Emulator Problem: Analog sticks not working on ePSXe If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.
I got myself a Raspberry Pi and decided to turn it into an inexpensive MAME emulator while I build out a full-size arcade machine. Before buying buttons and sticks to put into the arcade, I'm using arcade sticks I already have for my Xbox 360 and PS3. Here's my issue.
The joysticks work fully in the RetroPie menu, console emulators, and even Final Burn Alpha, but when I enter MAME, the joystick stops working. The buttons still work, but I lose all directional control. I'm assuming this a setting in a config file somewhere that I cannot find. And I'm sure it has to do with the sticks not being analog controls.
I say this because I can use the normal PS3 controller via the menus with the d-pad, but when entering MAME, the d-pad stops working and I'm forced to use the left analog stick. This is running in RetroPie, so there's no MAME gui for me to check the box for 'Use joystick'. And I can't find a MAME.ini to make sure it says 'Joystick Enabled 1'. The linux base that RetroPie is built on doesn't have a graphical interface to boot into, so I can't load up mame by itself. There is controller mapping built in once you start up MAME, but it doesn't register stick movement at all (only button presses). Using the option 'Configure Retroarch Keyboard/Joystick' does register all all stick movements, but it's like that information isn't being thrown over into the MAME emulator. The two sticks I'm using: PS3 Injustice Fight Stick Xbox 360 Hori Real Arcade Pro Ex That HORI controller is for the Xbox 360, so I decided to install the Xbox 360 controller drivers.
Now it's worse. RetroPie detects two controllers even though only one is plugged in and the RetroArch config utility mentioned above doesn't register ANY button presses or joystick movements at all. I am not that familiar with Retropie but when I use to make Mame cabinets with custom arcade control panels I always used Ipac as my interface board.
Can you try binding the joystick to keyboard keys outside of Retropie and have the emulator read the inputs as a keyboard?(Example would be Up=W, Left=A, etc.) Arcade emulators can be finicky with legitimate gamepad inputs, I usually run the gamepad as a keyboard but I haven't done it in a while so I can't remember if the iPac interface I used automatically mapped as a keyboard or a gamepad. Not sure which version you're on but when you configured a joystick inside the emulationstation GUI, it only configures it to control the menus/UI when selecting ROMS, not the actual gamepad config file for the emulator itself. You have exit the GUI and go to the command line interface and auto config or manually configure the joystick for each emulator individually or for all emulators. There's tons of walkthroughs online how to do that, but it depends on which version your using, although it's mostly all pretty similar. Not sure which version you're on but when you configured a joystick inside the emulationstation GUI, it only configures it to control the menus/UI when selecting ROMS, not the actual gamepad config file for the emulator itself.
You have exit the GUI and go to the command line interface and auto config or manually configure the joystick for each emulator individually or for all emulators. There's tons of walkthroughs online how to do that, but it depends on which version your using, although it's mostly all pretty similar. So the autoconfig is accepting inputs from the controller? Also, have you tried the actual mame emulator config file rather than the retroarch.cfg? I had issues specifically with certain emulators not working with the main config file. Also, autoconfig can occasionally make duplicate controller config lines which can create conflicts. I realized on initial setup I had multiple lines where I did the autoconfig and it accidentally put in the wrong input or was testing, thinking it would overwrite the previous input and it didn't, it created duplicates.
I had to go into the config file manually and delete all the duplicates and it fixed it. So the autoconfig is accepting inputs from the controller? Also, have you tried the actual mame emulator config file rather than the retroarch.cfg? I had issues specifically with certain emulators not working with the main config file. Also, autoconfig can occasionally make duplicate controller config lines which can create conflicts. I realized on initial setup I had multiple lines where I did the autoconfig and it accidentally put in the wrong input or was testing, thinking it would overwrite the previous input and it didn't, it created duplicates. I had to go into the config file manually and delete all the duplicates and it fixed it.
I think you will find it better when you eventually get your custom buttons in to make your control panel. Look into iPac and get the board that will translate as a keyboard input. Look here: It will make configuration so much easier. Instead of reading your legitimate Gamepad, the ports will have your software read it as keyboard commands. Here is a pic of a poverty control panel I made one time, the iPac board was underneath and it worked perfectly: If you need some physical installation help you can shoot me a pm and I will try to help. What I am saying is that you should give up on the Gamepad input and try to find keyboard workarounds because I have seen it being a headache around the community a few months ago when I was still in the Mame Game.
Ya well, the arcade emulators are all poverty. That is why there are standalone GUIs for them such as Maximus Arcade which I think is the GOAT interface. It has a beautiful looking menu that lets your shift side to side to pick what console you want to emulate and other things. Here is an example of Maximus Arcade interface.
You can lower or mute the volume because the sound in the video is pretty low quality: And even though making your own 2 player gamepad will take a little bit of time and cost you maybe around $120 with the iPac, buttons, and materials/graphics you use to mount it on. However, it will all be worth it because I have never had any compatibility problems with it. I did the 48 hour cabinet challenge and made a decent bartop arcade cabinet one time. Didnt quite finish the molding but I was almost there, needed about 6 more hours.
I finally got it working and set up with 3 joysticks. Can't do a fourth, because of lack of usb ports on the pi (unless I get a powered hub, but I'm good for now). Found a forum post yesterday where someone posted a sticks.patch text file. Recompiled MAME using this patch (that takes forever, by the way), it now accepts all inputs using the default xpad driver. I didn't have to install qjoypad, rejoystick, or any of that crap. Played for several hours last night with the wife and kid. When I get home, I'll look in my internet history and post up the link in case anyone else wants it.
![Left Left](http://i.imgur.com/i7EMJqR.jpg)
I'm running Raspian Wheezy with Mame4all installed. And yes, it would have been easier with the ipac. I will get that eventually, when I get ready to build the cabinet.