Atari 2600 Joystick (Retronic Adapter) and Retropie/Stella Config??

scampa123

Could someone help me understand how to configure my 2600 Joystick with Retropie?

I have a retropie image confiigured with multiple emulators and a usb keyboard, Nintendo-like usb controller...and everything works.

I'm trying to plugin my Joystick (with the Retronic Design Adapter ), run the configure controller and attempt to configure the Joystick but since it only has one button, I'm not sure how to setup the start/select buttons. I can then use the joystick to navigate menus and select (as Button A for the fire button). So I can launch a 2600 game but am unable to start it. Again, I assume that I am missing something in the setup of a 2600 joystick. Do I need another Nintendo controller and select that for those buttons?

Can the Joystick and the Nintendo gamepad both work as a single config? (Meaning the gamepad buttons cover what the joystick doesn't)

Ideally I'd like to use my 2600 Joystick for 2600 games and the game pad for most other emulators/games..

Thank you!!

mitu

With a single button gamepad it's going to be hard to use Emulationstation, so that's why some buttons are not skippable in the input configuration menu.
What you can do is configure the 2600 joystick in the emulator inside the emulator and don't configure it in Emulationstation. If you're using a Libretro emulator (lr-stella), see here how you can configure your additional joystick in RetroArch and save the configuration as a core re-mapping override.

EDIT: now that I think of it, even if you manage to configure the joystick and make it player1 (so you can play), you'll still not be able to exit the emulator unless you have a keyboard. Hmm...

scampa123

@mitu I think I'd need to map to two different devices..

the joystick for U/D/L/R and Fire
the gamepad for the Select and Start, X, Y.....

Is that possible??

mitu

@scampa123 No, I don't think it would work with 2 gamepads configured for 1 player, at least not with RetroArch. Maybe standalone Stella has a more flexible approach to combine 2 gamepads into 1 player.

edmaul69

@mitu yes standalone stella can allow for multiple controllers as player 1. So yes you can play with real joysticks and paddles and use another controller for all the other buttons needed to start a game and set the difficulty, blah blah blah...
@scampa123 if you want to be able to use all of the atari controllers and devices in one device you should visit 2600-daptor.com

scampa123

@edmaul69 @edmaul69 Yes, I have a 2600-daptor as well. I just don't think it solves the problem I'm trying to address does it??

What if I set the stella standalone emulator in Retroipie? Would I be able to set the controls then? Sorry if that is what everyone meant, I'm just trying to piece this all together!

Thanks again

edmaul69

@scampa123 use a mouse to setup standalone stella. Will make things 1000 times easier. Pressing tab on the keyboard will bring up the menu. You can set up your controls there. Also in the controls ui section of controls, setup the exit key. If you want to use paddles setup the analog only. Do not set fire button under the paddle section. Otherwise it disables the joystick fire button. Set the player 2 paddles fire button under the player 2 joystick. If they are set to joystick fire they automatically work for the paddles. If you want to set the paddle dirction dont choose the separate + and - settings. However the 2600-daptor is automatically recognized as the paddles in stella. Just remember, when you set up your controls in stella always plug your controllers in the same usb ports every time you are going to use stella.

fdr4prez

If you are using the standalone Stella, then you can use the usb keyboard that you mentioned for the needed buttons/functions within the emulator

Exit/Quit = Escape
Select Game = F1
Reset Game = F2
Color TV = F3
Black/White TV = F4
Left Player Difficulty A = F5
Left Player Difficulty B = F6
Right Player Difficulty A = F7
Right Player Difficulty B = F8

These are the default settings of the emulator, so as long as the keyboard is connected, you are good to go

challenger2010

I use a small wireless keyboard to set things up. I also stuffed a U-hid nano from Ultimarc into a 2600 console so the switches work for navigation. I used a similar USB adapter for the controllers. I think I used Stella and not LR-Stella to make it work with paddle controllers too.

icode

Check this out and you can get even 4 Atari joysticks connected with a single USB. Works great with my Raspberry Pi 4 and emulation station. https://www.icode.com/atari-joystick-usb-adapter-design/