A firmware update is knocking on the door. Besides a few technicalities, there are two main features in the new version: support for two N64 controllers (yay! Played my first round of Super Mario 64 last night, with proper analogue controls), and an option to set the HID Mode [...]]]>
Button mapping for HID mode selection

Dear all,

A firmware update is knocking on the door. Besides a few technicalities, there are two main features in the new version: support for two N64 controllers (yay! Played my first round of Super Mario 64 last night, with proper analogue controls), and an option to set the HID Mode upon startup without having to edit the config.

Please find the firmware and updating instructions on this page. As always, I’d be glad if you could give it a test run, and report if something doesn’t quite work the way it’s supposed to. Here’s the full list of changes:

Setting the [HIDMode] using game controller

The [HIDMode] setting in the RETRODE.CFG file determines the way the Retrode identifies itself, and in particular the game controllers, to the operating system. By default, the Retrode 2 registers in [HIDMode] 1, i.e., four USB joysticks (in this order, left SNES, right SNES, left SEGA, right SEGA port). However, some emulators under some operating systems (Mac OS X) don’t fully support USB game controllers and work more reliably with keyboards. So the Retrode can also pretend to be two keyboards (why two? A boot protocol keyboard supports 6 simultaneous key presses, which is not enough for multiplayer gaming). The keyboard mode is [HIDMode] 3. Please find a full list of modes on this page.

So far, this setting could only be made in the Retrode’s configuration file. From firmware version 0.17h on, there is a second option: by holding down the D-pad of a game controller upon startup (reset) of the Retrode, the user can select one out of five HID modes. If the Start button is pressed in addition, the setting will also be stored to the device configuration. Please see the image above for reference.

N64 controller support

Retrode asking, controller responding

In anticipation of the upcoming N64 plug-in adapter, I’ve implemented support for N64 controllers. So far, only standard controllers are supported but memory paks etc. should be relatively easy to retrofit at a later point. The controllers need to be connected before the Retrode starts up (or, simply hit the Reset button to trigger re-detection).

Even without the plug-in, this is a super-easy retrofit for anyone with the most basic soldering skills. I used an old (faulty) plug-in prototype board and glued some connectors on top (yes: it’s a mess, but ah well). Another option would be to retrofit the connectors on the Retrode itself. Either way, first of all you want to make sure that the Retrode’s voltage selector switch is set to 3.3V:

The wiring is as simple as this: Just connect the controller ports’ power pins as shown in the schematic below. For instance, for 3V3, you could use SEGA cartridge pin A31, and for ground, pin A1. The data lines (middle pins) are connected through 220 ohm resistors to SEGA cart pins A5 and A7. Please note that the drawing shows the connector on the console as seen from the user. If you’re not sure about left vs. right, supply voltage and ground, here’s what it should look like.

→ Want to contribute a tutorial? Let us know at editors@retrode.org!

At last, I have managed to find some time and prepare a set of plug-in prototypes! Those beauties are already pretty close to the real production run that is planned for later this year. The three models are as follows:

crazy2001 over on the www.arcadezentrum.com forums has been hard at work. Knowing that the Sega Pico was based on the Megadrive, he set out to make a plug-in adapter to read the Pico ‘books’ on his Retrode. He was kind enough to send over some instructions on how to build one:

We are currently in the process of gathering step-by-step tutorials that provide assistance through the process of setting up your Retrode under various operating systems and emulators. We hope that these tutorials will be of use for people who are new to emulation and USB game controllers.

Our first entry explains the setup of the [...]]]>

Dear all,

We are currently in the process of gathering step-by-step tutorials that provide assistance through the process of setting up your Retrode under various operating systems and emulators. We hope that these tutorials will be of use for people who are new to emulation and USB game controllers.

Our first entry explains the setup of the Retrode under SuSE Linux, and we hope to collect lots more over time. As we all know, the thing with tutorials is, there can never be enough of them. To help others enjoy their Retrode as much as you do, we therefore ask you to contribute! Whenever you solved a specific problem in a non-obvious way, please write it up. Any material, including screenshots, links to instructional videos, etc., can be sent to editors@retrode.org, and we will be more than happy to take care of it.

Thank you for your effort!

Matthias and the retrode.org Editing Team