In any case, the best deal I’ve found at the moment is the Dream Vapor Special Edition on Amazon. While it’s listed at $52.99, which is not great, there’s a $10.60 coupon, which is stackable, meaning you can purchase more than one controller. At $42.39 each, it’s a steal. The next lowest-priced options are Electric Volt at $49.49 and Robot White at $49.99.

I’m not sure how long those prices will last, so buy them while you can. I also plan at some point to provide more detail of how I use these controllers in combination with various systems, including the aforementioned Polymega, Evercade VS, and Atari’s THE400 Mini.

The post Limited Time Low Price for Xbox Wireless Controller – Dream Vapor Special Edition appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Anyway, the reason there’s a need for a firmware update is that the stock firmware (at least at the time I got mine) does not support the full range of the Apple II’s analog zones. Unfortunately, the official 8Bitdo support site does not list the product at all anymore, so I both contacted 8Bitdo support and also asked at the Apple II Enthusiasts Facebook group. As is par for the course, I received a helpful response first from the Facebook group.

While it still doesn’t provide the full analog range, there is a beta firmware that does significantly improve it. It’s available here via Facebook.

I then heard back from 8Bitdo’s support. They stated:

"Hello there.
AP40=N30/F30 Pro
http://support.8bitdo.com/
AP40 is a special edition, just download N30/F30 Pro firmware.
Thank you for contacting us."

So that’s option 2. Or it would be if they didn’t misunderstand and give me the update instructions for the gamepad rather than the dongle. I updated the gamepad anyway, which is, fortunately, still supported and usable with more than just this particular dongle should I so choose (I won’t).

This is my package from the Kickstarter. I also got an adapter for older Apple II systems, but that’s no longer needed since I’m just down to the Apple IIe Platinum.

Supposedly, updated firmware or not, testing results can vary wildly on a system-by-system basis. In my own testing with the MECC Computer Inspector Disk (also available from the Apple ][ Disk Server) on my Apple IIe Platinum, I found that the beta firmware gave me a good range, but not nearly as good of a range as an original Apple II joystick, in this case a Kraft. Neither gave as good of a range as paddles.

The calibration of the Bluetooth setup was not as good as the standard Kraft joystick.

Regardless of my own results and how your own may vary, at least there is an option for improved performance over the stock firmware. After clarifying to support that I wanted a new firmware for the dongle and not the gamepad, I received this response back:

"Hello there.
The firmware is the same.
Many thanks."

So they don’t even make the beta firmware available. It’s stock all the way for them. Unfortunate to say the least.

Games like Choplifter! are playable with the Bluetooth setup, but there’s no way to adjust the calibration, meaning you have to constantly stay in control of the helicopter, i.e., there’s no neutral hover state.

It was frustrating tracking all of this down, but thanks to the Apple II community and, to a far lesser degree, 8Bitdo’s own support, I was able to sort through it. While this will not be replacing my trusty Kraft joystick any time soon, this does now at least make for a somewhat reasonable backup in case that ever goes kaput. The main downside with 8Bitdo’s controller setup is that there are no analog trim pots, which are pretty essential for tweaking a controller on a per-game basis. So basically the default analog range and tuning of the 8Bitdo controller will either work well for a particular game or it won’t. There’s no way to tweak it one way or the other. As such, we still have to hold out hope for a true, modern analog controller replacement solution for those of us who still like to use original Apple II computer hardware.

Classic Apple II joysticks, like the pictured Kraft, have physical adjustment levers, which is what many Apple II games need.

The post Firmware update for 8Bitdo AP40 Apple II Retro Receiver and Bluetooth Controller appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

The packaging for the 8Bitdo offerings.

The other offering, the SNES30 GamePad, is a Bluetooth wireless controller styled like the original SNES gamepad. Besides working with the Retro Receiver, it also functions as a Bluetooth joystick, Bluetooth keyboard, in iCade mode, in Emu-Touch Screen mode, in Wii remote mode, in RetroN 5 mode, and as a wired USB controller, with more functions promised. Those additional functions can be added via firmware updates, which is also possible on the Retro Receiver.

Opening the SNES30 GamePad box.

The contents.

In the attractive packaging for the SNES30 GamePad, you get the controller itself, standard USB cable to charge the built-in 480mAh Li-on battery, SNES 30th Anniversary keychain, and paperwork. The packaging for the Retro Receiver is simpler, coming in blister packaging, and includes the controller port dongle and a standard USB cable for connecting to a computer. The instructions are on the back of the packaging insert.

What you get with the Retro Receiver.

Although both devices offer a tremendous range of functionality, I primarily bought this for use with the amazing Retro Freak (which I reviewed back in 2015), which does not have a wireless option. To use an SNES (and other) controllers with the Retro Freak, you need the Retro Freak Controller Adapter, which comes with the Premium bundle, or is available for purchase separately.

Here’s how I got both the Retro Receiver and SNES30 GamePad to work on the Retro Freak:

1. I charged the controller.
2. I plugged the adapter into the controller adapter on the Retro Freak.
3. I turned the Retro Freak on.
4. I pressed the pair buttons on both the adapter and the controller.
5. I was almost immediately able to move around in the Retro Freak’s menu system.
6. I selected the standard SNES controller setup in each Retro Freak emulation system’s menu.
7. I started playing wirelessly like it was a normal SNES controller plugged into the controller port with a wire.

It really is remarkable how seamlessly it all works. While I like the SNES30 GamePad, it’s not quite as nice as the original SNES gamepad. There’s a bit more bounce to the d-pad, for instance. Overall, though, I have no significant complaints, particularly for a third party design. It’s definitely a controller I’ll make regular use of.

These 8Bitdo products offer a solution to the one real problem with the Retro Freak.

The Retro Receiver on the other hand is unequivocally extraordinary. It delivers the holy grail of classic gaming, bringing true wireless capability to legacy hardware (or hardware that uses legacy controller ports) with no perceptible lag and no fuss configuration. It just works, period. That’s why the Retro Receiver for SNES is receiving an Editor’s Choice award for 2016.

Armchair Arcade Editor’s Choice Award 2016: 8Bitdo Retro Receiver for SNES

8Bitdo SNES30 GamePad

Pluses:

• Wireless
• Lots of functionality
• Excellent packaging

Minuses:

• Doesn’t quite capture the feel of the SNES original

8Bitdo Retro Receiver for SNES

Pluses:

• Wireless for SNES compatible controller ports
• Lots of functionality
• Works out of box
• Powered by controller port

Minuses:

• Nothing!

The post Review: 8Bitdo SNES30 GamePad and Retro Receiver for SNES appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

One usage scenario.

The post News: 8Bitdo Wireless Adapter is Now Available for Purchase appeared first on Armchair Arcade.