8Bitdo controllers are the best retro-gaming controllers you can buy. You could pick one up for your RetroPie gaming system so you can relax back on your lounge with your wireless gaming controller. We did a great write up on the process of connecting your 8BitDo to your RetroPie already if that's what you are looking for check it out here!
To recap quickly, the LEDs on the top of your controller tell you what mode and state your controller is in:
- Blue light is flashing: Bluetooth disconnected.
- Solid Blue light: Bluetooth connected.
- Green light flashing: Battery charging.
- Green light off means that charging is complete.
- Solid Red light: Battery Low
- No LED lights active: Power off or Sleep mode
There are a few other ways you can use your 8BitDo though; it's not just for the Bluetooth joystick mode you use for a RetroPie Console. You can boot your controller up in one of five separate ways, each of them will talk to your system in a different way.
If you read our other 8BitDo setup article, you'll remember that to connect your controller up to a Windows/Android/Linux operating system as a Bluetooth joystick, you'll want to hold just the START button on your controller for a few seconds (until both of the LEDs on the top of the controller blink) then release. Mode 1 puts your controller into the Bluetooth Joystick mode. You'll know for sure as the blue LED will flash once per second.
Mode 2: Bluetooth Keyboard (START + B)
Alternatively, you could connect your controller as a Bluetooth keyboard. Instead of registering as a game device with action buttons and D-pad style controls, your controller will register as a keyboard. All of the buttons will correspond with a letter on your keyboard instead! This can be particularly handy if you are playing a game/using an application that doesn't natively support gaming controller drivers. To start your Controller in this mode you will want to hold START + B until the lights flash (twice per second), this is Mode 2.
Mode 3: iCade (START + A)
The third mode is a very particular use case, so don't be worried if you've never heard of it. iCade is an application available on the App Store for iDevices. Through the iCade app you can purchase games to play on your iDevice. Some people have also built some little arcade cases for their devices to be mounted in, with the iCade controllers being able to give you external control of your touch screen! It's pretty awesome to see the little units, a little unpractical though compared to a PiCade unit. To use this one you'll need to boot your controller into mode 3 using the START+ A key combination, the lights flashing 3 times per second will let you know that you are in the correct mode.
Mode 4: Emu-Touch (START + X)
Another mode available to us with our 8BitDo controller is Emu-Touch mode. It's called EmuTouch as it allows you to emulate touches to your screen using your controller. You can only use this mode on an Android device with Root permissions too. Download the official 8BitDo APK from www.8bitdo.com and follow the instructions on the Fast Startup figure included with the controller to get up and running with your EmuTouch mode.
Mode 5: USB Joystick (SELECT then START)
The final mode is USB JoyStick mode allowing you to use your 8BitDo controller as a USB connected gaming device. There's no bootup combo for this mode, just switch your controller on whilst it is plugged in via USB and your PC will automatically pick it up as a USB joystick. Just clear your pairing information using the SELECT button for 3-5 seconds then switch it on whilst it's connected to your system!
That's all there is when it comes to using the modes on your 8BitDo controller! Let us know what you're using your controller for in the comments below, we'd love to hear from you guys.
