Why do retroarch config files (global and system specific) just completely forget themselves?

callitkarma67

I am so sick of playing a game (SNES in this case) and all of a sudden when I am ready to quit, I can't. None of the hotkeys work, though they worked moments before, and the last time I played. I can't even access the menu via controller hotkey. So I try F1 on the keyboard... Nope. Doesn't work either. I have to kill the retroarch process to get out of the game. How is this even a thing? This should be one of the first features developed and perfected. Why is retroarch so stupid when it comes to controllers? Anyone have any tips without deleting the config files and having them recreated? I feel I have to do this every few days. I'm about to jump ship to check out one of the other competitor platforms which I really do not want to do cause I have invested so much time into retroarch/retropie. So much time primarily due to fighting with config files left and right.

Pi Model: 2B+
RetroPie Version Used: 4.15 (script)
Built From: Premade SD image
USB Devices connected: SNES to USB controller adapter, keyboard
Controller used: SNES official OEM controller in adapter.
Emulator: SNES9x2010 (in this case, though it happens in ALL retroarch/libretro emulators.)

Shakz

Disconnect the keyboard if you do not need it.
Also usb placement matters for the pi. Make sure your controller is in the top left corner of the pi....for player 1.
Its tough to make a system that applies to any and all configurations. Be patient and you will get sorted....that said I understand your frustration but its well worth the pains. At least that's my opinion.

callitkarma67

@Shakz Thank you so much for the top left port info, I had no idea about that. The keyboard is almost never plugged in, unless I absolutely need it though, I learned that the hard way earlier. The joystick selection tool works wonders typically, but the hotkeys thing is really weird, not sure why that keeps forgetting itself.

Shakz

Oh the adaptor!
I have a PS2 adaptor. Now on the pi when mapping the adaptor shows as two controllers....I map and everything is cool.....but I go into a game and my hotkeys are gone...just like you.
Solution for me is to plug the controller into the other port...boom hotkeys work again.
Can you give this a shot? If it works I might be able to write a script that will help the pi sort out which port is actually p1 and p2.
The pi only gives hotkeys to p1.

FlyingTomahawk

@callitkarma67

Can you try to open the following file

configs/snes/retroarch.cfg

Once you open it you should see something like this

***Settings made here will only override settings in the global retroarch.cfg if placed above the include line

input_remapping_directory = "/opt/retropie/configs/snes/"

include "/opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg"***

Now add the following "before" the include code line

input_player1_joypad_index = 0
input_player1_b_btn = 1
input_player1_a_btn = 0
input_player1_y_btn = 3
input_player1_x_btn = 2
input_player1_l_btn = 4
input_player1_r_btn = 5
input_player1_up_axis = "-1"
input_player1_down_axis = "+1"
input_player1_left_axis = "-0"
input_player1_right_axis = "+0"
input_player1_start_btn = 7
input_player1_select_btn = 6

If you need the hotkeys too you might have to add them too

input_enable_hotkey_btn = "6"
input_menu_toggle_btn = "2"
input_exit_emulator_btn = "7"

With that setup select+X should open the retroarch menu, select+start will close the emulator.
The above settings might not work for your controller since I don't know your numbers for each button.
I use the Buffalo USB SNES controller. (BSGP801)
You could run jstest and see what your button numbers are and adjust accordingly.

callitkarma67

@Shakz That did not work sadly, I used to have to do that for NES in particular, but ever since joystick selection tool, that has been fixed. Now I just wish there was a way to install that when ROMs are run from a network share - it errors out during install. But I just manually edited the SNES retroarch.cfg file.