Trying to get a homemade control panel using iPAC-4 working with Retropie

[oskywawa]

Hi there,
  I built a cabinet and controller a few years ago and never quite got the software part working.  I bought a Raspberry pi 3 a few years ago and life took over and now I am trying again to get everything working.  I have set up RetroPie and loaded a few ROMs and can get it working just fine with a USB controller.  Now I am trying to set up the big 4 person controller I built.  I used the WinIPAC software to remap every single button and joystick direction to a keyboard key...

(4) - 4-way joysticks - 16 inputs total
(4) - 7 buttons per spot - 28 inputs total
(4) - 1 coin, 1 start for each (8 inputs total)
(1) - 3 extra buttons to map for reset, exit, etc (3 inputs total)

All in I have 55 buttons all mapped to a-z, 0-9, and several f keys and num keys

The problem I am having now is how to I map this controller in RetroPie/ RetroArch?  I have tried messing around with the "retroarch.cfg" file but when i turn everything on it doesn't see that the controller is attached.  I imagine I am missing a step or just have not set up the file correctly.  Any guidance here on what to try or questions of what I have done would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks!

[bollwerk]

While I don't have much experience doing this myself, I found this guide for setting up an ipac-2 in Retropie, so I would guess the ipac-4 is similar.
https://github.com/iberov/retropie_ipac2_setup_wiki

[oskywawa]

thank you, i had looked at a similar guide but this one actually explained things a bit better with that helpful picture so i think this may be what i needed!  thank you again!!

[Imgpoz]

I made a MAME/Arcade cabinet about 5 years ago and seem to recall this was pretty difficult at the time.  If you’re using Retroarch through Emulation Station then the current version also has a “wizard” of sorts that guides you through it the first time you run a set up. ES is a great front end and worth checking out.

[Jimbo]

Isn't there an option with the IPACs to set it to be used as a gamepad buttons rather than keyboard keys?

If there is I'd seriously look into doing that, since many retroarch (and non-retroarch) emulators have much better support for gamepads than keyboard controllers.

Edit:  yes seems like there is (from ultimarc site):  "All input pins can be assigned to any keyboard key, gamepad button (including hat switch), mouse button or power/volume control. Also sleep/wake."

I would definitely assign as many inputs as you can to gamepad buttons. It'll make life much easier for you.  Even emulators for home computer systems where keyboards are used have better support for mapping keys to gamepad buttons vs other keyboard keys.

[oskywawa]

i still have some tweaking to do but was able to make some progress here by making a map (picture below) of my setup and keeping track of that the ipac-4 port was, the kb command was set to in WinIpac, and the corresponding button within retroarch. 

There is some weirdness with accidentally using some kb commands that do other things in retropie but generally moving in the right direction.  The idea to use gamepad commands instead of Kb commands is interesting though and I may see if that helps some of the weird issues I have had!

 

[MartyKong]

Looking at your control panel plans it looks like your considering angling player 3/4 Joysticks. You can double check with PL1 but this is a no no.....

[PL1]

Looking at your control panel plans it looks like your considering angling player 3/4 Joysticks. You can double check with PL1 but this is a no no.....

You say it, we play it.   

Green is good.  Red is bad.

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/FAQ#Orientation




Scott

[oskywawa]

yea i build the controller several years ago before really thinking about that angle being a small issue. Honestly though the only times a 3rd or 4th player plays is either when a bunch of people are drinking and want to play ninja turtles, or my 6yo daughter and her friends want to play in which case the angle on the controller is the least of their concerns