ZSNES working with XBOX One wireless controller & adapter, Windows 7

[Wreckdem]

Hi all,

Just wanted to share my experience getting ZSNES and XBONE controller w/ wireless adapter working on Windows 7. It was a shockingly unintuitive process at times, but the result is that I can now play FF2 from my living room!

NOTE: As a (sort of) workaround for most people trying to use the XBOX One wireless adapter with the Steam Link, I'd recommend first plugging the adapter directly into the host computer and testing whether the controller works from whatever distance you're aiming for. In my case, in a mid-to-large size 4-bedroom home, my controller works perfectly at a distance of over 20' from the host machine. This saved me a ton of hassle, as no USB server (e.g. VirtualHere) is required. If this is not an option for your installation, follow Cap'nDippy's thread for instructions on getting the XBOX One wireless controller working through Steam Link: http://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/0/458607699613882999/

---------------------------------

(For Windows 7/8.1)

1. Plug in xbox wireless adapter directly to host computer. Installer should autorun and attempt to install "Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows." If this succeeds (verify in Device Manager), proceed to step 4.

2. Go to http://catalog.update.microsoft.com from Internet Explorer and search "Xbox Wireless." As of 2/10/16, there are two available downloads called "Microsoft - Generic Controller - Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows." Download both ZIP files-- the file names will indicate which is 32-bit and which is 64-bit. Extract the appropriate ZIP file to a folder on your Desktop.

3. Go to Device Manager. Find "Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows" under networking devices. Right click and select update driver. Manually point the installer to the folder you just unzipped files to. Install should complete successfully.

4. Turn on Xbox One wireless controller. Briefly hold the pairing button on the adapter (plugged into computer), and then do the same on the controller. They should both blink slowly, then eventually go solid.

5. Windows 7/8.1/10 will auto-install the drivers for the controller. To celebrate a [finally] intuitive step, pour yourself some scotch. If this doesn't work, see here: https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/490123938430246727/#p14 and pour yourself another scotch.

6. After the controller is connected, open ZSNES. Go to "Config" > "Input" > "Set Keys." Attempt to program the Xbox controller according to your preferential button layout. If this works, and ZSNES does not freeze while programming the button layout, pour more scotch, then play FF2 or Chrono Trigger until your eyes bleed. If it fails, see step 7.

7. Navigate to your ZSNES root directory (where the EXE file is located). Open the file "zinput.cfg" and carefully replace your settings with the following values (applies to Xbox One controller only):

; Player 1 Input
; Input Device: 0 = Unplugged, 1 = KEYBOARD/GAMEPAD
pl1contrl=1
; Keys for Select, Start, Up, Down, Left, Right, X, A, L, Y, B, R
pl1selk=278
pl1startk=279
pl1upk=259
pl1downk=258
pl1leftk=257
pl1rightk=256
pl1Xk=275
pl1Ak=273
pl1Lk=276
pl1Yk=274
pl1Bk=272
pl1Rk=277

Your XBOX One controller should now be correctly mapped (d-pad only).


---------------------------------

Hopefully this helps someone out there who, like me, almost gave up on the dream of playing their entire SNES collection with their Steam Link / XBONE controller. Best of luck!

[Remlish]

Just use ICE, much easier solution.

[Wreckdem]

Originally posted by Remlish:

Just use ICE, much easier solution.

Not sure this comment is relevant. Ice is not the emu, it's just a library plugin. You still need an emu of some sort, like ZSNES. Ice is a nice addition to Steam, but not an easier solution vs. my post.

[Remlish]

Originally posted by deus_x3:

Originally posted by Remlish:

Just use ICE, much easier solution.

Not sure this comment is relevant. Ice is not the emu, it's just a library plugin. You still need an emu of some sort, like ZSNES. Ice is a nice addition to Steam, but not an easier solution vs. my post.

The controller works fine in EMUs on windows , the issues arise when using Steam Link and VirtualHere with an EMU. Setting up ICE will insure that the controller will work with every emulator not just ZNES.

[Wreckdem]

Originally posted by Remlish:

Originally posted by deus_x3:

Not sure this comment is relevant. Ice is not the emu, it's just a library plugin. You still need an emu of some sort, like ZSNES. Ice is a nice addition to Steam, but not an easier solution vs. my post.

The controller works fine in EMUs on windows , the issues arise when using Steam Link and VirtualHere with an EMU. Setting up ICE will insure that the controller will work with every emulator not just ZNES.

I agree that VirtualHere, while awesome, is a PITA. I bypassed the Steam Link altogether by plugging the adapter directly into the host computer, and it works perfectly. I suspect that most people can do the same, as I'm currently using the Xbox One wireless controller, though my host computer is more than 20' away from me.

The Xbox One controller did NOT work with Snes9x or ZSNES out of the box, though it worked fine on Steam / Windows games and a few other emus. Ice has not helped my controller issues; I had to map them manually as described above. Snes9x required a manual edit of the .cfg file. Both emus failed to recognize controller inputs during button layout programming.

I am curious-- how does Ice normally ensure controller compatibility among various emus?

[Remlish]

Didn't realize you had issues getting to work on your PC. The Steam Link in specific has parsing issues with controller support in desktop applications and using wireless controllers rairly work in emus unless you use ICE or similar. Xbox One controller are even more problematic as they require VirtualHere to work at all , compounding the issue.
My apology

[Wreckdem]

Originally posted by Remlish:

Didn't realize you had issues getting to work on your PC. The Steam Link in specific has parsing issues with controller support in desktop applications and using wireless controllers rairly work in emus unless you use ICE or similar. Xbox One controller are even more problematic as they require VirtualHere to work at all , compounding the issue.
My apology

Not to worry. I think that most people who are resorting to using VirtualHere should try plugging the wireless adapter (360 or One) directly into the computer. It sure saved me a lot of hassle, and I suspect it's a solution for 90% of folks on here struggling with this issue.

[Roxas Crossheart]

Originally posted by deus_x3:

Hi all,

Just wanted to share my experience getting ZSNES and XBONE controller w/ wireless adapter working on Windows 7. It was a shockingly unintuitive process at times, but the result is that I can now play FF2 from my living room!

NOTE: As a (sort of) workaround for most people trying to use the XBOX One wireless adapter with the Steam Link, I'd recommend first plugging the adapter directly into the host computer and testing whether the controller works from whatever distance you're aiming for. In my case, in a mid-to-large size 4-bedroom home, my controller works perfectly at a distance of over 20' from the host machine. This saved me a ton of hassle, as no USB server (e.g. VirtualHere) is required. If this is not an option for your installation, follow Cap'nDippy's thread for instructions on getting the XBOX One wireless controller working through Steam Link: http://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/0/458607699613882999/

---------------------------------

(For Windows 7/8.1)

1. Plug in xbox wireless adapter directly to host computer. Installer should autorun and attempt to install "Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows." If this succeeds (verify in Device Manager), proceed to step 4.

2. Go to http://catalog.update.microsoft.com from Internet Explorer and search "Xbox Wireless." As of 2/10/16, there are two available downloads called "Microsoft - Generic Controller - Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows." Download both ZIP files-- the file names will indicate which is 32-bit and which is 64-bit. Extract the appropriate ZIP file to a folder on your Desktop.

3. Go to Device Manager. Find "Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows" under networking devices. Right click and select update driver. Manually point the installer to the folder you just unzipped files to. Install should complete successfully.

4. Turn on Xbox One wireless controller. Briefly hold the pairing button on the adapter (plugged into computer), and then do the same on the controller. They should both blink slowly, then eventually go solid.

5. Windows 7/8.1/10 will auto-install the drivers for the controller. To celebrate a [finally] intuitive step, pour yourself some scotch. If this doesn't work, see here: https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/490123938430246727/#p14 and pour yourself another scotch.

6. After the controller is connected, open ZSNES. Go to "Config" > "Input" > "Set Keys." Attempt to program the Xbox controller according to your preferential button layout. If this works, and ZSNES does not freeze while programming the button layout, pour more scotch, then play FF2 or Chrono Trigger until your eyes bleed. If it fails, see step 7.

7. Navigate to your ZSNES root directory (where the EXE file is located). Open the file "zinput.cfg" and carefully replace your settings with the following values (applies to Xbox One controller only):

; Player 1 Input
; Input Device: 0 = Unplugged, 1 = KEYBOARD/GAMEPAD
pl1contrl=1
; Keys for Select, Start, Up, Down, Left, Right, X, A, L, Y, B, R
pl1selk=278
pl1startk=279
pl1upk=259
pl1downk=258
pl1leftk=257
pl1rightk=256
pl1Xk=275
pl1Ak=273
pl1Lk=276
pl1Yk=274
pl1Bk=272
pl1Rk=277

Your XBOX One controller should now be correctly mapped (d-pad only).


---------------------------------

Hopefully this helps someone out there who, like me, almost gave up on the dream of playing their entire SNES collection with their Steam Link / XBONE controller. Best of luck!

2024 decided to download ZSNES after a hankering to play some oldies and this helped