PS3 controller doesn't work in PS1 games

alistairgd

Pi Model or other hardware: 4, 4Gb
Power Supply used: (If using a Pi) stock
RetroPie Version Used : v4.7.1
USB Devices connected: Keyboard, USB controller, Speakers
Controller used: Wired PS3 6-Axis dualshock 3 wireless controller
Driver installed : 6axis

This controller is fully functioning in menus, and in most games I have tried, for example Amiga and Mame.

However inputs are not being recognised in PS3 games, for example Defcon 5.

I have read that early PS1 games don't recognise analogue inputs and that the controller should be configured for digital input.

However I have been unable to do this as

I cannot find the settings in retroarch
I cannot get the quick menu to open in game as the button combo on the controller does nothing.

Any help on getting this game working with a PS3 controller?

Thanks.

Crush

This post is deleted!

Crush

Assuming you mean PS1 and are using lr-pcsx_rearmed
go into the retroarch menu, move down to option and change the controller type, cause most PS1 games indeed do not use the Dualshock feature as it was introduced in the system later.
It may be confusing for PS1 to find cause the controller type is under a diffrent menu with the other emulators.

alistairgd

@crush

Hey sorry for the "PS3" typo, yep, I am trying to play PS1 games with a PS3 controller.

Can you help me confirm if my build is using lr-pcxs, I am not that familiar with this.

In Retropi if I go to the Options in the carousel, open it and select retroarch, there is no "option" - there are 11 options starting with Load Core , Load Content etc but no "options".

There is a "settings" option , but in there I cannot see any controller options - nor anywhere in any other menu options.

mitu

@alistairgd Start a PS1 game, then open the menu by pressing Hotkey + X (or Hotkey + △), then go to Controls, Port 1 and change the device type to Dualshock. Go back (using the cross button) and save the settings for the game with Save Gamep Remap. Exit the menu with the same shortcut (Hotkey + △) then test the game.

alistairgd

@mitu

Hotkey (PS button) is doing nothing in combination with any other key I press - nothing happens.

mitu

@alistairgd Are you pressing the Hotkey enabled combo after starting a game ? Are you sure you have selected PS key as the Hotkey ?

alistairgd

@mitu

Hi

To make sure, I just went back into configuration and rebound all the controller keys again, setting the PS button as the hotkey.

I launched two different PS1 games and tried all different Hotkey combos, and nothing happened.

I launched an Amiga game that works with this controller, and PS + Triangle opened the config menu.

But not is a PS game.

mitu

@alistairgd That's strange, unless you've reset your RetroArch configuration for psx, the hotkey should work. Is your PS3 gamepad set/detected as Player 2 ? Because hotkeys will only work for Player1 controller, other players don't have control over the menu.

alistairgd

@mitu said in PS3 controller doesn't work in PS1 games:

Is your PS3 gamepad set/detected as Player 2 ? Because hotkeys will only work for Player1 controller, other players don't have control over the menu.

So, here's some troubleshooting.

PS3 controller wired into USB 0. Startup Retropie, press PS on controller, and 2nd red light comes on controller.

On Mame/Amiga games:

startup message is "Sony Playstation 3 Controller configured in port #1"
Pad is detected and plays as Player 1
Controller works perfect
Quick Menu opens with PS+Triangle

On PSX games(ie Defcon 5):

Pad is non responsive
No access to Quick Menu

saccublenda

Does this happen only with the PS3 controller? If you did not do it already, disable the multitap in retroarch menu.

mitu

@saccublenda said in PS3 controller doesn't work in PS1 games:

If you did not do it already, disable the multitap in retroarch menu.

That won't work without access to the Quick Menu :).

@alistairgd can you get a log from the emulator as explained here and post it on pastebin.com ? On a Pi4, the only PS1 emulator is lr-pcsx-rearmed, so the controls should be working like in other games.

alistairgd

@saccublenda

But I can't get into quick menu to change any pad settings.

alistairgd

@mitu

Thanks - you mean this bit?

Launch with verbose logging
When launching Libretro cores (those prefixed by lr-) the Runcommand launch menu presents the option to Launch with verbose logging. This outputs more information to the log file found in /dev/shm/runcommand.log which is useful, and often necessary, when diagnosing problems. Once the game is exited, the log file can be downloaded via SFTP or viewed directly via the command line.

That's pretty much gobbledegook to me, I will need to research further to access that log and get back to you. Thanks for the pointer - I will persevere.

saccublenda

@alistairgd Can you use a keyboard?

mitu

@alistairgd said in PS3 controller doesn't work in PS1 games:

Thanks for the pointer - I will persevere.

Enable SSH and install WinSCP (if you're on Windows) to connect to your Pi. This is how you'll be able to copy that file and post it on pastebin.com.

alistairgd

@mitu

"Each time you load a ROM there is an option to open what is called the Runcommand Launch Menu. "

There is no such option appear for me at any game launch, games just load and start after selection.

"Enable SSH and install WinSCP (if you're on Windows) to connect to your Pi. This is how you'll be able to copy that file and post it on pastebin.com."

Can I do that by browsing the install using //retropie in windows filemanager? I don't see a dev folder this way. I'll try WinSCP.

Thanks.

alistairgd

@mitu

Thanks - I managed to SSH in, but the dev folder is empty.

mitu

@alistairgd You'll have to run the game first and enable verbose logging. You can connect while the game is running, the log file should be in /dev/shm/runcommand.log.

alistairgd

@mitu

I managed to activate verbose logging as follows in RetroArch from the Options menu,

Go to settings
Enter at "User Interface"
Activate "Show Advanced Settings"

Then

Back in settings
"Logging"
Activate "Log to File"
4.(optional) Customize Core & Frontend Logging Level & if you want timestamps or performance counters on your log
Activate "Logging Verbosity"

Now through SSH I can retrieve this info...

Parameters:
Executing: /opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch -L /opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-pcsx-rearmed/pcsx_rearmed_libretro.so --config /opt/retropie/configs/psx/retroarch.cfg "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/psx/Defcon 5 - Peace Has a Price (USA).PBP" --appendconfig /dev/shm/retroarch.cfg
selected sound output driver: libretro
ari64_reset

And this from the .info file

lr-pcsx-rearmed
/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/psx/Defcon 5 - Peace Has a Price (USA).PBP
/opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch -L /opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-pcsx-rearmed/pcsx_rearmed_libretro.so --config /opt/retropie/configs/psx/retroarch.cfg "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/psx/Defcon 5 - Peace Has a Price (USA).PBP"