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Post by 10vorne on Jan 7, 2023 12:46:08 GMT
I have a The 64 Maxi, its joystick and two Speedlink Competition Pros. The included joystick (with the special keys) had a problem right from the start when you pressed down. But I didn't realize that until it was too late for exchange, because I played with USB joypads at times.
Following problem: So I want to use the two Competition Pros for gaming and not the one that comes with it. However, I can't get it to start a game in classic mode. When I press "B" on the keyboard to start the game, neither of the two joysticks in the game work (for example in Archon), because the C64 probably uses it to select the keyboard as the main joystick. Starting the game with the (broken) special joystick and then playing with the two competition pros will certainly not work either.
So can I somehow use the two competitions to play and start the game?
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Post by lantzelot on Jan 7, 2023 22:11:00 GMT
Hi, I also got the speedlink competition pro joystick. You are right, from classic mode and the media access you have to press "B" on the joystick to start a game. Pressing B on the keyboard does not work, it's as you say, the keyboard becomes the primary controller. What I have done is to map the "B" key to one of the triangle buttons on the competition pro. All the mappings of buttons for different input devices are defined in the "gamecontrollerdb.txt" file, as explained in other threads in this forum. This mapping is already setup in PCUAE, there I have mapped the left triangle to "B" and the right triangle to the "menu". The modified config string in gamecontrollerdb.txt looks like this: 03000000790000001c18000011010000,SPEEDLINK COMPETITION PRO Game Controller for Android,a:b0,b:b4,lefttrigger:b3,leftx:a0,lefty:a1,start:b1,platform:Linux, I have also updated the gamecontrollerdb.txt in the firmware on my machine with this mapping (using the "X-Windows mod" and replacing the existing file with a custom one where the line above has been modified) so that I don't have to use PCUAE. It's easy to do from the file manager in the x-windows mod. I don't remember the exact location of it, but I can check that if you are interested. Info about the x-windows mod: thec64community.online/thread/487/thec64-windows-mod |
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Post by 10vorne on Jan 8, 2023 10:17:13 GMT
Is the same result also possible with a thec64-default.cjm in the root directory of my USB stick? You can also flip the buttons of the joystick over that, right? What would be the difference to your solution?
I looked at the chapter once regarding the reassignment.
So if I want to put a thec64-default.cjm in my root directory and set the right fire button to "B", it would look like this for me
J:1*:JU,JD,JL,JR,JF,B,,,,,,,,,,
for J2 I would then do it accordingly. However, I'm not sure whether I have to assign the buttons that the joystick doesn't even have (see empty decimal places) or whether I have to / can simply omit them.
If only the two joystick lines are in the file, then all other default values ​​are adopted, correct? So everything I don't mention (PAL, C64 vs VIC, etc.) stays in the default setting of the C64 Maxi?
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Post by lantzelot on Jan 8, 2023 15:00:31 GMT
The cjm files are only for mapping keys when a game is launched in the emulator, they do not work in the carousel or in the file access menu. So you need to change the mapping in the gamecontrollerdb.txt file to be able to launch a game with the "b" button.
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Post by 10vorne on Jan 8, 2023 17:43:03 GMT
I'm not sure what to do now. Basically, I'm satisfied with the interface of the Classic Mode and would only like to be able to use it with the Competition Pros from Speedlink. I don't use the carousel either. Actually, (I think) I don't want to mod the C64 Maxi.
If I understand you correctly, I can achieve my goal by changing the gamecontrollerdb.txt. So if I modified those with your suggestion, I can use the Speedlink joystick to bring up the menu, start the game, and move up and down a level in directories, correct?
Do I have to change the original firmware for this? I haven't looked into Project USB or PCUAE, it's all new to me. What would be the easiest way to proceed?
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Post by c64stuff on Jan 8, 2023 22:02:23 GMT
What about using the virtual keyboard to launch the game? I sold off my maxi a while back for money reasons so I don't remember because I've been using the mini the last couple years, but the maxi still has the ability to bring up the virtual keyboard I assume?
Another alternative would be to buy a real Competition Pro that uses the Atari/Commodore joystick port and plug it into a USB adapter that features extra navigation keys on the box. However, that can open up a whole new can of worms in possibly not being readily compatible to where you'd need to edit the config text file.
A third alternative method that is guaranteed to work is to modify your broken stock maxi controller by adding a Atari/Commodore connector on the side or by a cable hanging out of it. It's easy to do. Just solder the appropriate printouts to the controller's switch contact points and ground and then plug an original Competition Pro into the plug. Now you can use the stock controller buttons to navigate and the other to play games because both joysticks will essentially become a single "stock" controller. The added perk is now you can start using other original retro joysticks like from the Atari 2600, which is my favorite joystick for C64 and Atari games. There are videos on doing this mod with mini or maxi stock joysticks.
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Post by lantzelot on Jan 9, 2023 11:41:16 GMT
Perhaps one option can be to plug in your faulty THEC64 joystick and a speedlink competition pro at the same time. Then you start the game by pressing "B" on TheC64 joystick. Once loaded you press "menu" followed by "A" (or "B" if port one is default) on TheC64 joystick to swap joystick ports?
Then you do not have to modify anything. You can only use one of the competition pro joysticks though...
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Post by c64stuff on Jan 9, 2023 21:24:20 GMT
Perhaps one option can be to plug in your faulty THEC64 joystick and a speedlink competition pro at the same time. Then you start the game by pressing "B" on TheC64 joystick. Once loaded you press "menu" followed by "A" (or "B" if port one is default) on TheC64 joystick to swap joystick ports? Then you do not have to modify anything. You can only use one of the competition pro joysticks though... Does that switch physical (USB) ports between the two joysticks or does it just switch the virtual port in the emulation software so it's still going to be looking for input from the stock joystick you pressed the button on to swap ports? This gets a little confusing because obviously the C64 had two joystick ports, so perhaps you're right and through the emulation software it will then see that there's two joysticks plugged in and now it will virtually and physically swap USB "joystick ports" to the other one for input from? Not sure how that works but I'm guessing it's still going to want to see physical input from the stock joystick and just switch it's virtual port to the proper one the game will be using? Even if it's swapping to the Competition pro you may now be in a situation where the game is wanting to see input from the other stock joystick port? If that's the case then can you start out with the stock joystick in the port the game is going to want to use so when you swap them virtually the competition pro ends up in the proper port for the game. Obviously the whole joystick swapping virtual ports thing was done so if you didn't have two joysticks you wouldn't have to unplug it and plug it into the other USB port, which I don't think would have worked anyway because it still sees only one joystick is plugged in and I think that older firmware always defaulted that to only one of the ports. Later versions of firmware added this button swapping joysticks feature so you wouldn't have to add file tags to the game name to do it. |
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Post by 10vorne on Jan 10, 2023 15:58:40 GMT
Perhaps one option can be to plug in your faulty THEC64 joystick and a speedlink competition pro at the same time. Then you start the game by pressing "B" on TheC64 joystick. Once loaded you press "menu" followed by "A" (or "B" if port one is default) on TheC64 joystick to swap joystick ports? Then you do not have to modify anything. You can only use one of the competition pro joysticks though... No, using only one joystick is not an option. Mainly because the supplied C64 joystick was apparently broken in the package from the start. Ok, if I then want to fundamentally modify the assignment, how do I proceed. I have no idea, can you give me the rough steps? Is it risky for the hardware C64 (brick)? |
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Post by 10vorne on Jan 10, 2023 16:01:41 GMT
What about using the virtual keyboard to launch the game? I sold off my maxi a while back for money reasons so I don't remember because I've been using the mini the last couple years, but the maxi still has the ability to bring up the virtual keyboard I assume? Another alternative would be to buy a real Competition Pro that uses the Atari/Commodore joystick port and plug it into a USB adapter that features extra navigation keys on the box. However, that can open up a whole new can of worms in possibly not being readily compatible to where you'd need to edit the config text file. A third alternative method that is guaranteed to work is to modify your broken stock maxi controller by adding a Atari/Commodore connector on the side or by a cable hanging out of it. It's easy to do. Just solder the appropriate printouts to the controller's switch contact points and ground and then plug an original Competition Pro into the plug. Now you can use the stock controller buttons to navigate and the other to play games because both joysticks will essentially become a single "stock" controller. The added perk is now you can start using other original retro joysticks like from the Atari 2600, which is my favorite joystick for C64 and Atari games. There are videos on doing this mod with mini or maxi stock joysticks. I'll try the virtual keyboard. The DOY solution with the two joysticks is not easy for me to make, I simply have too little experience with such tinkering. In the end it's just more broken  |
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Post by c64stuff on Jan 10, 2023 22:51:12 GMT
Watch some videos on modifying the stock joystick with an Atari plug so you can plug the stock joystick into the maxi and an original competition pro into it to use. It's not hard to do the videos will walk you through it, and even if you don't know how to solder you can buy Atari connectors that have screw tabs to hook up the wires to it. For the connections to the stock joystick you can just press them down and hot glue them in place. It's not a perfect solution compared to soldering but it will work. In fact I think I ran across a video where somebody did it all that way.
The mini and maxi do allow you to assign keys or buttons to each other for games, but you have to do it through either tags attached to the file name of whatever games you've stored on USB, or I think there's also a main file that you can create on USB to apply to all games on the USB stick or just to entire folders I think too. Do a search for BastichB videos for a tutorial on this for the mini I think he was doing it on, which will work the same on the maxi too.
Far as modifying the config file for key mapping on Project Carousel, it's not a risk to the firmware. As long as you aren't setting it to autoboot Project Carousel at power up the stock firmware remains unaltered. Every time you boot the machine it's running the stock firmware until you install the fake system update firmware, which is only temporary in memory and is gone when you turn power off..
The new A500 mini has onscreen remapping without needing to add file name tags or dive into the config text file, and you can do it for each individual game too and it will save it for you. Hopefully Retro Games Ltd will do another firmware update and provide this feature onscreen for the mini and maxi C64 too.
Your only risk at installing project carousel and then editing the config file would be mapping it out the wrong way to where the joystick wouldn't allow you to move around in the menus, but of course you have a keyboard to use so it's no big risk. And you don't need to edit the file using the maxi. Just stick the USB stick with Project Carousel into your PC and edit the file. Besides, as already said your maxi it's going to boot the original unmodified firmware unless you installed autoboot.
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Post by c64stuff on Jan 11, 2023 0:24:03 GMT
Here's a few video tutorials on the mini/maxi and things like features of each firmware update, adding file tags, etc. It's been a while since I watched them so ran across things I never realized. Such as in this video about a certain firmware update where you can now add file tags to do things like turn off a certain SID chip emulation thing which may fix issues with a particular game where the sound doesn't seem quite right, or a screen compression file tag that fixes issues with game graphics that might not show on screen using the normal on screen settings menu options because some game graphics were displayed in the border of the C64 where normally graphics wouldn't be.
And here's his tutorial on CJM files to do many of the things discussed previously, such as assigning keys to joystick buttons to get past things like loader screens or to do things in a game by hitting a controller button that would normally require pressing a keyboard key. Stuff like assigning a joystick button as a keyboard spacebar key press to do things like get past a loader screen, or do things in a game that you'd normally need to hit a key like spacebar to do.
I'd highly recommend doing a search for his other videos on the mini and maxi because it will get you up to speed quick on all their features. I think I remember he even has a playlist of these mini/maxi features and updates but I didn't look to see just now. His video channel is definitely worth subscribing to. It's one of the best on the C64 and Amiga out there. His documentaries on Commodore games or the arcade scene are also extremely good. Think (?) I heard him say a while back that Amiga content is coming more frequently soon from him on it now that the A500 mini is out, because it makes it easier to capture HDMI from it versus the sometimes tricky screen modes original Amiga hardware can produce like interlaced along with the Amiga's video connector type.
Which brings up a question I have. If you're running a platform in emulation on something like the raspberry pi, is it outputting the screen in a normal modern day refresh rate of 50 for pal or 60 for ntsc, or will it revert to outputting at odd refresh rates some special high resolution modes used on things like the ST or Amiga, like 15khz interlaced on the Amiga? Most modern monitors or TVs can handle many types of refresh rates, but back then you needed a specific multisync monitor or add on video output hardware option to convert it to something useable. Otherwise it would either flicker or be completely unusable.
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Post by 10vorne on Jan 11, 2023 14:02:16 GMT
Far as modifying the config file for key mapping on Project Carousel, it's not a risk to the firmware. As long as you aren't setting it to autoboot Project Carousel at power up the stock firmware remains unaltered. Every time you boot the machine it's running the stock firmware until you install the fake system update firmware, which is only temporary in memory and is gone when you turn power off.. The new A500 mini has onscreen remapping without needing to add file name tags or dive into the config text file, and you can do it for each individual game too and it will save it for you. Hopefully Retro Games Ltd will do another firmware update and provide this feature onscreen for the mini and maxi C64 too. Your only risk at installing project carousel and then editing the config file would be mapping it out the wrong way to where the joystick wouldn't allow you to move around in the menus, but of course you have a keyboard to use so it's no big risk. And you don't need to edit the file using the maxi. Just stick the USB stick with Project Carousel into your PC and edit the file. Besides, as already said your maxi it's going to boot the original unmodified firmware unless you installed autoboot. Phew, I'm a bit confused, sorry about that. Does the section you write about modifying the config file relate to the same approach that lancelot refers to? So by changing the gamecontrollerdb.txt with TheC64-X-Windows? That means I use TheC64-X-Windows on a USB stick and boot with the C64 Maxi, change the gamecontrollerdb.txt, remove the USB stick and then the Competition Pro also works with the firmware of the C64? Did I understand that correctly? I'm not starting with the DOY solution, I just don't trust myself to do it. There are ready to use Adapters, but expensive www.ebay.com/itm/284839462473And the procedure of arranging the buttons using tags on the file names was also my idea. However, lancelot wrote that they only take effect AFTER the game has started. But I can't even start the game with the SL Competition Pro, so the approach has to take effect first. In the meantime, I have also written to Retrogames via Twitter, asking whether they can store the SL competition in the firmware in such a way that it can also be used in classic mode without any problems....we'll see. |
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Post by lantzelot on Jan 11, 2023 18:46:44 GMT
That means I use TheC64-X-Windows on a USB stick and boot with the C64 Maxi, change the gamecontrollerdb.txt, remove the USB stick and then the Competition Pro also works with the firmware of the C64? Did I understand that correctly? And the procedure of arranging the buttons using tags on the file names was also my idea. However, lancelot wrote that they only take effect AFTER the game has started. But I can't even start the game with the SL Competition Pro, so the approach has to take effect first. In the meantime, I have also written to Retrogames via Twitter, asking whether they can store the SL competition in the firmware in such a way that it can also be used in classic mode without any problems....we'll see. Yes, using the x-windows mod and modifying the gamecontrollerdb.txt will work with the firmware. But, it's as you say, you are modifying the firmware, so some people may feel this is a bit risky. But what you do is basically to just change the content slightly of that .txt file. If there is another firmware update released later on that adds configs to the file the entire file will be replaced, so I can't really see how this would cause any trouble. The only risk might be that you corrupt that file in some way, then I'm not sure how theC64 will behave. This is how I did it when I modified my machine: 1. Download the x-windows mod and unzip to the root of an USB stick that works with TheC64. 2. Create a folder named "backup" on the USB stick. 3. Copy the attached gamecontrollerdb.txt in this post to the root of the USB stick also. It's the one I use which have the modifications you need. 4. Put the USB in a port in TheC64 and also add a usb mouse to another port. Boot up TheC64. 5. Go to system information, it will find a new firmware update. Launch it. It will not do anything with the firmware, it will launch the X-Windows-mod so that you can access the file system on the machine from the file manager that is launched automatically. You need the mouse to be able to navigate in the windows mod easily. 6. In the file manager you see three folders: "The thec64 directory - for adding games/jousticks", "The full nand rootfs - use at your own risk!" and your USB stick. Select the first one. You see two folders: games (contains the carousel games and screenshots etc) and ui. It's under ui that the gamecontrollerdb.txt is located (don't remember exactly where, it might be in a subfolder, but that should be easy to find). 7. Copy the gamecontrollerdb.txt from the firmware to the backup folder on the USB stick. This is for keeping an backup of the original file if something goes wrong. 8. Copy the modified gamecontrollerdb.txt from the USB root to the firmware, replacing the existing one. 9. You can now exit the x-windows-mod by pressing logout (red button at the right bottom corner, next to the clock) When you boot up thec64 after this the "B" button is mapped to the left triangle, and the "menu" is mapped to the right triangle. gamecontrollerdb.txt (64.67 KB) |
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Post by c64stuff on Jan 11, 2023 20:02:01 GMT
And if you don't want to directly edit the configuration file in firmware, here's two other ways as I was talking about above:
Simply install Project Carousel on a USB stick on your PC, safe eject it, then plug the USB stick into your mini or maxi, power the mini/maxi up, and go to system information and it should show there's a new firmware update available, which is Project Carousel. Don't worry about installing it because it won't rewrite the firmware inside the mini or maxi. When you "install" it it's only doing this in RAM to run it. Wait several seconds for the screen to go black and then it will reboot. As long as you don't pick the Project Carousel option to install autoboot on power up (meaning to launch Project Carousel automatically at power up), it's not modifying the stock internal firmware. When you turn off the machine it's erased from memory and next time you boot it's running original firmware again.
Now after powering down your mini or maxi, plug the USB stick back into your PC. You'll find the config text file in the list if files on the stick. Load the config file with a text editor and edit it the way you want for a particular controller and replace (save) the old file. Next safely eject the USB stick from your PC, plug it back into the mini or maxi, and power up. Go to the system information menu option and reinstall the fake Project Carousel firmware update again. Now you should be using the new button functions you assigned.
Sidenote on the above info. I don't think you need to do a first fake install of Project Carousel on the mini or maxi to create the config file on the USB. Pretty sure it already exists when you install Project Carousel on the USB, so you can immediately edit it before booting it on your mini/maxi?
Or, as also said before, without using Project Carousel you can create a file on a USB stick that the stock firmware will use to configure everything the way you want. I think the mini and maxi offers that feature besides using file tags for individual games, and that you can create this main config file inside of individual game folders where any games in that folder will use the keys or buttons you assigned so you can custom group games that way control wise without adding file tags to each individual game file name. In other words, each folder can have a different configuration file in it for any games in that folder. But I'm not positive. Read the manual or watch some videos to find out. I never felt the need for it so I don't know if I'm remembering right.
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Post by 10vorne on Jan 12, 2023 11:29:27 GMT
8. Copy the modified gamecontrollerdb.txt from the USB root to the firmware, replacing the existing one. 9. You can now exit the x-windows-mod by pressing logout (red button at the right bottom corner, next to the clock) When you boot up thec64 after this the "B" button is mapped to the left triangle, and the "menu" is mapped to the right triangle. I just checked again. Both joysticks are called Competition Pro Extra from Speedlink. One, however, is the Anniversary Edition. Does that make a difference? Can I still use your file for both joysticks? |
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Post by lantzelot on Jan 12, 2023 11:37:39 GMT
8. Copy the modified gamecontrollerdb.txt from the USB root to the firmware, replacing the existing one. 9. You can now exit the x-windows-mod by pressing logout (red button at the right bottom corner, next to the clock) When you boot up thec64 after this the "B" button is mapped to the left triangle, and the "menu" is mapped to the right triangle. I just checked again. Both joysticks are called Competition Pro Extra from Speedlink. One, however, is the Anniversary Edition. Does that make a difference? Can I still use your file for both joysticks? Yes, I think so... they probably have the same serial ID in the file so the modification should work for both. |
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Post by 10vorne on Jan 12, 2023 13:41:39 GMT
And if you don't want to directly edit the configuration file in firmware, here's two other ways as I was talking about above: Simply install Project Carousel on a USB stick on your PC, safe eject it, then plug the USB stick into your mini or maxi, power the mini/maxi up, and go to system information and it should show there's a new firmware update available, which is Project Carousel. Don't worry about installing it because it won't rewrite the firmware inside the mini or maxi. When you "install" it it's only doing this in RAM to run it. Wait several seconds for the screen to go black and then it will reboot. As long as you don't pick the Project Carousel option to install autoboot on power up (meaning to launch Project Carousel automatically at power up), it's not modifying the stock internal firmware. When you turn off the machine it's erased from memory and next time you boot it's running original firmware again. Now after powering down your mini or maxi, plug the USB stick back into your PC. You'll find the config text file in the list if files on the stick. Load the config file with a text editor and edit it the way you want for a particular controller and replace (save) the old file. Next safely eject the USB stick from your PC, plug it back into the mini or maxi, and power up. Go to the system information menu option and reinstall the fake Project Carousel firmware update again. Now you should be using the new button functions you assigned. Sidenote on the above info. I don't think you need to do a first fake install of Project Carousel on the mini or maxi to create the config file on the USB. Pretty sure it already exists when you install Project Carousel on the USB, so you can immediately edit it before booting it on your mini/maxi? Or, as also said before, without using Project Carousel you can create a file on a USB stick that the stock firmware will use to configure everything the way you want. I think the mini and maxi offers that feature besides using file tags for individual games, and that you can create this main config file inside of individual game folders where any games in that folder will use the keys or buttons you assigned so you can custom group games that way control wise without adding file tags to each individual game file name. In other words, each folder can have a different configuration file in it for any games in that folder. But I'm not positive. Read the manual or watch some videos to find out. I never felt the need for it so I don't know if I'm remembering right. If I understood that correctly, the flags or the cjm files for entire directories only take effect after the game has started. But my problem is in classic mode to start the game with the competition in the first place. Project Caroussel looks great, I like it. But I get along well with the directory structure in classic mode and the carousel really shows its strengths when you do the work of adding information, screenshots, etc. |
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Post by 10vorne on Jan 12, 2023 13:48:11 GMT
This is how I did it when I modified my machine: 1. Download the x-windows mod and unzip to the root of an USB stick that works with TheC64. 2. Create a folder named "backup" on the USB stick. 3. Copy the attached gamecontrollerdb.txt in this post to the root of the USB stick also. It's the one I use which have the modifications you need. 4. Put the USB in a port in TheC64 and also add a usb mouse to another port. Boot up TheC64. 5. Go to system information, it will find a new firmware update. Launch it. It will not do anything with the firmware, it will launch the X-Windows-mod so that you can access the file system on the machine from the file manager that is launched automatically. You need the mouse to be able to navigate in the windows mod easily. 6. In the file manager you see three folders: "The thec64 directory - for adding games/jousticks", "The full nand rootfs - use at your own risk!" and your USB stick. Select the first one. You see two folders: games (contains the carousel games and screenshots etc) and ui. It's under ui that the gamecontrollerdb.txt is located (don't remember exactly where, it might be in a subfolder, but that should be easy to find). 7. Copy the gamecontrollerdb.txt from the firmware to the backup folder on the USB stick. This is for keeping an backup of the original file if something goes wrong. 8. Copy the modified gamecontrollerdb.txt from the USB root to the firmware, replacing the existing one. 9. You can now exit the x-windows-mod by pressing logout (red button at the right bottom corner, next to the clock) When you boot up thec64 after this the "B" button is mapped to the left triangle, and the "menu" is mapped to the right triangle. I dared myself during the lunch break. I did it exactly according to your instructions (a permanent drumloop in my head the whole time). IT WORKED!!!!! The logout didn't work and at some point I had to pull the power, the C64 hung up. After that I rebooted with both Competition Pros and I STARTED Archon and selected a two player game and both joysticks were addressed. So everything as I wanted it to be. If a new firmware comes out, I'll do it that way again. Many thanks to both of you for your time and your nerves in explaining this to me and showing me the possibilities. I'm happy! |
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Post by lantzelot on Jan 12, 2023 14:12:39 GMT
I dared myself during the lunch break. I did it exactly according to your instructions (a permanent drumloop in my head the whole time). IT WORKED!!!!! The logout didn't work and at some point I had to pull the power, the C64 hung up. After that I rebooted with both Competition Pros and I STARTED Archon and selected a two player game and both joysticks were addressed. So everything as I wanted it to be. If a new firmware comes out, I'll do it that way again. Many thanks to both of you for your time and your nerves in explaining this to me and showing me the possibilities. I'm happy! That's great! Happy to help :-) |
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