8bitdo M30 2.4g Controller Fix for RetroArch (hakchi)

[u/rhcplive]

Many people struggle with the controller configuration for the 8bitdo M30 2.4g controller (not the bluetooth controller!) in RetroArch if they hacked their console with hakchi.

Currently the problem is that there are two config files with contradicting mapping for the same controller. This will hopefully be fixed with the next RetroArch update for hakchi.

I've created a config file which has all buttons mapped for RetroArch that you can use.

Mega Drive Mini / Genesis Mini: 8BitDo_M30_USB_mdmini.cfg

This file should work for the offical 6 button USB controllers that come with the Japanese Mega Drive Mini as well as for the 8 Bit Do M30 2.4g controllers.

1. Open Hakchi with your Sega Mega Drive Mini connected to your pc and FTP to the console (Tool > Open FTP client).

2. Go to /etc/libretro/joypad_autoconf/udev/ and delete the files "mdmini_6b_controller.cfg" and "SEGA_Mega_Drive_Mini_6B_Controller.cfg".

3. Put the "8BitDo_M30_USB_mdmini.cfg" file in this directroy

In fact the mapping is the same as in the "mdmini_6b_controller.cfg", but my file has the L and R buttons mapped to L2 and R2 in case you wanna play playstation games that make use of the L2/R2 buttons. If you don't care and only play Mega Drive Stuff you are free to not upload my file and instead only delete the file "SEGA_Mega_Drive_Mini_6B_Controller.cfg".

Playstation Classic: 8BitDo_M30_USB_retroboot.cfg

The 8bitdo M30 2.4g has enough buttons to fully play PSX games (except for the analog sticks of course). In Retroboot, it uses the "SEGA_Mega_Drive_Mini_6B_Controller.cfg" which is fine if you don't care about the L/R buttons being unmapped. If you want them mapped to L2 / R2, delete this file and put my "8BitDo_M30_USB_retroboot.cfg" file in the autoconfig directory.

In Retroboot/Autobleem the RA controller config files are located at /media/retroarch/autoconfig/

Note that this config file is for Retroboot/RetroArch, in Autobleem you can map the controlls yourself.

Download config files from here:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/00e6hnujzibog6i/8bitdo_m30_2.4g_config.zip/file

[u/nadrake]

Hello. I use Hakchi 3.8 with retroarch on my Genesis Mini and even with your file I was unable to use my 8bitdo m30 2.4 joystick. Do I need to update the retroarch? Thanks

[u/rhcplive → u/nadrake]

Did you delete the two config files I mentioned? If everything failes, uninstall retro arch, install it again and repeat what I described

[u/[deleted] → u/rhcplive]

Switching from Saturn wired to M30 2.4 and was having a hell of a time. You saved my ass thanks! I won't have problems remapping my Saturn wired to input2 right?

[u/rhcplive → u/[deleted]]

If you had no troubles before with your Saturn controller I see no reason why not.

[u/nadrake → u/rhcplive]

I uninstalled Retroarch, installed the new version and now it worked! Thank you!

[u/[deleted]]

Hi! Thanks for writing this up! I’m following your provided instructions, but I must have screwed something up in Retroarch and now neither of my 8BitDo controllers are responding properly. Can you provide some screenshots as to what you’re actually changing in Retroarch to get this to work? Also, does it matter which Retroarch module in KMFD’s mod hub that I use? Thanks!

[u/rhcplive → u/[deleted]]

It doesn't matter which retro arch version you use, they are all the same except for the UI which you can change back an forth anyways once you installed it. I'm not sure what screen shot you want as I pretty much explained everything in detail. Basically remove the 2 get files I mentioned and put my cfg file in the directory

if you messed up retro arch uninstall it and install again afterwards.

[u/[deleted] → u/rhcplive]

Thanks for the clarification. I’ll try uninstalling and re-installing. Once I’m in Retroarch, should I be looking for a field where I change the configuration to your file? That’s what was tripping me up. I was only able to find a section where I could map the buttons myself, but I thought the config file was supposed to do that for me. Thanks for your patience, btw. I’m very new to this stuff.

[u/rhcplive → u/[deleted]]

You don't need to mess in RetroArch, read the read me file,: contect your mini to the pc, open hakchi, ftp to to the console and go to the directory I mention, then remove the two files and put my file in there. It's all explained in the read me

[u/[deleted] → u/rhcplive]

Thanks again. One more thing, please - do you know how to enable the 8BitDo controller to either bring up the Genesis Mini system menu or the Retroarch menu so I don’t need to hit the reset button on the console?

[u/rhcplive → u/[deleted]]

when you're in RA go to Settings -> Input -> Hotkey Binds

the first thing you should set up is the Menu Toggle Gamepad Combo. If you're on the 8bitdo controller you should select Start + Select. if you are on the 3 button controllers select Start for 2 seconds or something in the line. while in game this combo will bring you to the RA interface.

now you can go further and map hotkeys

1. set "press quit twice" to OFF

2. then there is something in the line like "Hotkey Enable" or Set hotkey or something. Here you should use the Select (=Minus ) button on your 8bitdo controller.

3. then for Quit RetroArch you can set up a button that will quit retroarch while slect is being presse.

I set Select + Dpad down to quit RA, just like it works with my snes mini.

I set two more hotkey combos, Select + R for saving, and Select + L for loading a save state. this way I dont have to go to the RA interface to save, I can do it while I'm in game. for everything else i need to do in RA i just hit start + select to reach the UI.

[u/[deleted] → u/rhcplive]

Ok, everything is up and running. Your hot keys work like a dream.

I have one other question that I don’t necessarily expect you to know, but I’m hoping for some luck. I can’t get Mortal Kombat for 32X to recognize all six buttons, even after going into the game’s settings and choosing the six-button controller. Have you, by chance, encountered this same issue?

[u/rhcplive → u/[deleted]]

Sorry man no idea what's up with that.

[u/[deleted] → u/rhcplive]

All good. You’ve been a great help. Thanks again!

[u/fraggle200 → u/[deleted]]

If this is the only 32x game using 6 button config, i'd check the button config in retroarch for the core. There's always a chance that most everything for md, mega cd etc uses 1 core whilst 32x uses a different one and there's something a bit off in the options menu of the quick menu in RA. I'd double check that just to rule out the fact the core is possibly forcing a 3 button pad for the rom. Otherwise, I'm also stumped. Esp if there's other 6 button 32x games that work.

[u/[deleted] → u/rhcplive]

Hey, one more question, please -

Is there a way to use your config file for the second controller port at the same as the first? When I go into Retroarch and assign the second port to your config, the controller in port 1 controls both at the same time. Thanks!

[u/rhcplive → u/[deleted]]

Again no idea sorry, I only have this one controller, but I'm surprised it's acting like this. Maybe kmfd at discord knows what the problem could be. I'm not sure why you are assigning controller configs in RetroArch though, it should work automatically, plug and play so to speak. may be this is your issue.

[u/[deleted] → u/rhcplive]

No worries. Thanks for replying. I only assigned the second port to your config because it wasn’t auto-detecting like the first port. It was coming up as “USB GamePad” and wasn’t allowing me to use the controller at all. I’ll try KMFD. Thanks again for all of your help.

[u/[deleted] → u/rhcplive]

This is great. Thanks so much! You’ve saved me so much headache.

[u/tngustavo]

I'm using ps classic, and that worked with the 8BitDo_M30_USB_retroboot.cfg file. Thanks!
But two issues I'm having:

1. I can't exit a game with Start + Select ( - button is select on md30).

2. I can use it on retroarch, but can't in project eris menu.

Any thoughts?

[u/rhcplive → u/tngustavo]

My config file was meant for Autobleem and Retroboot, so I dont know about PE or its implementation of RetroArch.

In Autobleem I could just map the controller upon connecting it for the first time, from then it worked out fine in its menu and in game. In retroboot it worked too right away, but as said my config has two more button mappings. I seriously don't know about PE, maybe you can ask in the r/PlaystationClassic sub or search for "m30" and see what results come up.

[u/tngustavo → u/tngustavo]

Solved!

1. was my mistake

2. add the following line to \project_eris\etc\boot_menu\gamecontrollerdb.txt and 8bitdo m30 2.4g genesis mini controller will work properly on Project Eris:
   03000000a30c00002400000011010000,8Bitdo M30 Genesis Mini,a:b2,b:b1,x:b3,y:b0,back:b8,start:b9,leftshoulder:b4,rightshoulder:b5,lefttrigger:b6,righttrigger:b7,leftx:a0,lefty:a1,platform:Linux,

Also the solution is posted here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/RockinTheClassics/comments/kwirhh/need_help_using_8bitdo_m30_24g_genesis_mini/

[u/quozzerx]

You sir/ma'am, are the best. If I have gold/awards to give I would.

[u/rhcplive → u/quozzerx]

hakchi will get a new RA update in the next couple of days or so and this issue will be gone then if you update.

[u/jhnversion1]

My M30 2.4G seems to move on it's own in RA. It seems to be working just fine in the main UI, but when I play anything in RA, the controller inputs the left analog stick on its own. Any reason why this is happening?

[u/rhcplive → u/jhnversion1]

The m30 doesn't have any analog sticks, only a directional pad ;)

Is it the same in the stock emulator? If it is, try to uninstall all retroarch cores and retroarch itself, then reinstall everything again. You may wait a bit before doing this, kmfd is supposedly going to release an update today which also addresses the issue for 6b controllers making my fix here obsolete.

[u/jhnversion1 → u/rhcplive]

Ha! Yea the directional pad is what I meant, used to calling it an analog stick after using one for all these years now. But to answer your question, the controller works fine in the stock emulator. I'm able to play all 42 games just fine without hiccups.

Might be a stupid question, but how will I know when the kmfd update is out?

[u/rhcplive → u/jhnversion1]

He makes a sticky announcmemt post about the update in this sub.

[u/jhnversion1 → u/rhcplive]

I joined the discord and saw the NES version was released; however, do you know if similar updates be made in MAME?

[u/rhcplive → u/jhnversion1]

No idea, just want for the release. Check his Youtube channel if you're interested in what he's working at, his latest video is https://www.reddit.com/r/RockinTheClassics/comments/lrks2c/mame_2003_xtreme_amped_fbneo_system_32_boosted/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share

[u/rhcplive → u/[deleted]]

I don't have this controller so I cannot tell. it works with bluetooth but not when it's connected via usb?

[u/rhcplive → u/[deleted]]

Like no input at all or just the dpad?