4-Player Paddles on MiSTer FPGA

Play Warlords four-player on a MiSTer FPGA. The adapter reads both paddles on each of Ports 1 and 2 and presents them to the MiSTer as two USB gamepads — all four paddles. Works with the Quad Ultimate and the Duo Ultimate; the steps below include the one button-mapping trick that trips most people up.

What you’ll need

• An iCode Quad Ultimate or Duo Ultimate
• Two pairs of Atari paddles (CX-30) — one pair in Port 1, one pair in Port 2
• A MiSTer FPGA with the Atari 7800 core
• A USB keyboard on the MiSTer (for the menus)

Step 1 — Set up the adapter

Save these to a preset so it’s one tap next time:

• USB Emulation → Classic. The most reliable mode for MiSTer.
• Console → Atari, and each port’s device → Paddles (or Stick+Paddles for auto-detect).
• Dual Paddles → Combined. Each port becomes one USB gamepad carrying its two paddles.
• Function → Left Analog. The paddles go to the left stick’s X and Y axes, which MiSTer’s paddle support reads.

Plug the adapter into the MiSTer. Gamepad 1 is Port 1’s paddles (X = Paddle A, Y = Paddle B); Gamepad 2 is Port 2’s. On the display, a yellow dot (Paddle 1A) and a blue dot (Paddle 1B) follow each paddle. Keep every paddle at 12 o’clock whenever you aren’t turning it, and re-center between steps.

Step 2 — Set up the Atari 7800 core

Load the Atari 7800 core, open the menu (F12) and go to Peripherals:

• Port1 Input → Paddle
• Port2 Input → Paddle
• Allow Multi Paddles → Yes (each gamepad supplies two paddles)

Then run a Hard Reset (or reload the game) so the next steps start clean.

Step 3 — Map the buttons (the important part)

Open Define Atari 7800 buttons. Directions are mapped by turning the paddles, then returning them to 12 o’clock:

1. RIGHT: turn Paddle 1A (yellow) clockwise, then back to 12.
2. LEFT: turn Paddle 1A (yellow) counter-clockwise, then back to 12.
3. UP: turn Paddle 1B (blue) counter-clockwise, then back to 12.
4. DOWN: turn Paddle 1B (blue) clockwise, then back to 12.
5. FIRE 1: skip it (Space on the keyboard).
6. FIRE 2: press the Paddle 1B fire button.
7. Select and Start / Reset: press the adapter’s Black and White buttons.
8. Skip any other prompts you don’t need.
9. At the end, PADDLE BUTTON: press the Paddle 1A fire button.

Don’t map FIRE 1. If FIRE 1 is mapped, the core won’t let you assign the Paddle Button and the paddle triggers won’t work.

Step 4 — Assign the four paddles

Load Warlords. Turn each paddle fully to its stop and back to 12 o’clock, waiting for the on-screen Assigned message each time, in this order:

1. Port 1, Paddle A → Player 1
2. Port 1, Paddle B → Player 2
3. Port 2, Paddle A → Player 3
4. Port 2, Paddle B → Player 4

Keep the other paddles centered while you assign each one. Four players, four paddles.

Quick reference

Always Hard Reset the core after changing paddle settings.

Still need help?

Still stuck? Ask in the community forum or on Discord, or contact iCode Support. Register your device and manage its settings at hub.icode.com.