Batocera.linux is an open-source and completely free retro-gaming distribution that can be copied to a USB stick or an SD card with the aim of turning any computer/nano computer into a gaming console during a game or permanently. Batocera.linux does not require any modification on your computer. Note that you must own the games you play in order to comply with the law.

Using Any X-Arcade With Batocera

The X-Arcade Tankstick is supported on Batocera when you enable controllers.xarcade.enabled=1 in the /userdata/system/batocera.conf file. It is done through the arcade2jstick module, which means that each of the two sticks is seen as an independent joystick by EmulationStation and the emulators. The trackball is recognized as a USB mouse in emulators that support mouse.


There's a config file

The X-Arcade controller config file is broken http://www.xgameroom.com/service/ServiceFiles/X-Arcade.zip

That's for MODE 1 X-Arcades that are designed to be seen as Keyboard.


If you have a TRIMODE X-Arcade (Made after 2019), your X-Arcade has Mode 3 as XINPUT, So you can slide to Mode 3 if you want and bactocera will see X-Arcade as Two Separate Gamepads

If anyone lands here looking for a working solution try:

  1. Change the slider on the back of the X-Arcade Tankstik to position 3

  2. Go back to the Batocera screen and it should identify the 2 separate controls of the Tankstik

  3. Map the Tankstik as you see fit to Bantocera

It took me 3 hours fiddling with this yesterday to arrive at this solution. This was a brand new Tankstik and batocera-x86_64-35-20220917 on a Windows machine.

This may work with other emulation/gaming systems as well.



Remapping per game: https://wiki.batocera.org/remapping_controls_per_emulator

Per game Retroarch overrides: https://wiki.batocera.org/advanced_retroarch_settings

That should be all you need.

If you specifically need a "no workarounds" situation, then don't use Batocera, as Batocera was designed as a "plug and play" system for one controller = one player, not one controller = one system. You'll find many other issues when forcing controllers on certain emulators that only exist in Batocera because of this philosophy.


How to Map Tanksticks to Batocera Using Mode 4(XINPUT) (2024/10/23 Updated)

I’ve put together a procedure for setting up your Tankstick with Batocera on your PC. 


Please follow the steps below:

  1. Open this link: Batocera Shortcuts and familiarize yourself with the default keyboard mapping, as you'll need it later.
  2. Make sure your PC is turned off.
  3. Plug in your Tankstick (with the mode switched to 4 for XINPUT) and also plug in a keyboard.
  4. Turn on your PC and run the Batocera system.
  5. Use the keyboard to press Start and enter the Batocera menu.
  6. Navigate to Input Settings.
  7. Select Configure Controller. It will show the number of inputs detected.
  8. Long press any button on Player 1’s Tankstick to initiate the mapping.
  9. Map the joystick and buttons to your preference. I recommend:
    • Lower Player 1 flipper button as Select and Hotkey.
    • Player 1 button as Start.
    • Assign A, B, X, Y, R1, L1, R3, and L3 to other buttons as you prefer.
  10. Once finished, press OK.
  11. In the Input Settings menu, set the Player 1 controller to Xbox Controller 1 and Player 2 controller to Xbox Controller 2. These are the driver names for XINPUT mode.
  12. Now you're all set, and you should be able to play games with it.


Note: To exit a game, press Select + Start together.