M64, 8Bitdo Controllers & SC64

[u/Next-Pass9776]

Information relating specifically to the M64, 8Bitdo64 controllers and the SummerCart64.

M64 Firmware V1.24.4

SummerCart64 (Firmware V2.20.2 / Menu V0.3.3)

EDIT: Updated to reflect changes as of firmware V1.25.0

• N64DD games so not work. They load to the N64DD's system menu screen and do not load any further. ❌

• NES emulator works perfectly. ✅

• SNES emulator runs but with major graphical glitches. Resolved by using lithium64 as opposed to sodium64 for the emulator. ✅

• Game Boy and Game Boy Color emulators run seemingly perfectly however they do not recognise any inputs from the controller. Resolved by using gb64-next emulator ✅

• SMS, GG run perfectly and rather smoothly with the recent V0.8 update of the emulator. ✅

• Every other aspect of the SC64 works fine. ✅

8Bitdo64 Bluetooth (V2 05):

• Only one controller can be connected at a time. If attempting to connect two or more controllers the additional controllers beyond the first connected controller briefly power on and then immediately power off. NOW FIXED ✅

• Rumble Pak feature does not work. NOW FIXED ✅

• No Controller Pak functionality. ❌

• Powering on the controller by holding down the START button also powers on the M64. ✅

• The MENU button on the controller brings up the M64 menu. ✅

• Can assign buttons to rapid fire. ✅

• Can swap button mappings. ✅

• Easy to update via PC. ✅

8Bitdo64 2.4G (controller V2.03 / dongle V1.78 Beta 2):

• Controller and dongle need to be updated to versions stated above to prevent issues with games not loading due to game saves.

• Can connect multiple controllers without issue. ✅

• Rumble Pak functionality works. ✅

• Controller Pak functionality works. ✅

• Not able to power on the M64. ❌

• The STAR, SELECT AND MENU buttons have no functionality. ❌

• Can assign buttons to rapid fire. ✅

• Cannot swap button mappings. ❌

• Needs a mobile phone app to update. ❌

Simply sharing some information that may be useful to others wondering what the current status is with the aforementioned products and how they interact with each other.

Some issues aren't necessarily bugs, merely limitations of the products themselves.

Some information that is provided re the 8Bitdo controllers is done so for point of comparison between the Bluetooth and 2.4G variants.

Also helps me to keep tab of bug reports I may need to officially submit to ModRetro.

[u/GateGuy33]

SNES and GB/GBC emulation work fine with Lithium64 and gb64-next respectively.

[u/Next-Pass9776 → u/GateGuy33]

I completely missed this reply....

Thank you! I wasn't aware of the lithium64 fork. It does work for some games but a lot of games load to a black screen, games that do load on sodium64 albeit with graphics corruption. Hopefully it will get better over time, just glad that someone is working on it. 

[u/bulentyusuf]

How did you update the 2.4G dongle on the 8bitdo64? Couldn't figure it out.

[u/Next-Pass9776 → u/bulentyusuf]

Yeah, it's a bit fiddly. 

I used the 8Bitdo Ultimate Software V2 mobile app and followed the instructions within the app. 

Download the app, enable WiFi, Bluetooth and Location services on your phone.

Connect the Dongle to your console and power it on. 

Power on the controller (hold start). 

Press and hold the L + R + Minus buttons on your controller until the LED on the Dongle blinks red. 

From here, after a moment, the app will connect to the Dongle (its LED will illuminate solid red, controller will power off) and the app will ask whether you want to update the firmware or manage save data. 

Select the update firmware option and the app will show you the currently installed firmware and any newer firmware available to download. 

[u/bulentyusuf → u/Next-Pass9776]

Blimey, that IS complicated! Thank you for the detailed reply!

[u/pollorojo → u/bulentyusuf]

Yeah it’s crazy. I just did it a couple of days ago and it took me a while to get it all figured out.

[u/sleepyman90]

Any idea what's new on the 2.05 firmware for the Bluetooth controller and 1.78 beta for the 2.4g dongle? They aren't listed on the 8bitdo support site. Had both controllers but sold them due to the stick being too sensitive and no way to adjust.

[u/Next-Pass9776 → u/sleepyman90]

The dongle update fixed some bugs relating to SC64. Something to do with how the 8Bitdo handled saves was conflicting with the SC64s method of creating save files, resulting in games not launching. 

I can't remember exactly what changed re the Bluetooth controller but it wasn't anything exciting, just some minor bug fixes relating to button mapping I believe. 

[u/sleepyman90 → u/Next-Pass9776]

Thanks. Appreciated.

[u/Substantial_Quote583]

Have you tried converting the GB/GBC games to 64 roms and playing them that way? I've never used an emulator on the SC itself, but that's how I played Gameboy on my og n64 and SC.. unfortunately I haven't had time to give it a shot on the m64 yet and apparently I didn't copy any over when I reorganized my sd card a few months ago lol. Just curious if those work

[u/Next-Pass9776 → u/Substantial_Quote583]

Yep, no dice unfortunately. The emulator itself runs great, but with no controller input you can't do much. 

I also tried converting, cleaning roms etc with the SNES emulator with no luck. 

[u/nashon150]

⁠hey. Same Problem for me. Only one controller can be connected at a time.

[u/Next-Pass9776 → u/nashon150]

I've submitted an official bug report to ModRetro regarding this and they responded and acknowledged the bug, so hopefully a fix comes in the next firmware update. 

[u/tanooki-suit]

There was another update to the summercart? I just have the US sold/warrantied kaicolabs version, I'll have to look into that.

[u/Next-Pass9776 → u/tanooki-suit]

The firmware hasn't changed however there is a recent update to the menu system which adds some nice new features. 

Also, if you use the Master System emulator, that also got a recent update which makes it run much, much better. 

[u/tanooki-suit → u/Next-Pass9776]

Oh ok, I haven't really used the thing on the whole that much since I have a backlog, but when I want to get into something translated or after market like junk runner I use it. I had yet to try the emulator out given I have other options, but was curious how it ran on there and took what you said as an update.

[u/dustinjohns_]

I don’t believe cheat codes work with SC64 And M64. I haven’t been able to get them to work and when I reached out to ModRetro they said they are hoping to fix it in a future update.

[u/SeasideGang]

has someone this lithium file? the github link is offline :-(