N64 controller recommendations

Crush

Hey all, don't get cheap no name brand N64 controllers 😂 I got a few and the d-pad and the joystick both send the same signal, so depending on how you bind your controller you're always gonna have either 2 d-pads or 2 joysticks, never 1 of each.

Does anyone know a usb N64 controller that actually does do what it is supposed to do?
I know about the weirdly shaped N64 tribute pad by Retro-bit, but that's really not what I'm looking for.

hawkes_84

@crush I too am on the look out for one of these with no luck. I still use a ps4 pad since they seem to work the best. Until RetroFighters make their new Brawler for PC/Raspberry Pi they're really isn't much choice out there from what I've seen

billymild

@crush I just bought 2 off of Amazon. I will report back my findings. The people on the facebook group for RetroPie seemed overall happy with them.

nitrogen_widget

@billymild I bought these last yr.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WRTJQDX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

have had no issues with them so far.
my kids play it more than i do and if there was an issue with say Mario 64 i can promise i would of heard complaints because the reason i bought them was because they complained about no good "Z" button on the ps3/xbox controllers i had them try.

Crush

I don't think super Mario uses the D-Pad.
I think the problem with these No-Name N64 controllers is that they are just all from the same manufacturer that uses whatever boards they have available, so if it doesn't support an analog, they just wire the stick together with the D-pad, so its a gamble everytime you buy one since they all look identical on the outside.

billymild

@crush said in N64 controller recommendations:

I don't think super Mario uses the D-Pad.
I think the problem with these No-Name N64 controllers is that they are just all from the same manufacturer that uses whatever boards they have available, so if it doesn't support an analog, they just wire the stick together with the D-pad, so its a gamble everytime you buy one since they all look identical on the outside.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08HCPDGT3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I bought these. The D Pad is differen't than the Joystick for sure. The issue I keep having is the lack of a SELECT button to use as a hotkey. Then when you find out a button that isn't used much and use that as a hotkey it becomes a pain in games. Especially when you need to do button combos.

I'm really struggling with this hotkey fiasco. I plug in a second controller and that wants to be Port 1 for some reason.

For N64 emulation I can't exit unless I unplug the controller and plug in a 360/XBONE controller with the right hotkey's to exit out.

Crush

@billymild
For controllers that don't have enough buttons like my flightstick and N64 i just use my keyboard, i really suggest one of these tiny things, they're perfect for retropie and Kodi. Ebay link | Amazon link

billymild

@crush ho does that work? I have a keyboard plugged in, but it doesn't seem to recognize any of the key inputs. What do you use to back out to the menu to do save state, or load state, etc?

I saw that retroarch would allow holding START button for 2 seconds, this would bring up the Menu. It doesn't seem to hold that setting.

Crush

@billymild said in N64 controller recommendations:

saw

I mapped F1 as Start and F2 as select and have select as hotkey on keyboard so i press F1 and F2 to exit
Did you map the keyboard in ES?

billymild

@crush

Such a simple concept, but no I didn't do this. This did work once mapped through Emulation Station.

The weird part is why doesn't my second controller have the ability to quit? I have N64 controller hooked up and a XBONE controller as well. It has all keys mapped out. It seems as though only the Port 1 controller can use HotKeys minus the keyboard.

I

Crush

@billymild said in N64 controller recommendations:

It seems as though only the Port 1 controller can use HotKeys minus the keyboard.

This is correct, though i think you can actually change it, i noticed it when i added volume to hotkeys.
If you open the retroarch menu, then back out of the quick menu into the main menu, select settings > input > hotkeys i think you can assign player 2 buttons there as well.
I can't check it right now.

themazingness

I don't have it yet, but I was planning on getting the Vilros controller since Raspberry Pi products are their business. It comes in a pack with other controllers. If any of you try it, I'm curious to know how it works:

https://www.amazon.com/Vilros-Controller-Nintendo-Playstation-Raspberry/dp/B07GRCDG8J/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=vilros%2Bcontrollers&qid=1613986293&sr=8-1&th=1

billymild

@themazingness said in N64 controller recommendations:

I don't have it yet, but I was planning on getting the Vilros controller since Raspberry Pi products are their business. It comes in a pack with other controllers. If any of you try it, I'm curious to know how it works:

https://www.amazon.com/Vilros-Controller-Nintendo-Playstation-Raspberry/dp/B07GRCDG8J/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=vilros%2Bcontrollers&qid=1613986293&sr=8-1&th=1

I looked at this package for a few days, then decided on getting a pair of N64 controllers above.

I really want a wireless Sega remote and wireless N64 controller.

Crush

@billymild said in N64 controller recommendations:

I really want a wireless Sega remote and wireless N64 controller.

I can definitely recommend the official SEGA controllers, i got the 2.4 GHz edition and I'm definitely getting a second one, although probably Bluetooth, just to make it easier for me to switch from my rpi4b to my rp0w which i have on a crt tv

@themazingness said in N64 controller recommendations:

I don't have it yet, but I was planning on getting the Vilros controller since Raspberry Pi products are their business. It comes in a pack with other controllers. If any of you try it, I'm curious to know how it works:

https://www.amazon.com/Vilros-Controller-Nintendo-Playstation-Raspberry/dp/B07GRCDG8J/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=vilros%2Bcontrollers&qid=1613986293&sr=8-1&th=1

This looks like a decent set for the price, and even the sega one looks of good quality.
Maybe i can find a set on Ebay, considering this one ships to my location for another $30 ontop of the price 😂
[Edit] i just notice the sega controllers in that set do not have a select or home button. the wireless SEGA controllers from retrobit do have those, plus shoulder buttons.

themazingness

@crush Yeah, I think Vilros was going for the original 6 button layout rather than the extra features Retro-bit did. The Retro-bit controllers are admittedly a nicer option as far as Genesis goes.

I think I'd prefer my 8bitDo SN30 pro for SNES and Playstation. But I plan to get this set for the NES and N64 options, and the rest can be used as controllers by friends/family. I've yet to decide what I want to do for Sega, but I may just get this one and get the Retro-bit when I have the luxury of extra game budget.