be (and not much more expensive than importing than importing one of these adaptors).
If I had just one adaptor and one N64 pad, could I play a 2 player game with one of my Bluetooth PS3 pads as well as Controller 2?
I want to run 2, maybe one day 4, pads. The dual adaptor obviously makes the most economic sense. Having read his FAQ & support section (http://www.raphnet-tech.com/support/retropie/index.php), I start to get a bit worried. Do I understand that with two pads, these work fine with RetroPie once the game is started and you press a button on the second pad? Other than initial basic configuring, is that it with two pads? I’m not overly savvy when it comes to coding, and am not particularly confident to recompile kernels or modify scripts in Linux. Might I be better with two single adaptors if they’re ‘plug & play’, or would it be fine with a twin one? Or do you read it as it's only a problem with either old versions / images or if you wanted to use two adaptors to make four ports (which I don't especially)?

Or has all this been fixed over time and these concerns are now obsolete? (once I manage to verify what kernel & version of everything I’m running)

He says: “as 2016-05-02, the kernel included in the RetroPie SD images is still one of the 4.1 series... So besides waiting, what can one do? Of course getting the kernel sources, applying the patch, compiling and installing it!” […] “Raphnet-tech products work fine with RetroPie and Linux in general. Today (the article seems to be dated some time last year) the multi-controller require a bit of configuration to get working, but this is temporary and as time passes and Linux distros update the kernel they ship to their users, extra configuration will become unnecessary.”

Thanks in advance for any thoughts and help.

Rob

muehltime

Have you gotten n64 games to run with good performance on your Pi?

sula_rob

It's variable, and I'm still working through them one by one, but yes.

I don't really want to overclock, but Mario 64, Diddy Kong Racing, Mario Kart & Starfox work pretty well. I still have the original console, so although they're not perfect, those ones are pretty decent.

Goldeneye & Perfect Dark seem to need more power to run well. Conker's Bad Fur Day is unplayable. Working on F-Zero X & Wave Race, as I've read they should work without an overclock, but aren't brilliant on mine.

Why do you ask?

Rob