Controller Questions

[TheMadHatter]

Ok so my end game on this i want to do is make an arcade cabinet that can play all old school arcade games on original joystick and old consoles up to like PS2(Maybe) and also have the original controllers connected to USB ports on the motherboard and have button layouts for various original controllers to that system set up properly. Is that possible? And also if it is possible i see that many adapters come in a split connection. Like 2 controllers can plug into 1 USB port. Does this have a negative impact on how the controllers are able to be used through certain emulators? Just dont want to go out buying multiple original controllers and adapters if they dont end up functioning correctly.

[SkyHighGam3r]

Well, for my own setup, I used Xpadder to map 2 full controller sets. I just setup a profile for each different USB/wireless controller using the exact same button schemes. It's a little hard to describe without photos, I'm posting some later today in my own thread which I can come back and link to.

To simplify, something like the Dpad is always WSAD, and button A is always key F, B is G, so on and so forth.

Essentially though, it makes it so you can unplug and plug in whatever controller you want, but still have the same controls. This is regardless of which system you are playing on.

I'm not sure about splitters or hubs, but I know other people use them in different capacities.

There's probably a number of ways to go about it I'm sure.

[Avar]

While I can't speak to arcade controls as much, I did the same as you for my setup and run all of the original controllers. I've tried pretty much every adapter on the market and run a number of custom USB modded original controllers but the only thing I actually recommend is Bliss-Box 4-play. It's a 4x USB hub universal controller adapter which supports pretty much every controller (even the rare stuff if you can snag the limited run cables) and handles USB IDs perfectly. I'm not seeing any latency either. I strongly recommend it if that's the route you want to go a every other product I tried was a big letdown.

[TheMadHatter]

Well, for my own setup, I used Xpadder to map 2 full controller sets. I just setup a profile for each different USB/wireless controller using the exact same button schemes. It's a little hard to describe without photos, I'm posting some later today in my own thread which I can come back and link to.

To simplify, something like the Dpad is always WSAD, and button A is always key F, B is G, so on and so forth.

Essentially though, it makes it so you can unplug and plug in whatever controller you want, but still have the same controls. This is regardless of which system you are playing on.

I'm not sure about splitters or hubs, but I know other people use them in different capacities.

There's probably a number of ways to go about it I'm sure.

Hmm im not sure im understanding. Because basically i have friends/family/myself that does enjoy using original controllers to play the game with. So right now i have it set up with my ps4 controller. and i have like nes/snes/genesis all using that controller. but down the road i want 2 nes controllers set up in 1 usb spot 2 snes controllers in 1 usb and so on. And i dont want to map the controls everytime. just initial config with retroarch and then everytime i open the system i can pick up that controller and play the game. But i was thinking that if i had multiple controllers plugged into 1 usb port or having multpile controllers plugged into multiple usb ports would that cause a problem

[Avar]

It was an issue anytime I used generic hubs, adapters, or even built in usb ports but I've never had any problems with the 4-play. Is the first time I've not had to constantly configure controls.

[SkyHighGam3r]

"just initial config with retroarch and then everytime i open the system i can pick up that controller and play the game"

So this is essentially how I run things, I just do it through Xpadder before doing it through retroarch. after my initial setup I haven't had to change any controller settings. Just plug in and go.

If I understand correctly though, you want to have your USB controllers plugged in all the time at the ready?

[TheMadHatter]

While I can't speak to arcade controls as much, I did the same as you for my setup and run all of the original controllers. I've tried pretty much every adapter on the market and run a number of custom USB modded original controllers but the only thing I actually recommend is Bliss-Box 4-play. It's a 4x USB hub universal controller adapter which supports pretty much every controller (even the rare stuff if you can snag the limited run cables) and handles USB IDs perfectly. I'm not seeing any latency either. I strongly recommend it if that's the route you want to go a every other product I tried was a big letdown.

That looks like it would save me a lot of USB ports as well. Thats prob the route ill go with Classic controllers then. but emulators dont get confused when u have multiple game pads or controllers plugged in?

[Avar]

That looks like it would save me a lot of USB ports as well. Thats prob the route ill go with Classic controllers then. but emulators dont get confused when u have multiple game pads or controllers plugged in?

Not at all. You can use any combination of controllers to play any system, cycle certain basic config options on the fly, and you can even unplug a controller, plug a new one in, and keep playing while the emulator is still running. Nothing else that I know of can do that. There's also an "unofficial" firmware flash that improves how Windows handles IDs even further. I can play a game with the normal controller or with a bongo and a dancepad lol we just did a 6 player Saturn Bomberman with all Saturn controllers.

I know I promote Bliss-Box a lot, but it is goddamn amazing and I legitimately feel is an important product for the authentic preservation of gaming culture and history.

[SkyHighGam3r]

For what it's worth I've never heard anything bad about the Bliss-Box, I've just never used one myself. That's mostly 'cause I'm a cheap SOB and already own USB versions of most controllers. How much do they even cost anyway?

Like I said though, later today I'll come post a link here that better shows the method I used. I'm just at work right now so I can't do much (workin' hard, right? lol)

[TheMadHatter]

For what it's worth I've never heard anything bad about the Bliss-Box, I've just never used one myself. That's mostly 'cause I'm a cheap SOB and already own USB versions of most controllers. How much do they even cost anyway?

Like I said though, later today I'll come post a link here that better shows the method I used. I'm just at work right now so I can't do much (workin' hard, right? lol)

Ya im at work too lol.

 

Not at all. You can use any combination of controllers to play any system, cycle certain basic config options on the fly, and you can even unplug a controller, plug a new one in, and keep playing while the emulator is still running. Nothing else that I know of can do that. There's also an "unofficial" firmware flash that improves how Windows handles IDs even further. I can play a game with the normal controller or with a bongo and a dancepad lol we just did a 6 player Saturn Bomberman with all Saturn controllers.

I know I promote Bliss-Box a lot, but it is goddamn amazing and I legitimately feel is an important product for the authentic preservation of gaming culture and history.

Well thats the kind of answers i was looking at. What people like to use. So if u are excited about a product u use and it works well and u promote it like that. it makes me feel a bit better about my choice in using that product lol. so thats kind of the feedback i was looking for. I also might want to set up some PS4 controller configs as well for people that dont care about the original controller and want to use something they are more familiar with. like youngins these days.

[Avar]

For what it's worth I've never heard anything bad about the Bliss-Box, I've just never used one myself. That's mostly 'cause I'm a cheap SOB and already own USB versions of most controllers. How much do they even cost anyway?

You can get them off ulao's site. $119.99 gets you one 4-play hub and eighteen adapter cables (4 GameCube, 2 N64, 2 Dreamcast, 2 NES, 2 SNES, 2 Retro DB9/SEGA, 2 Saturn, 2 PSX/PS2). Each adapter cable is ~5" long. You plug the controller into its adapter cable then you can hot-swap the adapter cables to the 4-play's HDMI ports. You can buy more cables as well and he still has a few of his limited run rare cables left (I kinda cleaned him out of those @_@ ) End of the day, it ends up being waaaay cheaper than the combined cost of the lower quality adapters I used to use.

He also sells DIY bundles but I've never tried one.

I also might want to set up some PS4 controller configs as well for people that dont care about the original controller and want to use something they are more familiar with. like youngins these days.

This is doable as well, just have to install ScpDriver & ScpMonitor to get them to work. It's pretty painless. I've only done it to PS3 but I know PS4 works with it too.

[SkyHighGam3r]

Hey, so here is a look at how I set things up. (The controller part is down further in it's own post)
http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/topic/14849-gam3b0x-the-hyperspin-console/

As for the Bliss-Box... wow I don't think I can justify that purchase for myself. (3&4 player being not a priority for me personally)

Still, I will keep it in mind as my own project no doubt grows.

 

[Avar]

That's a really cool approach. I like that.

 

That's understandable as far as the 4-play goes. He used to do custom homemade jobs back when he first started but I'm not sure if he still does.