Howto change custom keys for the joystick in the *nix version of vice

VICE (x64) - Cange the "Custom Keys" of the joystick emulation
the x11 version of vice doesn't give the opportunity to change the keys for the joystick emulation comfortable in its drop-down-menus.

so you have to use the numerals block, the user-defined keys ("custom keys") or to plug in two analog joysticks.

the expression "user-defined" is misleading in this context, because this keys can not be selected anywhere. and so they will be everytime on the numerals block and w,e,r,s,d,f,x,c,v and as fire-button.

but the keyoard-layout inclusive the joystick-keys correspond to a file named x11_sym.vkm, wich can be found in /usr/lib/vice/C64 (most linux variants) or in /usr/local/lib/vice/C64 (e.g. FreeBSD).

example of a joystick mapping:




 * 1)    W




 * 1)  A-+-S




 * 1)    D




 * 1) fire : Strg right



w -2 8

a -2 4

s -2 2

d -2 6

Control_R -2 0

i personally like the arrow-keys for joystick 2, so my configuration looks like this: vice_X11_sym.vkm