Recommended Controller for the 400?

StephenJ01

Hello,
I'm a new owner of the Raspberry Pi 400 and I'd like to know if there is a recommendation for a controller (PS2 style) that has proven to be trouble-free when used with the 400 and RetroPie.
I was going buy a Logitech, but I thought I'd better check here first.

Thanks,
Stephen

MajorOCD

@stephenj01
I have a Logitech Dual Action and it works quite well.
I have also tried 3rd party (generic) PS2 controllers (with adaptors) and they work well.
The buttons are not sensitive enough on the generic PS2 controllers, but that is the fault of the controllers, not the Pi 400.
I would suspect that PS3 controllers would be best since they are USB and don't need adaptors. I haven't been able to find any Sony brand PS3 controllers that aren't super expensive. Apparently, they are hard to find, so anyone who has them is overcharging.

StephenJ01

Thanks majorocd

MajorOCD

@stephenj01
I also have Sony PS4 wireless controllers.
I just tried one with the charging cable and it works as a wired controller.
I have a generic USB Bluetooth adaptor and I was able to pair it to the other controller.
It works just as good.

MortalWombat

@stephenj01 @MajorOCD hello all, hope I'm not necro-posting by chiming in here. I too have been using a Logitech as well-- F310-- and have been pretty happy with it for the most part (granted, I suspect one of the directional pads may be off slightly, since the target doesn't seem to stay still while trying to calibrate shooting games). I have kinda been looking to invest in other, similar controllers though, and hopefully wireless ones (since I'm ultimately hoping to get my Pi4 capable of playing some classic 4-player arcade games-- TMNT, Simpsons, Gauntlet, X-Men etc-- and unless there are any good USB splitters available realize that I likely can't have 3+ controllers AND my keyboard plugged in at the same time).

That said, if you have any wireless, Playstation 2-like controller recommendations, I'd love to hear them... ideally if they have at least 2 directional controls to play 2-joystick games (like Smash TV, Robotron etc), L/R buttons for shooting games where you need to rotate (like Ikari Warriors, Time Soldiers & Midnight Resistance), and 3 central buttons so I can use the Quickkeys/a pause function... all of which does kinda narrow down my options a bit. :/

Question though: am I to understand that most of the wireless controllers actually require some kind of USB device/dongle to be connected to the one of the Pi's USB ports, in order for the system/Bluetooth to recognize it?? Because most of the controllers I'm seeing on Amazon that fit those kinda narrow criteria show a USB device(??).

Just don't know if that's a separate device you need to have plugged in to get them to work, or if that's for a detachable cord in case you actually want to plug them in...

Thanks!!

sleve_mcdichael

@mortalwombat said in Recommended Controller for the 400?:

Question though: am I to understand that most of the wireless controllers actually require some kind of USB device/dongle to be connected to the one of the Pi's USB ports, in order for the system/Bluetooth to recognize it??

I think that's the difference between a "wireless" controller and a "Bluetooth" one. A wireless controller requires a receiver dongle, which the computer sees input coming from the dongle as just another USB device, whereas a bluetooth controller communicates directly with the computer's Bluetooth interface. (I've read that BT on the Pi is not of the highest caliber, and even BT controllers can benefit from an external dongle, but it's not absolutely required in this case, just recommended.)

claudiomet

Any 8bitdo works fine, all are fully and widely supported.

Aditionally, I have two of this (wired)
https://es.aliexpress.com/item/32853082939.html
And works with no problems

I have this bluetooth too and no problems
https://es.aliexpress.com/item/32923728100.html

MortalWombat

@sleve_mcdichael really appreciate that clarification, and the info about the difficulties w/ Bluetooth; while it seems likely that one may have to unplug their keyboard while they're playing a 4-player game, I'd like to avoid having to do so if at all possible... so that means that either getting a bluetooth controller (and dealing with the risks) OR buying a splitter to connect a wireless dongle-- and I don't even know if splitters work with the Pi-- would be the best bet.

Complicating things further is that I'm really just not seeing any decent PS2-like bluetooth controllers, on Amazon at least (I know the other guy posted a link for one option, but it looks a bit bulky and the site's mainly in another language, which could certainly/unnecessarily complicate things if there are any returns/warranty-type issues...).

Seems the search continues...

sleve_mcdichael

@mortalwombat said in Recommended Controller for the 400?:

it seems likely that one may have to unplug their keyboard while they're playing a 4-player game (...) OR buying a splitter to connect a wireless dongle-- and I don't even know if splitters work with the Pi-- would be the best bet.

I use a splitter plugged into 10-foot extension cable to connect 2 gamepads or a gamepad + keyboard from across the room.

MortalWombat

@sleve_mcdichael thank you; damn, kinda wish I'd seen this helpful reply of yours before I just created my now seemingly-gratuitous post, heh.

So yeah, being able to use a darn splitter/hub (whether or not that requires frickin' dongles) definitely would open up the possibilities of what types of controllers I can get/may need, in the probably RARE occasions where I might be entertaining 4+ people on the Pi (and playing a 4-player game).

Added to that, I'd imagine that for MOST of these 4-player games (like TMNT, Simpsons, Gauntlet, or even X-Men), you can likely just use a simple SNES or even Genesis-type controller... if I recall, most of those games had like 3 buttons maximum (attack, jump, and in X-Men's case, special attack). It's not like XBox games work on the Pi yet, so I don't see myself being able to play a 4-player game like Halo anytime soon... (unless there are any really awesome 4-player games for the PS1 I'm overlooking...??)

Also, I know I mentioned wanting PS2-type controllers (with the secondary controls) for 2-joystick games like Smash TV, Robotron, Midnight Resistance etc, but pretty much all of those games are just 2-player games, so you wouldn't ever need to have 4 wireless or bluetooth PS2-type controllers that work at the same time anyway. :/

windg

I have a Logitech F310 and F710 and both are working fine with Pi400, Pi4, Pi3B+ .

Emulatre71

@stephenj01 Im a fan of the Logitech F310 its reliable, a bit sturdy, has X-input and D-input toggle and works well out of the box. Even works well for gaming on PC and Linux. I prefer wired controllers and there's also the 8Bitdo SN30 pro, but its a bit small for my hands.

MortalWombat

@emulatre71 @windg thanks for chiming in, yeah I actually do already have the F310 and am a fan for the most part (I did find the fact that you couldn't seem to program the Mode button on Retropie a bit disappointing, but that was before I knew that the Logitech logo was itself another button).

That F710 is a bit more expensive but I may look into that if I want a PS2-style wireless controller. Bluetooth would be ideal, but if indeed the Pi has issues with bluetooth devices I may just have to either get a USB hub (although I've heard that there can be issues powering them/that one might need to get one w/ an external power source, which could be kinda a hassle) and plug the 4th controller's dongle into that, or simply have to unplug the keyboard if we're playing a 4-player+ game.