Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings

[Riverstorm]

@mediamogul - Let me do some more "studying" here. Ok I wasn't sure if that was a comprehensive list or most of the 4 way games in mame2003 only or all emulators supported in RetroPie or just what you've come across? I sorted them alphabetically below if you have any use for it.

My goal is pretty simply and that's to improve 4-way games for a better play experience on the vanilla XBOX 360 controller. Sometimes I have 1 plugged in, maybe 2 and occasionally all 4. Rarely 3 for maybe say Xenophobe.

How simple may I go?

1. Load the driver
2. Configure my controller through ES
3. Create the runcommand-start checking ROMNAME but add only --four-way-restrictor

Would this work in the Arcade folder with no emulator specified in the 'if' statement?

I don't need to do any type of cleanup on game exit?

It might be a bad habit but I spend all my time in planning before doing anything and usually (hopefully) very little in actual implementation.

I see the value in having complete and granular autonomy on each mapping for precision configuration. Plus I love the ScummVM example but just getting something simple in place to start would be great and maybe someday it will be a standard. I almost feel 4-way restriction on the correct games is a must long term, especially if the implementation is easy and straight forward.

I know the day I started this and I posted a question at you because I had this guide up for weeks in a TAB waiting to get around to it. I saw Robert created a new issue with Plus and I thought perfect timing! I wasn't sure if it was coincidence or he was watching the forums and the post prompted some idea or motivation.

Anyway I think @grant2258 has nailed something good in Mame2003-Plus. With a few lines of code he added 2 new options in the RA settings (Quick Menu/Options/last option in the list) for 4-way games 'XOR' and 'Last Pressed' that seem to be working pretty well. I think they plan to make it standard for a good 4-way game experience out of the box but want to do more testing with it first. If you or anyone have it loaded you probably have a good feel for certain games you play often or any feedback for improvement can be posted here.

40love.zip
alibaba.zip
alphaho.zip
amidar.zip
anteater.zip
armorcar.zip
armwrest.zip
astinvad.zip
astrob.zip
astrof.zip
atetris.zip
bagman.zip
ballbomb.zip
barrier.zip
blasto.zip
blkhole.zip
blockade.zip
btime.zip
carjmbre.zip
carnival.zip
cavelon.zip
chameleo.zip
checkman.zip
chinhero.zip
circusc.zip
ckong.zip
commando.zip
comotion.zip
copsnrob.zip
cosmicg.zip
cosmos.zip
crash.zip
crush.zip
dazzler.zip
devilfsh.zip
diamond.zip
digdug.zip
digdug2.zip
digger.zip
disco.zip
dkong.zip
dkong3.zip
dkongjr.zip
docastle.zip
dominos.zip
dommy.zip
dorodon.zip
dorunrun.zip
dowild.zip
dremshpr.zip
drgnbstr.zip
drmicro.zip
elecyoy2.zip
elecyoyo.zip
elvactr.zip
eyes.zip
firetrap.zip
frogger.zip
galaga.zip
galaxian.zip
galpanic.zip
galxwars.zip
gundealr.zip
guzzler.zip
hardhat.zip
headon.zip
headon2.zip
heiankyo.zip
hexa.zip
higemaru.zip
hustle.zip
intrepid.zip
invadpt2.zip
invinco.zip
invrvnge.zip
ironhors.zip
jjack.zip
joust2.zip
jrpacman.zip
jumpcoas.zip
jungler.zip
karianx.zip
kchamp.zip
kchampvs.zip
kicker.zip
kikcubic.zip
kingball.zip
kungfum.zip
ladybug.zip
lasso.zip
levers.zip
lnc.zip
locomotn.zip
logger.zip
logicpr2.zip
logicpro.zip
lrescue.zip
lupin3.zip
lvgirl94.zip
mappy.zip
marvins.zip
mikie.zip
mineswpr.zip
mmonkey.zip
monsterb.zip
moonal2.zip
moonqsr.zip
mrdo.zip
mrflea.zip
mrgoemon.zip
mrjong.zip
mrtnt.zip
msjiken.zip
mspacman.zip
mspacmnf.zip
mtrap.zip
mystston.zip
natodef.zip
naughtyb.zip
ncv2.zip
netwars.zip
nrallyx.zip
olibochu.zip
ozmawars.zip
pacman.zip
pacnchmp.zip
pacnpal.zip
pacplus.zip
pairs.zip
panic.zip
pengo.zip
pepper2.zip
perestro.zip
pettanp.zip
pickin.zip
pignewt.zip
pisces.zip
pleiads.zip
pooyan.zip
popeye.zip
popflame.zip
puckman.zip
pulsar.zip
punchout.zip
qix.zip
radarscp.zip
raiders5.zip
rallyx.zip
rampage.zip
rbtapper.zip
redufo.zip
reikaids.zip
retofinv.zip
robby.zip
rocnrope.zip
route16.zip
rthunder.zip
samurai.zip
sbagman.zip
schaser.zip
scregg.zip
shollow.zip
sia2650.zip
sidetrac.zip
sindbadm.zip
solarfox.zip
sonofphx.zip
spaceinv.zip
spacezap.zip
spclaser.zip
spectar.zip
spnchout.zip
springer.zip
ssi.zip
stratvox.zip
streakng.zip
superpac.zip
superqix.zip
swat.zip
tactcian.zip
tankbatt.zip
tapper.zip
targ.zip
taxidrvr.zip
telmahjn.zip
theend.zip
theglob.zip
thief.zip
timber.zip
timelimt.zip
todruaga.zip
tomahawk.zip
toypop.zip
tranqgun.zip
triplep.zip
tsamurai.zip
tutankhm.zip
vanvan.zip
volfied.zip
vsgongf.zip
warpwarp.zip
wiping.zip
wndrmomo.zip
wwjgtin.zip
yamyam.zip
zerozone.zip
zigzag.zip
zookeep.zip
zzyzzyxx.zip

[Riverstorm]

@mediamogul - Thanks for all the help and advice working on this, I really appreciate it. I'll let you know how things go.

[mediamogul]

@riverstorm said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

Sorry, I somehow missed your last reply

Load the driver
Configure my controller through ES
Create the runcommand-start checking ROMNAME but add only --four-way-restrictor

All that is correct. You'll still need to make a basic map from your controller to the virtual xboxdrv controller, but the only fancy thing you'd add is the 4-way restriction.

Would this work in the Arcade folder with no emulator specified in the 'if' statement?

If you specify that the xboxdrv command be launched with the arcade system criteria it would. For example:

if [ "$ROMNAME" = "pacman.zip" ] && [ "$1" = "arcade" ]; then

An example of using the emulator as the criteria would look like:

if [ "$ROMNAME" = "pacman.zip" ] && [ "$2" = "advmame" ]; then

I don't need to do any type of cleanup on game exit?

Yes, it's actually covered in the guide at some point that you'd need to add something to the tune of:

sudo killall >>/dev/shm/runcommand.log xboxdrv

Plus I love the ScummVM example but just getting something simple in place to start would be great and maybe someday it will be a standard.

Originally, I used ScummVM as the main example because of the stuttery joystick support it had not too long ago. However, it's native support is very smooth now. Still, it's nice to add other things like matching the same button combinations to quit that you use in RetroArch for example. I run 32 different systems and many different ports and it really is great to have the same button combinations for all of them to quit, pause, take a screenshot and bring up the options menu.

Anyway I think @grant2258 has nailed something good in Mame2003-Plus.

I've been following that. It's a great addition. I've been meaning to test it, but I just can't seem to fit enough hours in the day lately.

Thanks for all the help and advice working on this, I really appreciate it.

It's never a probelm. If you decide to put any of this to practice, I think you'll find that it can come together fairly well once you start going through the steps. Something like this in theory leads to an endless amount of what ifs.

[Riverstorm]

@mediamogul - You're great, your documentation and advice are the only thing that's making it possible for me to add this amazing feature and I appreciate the help tremendously. I just figured you were busy and it's a good spot for me to pause for a moment too.

I know what you mean about not enough hours in the day. I took a vacation day yesterday to go home and work. How's that for the American dream. ;) I hope to continue working on things this weekend. I also need to replace two electrical outlets and two light switches as the wife is hard on that stuff. I don't what she does but it looks like she has WWE Smackdown's with this stuff or something when I am gone.

Here in the fall stores like Lowes, Home Depot and Menards are packed as everyone is scrambling with fall projects before winter. Once winter hits it's way to cold for paint, caulk, water, anything will freeze, crack, peel, etc. as it's well below freezing most days and things can't set and seal. Last night we hit 34F...burrr...I had to pull the plants into the garage due to frost advisories. I will still work outside in a light jacket in November doing little things but all big projects are off the table until next spring that late in the season. I am just a cold weather person vs. heat.

If you do get a chance to test the changes Grant made to the code for 4-way games I would love to hear your thoughts on how it feels vs. managing it through the xboxdrv driver. It's pretty straight forward as the ROM sets are mostly the same and you can dump them in either arcade or mame-libretro (whichever one you don't use or both) for a quick test. No configuration just a quick setting change under Quick Menu/Options near the bottom. I've tested some of the classics and it feels pretty good to me.

Even if it's perfect there's still going to be a big need for the xboxdrv way because it's only one core vs. a whole lot. You run 32, I think I am around 10 cores, mainly MAME, Nintendo and Atari. How many cores total does RetroPie support. I see the list in the docs but never counted all of them.

You're right, I just need to get in there and some of these questions will be answered as I work through it. I will let you know how things go once I get few straight hours of leisure time to sit down and dig in as 5 minutes here and there is probably not going to cut it the first time through.

I think it's a work habit. I pre-configure switches, routers, firewalls, etc. and then I create very short maintenance windows to flip over to the new equipment. It also doesn't hurt to pull a Scotty. "I need 30 minutes, captain!" and pull it off in 15 but my boss is incredibly technical for being a director so that doesn't always work. We are replacing about 1/3 of our switches this year and that includes some critical functions like Metro Communications (911). I'll let you know which day to not have an emergency! ;)

[mediamogul]

@riverstorm said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

I took a vacation day yesterday to go home and work. How's that for the American dream.

Oh man! I know that movie. I had a plumber come in to install a second water heater not too long ago and the guy made a real mess of things. When the fit hit the shan I had to take a day off to fix the situation myself. The whole point of calling someone in the first place was to keep it off my plate. As Charlie Brown said so eloquently time and time again; ugh!

If you do get a chance to test the changes Grant made to the code for 4-way games I would love to hear your thoughts on how it feels vs. managing it through the xboxdrv driver.

Certainly. At the moment, it's only available in lr-mame2003-plus right? As long as there aren't any dropouts between the restricted directions I'm sure it'll do the job well.

It also doesn't hurt to pull a Scotty. "I need 30 minutes, captain!" and pull it off in 15

How else does one maintain a reputation as a miracle worker? ;)

[Riverstorm]

@mediamogul said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

At the moment, it's only available in lr-mame2003-plus right?

Yeah it's only in Plus currently. I don't think it's to many lines of code and maybe it'd be possible to port it to the other cores. After testing it's been whittled down to one option, "Last Pressed".

The basic theory is the character will travel in the same direction until a new direction is established ignoring diagonals. So if you're traveling right you will continue right until say you press up.

Basically like a 4-way acrade joystick is how he coded it. You travel in one direction until a new direction is set.

When I look at my restrictor plate on a real arcade joystick it's a diamond shape so it will naturally "lock" direction into one of the 4 diamond tips. A controller has a bit of play since the "restrictor plate" is a circle so I think there's still room for error compared to a true arcade stick.

It feels real good but I would be curious how it compares to the xboxdrv driver restriction. Regardless I think his code could be a benefit to all the Libretro MAME cores, it requires no configuration and works out of box for a better experience. That's just a win-win.

I hear you on "contractors". I don't mean to sound cynical but I trust very few. My Dad when he was alive was through and through a DIY guy so I came by it honest but there's still a few things I am not comfortable with.

I'll change electrical outlets, switches, 3-way, 4-way, install new outlets and run them back to the fuse box, etc. but I am just not comfortable working inside the actual fuse box. Everything else I'll give it shot and I am pretty comfortable but like you there's some things I'll just pay for to be done with it sometimes.

The last big mess I had from a contractor was a radon system that started falling apart a few years after installation. He didn't use primer with the glue on PVC. I called him and we had a nice discussion on the merits of a $3 can of primer. It took a weekend but I had to build a new run from my basement, through the basement wall, up the garage wall (for legal reasons it can't be in the house), through the garage attic and out through the roof.

Just for fun a few weeks back I ran some LED strip lighting under the length of kitchen cabinets. It turned out really nice and looks great especially in the evenings set on low. I think it'll be fun for social gatherings.

Anyway I am pretty grateful and happy as I believe maintenance costs in a home are still cheaper than letting it completely fall apart and then replace it and it's not the "The Money Pit". I throw out those movie/TV references because none of them are lost on you. ;)

[mediamogul]

@riverstorm said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

It feels real good but I would be curious how it compares to the xboxdrv driver restriction.

I'm hoping to try it out this evening alongside 'Donkey Kong' for this weeks MAME ROW. Without good 4-way restriction, Mario just loses interest half way up the ladders, when you can get him to climb at all.

it's not the "The Money Pit". I throw out those movie/TV references because none of them are lost on you. ;)

Ha! Well done sir. That has to hold the record for the most obscure 80s comedy reference on this site. I used to rent that quite a bit back in the day. I always felt like it was half-way educating me to future home life. Along with 'The Volunteers', I personally believe it's Tom Hanks' most underrated comedic movie. I'd even go so far as to say it's Shelly Long's best, although 'Don't Tell Her it's Me' is so bad it almost doubles around to being good again.

[Riverstorm]

@mediamogul - lol...and there short ladders too! If you ever write a book I imagine it would be a real hoot to read. Mario making it to the top of the ladder with The Money Pit playing in the background. Sounds like a pretty good evening for me. The club scene has pretty much all but played out for me long ago. Now I am just waiting for my nieces and nephews to be "initiated" into the 21 club and my work is done. Oh the horror stories of those early drinking days at a club. ;) My oldest was there a long time ago and my youngest has a ways to go.

[mediamogul]

@riverstorm

[PMac10000]

@spud11 Lots of great info here. I am close to achieving my simple goal, which is to restrict my 2x"Dragonrise USB" cabinet sticks to 4-way operation when playing an old-school 4-way arcade game, using the xboxdrv method described. I am attempting a version of spud11's runcommand-onstart.sh script, but the games do not accept any input from the controllers upon launching the emulators... I must be missing something basic.

To troubleshoot, I can run the simplified script below to attempt to drive Player1's controls with xboxdrv (instead of the recognized DragonRise controller). The script runs successfully and tells me that my XBox/XBox360 controller should now be available at:
/dev/input/js3
/dev/input/event7

Then, in emulationstation I can now "configure input" using the newly detected third Gamepad (called "Player_1_-_4-Way_Joystick_xboxdrv" as expected) and map the Player 1 D-pad and buttons to it, as I did before with the DragonRise inputs.

However, upon launching (let's say) Donkey Kong from emulationstation, I see the "DragonRise" controller notification and upon controlling Mario, I still have the usual ladder problems.

I feel like I'm close, but I must be missing something simple. Sorry if I revived a thread that's too old! Thanks in advance.

#!/bin/sh
sudo /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv \
 --evdev /dev/input/by-path/platform-3f980000.usb-usb-0:1.1.2:1.0-event-joystick \
 --silent \
 --detach-kernel-driver \
 --deadzone=4000 \
 --deadzone-trigger 15% \
 --force-feedback \
 --mimic-xpad \
 --trigger-as-button \
 --ui-buttonmap lb=void,rb=void,tl=void,tr=void,guide=void,lt=void,rt=void \
 --device-name "Player_1_-_4-Way_Joystick_xboxdrv" \
 --evdev-absmap ABS_X=x1,ABS_Y=y1 \
 --four-way-restrictor \
 --evdev-keymap BTN_THUMB=y,BTN_PINKIE=a,BTN_TOP2=b,BTN_TOP=rb,BTN_TRIGGER=x,BTN_THUMB2=lb,BTN_BASE2=back,BTN_BASE=start,BTN_BASE3=lt \
&

[mediamogul]

@PMac10000 said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

However, upon launching (let's say) Donkey Kong from emulationstation, I see the "DragonRise" controller notification and upon controlling Mario, I still have the usual ladder problems.

When using xboxdrv, second virtual controller is created that is mapped to your actual controller. However, the listing for the original controller still exists. It could be that you just need to set 'Player_1_-_4-Way_Joystick_xboxdrv' as the default player one controller.

[PMac10000]

@mediamogul said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

When using xboxdrv, second virtual controller is created that is mapped to your actual controller. However, the listing for the original controller still exists. It could be that you just need to set 'Player_1_-_4-Way_Joystick_xboxdrv' as the default player one controller.

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but where do I set that default? Emulationstation? Xboxdrv parameter? Mame parameter? Retroarch? To a noob like me, It often seems like there are too many bases to cover... thanks.

[mediamogul]

@PMac10000 said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

It often seems like there are too many bases to cover.

Not a problem. It can be overwhelming for sure. To test, you can first launch 'Donkey Kong' and invoke the RetroArch menu with 'Hotkey+X'. This should put you in the quick menu. Pressing 'B' will take you one menu back. From there, move to the next menu listing to the right named 'Settings' and navigate down to 'Input'. Inside there, you should see a listing for the player one controls and the current input device can be set accordingly. You can then return to 'Donkey Kong' with 'Hotkey+X' and test to see if the ladders are now more manageable.

If it worked, you can set the controller as the default from the 'Configuration Editor', located in the RetroPie menu of Emulation Station. That should do the job, but if not, there's also @meleu's 'RetroPie-joystick-selection' tool. Information on its installation and use can be found here.

[spud11]

@PMac10000 @mediamogul Also, I found it best to map MAME to keys (ie use Tab in game and change input), then map RetroArch to the same keys and do the same in xboxdrv.

I've got 4 Dragonrise joysticks working well in this fashion, both in 4 way and 8 way configurations, both cocktail and "normal" modes.

[mediamogul]

@spud11 said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

Also, I found it best to map MAME to keys (ie use Tab in game and change input), then map RetroArch to the same keys and do the same in xboxdrv.

Very good advice. I do the same and haven't had any issues.

[spud11]

@mediamogul Yes, it was your advice to me 2 years ago! Best advice ever as you don't have to worry about joystick axes, changing joystick indexes and the like.

[mediamogul]

@spud11 said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

Yes, it was your advice to me 2 years ago! Best advice ever...

I'm glad it worked out. I also advised someone else to invest heavily in GameStop two years ago and now he has to use wadded up newspaper as shoes. Still, you win some and lose some.

[PMac10000]

@spud11 said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

@PMac10000 @mediamogul Also, I found it best to map MAME to keys (ie use Tab in game and change input), then map RetroArch to the same keys and do the same in xboxdrv.

I've got 4 Dragonrise joysticks working well in this fashion, both in 4 way and 8 way configurations, both cocktail and "normal" modes.

So to sum up, I think you're advising that I need to map individual game inputs anyway. There's no "magic wand" that's just going to launch 4-way games with an xboxdrv 4-way joystick, without additional intervention and configuration on my part.

That's OK if so. I think I will just launch xboxdrv 4-way in rc.local (not customizing the runcommand-onstart at all), and map 4-way games within the MAME menu to the "Retropad 3" inputs, which is the xboxdrv virtual 4-way pad. Does this sound like a good approach?

One potential glitch... I am noticing that in my setup, the Mame TAB menu does not always appear in all games. For example, it works in Donkey Kong and Defender, but not in Pac-Man or Ms Pac-Man. Any ideas? Thanks.

[mediamogul]

@PMac10000 said in Guide: Advanced Controller Mappings:

Does this sound like a good approach?

Sounds like it could work.

One potential glitch... I am noticing that in my setup, the Mame TAB menu does not always appear in all games. For example, it works in Donkey Kong and Defender, but not in Pac-Man or Ms Pac-Man. Any ideas?

Are you sure that you're using the same emulator between all the games?

[spud11]

@PMac10000 In MAME's tab menu, you can set the keys via Input (General), effectively operating for every game.

With xboxdrv, in my runcommand-onstart, I've got a full list of every 4 way game (about 200). I'll copy the relevant code a bit later for you. The relevant 4 way xboxdrv code is invoked automatically when I start one of these games

This means you don't need to make individualised controls for every 4 way game.