Retro Freak firmware update

[Newsdee]

Yes got one and wired works fine. Last year some retailer told me about the wireless adapter but that still has to materialize.

[Andromeda Stardust]

^^This "wireless BT adapter" plugs into USB, or is it an actual SNES port? I heard some mention of the premium dongle being required so I assume they meant the controller adapter with retro ports? If so, it would work on a real SNES?

[Newsdee]

^^This "wireless BT adapter" plugs into USB, or is it an actual SNES port? I heard some mention of the premium dongle being required so I assume they meant the controller adapter with retro ports? If so, it would work on a real SNES?

I remember being told it was for areal SNES yes. So you'd need to use the Freak adapter. That said it wouldn't be hard for them to make a USB version too. We need to wait and see.

[Andromeda Stardust]

I remember being told it was for areal SNES yes. So you'd need to use the Freak adapter.

Not if I plan on using it with a real SNES!

[Newsdee]

Not if I plan on using it with a real SNES!

I've been thinking that in theory it should be possible to make a generic USB -> real hardware adapter. Say for example support the Neogeo DB15 and from there add the innards of a SNES pad to make it work on the SNES.

Looking around there were some projects but none fully open (and they shut down so you can't get it from them), and one project using a Raspberry Pi which seems overkill. Maybe somebody will build it with a tiny arduino at some point.

[Andromeda Stardust]

I've been thinking that in theory it should be possible to make a generic USB -> real hardware adapter. Say for example support the Neogeo DB15 and from there add the innards of a SNES pad to make it work on the SNES.

Looking around there were some projects but none fully open (and they shut down so you can't get it from them), and one project using a Raspberry Pi which seems overkill. Maybe somebody will build it with a tiny arduino at some point.

NeoGeo would make a great interconnect interface for arcade controls, and have some uses outside of Neo Geo.

 

Problem with adapting a USB controller to any non-USB console interface is the lack of standardization. Aside from the Dpad typically being assigned X1/Y1, there is no standard protocol for relating the physical locations of buttons to button1, button2, and so on. A PS3 or 360 controller, despite requiring proprietary drivers, each button corresponds to a specific input in a specific logical order. That's why all the consoles use proprietary USB or Bluetooth controller standards.

 

So a USB SNES clone controller from Yobo or Hyperkin might have a very different button layout than the iBuffalo or NES30, or even SNES-to-USB adapters from different manufacturers such as Retrobit and RetroUSB.

 

In order to adapt a generic USB controller to a console like SNES, the adapter would have to memorize the layouts and identifiers of every common USB device, so that Start + Select, the diamond pad, and shoulder buttons would map to the proper inputs. And that includes not just every SNES clone USB controller, but every console USB adapter for every console by any manufacturer, every Logitec USB gamepad made in the last twenty years, etc...

 

Or the adapter device would need some method for the user to program it in order to learn the correct button assignments. Any way you slice it, would be a PITA and configuration nightmare.

 

Or just blindly assign SNES functions to the first twelve logical button inputs and let the gamer figure out which button does what with no way to remap them...

 

Maybe if HID protocol specifically defined functions like start, select, home, the diamond, L1 R1 L2 R2, circle sticks, etc, instead of random arrangement of generic buttons and axes, but it don't work like that.

[Newsdee]

Or the adapter device would need some method for the user to program it in order to learn the correct button assignments. Any way you slice it, would be a PITA and configuration nightmare.

HID devices report a unique vendor and product ID, so you can have a mapping table in the firmware to rewire buttons to a common standard. Obviously that means having a way to update the firmware on th device...

[Andromeda Stardust]

HID devices report a unique vendor and product ID, so you can have a mapping table in the firmware to rewire buttons to a common standard. Obviously that means having a way to update the firmware on th device...

Yes and who will maintain said database with literally hundreds or thousands of devices? Unless a public Wiki supplies data for obscure controllers your *insert favorite device here* may not work. The cost of supporting an online database for such an adapter may not be worth it to the company producing the adapter device.

[Newsdee]

Yes and who will maintain said database with literally hundreds or thousands of devices? Unless a public Wiki supplies data for obscure controllers your *insert favorite device here* may not work. The cost of supporting an online database for such an adapter may not be worth it to the company producing the adapter device.

Open source it and provide instructions.

 

That's what I did when I contributed HID mapping code to the MiST firmware

https://github.com/mist-devel/mist-board/wiki/USBJoystickMapping

 

I get that it's not for the mainstream gamer, though.

Edited April 24, 2016 by Newsdee

[Bill Loguidice]

Well, the 8BitDo wireless adapter is out for purchase, but right now it's only for NES controller ports, so it only supports two main action buttons despite working with all 8BitDo wireless controllers (this is according to the source, Analogue). I guess we'll have to wait for a SNES version for it work with more systems on the Retro Freak!

[Andromeda Stardust]

Well, the 8BitDo wireless adapter is out for purchase, but right now it's only for NES controller ports, so it only supports two main action buttons despite working with all 8BitDo wireless controllers (this is according to the source, Analogue). I guess we'll have to wait for a SNES version for it work with more systems on the Retro Freak!

 

Thanks for the link. I just bought an NES receiver along with a 8bitdo FC30 controller from Play Asia. I also previously owned the NES30 version as well and it is nice and well built, if a bit blocky. I wonder if it uses B+A or Y+B for the action buttons on NES?

 

Retro Reciever for NES:

http://www.play-asia.com/retro-receiver-for-nes/13/70a2f7

 

8bitdo FC30 gamepad:

http://www.play-asia.com/8bitdo-fc30-gamepad/13/70a2nl

 

8bitdo NES30 gamepad:

http://www.play-asia.com/8bitdo-nes30-gamepad/13/70a2gl

[<<<Andrew>>>]

Thanks for the link. I just bought an NES receiver along with a 8bitdo FC30 controller from Play Asia. I also previously owned the NES30 version as well and it is nice and well built, if a bit blocky. I wonder if it uses B+A or Y+B for the action buttons on NES?

Retro Reciever for NES:http://www.play-asia.com/retro-receiver-for-nes/13/70a2f7

8bitdo FC30 gamepad:http://www.play-asia.com/8bitdo-fc30-gamepad/13/70a2nl

8bitdo NES30 gamepad:http://www.play-asia.com/8bitdo-nes30-gamepad/13/70a2gl

I was just coming here to post about the 8bitdo receiver - seems great add on to the RetroFreak - let us know how it works when it arrives!

 

I have the SFC30 controller and really like it. Build quality is great.

 

Hopefully they release the SNES/SFC wireless adapter soon too. I saw the prototype in action at http://retro.hk and it worked well but they still don't seem to sell it.

[Andromeda Stardust]

I was just coming here to post about the 8bitdo receiver - seems great add on to the RetroFreak - let us know how it works when it arrives!

 

I have the SFC30 controller and really like it. Build quality is great.

 

Hopefully they release the SNES/SFC wireless adapter soon too. I saw the prototype in action at http://retro.hk and it worked well but they still don't seem to sell it.

Well as you know I can only use wired with the Retro Freak without the controller adapter. It's just another cool accessory for the NES, far more elegant a solution than that rubbish Messiah controller from back in 2004. I had one of those and it was awful. Sucks I never got one of those overstock Messiah Advantage lookalike arcade controllers. That would have been a sweet use for my othrwise useless Messiah wireless dongle.

 

So far, I've only been able to use my 8bitdo NES30 controller with PC emulators, so using them with NES will be nice. In hindsight, I probably should have bought two dongles now that I have an NES30 and an FC30.

 

EDIT: I wonder, if a person bought two 8bitdo receivers to use simultaneously for two player, would they interfere with each other due to cross-talk? Because the NES ports are butted up against each other. I have heard that it's not good to stack Bluetooth receivers. Place two devices within a couple inches of one another and they'll cause interference.

[Bill Loguidice]

I'm going to wait for the SNES version. No reason to lose versatility, although this NES one would be something I'd eventually get afterwards. It's hard to turn down wireless capability these days.

[Guest LiqMat]

New firmware guys. Version 1.6. We're back to that verify file again though.

 

http://retrofreak.in/ja?src=17e62166fc8586dfa4d1bc0e1742c08b

Edited April 27, 2016 by LiqMat

[Newsdee]

Most interesting seems to be that shortcut to go back directly to main menu (home+R).

 

From auto translation:

 

2016.04.26[NEW]

 

Version 1.6

Application: Ver1.6 (Build2851)]

[cartridge adapter: build6] update to the ※ ver1.6, will be possible only from ver1.5. If your retro freak is ver1.0~1.4, from the update to ver1.5, Please execute the update to ver1.6.

 

 

Shortcuts Added "Main Menu". The set button (the default setting of the standard controller [HOME + R]) by pressing, you can during the game Back to "Game Menu" directly to the Main menu without displaying.

 

- The database of game information has been updated.

 

· Fixed a bug in the game of the operation part. The operation is to improve the game in ver1.6 Please confirm.

 

Edited April 27, 2016 by Newsdee

[LadyLilith]

I hope this doesn't mean the 3rd party emulators won't happen

Edited April 27, 2016 by LadyLilith

[Guest LiqMat]

Any clue what it does?

 

Also, I hope this doesn't mean the 3rd party emulators won't happen

 

I was hoping maybe I could get my NBA Jam cart and Battletoads cart to work with this new firmware, but nope. The HOME + R does in fact take me to the main menu now direct from any game. I don't have a great memory of what was there before so someone else might see some differences. Pretty minor update from what I can see.

 

After pecking through a bit more over at Cyber Gadget it improves some more title compatibility. They have a link to the hardware and cart list with issues. Helped me none, but maybe benefits some of you. Chrome browser for this as it will ask to translate it for you on the fly.

 

http://www.cybergadget.co.jp/support/retrofreak/supportlist/8077/

Edited April 27, 2016 by LiqMat

[Andromeda Stardust]

Nice to see they are maintaining it at least. It gives me an excuse to fire it up again. Too many toys and not enough time to play...

[Newsdee]

I'd really like them to add a config file to add "known" USB devices... it would need a bit of user effort, but would make it more plug and play when you have multiple types of controllers.

[Andromeda Stardust]

I'd really like them to add a config file to add "known" USB devices... it would need a bit of user effort, but would make it more plug and play when you have multiple types of controllers.

I personally wish the Rfreak could differentiate between "Other USB" devices. Each device has it's own name or ID that it reports to the OS when plugged in, so why doesn't Rfreak use these names to identify controllers?

 

If a user has multiple USB-HID gamepad devices from different vendors, he/she must manually change the controller profile before starting the game, otherwise controls will be mapped wrong and the game may not function properly. If the Rfreak identified USB devices by their internal ID, rather than "Other USB device" then it could automatically assign the previously saved controller profile to that specific controller as soon as it is connected.

 

Also there should be some way to streamline the process of creating a controller profile. When I programmed my Cthulhu arcade stick, for instance, it took around 45 minutes to create and save individual profiles for each system for said controller. If Rfreak could only read the internal names of each USB controller, then popular retro controller clones such as iBuffalo or 8bitdo could have default profiles added to the firmware whenever a gamer plugs in one of these supported models. As it stands, the clunky interface has put me off of using anything but default Rfreak controller or PS3.

[Guest LiqMat]

Whoops! Wish there was a delete post option.

Edited April 30, 2016 by LiqMat

[rworne]

New firmware guys. Version 1.6. We're back to that verify file again though.

 

http://retrofreak.in/ja?src=17e62166fc8586dfa4d1bc0e1742c08b

 

 

Yes, the good news is Sega Card games now work with this version. F-16 Fighter is working beautifully now.

[Atariboy]

Any sign yet of a domestic release?

[Andromeda Stardust]

Any sign yet of a domestic release?

Fedex will ship it right to your door, plus menu is English. Doesn't get more domestic than that. Needs converter for NES though...

http://www.play-asia.com/retro-freak-premium/13/708vvv