HOWTO: Get USB Gamepads to Work in Hoary

[poofyhairguy]

How to Get Gamepads to Work in Hoary

First let me say that most of the credit for this goes to Randabis:

http://www.ubuntuforums.org/member.php?u=4323

He was the first person to post on here how to get my gamepad to work. I need my Zsnes fix!!! I currently use a Thunder General USB-PS2 adaptor with a Dualshock2 (the best controller ever IMHO), but this should apply to all USB gampads that work without drivers in Windows XP. You need an internet connection to do this FAQ.

First, open up a terminal and type:

sudo apt-get update

then

sudo apt-get install joystick

tell it to load at boot.

then

sudo apt-get install jscalibrator

tell apt-get yes when it asks something.

Then, after these packages are installed, plug in you USB gamepad. Wait a minute. Then type in the terminal:

sudo chmod 666 /dev/input/js0

EDIT: If you have more than one gamepad, plug it in now, wait a minute and type:

sudo chmod 666 /dev/input/js1

If you get no errors, you gamepad should now work!!! Enjoy.

[ming0]

Just figured I'd chime in and report that I have tried 3 different Logitech 'wingman' pads (one regular, one w/ single analog, and one w/ dual analog that looked like ps2), and all of them have worked smashingly!

Just plug in the usb cable, fire up zsnes, and you're ready to rock!

Also, you can find them on ebay, but watch out for jacked up shipping prices

(I got all 3 of mine for $30, and then gave 2 of them away to friends for christmas. Now we have cross coast Mario Kart matches, it's so sweet!)

[Brian McConnell]

Thanks for the tips and my new sig. I'll have to check oput ZSnes... I've yet to game on ubuntu.

Mario Kart on a network sounds too cool.....

[graigsmith]

hmm, wierd, i just jabbed the controller in the usb port.

and changed the device from /dev/js0 to /dev/input/js0

and it worked.

[poofyhairguy]

hmm, wierd, i just jabbed the controller in the usb port.

and changed the device from /dev/js0 to /dev/input/js0

and it worked.

Ok. Let it be known then that this might not be necessary in every case. Worked for me though.

[TheStyle]

It's a no go with my Gravis GamePad Pro

[poofyhairguy]

It's a no go with my Gravis GamePad Pro

Have you tried pluging it into a different USB port. It sounds dumb, but it worked for me a few days ago.

EDIT: Do you know if it needs drivers in windows to work, or is it plug and play there?

[Sniffer]

Great Tut, it works for me

Logitech Wing Pad

[N'Jal]

Either my USB pad aint supported or im testing it in the wrong things. I have the MS Sidewinder Game Pad Pro. It's not terrible important to get it working as i have never really used it for anything im just confirming if it will work. I followed the instructions all the way though and sure enough on /dev/input/ there is a js1 now i just can't seem to make this run.

I have tryed Neverwinter Nights and Tux Racer neither has worked.

As i said its not importand, but its worth knowing if its supported or not, in case someone else has the same pad.

[poofyhairguy]

Either my USB pad aint supported or im testing it in the wrong things. I have the MS Sidewinder Game Pad Pro. It's not terrible important to get it working as i have never really used it for anything im just confirming if it will work. I followed the instructions all the way though and sure enough on /dev/input/ there is a js1 now i just can't seem to make this run.

I have tryed Neverwinter Nights and Tux Racer neither has worked.

As i said its not importand, but its worth knowing if its supported or not, in case someone else has the same pad.

Make sure that the controller actually works before you blow time on it. I spent a while trying to fix my friends USB pad only to find out that it didn' even work in XP. It was broken.

Also try opening nautilus with sudo and change the permission on js1.