RA on A7 devices-btstack/ps3 controller pairing issues FIXED

RetroArch Apple devices
#1

Finally! A major issue that’s been a problem for users with A7 devices (iphone 5s, ipad air, ipad mini retina) is no more!

On 7.0.x, connecting or trying to connect a ps3 controller in RA to your A7 device has been hit or miss. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t, sometimes it would time out, sometimes it wouldn’t even want to disconnect after you closed out the app, etc, etc… It appears that it was libstatusbar which was causing this issue. It’s a dependency that btstack downloads and installs when you first install btstack. Apparently libstatusbar hasn’t been updated in ages. Of course it was initially coded for 32bit devices and that’s why A6 and below devices didn’t have the kind of issues A7 users were having. Anyways, it just very recently been updated to support 64bit devices and pushed out in cydia. If you have btstack installed, you should see the update available for libstatusbar in cydia (if you haven’t already updated).

I can confirm that the update has resolved all the issues I’ve experienced regarding connecting a ps3 controller through btstack in retroarch. My ipad air is on 7.0.6 and the ps3 controller paired every time flawlessly, disconnected properly after closing the app every time as well with no issues, and configured and played flawlessly during gameplay.

My iphone 5s is on 7.1.2, and when it came to pairing the ps3 controller, same thing. No issues whatsoever.

RA on A7 devices on 7.0.x should be a rather enjoyable experience now, especially if you prefer using a ps3 controller. However, for those users who’s A7 devices are jailbroken on 7.1.x, one major issue still remains; and that would be the crashing of RA when attempting to load a game using the pcsx rearmed core. This has happened to me every single time when attempting to use the default playstation core. I have yet to successfully play a psx game on my iphone 5s on 7.1.2… …this issue doesn’t seem to be affecting 32bit devices (A6 or lower), and the pcsx rearmed core works perfectly fine on a iPhone 4S on 7.1.2 that I tested.

Regardless, that’s one problem down when it comes to issues regarding RA on A7 devices. Hopefully, the core crashing on A7 devices on the 7.1.x jailbreak can be looked into and fixed before the release of the next update. For those who are still using A7 devices on 7.0.x, enjoy!

#2

Didn’t solve anything for me. My analog stick is still going crazy on n64. Using ps3 controller. iPad Air 7.1.2

#3

I don’t use the n64 core, so I wouldn’t be familiar with your particular issue. The update of libstatusbar fixed the issues on A7 devices regarding connection/disconnection issues and the overall stability when it came to btstack and the ps3 controller on RA with A7 devices. If you’re controller is connecting/disconnection fine on your iPad Air on 7.1.2 (and you updated libstatusbar to the latest version), then you’re good. You say that your analog stick inputs are acting all funny in the n64 core, yet I take it the the rest of your buttons are working fine. That wouldn’t be btstack/libstatusbar causing those issues with your analog sticks. That would either be your controller’s analog inputs being improperly mapped or the n64 core causing that particular issue. Let me ask you this, do the analog sticks work as they should in other cores (for example, the pcsx rearmed core with a game that uses the analog)?

If your analog sticks are acting funny in all cores, first make sure that the controllers analog stick isn’t damaged or faulty in any way. If it’s good to go, then re-map each analog input in your core settings carefully, and while during gameplay, make sure that in the rgui menu, you have controller type set to “joypad with analog”.

If your controller’s analog sticks are working fine in other cores, but only acting funny in the n64 core, well then you’ve pinpointed the cause of the issue. Double check your controller settings while using the n64 core (in rgui and/or input settings in core input config) and make sure everything is set up where it should be. If your other buttons work fine, but your analog sticks are acting funny, then that sounds to me like user error. I’ve had no problem getting my analog sticks to work on my iPhone 5s on 7.1.2, which is an A7 device just like the iPad Air. Again, I don’t use the n64 core, so there’s that too which may be the cause for your issue.

#4

I can’t test it because psx crashes when I load a rom

#5

I have an iPhone 5s and my PS3 controller does work great with n64 core. No problems, by now.

#6

Of course it’s crashing on you, you’re on 7.1.x and an A7 device. Pcsx rearmed core crashing on game load up is an issue currently for A7 devices. Hopefully it’s being looked into and maybe even fixed before the next update comes out…

#7

That’s good to hear, presidentzero should get with you on helping him set up his controller inputs correctly and getting them to work with the n64 core, etc.