A few questions about 8BitDo FC30 Pro analog sticks

batesman

Pi Model or other hardware: 3B
Power Supply used: 2.5 amp
RetroPie Version Used : 4.1
Built From: Pre made SD Image on RetroPie website
USB Devices connected: SiiG wireless keyboard dongle, Tenda W311MI
Controller used: 8bitDO FC30 Pro 1.71 firmware
Error messages received: N/A
Log found in /dev/shm/runcommand.log (if relevant):
Guide used: RetroPie First Install guide
File: Retroarch.cfg
Emulator: lr-Mame2003

Hi All, thanks in advance, and sorry for the long post. Most of it is detail filler.

My questions are related to analog vs digital control of the joysticks on the FC30 Pro. I'll only be using analog in MAME (currently using lr-mame2003).

First question: I understand how to setup the analog sticks on the FC30 Pro to act as the D pad at an emulator level. However, if I do this I assume that switches the sticks to digital input and a game in Mame (let's say Spy Hunter for example) that requires analog input, will not function correctly. However, if I do not set "use analog stick as d pad", should the sticks function as analog by default? Is there something I need to do in order to make the emulator "see" them as analog controls?

Second question: Is there a way to adjust sensitivity/scale for the analog sticks? I'm guessing that the input axis value in retroarch is where I need to make that adjustment? If I'm playing Space Harrier the movement is much smoother with the D Pad than with the joystick and I'm hoping I can even it out - as a little movement of the stick results in a lot of movement on the screen.

Final question: Given that the 8bitDO controllers can boot in several modes, is there a recommended mode that I should be using? I set it up under its default mode (Joystick)

Thanks!

batesman

Would it be better if I broke this out into three separate questions?

columboscoat

@batesman 8Bitdo Controllers Guide

https://www.reddit.com/r/RetroPie/comments/49amv4/8bitdo_controllers_guide/

batesman

@columboscoat said in A few questions about 8BitDo FC30 Pro analog sticks:

@batesman 8Bitdo Controllers Guide

https://www.reddit.com/r/RetroPie/comments/49amv4/8bitdo_controllers_guide/

Thank you! I read it several times prior to posting, but I will go through it again. I'm pretty sure that guide deals with connecting and basic setup of the 8bitDO controllers and I've managed to get beyond that point. The controls work and connections are solid.

edmaul69

@batesman dont change the fc30 mode. try this. whatever retroarch setting you chose to make the joystick act as dpad remove it. now add this in the individual retroarch.cfg files

input_player1_up_axis = "-1"
input_player1_down_axis = "+1"
input_player1_left_axis = "-0"
input_player1_right_axis = "+0"


input_player2_up_axis = "-1"
input_player2_down_axis = "+1"
input_player2_left_axis = "-0"
input_player2_right_axis = "+0"

now you can use both the dpad and analog but the analog should maintain its function

batesman

Cool, thanks! I'll check this out. I'd still like to know how the retroarch setting affects digital vs analog use though.

batesman

@edmaul69 said in A few questions about 8BitDo FC30 Pro analog sticks:

input_player1_down_axis = "+1"
input_player1_left_axis = "-0"
input_player1_right_axis = "+0"

Hey! I'm confused by this because these settings appear in the retroarch.cfg file that are specific to the D-pad. How will they affect the analog sticks?

edmaul69

@batesman axis means its for an analog stick. Just add this. Trust me. Its so your analog stick can be used as the standard up down left right but maintaining analog function. Some controllers only have analogs and this is how they would show up being used as the dpad. Manually entering this you are kinda "tricking" retroarch into thinking that your joysticks analog is your dpad. Luckily it allows both the dpad and analog act as your direction pad.

batesman

Fair enough. Riddle me this then, most of my inputs in Retroarch.cfg are remed out by a # (the lines above for instance). These same input lines exist in the /autoconfig/controller.cfg file and are not remed out there. Is Retroarch "pulling" them from the autoconfig but not copying them to the retroarch.cfg? Does the controller auoconfig take file precedent over the retroarch.cfg since it has the values, but the retroarch.cfg currently does not? I thought that my retroarch.cfg should have had all the controller values present.

edmaul69

@batesman the retroarch file actually does not have those pre set up. It reads the files for your controller in its config file in (or previously in) retroarch-joypads, then in the individual systems retroarch.cfg, then /all/retroarch.cfg. As far as the auto config i have no clue.

batesman

I guess what I'm thinking is that since those values are already set in the joystick autoconfig file, If retroarch gets its values from there, then it should already be functioning properly. When I boot into MAME2003 and the default control is the Dpad and I want it to be the stick, then I just need to go make a config change at the emulator level.

I think I'm going to do some additional testing and come back with separate re-worded questions.

edmaul69

@batesman if you add this to your retroarch.cfg file you dont have to do anything at the emulator level. Both dpad and joystick will just work how you want.

columboscoat

@edmaul69 yeah, but will he truly be happy?

columboscoat

@columboscoat aye, sure probably. Anyone fancy a game of Capcom Vs Marvel???

batesman

@columboscoat said in A few questions about 8BitDo FC30 Pro analog sticks:

@edmaul69 yeah, but will he truly be happy?

You're hilarious. Forgive me for trying to understand the interactions between the configs and various changes.

columboscoat

@batesman Be careful.. happiness can run..

columboscoat

@batesman ok.. we can have a joke if you want... or you can get on like a total dick...

columboscoat

@columboscoat winker

batesman

@columboscoat Thanks for the assist. Your sarcasm and name calling bring a lot of value here. I'm not going to address you further so go on and ramble.

batesman

@edmaul69 said in A few questions about 8BitDo FC30 Pro analog sticks:

@batesman if you add this to your retroarch.cfg file you dont have to do anything at the emulator level. Both dpad and joystick will just work how you want.

I just added these changes and it does work. It does the exact same thing as enabling the joystick as a d-pad in the retropie-setup options.

I did find that you can change analog sensitivity in the Mame settings by pressing tab too. So that's helpful to know.

Thanks for your help, Edmaul. I'm still not where I want to be, but I've learned a little. Marking it as closed.