X-Arcade setup on Raspberry Pi

Useful Answer

For the easiest Raspberry Pi setup, recommend Batocera. It usually works well with X-Arcade hardware and needs less manual configuration than RetroPie.

The original Tankstick is compatible with Raspberry Pi. The Pi will recognize it as a standard keyboard or USB controller when connected through USB.

Tankstick MAX is also compatible with Raspberry Pi / RetroPie setups. Use Mode 4 / X-Input, where the Tri-Mode PCB behaves like an Xbox 360 gamepad. RetroPie should detect it as an Xbox-style controller, so no extra Xarcade2Jstick setup is normally needed.

For a BYO / Tri-Mode kit on Raspberry Pi, install the mode switch and use Mode 4 / X-Input when RetroPie mapping behaves strangely, such as Player 1 buttons working but the Player 1 joystick not moving while Player 2 works. In X-Input mode, configure Player 1 in RetroPie first; Player 2 normally follows the same mapping automatically.

Basic setup:

• Connect the X-Arcade to the Raspberry Pi through USB.
• Set the controller to X-Input Mode, shown by the blinking green light.
• X-Input mode gives the most consistent mapping for modern emulator setups.
• If RetroPie does not detect the controller cleanly, boot the Pi first, then plug in the controller and assign controls once in RetroPie.

For trackball or spinner support in RetroArch/RetroPie:

• Manually set the mouse index to HID 1241:1111 in input settings.
• If using RetroPie, install the xpad driver from the driver packages menu so all buttons work correctly.
• For Mode 4 / X-Input layouts where RetroPie treats the bottom LT/RT buttons as analog axes, set the xpad triggers-to-buttons option with echo "options xpad triggers_to_buttons=1" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/xpad.conf, then reboot or reload the driver and remap controls.

For Libretro:MAME on Batocera, a customer-confirmed trackball path is:

• Open the RetroArch menu with Hotkey + A while the game is running.
• Go to Settings > Input > Retropad Binds > Port 1.
• Set Mouse Index to the X-Arcade mouse entry, commonly shown as HID 1241:1111.
• Return to the game and retest trackball titles such as Centipede.

Support video:

• https://youtu.be/0Tw0VglqbUQ

Source Context

Support recommended Batocera for a Raspberry Pi customer because it requires the least configuration. The same answer gave RetroPie-specific fallback steps for trackball/spinner mouse index and the xpad driver. A later compatibility question confirmed that the original Tankstick also works with Raspberry Pi as a standard keyboard or USB controller. Other support answers added Tankstick MAX / RetroPie compatibility through Mode 4 X-Input, detected as an Xbox-style controller, and BYO / Tri-Mode kit guidance to install the mode switch and use Mode 4 when RetroPie maps one player side inconsistently. A later Batocera 40 / Libretro:MAME case confirmed that setting RetroArch Port 1 Mouse Index to the X-Arcade HID mouse entry restored Centipede trackball control. Another RetroPie case confirmed the xpad triggers_to_buttons=1 setting for shoulder/trigger behavior in Mode 4.