How To: Build a RetroPie ARCADE Joystick + Control Panel - Play those classic RETRO GAMES!

[@ruffisgreat]

Sick video.

[@gregmarquis1886]

aw man.....this is just what I have been looking for....GREAT VIDEO!!!!!......KEEP THE VIDEOS COMING......THERE GREAT!!!

[@WagnersTechTalk]

You'll love the next one! If you have access to a 3D printer, that is.

[@WagnersTechTalk]

And thank you for your kind comments. Don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already.

[@gamedevhq]

Hi could you provide a link to those wiring cables?

[@WagnersTechTalk]

They all came as part of a kit (links to the kit I used in the description), I did use this 5-pack of joystick encoder cables amzn.to/2Vx2s6I to extend the cable length from one encoder over to another base with OpenCADE ( link: wagnerstechtalk.com/opencade/#Video_Expansion_Pack ). Not sure if that's the cable you're looking for? I then used some header pins to connect the two cables, I show it briefly here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHjPf3t7mpqtoKM Hope that answers your question!

[@PolishRonin]

Thanks dude! I've just bought that kit and thanks to you i know what to do next :D

[@UAG]

Question for wanger. I have a pi 4 during start up on emulation station and entering the input configs and works fine in the ui. Once i go to the games some games the buttons are map correctly but none of them take the movement of the joysticks, I tried a number of images different encoder boards. what am I doing wrong do I have a bad pie.

[@WagnersTechTalk]

The video here was created long before RetroPie 4.6 came out for the Pi 4. For that, please see this more recent video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHXHgXSme6ypeNE If you have trouble beyond that, then see this which goes into much more detail: wagnerstechtalk.com/rpi4gaming/ If neither of those help, just comment in any video and I'll respond ;)

[@arthurvansoest3800]

Hi. I'm trying to set up retropi on a raspberry 4 to work with double acrcade controls. I've gone through the configuration screen. I can't seem to play the games that require pushing the coin button. Do I need to set up the controllers for each type of game ie. Mame, Playstation etc?

[@WagnersTechTalk]

I typically setup MAME to use the Select button to insert a quarter. After you configure the controls, it should work fine for P1. For P2 configuration, it's a bit more involved. You press SELECT+X on the P1 controller and you do a bind all for the 2nd controller. Here's a bit more information, about bid way there are some videos as well: retropie.org.uk/docs/RetroArch-Configuration/

[@arthurvansoest3800]

I can't see how to" bind" them?

[@gregorysampson6715]

not expecting a reply but i was wondering how you get teh menu, 1 player, 2 player and other special buttons to work with the rasberry pi

[@WagnersTechTalk]

Typically, you would use those buttons in an arcade game using MAME. Attach a keyboard, launch a game and press the TAB key. This is what you would use to map the P1/P2 and other buttons. Hope that helps!

[@gregorysampson6715]

@@WagnersTechTalk Thank you so much :)

[@chadbledsoe2416]

Excellent video. Thank you.

[@marlenedegrood]

Wiring changed... red now goes in lower right corner, yellow upper right corner and black grounds on the left side ... do it your way and you don’t get any LED lights. Thanks for a great tutorial

[@WagnersTechTalk]

Very welcome! I've updated the video description to indicate the wiring may have changed, thank you for that!

[@germckevitt4427]

Hi having issues getting my button to light up have tried multiple different configurations. Any ideas?

[@WagnersTechTalk]

@@germckevitt4427 Double-check the wiring from the mfgr. Seems that they have gone and changed the wiring scheme for some odd (stupid) reason :) If that isn't it, just double check that the encoder cable is fully plugged in to the Pi/Encoder. See if any buttons will work and make sure the wires have snapped into place. Aside from that, I can't think of much else except a possible defective encoder. Let me know what you find out please.

[@PST101]

Nice. Never knew Ned Flanders was into gaming. Gonna give this a try. Thanks and Toodily-Doo.

[@WagnersTechTalk]

lol, you're welcome :) Love the Simpsons!

[@shoebert31]

Could you use this some times and a controller some times? Is it easily switchable?

[@WagnersTechTalk]

Sure, it's just a USB joystick and buttons. Easily removable.

[@emann888]

@@WagnersTechTalk I'd like to enclose the Joystick/buttons inside an arcade cabinet. Do you think it would be possible to have a USB switcher to toggle between the arcade style controls and a SNES-style controller?

[@brsawvel]

Hi, If I were to build two controllers and plug them into a USB port each, would I be able to play two player games?

[@WagnersTechTalk]

Hi Bill, yes Sir both players would be able to play. I used x2 of these units in my Pi4 full-size arcade (same controller and encoder).

[@brsawvel]

@@WagnersTechTalk thanks!

[@WagnersTechTalk]

No problem, one thing that came to mind in a later kit the manufacturer changed the button wiring slightly. Be sure to use the wiring instructions they send for a smooth install. Why they did that I don't know but they did :)

[@arthurvansoest3800]

Hi. Where is the link for the button decals? Thanks

[@WagnersTechTalk]

There is a link under documentation for the button labels here: wagnerstechtalk.com/opencade/#Documentation

[@metalphobos3632]

Awesome video. So its really that easy? Jesus. Much simpler than I would have thought.

[@WagnersTechTalk]

Yup, once you build something like this, you'll gain the confidence to push it a little further by building/designing your own. Check out OpenCADE, as an example wagnerstechtalk.com/opencade

[@blakeweigel6475]

I have a very similar arcade package that I used to build a 4 player arcade pedestal. Everything looks to be wire properly, but the joysticks to not register on retropie when I go to configure the controller. When I move a joystick on the configuration menu, all of the LED buttons go dim and retropie does not read the joystick movement (example I push it up when it says directional up and nothing happens on the screen). Any idea what might be causing the problem?

[@WagnersTechTalk]

Double-check the wiring instructions from the Manufacturer. I received two joystick kits from the SAME Mfgr., ordered a month apart and each set had to be wired differently. Apparently, they had changed the wiring scheme between my two orders, so I had to swap a few wires for it to work (I think they had the red/yellow wire locations reversed, can't recall exactly). So, double check the instructions that came with it and make sure it's wired exactly as they indicate. If that doesn't fix the problem, it might be a bad connection to the encoder board (or bad encoder itself). That's all I can think of at the moment.

[@jrocha3128]

Can you specify the button configuration when you mapped the controller for the player 1&2 options on the side of the case? Thanks

[@WagnersTechTalk]

You can map each of the two P1&P2 buttons however you want. For example, in Galaga there is only one joystick. So, you would map P1 to Player 1 Start and P2 to Player 2 start in MAME. I have a video where I discuss it, please see this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6fPZquDgMmrb9E

[@jrocha3128]

@@WagnersTechTalk Thanks

[@muskymcg]

Hi what image where you using on the pi? Great video explanation /tutorial

[@WagnersTechTalk]

Thank you, here you go! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJa8Zn2VhNJkkKs

[@jrocha3128]

How long is the USB cable that hooks up with the Pi?

[@WagnersTechTalk]

I assume you're talking about the cable from the joystick to the Pi? If so, it's about 6ft. long (I didn't measure, just estimate). The power cable to the Pi can be whatever cable length you want to use. Hope this helps.

[@anpascally]

Hey! great and clean video. Can I run this on PC?

[@WagnersTechTalk]

Thank you! Yep, instead of connecting it to a Pi use the cable from the encoder out the back and plug it into a PC instead.

[@justinmedina802]

If I made this and plugged it in a Nintendo switch dock will it work?

[@WagnersTechTalk]

I don't have a Nintendo Switch, so can answer this fully. But, it might. You wouldn't need the Raspberry Pi, just the control panel and button+joystick assembly+encoder.

[@justinmedina802]

@@WagnersTechTalk Thank you for replying. I will make it and try it. Update soon.

[@bjmgraphics617]

Wow! Amazing and it saves a bundle from having to buy a preinstalled arcade controller with built-in games. Can this kit be used on a generic RP board? I am thinking of buying RP and download games from RP website. Are those games free? Thanks.

[@WagnersTechTalk]

By RP, I assume you mean Raspberry Pi or RetroPie correct? If so, I created an entire page dedicated to the Raspberry Pi with Q/A + Videos and instructions here: wagnerstechtalk.com/rpi4gaming/ Both RetroPie and Batocera can be used with this case. Also, see the section regarding installing Roms to answer those questions as well.

[@jrocha3128]

As for the power, do they light up via the USB or external power?

[@WagnersTechTalk]

They light up via the USB port (5v), no extra power supply needed. Also, if you have (or have access to) a 3D Printer, here's another option that I designed that you might want to watch as well: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpLRYYuVj5udY8U I also released an expansion pack for it if interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHjPf3t7mpqtoKM . I have other similar videos such as the RetroFlag SuperPi case, you may want to browse my video listing and see what's interesting to you.

[@lalaland6290]

can i use this joystick without encoder and with 12V? I want to control car 12V relays by this joystick...

[@WagnersTechTalk]

I don't quite understand what you're wanting to do and can't answer.

[@lalaland6290]

@@WagnersTechTalk i want to sttere 12V relays by this joystick

Any 2 player version of this case?

[@WagnersTechTalk]

Not that I've found. But, you could just build two. If I find a 2 player version I'll reply back to this post.

[@WagnersTechTalk]

Haven't found a case that allows you to install 2 controls. However, I've been designing one. Here's a link to a post I made on Reddit with the current design: www.reddit.com/r/RetroPie/comments/ap9lkb/in_development_rpiretropie_case_1n_players_with/

I already tried to find but no luck

[@WagnersTechTalk]

Good news, I have a prototype working as of today. If you're interested, check out facebook.com/wagnerstechtalk with some pics. I'll have a video hopefully later this week on this new project (inspired by YOU) :)

[@WagnersTechTalk]

OpenCADE is now available, hope you like it: wagnerstechtalk.com/opencade/

[@natelawrence2429]

So were the games downloaded on the super pi? If so where do you get the games?

[@BruuteBassie]

Roms are not 100% legal. On most forums you wont get any help finding them because of that. Good luck with google

[@DontPaniku]

Anyone know if you could fit a track ball or spinner in that?

[@WagnersTechTalk]

I don't think both would fit in this chassis. However, if you have access to a 3D Printer, you may want to check out my OpenCADE solution which was developed immediately after this project (I wanted a modular method of making a control panel): wagnerstechtalk.com/grs/ You can add a trackball, spinner, Tron Flight Stick, Sticks+buttons and much more or combine them into one large panel.

[@DontPaniku]

@@WagnersTechTalk I really love the OpenCADE. It's almost $100 to print out from a service though, sadly. I was thinking of making a case from a wood keepsake box found on Amazon. That's under $20. Do you know where I can find the hole sizes for the spinner and the track ball? Would the spinner shaft fit in a hole for a stick?

[@WagnersTechTalk]

You may want to reach out to Glen at Glen's Retro Show (YT channel) for the dimensions. I know the spinner and trackball are being redesigned and therefore may not exactly match what I have. I don't want to send you incorrect measurements. Yeah, $100 is way too much for a 3d printing service. For the cost of one roll of PLA I can print an entire set with wrist supports (~$15-25 depending on the cost of the filament). The idea behind OpenCADE was really for someone who owns a 3D printer to have an inexpensive method of creating a custom Arcade console.

[@metalphobos3632]

Which button was the hotkey?

[@WagnersTechTalk]

The Select button.

[@metalphobos3632]

Can you make a video showing the actual arcade panel while mapping the buttons on the TV? I'm having an insane hard time figuring out which buttons are which. I have no problem doing it on a PS4 controller but I just built a new arcade panel and I'm pretty confused.

[@WagnersTechTalk]

The buttons are however you map them. I have the button sheet available (see video description) so you can put those under the caps so you know which button is which (abxy, select, start, p1/p2, etc). Here's a video where I setup the mapping for MAME which might be helpful also: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6fPZquDgMmrb9E

[@MOE13576]

I build an arcade machine and hooked up the buttons and joysticks just like in the video but everytime I press a button it resets everything...does anyone know why is doing that...it only works with a ps3 controller hooked up to it.

[@WagnersTechTalk]

I've not seen that issue, you may have a bad RetroPie image?

[@MOE13576]

@@WagnersTechTalk Thanks for the reply...I meant to say it restarts everything not resets....So does that mean I have to delete and install retropie ? ...sorry I'm completely new to this

[@WagnersTechTalk]

Are you saying it restarts RetroPie if you press a button? That's a new one on me for sure :) Are you using the official RetroPie image or some pre-made image?

[@MOE13576]

@@WagnersTechTalk yes...and I downloaded from the retropie website

[@fishlivesmatter]

So your joystick is 8 way and you just made a restrictor to make it 4way?

[@WagnersTechTalk]

Yep, that's exactly right. A little more info. on how it was designed here: wagnerstechtalk.com/inventions/#Custom_Joystick_8-way_to_4-way_RESTRICTOR_for_RetroPie_using_MoI

[@christopherbrown5338]

I have the mag tek joystick. You can either use a lever under the control deck or pull & twist the joystick to go back & forth from 4 way to 8 way. Here's my old school way (20 years ago) of doing it- kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5C2fYOimdl2aZo

[@WagnersTechTalk]

Very cool!

[@big2fan]

Not enough room to put the pi inside the box?

[@WagnersTechTalk]

It could be done, the case was deep enough. But I didn't want to have to keep opening the case everytime I wanted to hook up a keyboard. Plus, I really wanted a 2 player case for the Pi. Those are the reasons why I didn't bother putting the Pi in it. I couldn't find a 2 player case, so designed my own. I'll be releasing this publicly soon (free download/3d print), but you can find some pics of it here: wagnerstechtalk.com/opencade/

[@xavilend]

Sorry dude but that looks like crap.

[@WagnersTechTalk]

I appreciate your opinion, thank you for watching. This is one of my older videos, you may like some of my more recent content.