Issue with 8Bitdo wireless pad sending quit or pause commands if used in conjunction with other wired pads

footwo

Hello retro gamers

So I have this strange issue that I can't track down. I have on of the NES30 Pro wireless 8bitdo pads. It works great, as long as it's a singleplayer game.

As soon as I try multiplayer on a game, and I've noticed this on Megadrive games and MAME so it is not core specific, the game can and will:

randomly quit (as if something is sending the START+SELECT quit command)
pause / unpause
some other undesired effect

This ONLY happens when the NES30 is in play with another pad being connected. I've seen it happen when in combo with ps3 controllers and the iBuffalo.

I haven't tested with 2 wireless pads as I'm a bit skint so need to wait until I can get a second. I'm using the pi3's built in bluetooth and have checked my retroarch configs meticulously, I can't see anything in there that would be causing this.

Has anyone else experienced this and if so is there a fix or workaround?

Thanks in advance for any tips.

footwo

bump, anyone else seeing this?

its driving me mad. Thought at first it might be down to bluetooth interference from other devices nearby but I really don't think that's the problem. It feels like a configuration error but as far as I can tell I've done everything correctly.

Floob

You could post your /all/retroarch.cfg, system specific retroarch.cfg and controller file up on pastebin.com and we could see if there is anything obvious.

footwo

Thanks for responding Floob.

OK so after further testing, it seems to be an issue when using PS3 controllers wired in conjunction with 8bitdo wireless. I tested with the iBuffalo, 8Bitdo and PS3 controllers.

The easiest way to repro is on Golden Axe on the megadrive. If I play 2 players and make my way to the first pair of big enemies, I'll experience random pausing as long as I've got a 'bad' combo of controllers as shown below. Other systems are affected however, in MAME it tends to just quit the game rather than pausing.

It's an odd issue because it behaves as follows:

8Bitdo and iBuffalo = fine
8Bitdo and wired ps3 pad = bad
8Bitdo and wireless ps3 pad = fine

Maybe when the PS3 pad is wired and not properly synced up, it sends out random signals over bluetooth or something. When it was matched up with the pi over bluetooth, the LEDs actually changed to the player 2 light as you would expect when the pad is properly synced. Rebooting caused a fuckup with the combination of 8bitdo + ps3 via bluetooth, but that's a separate issue.

My config files are below, I really don't see anything wrong with them. I'm putting this down to a bluetooth interference problem.

http://pastebin.com/XqqPQQJC - /all/retroarch.cfg
http://pastebin.com/tNfj1B2J - controller configs
http://pastebin.com/Vun87XQt - example system retroarch.cfg (megadrive)

Floob

There are known conflicts with the bluetooth stack and PS3 bluetooth, see Buzz comment here:
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/265/bluetooth-with-ps3-sixaxis-still-not-connecting/7

I'm pretty sure its still the case that there are issues to be expected if you use PS3 bluetooth as well as the standard bluetooth.

footwo

@Floob said in Issue with 8Bitdo wireless pad sending quit or pause commands if used in conjunction with other wired pads:

case that there are issues to be expected if you use PS3 bluetooth as well as the standard

When you say standard bluetooth you mean the onboard one? That's what I'm using so this makes sense. It work's great with the 8Bitdo but as soon as theres a ps3 (wired) in the mix it goes loopy. I didn't experience issues with the ps3 properly wireless though, which is odd. Might have just got lucky.

Is it not advised to use the onboard bluetooth even with other things like the 8bitdo pad? Or is this mainly just a problem with ps3?

Floob

Its mroe that the PS3 has a custom way of dealing with BT, not to do with the hardware.
See:
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/2268/trouble-pairing-my-ps3-controllers/3
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/2158/ps3-not-connecting-to-retropie-raspberry-pi-3
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/1905/retropie-3-8-bluetooth-configure-issue/24
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/265/bluetooth-with-ps3-sixaxis-still-not-connecting

footwo

@Floob Thanks, looks like PS3 BT is just not worth the hassle.

Which unfortunately means I'm going to have to just go ahead and buy that shiny new FC30 Pro that I was trying to resist.

Oh what a shame! ;)

I'm hoping 8bitdo pads mix well with each over. I would get another NES30 PRO but the Famicom styled one is just too lush.

Floob

Thats the route I ended up taking. You wont regret it :)
Yes, I mix and match 8bitdo controllers, its fine.

You might want to check these as well...

M0nKeY

This is still an issue. I use wired mayflash arcade sticks and when used in conjunction with an 8Bitdo controller the emulators always randomly exit. The ps3 bluetooth driver package was never installed. I use 4 of these arcade sticks and unplugging all of them every time i want to play a game with a pad is not an optimal solution.

(decent budget sticks btw, they accept sanwa parts and are like $54 on amazon)
http://www.mayflash.com/Products/XBOXXBOX360/MF002.html