Why is Batocera (Retroarch ?) limited to 5 pads ?

Sdc77

Hi guys. I know there is a very few games for more than 4 players, but there is one in my heart, alot of fun when friends come home, is Micromaniacs on PSX. This game can bring 8 players at the same time on 1 screen. I activated multitap in slot 1 and multitap in slot 2 in Retroarch, but no way to get more than 5 pads connected to Batocera (in my case 4x 8bitdo SF30 Pro bluetooth + 1x logitech USB, both rpi3b and Tinkerboard). Is there a reason ?
Thanks

joinski

Sdc77

Well, first we have to figure out, if this is a bug or limitation within the PSX core (PCSX_ReArmed) or RetroArch itself.
Because Batocera is only using this core, but not maintain it.
Did you try to find something out via google search?

The first things i found with a quick google search:
https://retropie.github.io/RetroPie-Docs/Playstation-1/ and here https://reddit.com/r/RetroArch/comments/ax0a6z/no_multitap_settings_pcsx_rearmed/

joinski

Sdc77

Okay, i got it to work on my RPi3.
Was a bit complicated but here are the steps:
After you activated both Multitaps in RetroArch, you have to set Max Users to 8 (RetroArch Settings, Input)
Then you have to set/configure all buttons in Port 6 to Port 8 Binds (also RetroArch Settings, Port 6 Binds, Port 7 Binds, Port 8 Binds).

Ah, and don't forget to set Pad 6 Type, Pad 7 Type and Pad 8 Type from "none" to "standard" or "analog" (if it is set to "none" at default... do not know if it was already set to "standard" or if i had to set it from "none" to "analog/standard" (or "dualshock" because i have dualshock 3 controllers)) under RetroArch Quick Menu, Options.

Hopefully for the next version it will be implemented to work right out-of-the-box ;)

nadenislamarre

i'm working on that :
i've not yet done tests.
but can you confirm :

1) you have to set Max Users to 8 (RetroArch Settings, Input) => ok, i've forced it to 16 at each boot, i don't understand what this option is usefull to.
2) After you activated both Multitaps in RetroArch => it is set to auto, it is not enough ?
3) set Pad 6 6 Type : pad 1 to 8 forced to standard. what is the drawback to force that ? if you force standard for all, it doesn't work for you ? in which case to force which one ?

joinski

nadenislamarre

i will do another test with a fresh new install and see, which settings really have to be set and how, to get 8 players working.

Sdc77

Guys, just did the test. thanks to you, I got up to 7 players at the same time (as 1 USB port on my Tinkerboard is for a bluetooth dongle, because integrated buetooth doesn't work for me on the Tinker). :
1) with the max users to 8
2) I also had to set manually each touch, as "auto" is not enough, pad are not fonctional without a manual set
3) I didn't had to force to something else than standard on my setup. Just set each touch

Unfortunately, after I close the game, I have to set again manually touches for pad 6 to 8, as it doesn't keep it in memory. Despite I set "save at exit", save the current config, and saved the remap for the game. It keeps the 8 maximum players setup, but not the button remap of 6 to 8 pads.

[img]

nadenislamarre

don't worry, in next beta 5.26, it will be done automatically

joinski

nadenislamarre

Okay on another test, with a fresh new install, i could verify, that the following settings have to be set, in order to get 8 players working:

1) RetroArch Settings, Input, Max Users = 8 (default was 5)
2) RetroArch Quick Menu, Options, Pad 3 Type to Pad 8 Type = standard (default was "none")
3) RetroArch Settings, Input, Port 6 Binds to Port 8 Binds have to be set (button mapping.... default was "---")

all other settings, don't need to be changed (even Multitap 1/2 can stay at auto (which is default)).

Sdc77

You're the one !!!!
Do you plan to add GPIOs and activate it for Tinkerboards ? I really hope one day I can use my Kintaro Super Ursus (Snes Pal) case switches, led, and fan :
https://forum.batocera.org/public/d/3491-batocera-525-tinkeboard-kintaro-case

nadenislamarre

https://github.com/batocera-linux/batocera.linux/pull/1538

to be tested please once an image is generated.

nadenislamarre

can you check the last rpi3 build please.
it sould be ok inside (not tested on my side on this build)

joinski

nadenislamarre
Works now! :)

But there is something strange with the numerical order of the controllers.
A bit hard to explain, but i will try:
When you connect/pair (over bluetooth) all 7 ps3-controllers (and connect the 8th via usb cable, because bluetooth only supports up to 7 controllers) then the order gets messed up:

the controller that has been connected/paired first, becomes Player No. 5
the second connected/paired controller becomes Player No. 6
the third becomes Player No. 7
the fourth becomes Player No. 8
the fifth becomes Player No. 1
the sixth becomes Player No. 2
the seventh becomes Player No. 3
the eighth becomes Player No. 4

You can recognize, which controller is which Player No. by the little controller Icon in the top left sorner of the screen in ES (it will blink blue, when you press a button on the controller).

Update:
The messed order already happens, after you connect/pair the fifth controller (it then becomes Player No. 1 and the first connected/paired controller then becomes Player No. 2, the second becomes Player No. 3, the third becomes Player No. 4 and the fourth becomes Player No. 5)

nadenislamarre

thanks for you tests.
for the behavior you have i can explain.
if you start by plugging 4 mouses/keyboards before adding your pads, you should not have the behavior ;-)

it comes from a lazzy patch that i did.
when you plug let's say 3 pads A, B and C in a computer, not all emulators consider the same order, as a general rule, the order in which you plugged the pad is not the one that all emulators respects. One emulator can consider the order ABC while an other will consider the order BCA.
To resolve this issue, emulators are patched so that they use the same order as in es.
In my patch, i use the /dev/inputX order, which is more or less the order in which you plug your pads.
If you have a keyboard, and they add 2 pads, they will have the order :

input1 : keyboard
input2 : pad 1
input3 : pad 2

if you unplug the keyboard and add a new 3rd pad, the new pad will use input1, so it will take the place 1 as a pad.

You case is a bit more complicated and here come my lazyness :
in your case,
pad 1 was input6
pad2 input 7
pad3 input 8
pad4 input 9

and then you plug pad 5...
it will be input10, and in fact, my order is not numerical, but alphabetical... input10 is before input6 (1 is before 6)
then you plug input 11 12 13 14, all are before input6 to 9.
Hope you understand the explanation. And you understand why pluging 4 keyboards/pads before doing the test willl solve.

Now, the question is : should i fix my patch ? or should we consider the order you plugged as not so interesting. if really needed, this order can be fixed in the es menu (except if you have several times the same pads).
What do you think should be done ?

joinski

thanks for the explanation, i understood :)

nadenislamarre if really needed, this order can be fixed in the es menu (except if you have several times the same pads).

I have several times the same pads 😅
8 ps3 controllers, all with the same name in ES controller settings menu.
So it is hard to fix this order in ES menu.
Maybe there is a way, that the same pads can have different names in ES menu?
Like "Sony PS3 Controller1" for the first connected pad and "Sony PS3 Controller2" for the second connected pad (and so on).
So just the name it already has, + a number at the end (or even better: at the beginning, because the names of the pads can be very long).
And this number would then be the order in which you have connected the pads... first connected pad = 1, second connected pad = 2, and so on. This would then also match the red LEDs on the controller by the way ;) )
Would this be possible?

The only issue i have (besides how to identify/recognize which pad is which Player/Input No.) is, that with more than 4 connected controllers, the first connected pad (which is usually Player No. 1) becomes another Player No. and so the Hotkey-Combinations (for example Hotkey + Start for exit game) does not work any more with this controller (because Hotkey-Combinations only work with Player/Input No. 1).

nadenislamarre

i've to disable ths feature by default.
while it causes issues with several games.
i will keep pads configured. i will will pads type to standard, but i will change multitap 1 and 2 to disabled, while the current value, auto + the type setted enable them and controls are no more working in some games.

joinski

nadenislamarre

Okay, no problem.
As long as it will be possible to enable it (if needed), then i'm totally fine with this :)