Saving games when using a nes style controller

[blup]

How do I save games when only using a nes style controller? I don't have the shoulder buttons that I can configure so I have no key combo to set the save or other actions.

[jkman999]

I think you would have to put something like this in the config:

input_save_state_axis = "-1"
input_load_state_axis = "+1"

That would make the select/up save and select/down load. Not a lot of other options it looks like to me.

[blup]

Where can I find the config?

I only see in the config "-1" of "+1". Where do I see the config that also the select is needed?

Where are save games stored btw?

[mitu]

@blup said in Saving games when using a nes style controller:

Where can I find the config

The global RetroArch config should be in /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg. If you have a keyboard, you can also edit the RetroArch config from the RetroPie system in Emulationstation.

Where are save games stored btw?

Same folder where the ROM resides, they have a .state suffix with the ROM name as prefix.

[jkman999]

The config file is at /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch/autoconfig. Your joystick should be listed there with .cfg after the name. You need to figure out which one is for your NES controller and add the above lines to that cfg file. It should look something like this before editing.

input_device = "RetroUSB.com RetroPad"
input_driver = "udev"
input_start_btn = "3"
input_exit_emulator_btn = "3"
input_up_axis = "-1"
input_a_btn = "1"
input_b_btn = "0"
input_reset_btn = "0"
input_enable_hotkey_btn = "2"
input_down_axis = "+1"
input_right_axis = "+0"
input_state_slot_increase_axis = "+0"
input_select_btn = "2"
input_left_axis = "-0"
input_state_slot_decrease_axis = "-0"

Add those lines above to that file and save it. Then the select/up should save and select/down should load in all emulators that support it.

I am pretty sure it saves the game saves in the roms folder with the same name as the rom name.

EDIT

You answered before me mitu. Too quick. :)

You should be able to add those lines to either place and it should work for all games. I would add it to the controller config though because if you plug in a SNES controller for example, that will have it's own save and load commands. Then you would have duplicates (which is probably not a big deal but...).

[blup]

@jkman999 said in Saving games when using a nes style controller:

input_start_btn = "3"
input_exit_emulator_btn = "3"

How is it that these buttons have the same value? Select+Start is exit.

[jkman999]

@blup said in Saving games when using a nes style controller:

@jkman999 said in Saving games when using a nes style controller:

input_start_btn = "3"
input_exit_emulator_btn = "3"

How is it that these buttons have the same value? Select+Start is exit.

Because the input_exit_emulator_btn is a special hotkey. It only fires if the hotkey is pressed at the same time. Same with the input_state_slot_increase_axis, input_reset_btn and others. I have not found a full list of available hotkeys. It may just be anything that is not a regular controller key like up, down or a or b. I am not sure.

[blup]

Is it normal that my input device has that many spaces in the name?
I also see this when running: "cat /proc/bus/input/devices"

And my id's are also higher. Is that any issue?

input_device = "usb gamepad           "
input_driver = "udev"
input_start_btn = "9"
input_exit_emulator_btn = "9"
input_up_axis = "-1"
input_a_btn = "1"
input_b_btn = "0"
input_reset_btn = "0"
input_enable_hotkey_btn = "8"
input_down_axis = "+1"
input_right_axis = "+0"
input_state_slot_increase_axis = "+0"
input_select_btn = "8"
input_left_axis = "-0"
input_state_slot_decrease_axis = "-0"

[jonnykesh]

@blup Both these things are perfectly normal. That's just how the controller is named. Each controller can have slighter different values for different buttons.

[blup]

Ok. I understand. Thx for the help.