Arcade Button & Joystick Install Guide - RetroPie Guy Arcade Control Tutorial

Here we have a complete step by step tutorial on how to install and setupo your arcade buttons and joysticks on an arcade cabinet.
This is great for anybody who has built their own custom arcade cabinet or just wants to upgrade and replace their current arcade controls.
This mapping process was demoed on the RetroPie Guy 512GB Ultimate Game Collection Card, which includes over 15,240 retro video games.. To see a video preview tour of this card, click the link below...
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[@viewtifuljon8105]

The two holes you put yellow buttons into could be changed for USB ports to offer external controller support. You can then plug in regular controllers or maybe even light guns.

[@RetroGamingGuy]

That's a great idea!!

[@HostileTakeover2]

With the joystick drill holes, a lot of folks prefer to use bolts rather than screws because the extra force used on sticks can cause screws to rip out over time. I'm guessing that's what they had in mind when they drilled all the way through.

[@RetroGamingGuy]

Yeah that makes sense

[@zeroworldcraft]

I Thank YOU! Damn these buttons are rare on KZbin. You were the only video that I found with them. Are we the only ones who own them? Doubt it. They have been stressing me out! I have an I-Pac Ultimate. It is a nightmare with no instructions. Your control boards are just plug ins? (Tears of envy)

[@RetroGamingGuy]

Should be pretty common you would think since they are relatively easy to find. Really been quite happy with mine. No issues and they have gotten a lot of use!

[@retrodams9456]

MERCI BEAUCOUPS DEPUIS LA FRANCE .T ES UN BON GRACE A TOI J AI REUSSIE ENCORE BRAVO

[@pigseye2]

this is awesome! Looking forward to watching more of your videos. Thanks!

[@trusso2614]

Finally! Thank you for a great explanation and actually showing which buttons you're assigning to what...nicely done!

[@RetroGamingGuy]

Thanks glad it helped!

[@towarzyszbeagle6866]

Dude, this guide is amazing and exactly what I was looking for.

[@RetroGamingGuy]

Glad I could help!

[@ActionMenWorldPeacekeepers]

If I have other buttons on my controller that are smaller can I connect those buttons to that encoder too with the stock wires?

[@markmcdonough6957]

Wy are all the player 1 and 2 always mail are there any gril buttons

[@davidschneider8096]

I have these same dragon rise controls and my emulation station crashes everytime I launch with the controllers connected. I'm using the same card you demo in this video. Any ideas?

[@RetroGamingGuy]

Probably a different brand of controls. A lot of controls will register the same way as dragonrise even if they aren't the same ones. I think n64 controllers also register with this name. Brands that aren't compatible will cause crashes but the hard part is there's no way to know which are compatible until you give it a try since most are independent name brands.

[@davidschneider8096]

@@RetroGamingGuy Could you direct me to an Amazon link or store link to the kind that you buy?

[@davidschneider8096]

@@RetroGamingGuy Just thought I’d let you know I figured it out. I contacted the company that sold me the controls and they had some replacement chips they had to use because of the shortage and I had to add some additional code in order to get them working properly. They Now work fine

[@RetroGamingGuy]

@@davidschneider8096 I'm glad you told me that I have heard from 3 others today alone with the same issue! Do you by any chance have the code info you could share with me? If not no worries.

[@davidschneider8096]

@@RetroGamingGuy yes I actually wrote down step-by-step instructions I can get them to you tomorrow

[@TheNeonTheater]

I have an arcade1up machine with 4 controllers. is there a way to connect 4 to a retropie?

[@MaffiLu]

Hey, thank you a bunch for your guide. I am currently into the planing phase of my arcade rig. its going to be industrial themed, as in, genuine industrial control panel, 37" screen... and so forth. but i was not sure how to handle the buttons. your video, guide! took care of this. so i know now which way i want to go. again, thanks :D i am now a lot more confident into making things happen the way i want to make it happen :D!

[@POPCULTURETUBEX]

Will this work with the older style buttons and wires or do i need to upgrade that?

[@genaroluna3004]

This is great I got the same kit do you have a video doing a 4 player arcade?

[@RetroGamingGuy]

Thanks sorry I don't but it would be very much the same process. Just connect the additional usb connections to your pi. Make sure each player connects in the exact same way so each button cable goes to the exact same connection on the encoder. You don't want them to be different on any of the players controls or you will end up with errors and games being all out of whack.

[@kinetikhockey8120]

My pie has a usb input comnected, i suppose for a hand held playstation controller. Would this be allowed a 3rd controler for games like doom, flight games and the like that need variable input? Tks Ray

[@AndrewWKMusic]

Any ideas on how you would wire a coin door to work with this type of wire/buttons/encoder?

[@stevengailey2884]

Good video, well presented. I just want to comment on the holes for joystick, that wasn't a mistake - you would usually attach a long bolt/nut from the top of the panel to the underneath, this will help give a really secure fitting for the controller, as there will be a lot of yanking etc in that area it needs all the help it can get :) - sometimes the screws aren't enough, especially when using MDF as the main material for the panel.

[@sharpiesharpie8356]

i know i’m late but this video motivated me to put together a arcade can i hook up the arcade button and joystick to a super console same way you did raspberry pi? i’m thinking of getting a super console trying to figure out which one and building a arcade how you did ?

[@cedricbanks2149]

At 15:40 where's the feet to put on the encoder boards. What the kind of buttons called I need them exact one in yellow, green, red, and blue. I brought the exact kit but I need them exact kind.

[@GroveBoyCJ]

Will a pc work with the encoder for an emulator ?

[@RetroGamingGuy]

Yep

[@GroveBoyCJ]

@@RetroGamingGuy That's sick thanks man 😁

[@stoney268]

I bought those sticks too but they seem so short to me when I go mount them under 18mm MDF, or not?

[@kevinhanley6462]

Well done! You could use the yellow buttons for Trigger and the buttons on the side for Shoulder.

[@martinhodge394]

Thank you! Are you from Metro Detroit? I saw an English D on your hand. Detroit Tigers??

[@RetroGamingGuy]

From the east coast originally but lived outside Detroit for a couple years. Canton for a while then went further north to Oakland. Ive been back on east coast for over 10 years now but still a Tigers and Red Wings fan 👍🏻

[@josephpadilla8982]

What build are you using on your cabinet?

[@RetroGamingGuy]

My own retropie setup

[@tycho1129]

Are you sure you can play pinball with the select buttons. Will retropie understand that?

[@TheSillyvagabond]

Where to install the pinball buttons for it to work? wondering if i should I get cutout holes for them for my cabinet.

[@tycho1129]

@@TheSillyvagabond You can install the pinball buttons everywhere. To make it work you have to map these buttons to left shoulder and right shoulder. Not select. Also don't map the right button to the second player. map both arcade buttons to player one. To get the best experience place the pinball buttons to the left and right site of the cabinet.

[@TheSillyvagabond]

@@tycho1129 Thanks for the info.

[@cedricbanks2149]

Hey I only got them buttons in red and blue when I brought the kit. But how do I or what website I can get these exact buttons because I need them in yellow, purple, orange, clear, and green.

[@RetroGamingGuy]

Amazon has a bunch of different options. Just type in arcade button encoder kit

[@cedricbanks2149]

@@RetroGamingGuy I just want the buttons the led 3 pin ones.

[@RetroGamingGuy]

@@cedricbanks2149 you can probably find them on Amazon not sure

[@danpettis1675]

@@RetroGamingGuy I added a coin acceptor, but the problem I'm having is the select button will do the same thing as a coin drop. I heard if you install a toggle switch you can disable the select or vise versa coin acceptor. my other thought was what if I add an extra button on my control panel. I still have 2 inputs left on my encoder (R3 R3) is it possible to make this work. any ideas thank you