RIP-Felix

that's a great deal! I spend more @ tacobell.

I should have asked if you can beta test an alpha. What I mean by that is that I'm approaching this alpha like a beta test, where I try to sleuth out the situations that cause errors/exceptions, crashes, and strange behavior and report them as if they were unknown bugs. However, there are known options that don't work and are not supposed to yet. I hope I'm not exasperating the devs with excessive reports about non-functioning options and known bugs when what this is supposed to be is a taste to wet my appetite for the beta release, where such reports would be more appropriate. Let me take this opportunity to thank @Tom Speirs @greatflash @headkaze and the rest of the GameEx Team for their continued hard work and patience. We all greatly appreciate you guys.. I personally really like the wheel and carusel views, the way you stretch the video snaps and Marquees to fit the Arcade, and the smooth/slick way navigating by holding down doesn't jitter. You have really put a nice presentation on this release. I can see where that community snaps 400x400 game logo project will fit nicely in the grid view, and like the direction this project is heading. Keep up the great work guys!

Me likey that Bluetooth retro controller. Thanks for the share, I think I'll get me one. As much as I love the original controllers I hate their cords...Best of both worlds!

The Megaman record is ridiculous! Holy crap.

I wish I had seen this thread 2 years ago when I built my cab. Now I'm kicking myself that I didn't get an I-pac. I went with the X-arcade Tanksticks instead. They are built like..well...a tank! They can take a pounding, that's for sure. It was a great all in one package that just works out of box, that's why I got them (On sale). I've even had a PCb go out on my trackball that caused it to lose the ability to track left/right. They sent me the replacement at no charge as soon as they could determine what the fix was, no argument. They're great! Having said that. I've since changed the buttons to colored ones and am contemplating getting a 4/8 way joystick for pac-man and such games. I've kinda wanted to do the led buttons too. So, if I were starting over I would get the I-pac controller. It has more options for button assignments and expandability/compatibility than my Tanksticks do. Plus I could've got all of the peripherals I want from the start. Plus plus you get to make your own CP, that's always a fun project (but not cheap. At least not the way I want to do it).

I forgot about the N64 controller. You could just use that with the Mayflash adapter, but it only has the 1 set of shoulder buttons. It has the left D-pad and feels comfortable when used for Genesis, of course the c buttons are a little small. Honestly, for nostalga I just use the original controller via various adapters. Most of the time I can get away with the PS3 controller, If I just want to play a game and forgo the authentic control scheme. BTW: that PS3 to PC adapter has a switch between Xinput and Dinput. The Dinput can pair four PS3 controllers perfectly and the Xinput emulates a single X-Box 360 controller (Call Home button = PS and everything). So, this is the most robust option for controllers I could possibly recommend, but I've always been a Sony fanboy... so there's that. Admittedly, I do like the feel of the X-Box controller. Of course, the x-Box controllers arn't compatible with PS3 games since they lack the extra shoulder buttons. Otherwise I would recommend it instead.

@stigzler Firefox gave me a "server not found" error. Is the link broken, od I need something other than clicking on it, or maybe my internet settings are preventing me from loading it. Any ideas? Most of that can be done on Pain.net. Not sure about the anti-allasing or clean edges, I usually use a combination of Magicwand + blur effects/shadow to soften and shadow edges. I'll have to rediscover GIMP, I abandoned it in favor of Pain.net. I'll have to play with GameSetMatch and the tools Draco mentioned in the first post. @Draco1962 Makes sense. Are we still focusing on MAME? I'll probably start working on this next week. SO knowing where to start would be useful (I don't want to spinn the tires working on something someone else already is).

I am, or was, in the process of creating a new theme. This project seems like a good fit for some of what I'd like to include in it. Also, the batch resizing aspect is appealing since I was looking for a way to make sure all my emumovies boxart (For PS2, GC, Wii, etc.) and Mame posters conform to the same pixel ratio. This way they will fit into my theme's foreground bezels (Can be anything from a simple boarder, to a game cartage, or an arcade cabinet, the possibilities are endless). This is the easiest method of displaying each system with a custom and beautiful menu of it's own. However, your limited to only 2 images that can change on a per game basis. Thats where custom artwork overlay come in (@Krakerman's GameRoomEx v2, since discontinued, for example) Would work well in Mame to ensure marquees fit into the marquee bezel of the foreground overlay. Anyway, you can see where I'm going with this. So basically there is interest for these and I would like to urge you all on. I will have some time this summer to work on this project, if I can figure out what I'm doing. I can work my way around Paint.net pretty well now, having made many custom theme backgrounds for myself and GameRoomEx v2 (Thanks to Krakerman for the inspiration!), but I'm a Gimp noob and haven't much a clue how to source any of the files to begin with. So, for finishing work, I'm game if we can put together a tutorial for getting started and what to do from there. Maybe a video that starts from scratch, 1) download this, 2) this is where the repository of file needing finishing work is, 3) here is an example of what needs to be done to each file in the list, 4) and here is how to name the completed *.png file and wher to save it, 5) here is how to sync your local folder to the cloud, 6) and so on..as needed to participate in the project. I will be working reduced hours and have 4 days off per week this summer to devote to projects. I was going just try and bang out another theme, but this sounds important so I'll try to do both If I can figure out how, of course. Stigs plan sounds organized. I like it. Also, I was debating whether or not to make my theme in 4K instead of 1080P, so his idea of keeping the largest file as possible in an unadulterated master file makes all kind of sense for futurproofing the project. And lets be real, this project will be a long term play, so 4K will likely be mainstream by the time this project is completed. Let’s not shoot ourselves in the foot by only having 400X400 finished images when we could have 800x800 or what have you. Is there a way to batch reduce to the required 400X400 if we start with an image set of 1:1 pixel ratio images?

Personally I've never found the need for a dedicated PC controller. Currently I'm using this + a PS3 controller, but this looks more versatile. My other Goto, is a wavebird and this. I can't say much about 6 buttons on the face though, other than the X-Box controller that had a white and black in addition to the standard four button diamond (SNES configuration). Edit: I just found this, pricey though! Used is more reasonable, but you may not want to go that route.

Just read through this, as I missed it. Interesting that work just seemed to stop abruptly. Why when Adultry said he was about to release 1.0 version of this app did the posts just stop...Kinda makes the conspiracy theories float around in my head. A, what are you up too? Seriously, though, I never was into the achievements thing. It kinda started when I fizzled out on console games in favor of retro titles. I do like the idea for retro games though, if there was some reason to keep playing besides nostalgia (like HiScore competitions and the GameEx community HiScores) it might compel me to stick with a title longer and enjoy it more. I think this idea, if it could be successfully applied to Mame, especially, or to Project 64 and PSX (I prefer ePSXe, but that's not going to happen) this could be in line with the incentive/social media model of functionality frontends like Evolution seem to be trending...Hmm...

Ok, I figured it out. I had the GameEx.exe set to "windows 7 compatability mode" in properties because without it you can't capture an image with print screen (which I use to capture screenshots for theme editing purposes). Anyway, that is what was causing the issue. I've marked this thread Resolved.

BTW, I used to be able to enclose these in spoiler quotes without having to upload the files, but the forum update has made it hard to do multiple spoiler quote without them nesting within one another. I wonder what that's all about. Edit: Files redacted by OP

So I recently upgraded my computer to an Intel i7-4790K with integrated 4600 graphics. I did get a GTX 970 but returned it (Fan problem) and decided to wait until prices come down and stick with onboard graphics for the moment. So here's the rub. I just got around to setting up MAME again and basically copied my exact settings from my previous "working" setup (complete with HDD paths and names). Everything is exactly the same as far as GameEx knows. That worked well for mostly everything, except the emus that required toe be installed on the OS drive (Project 64, Dolphin, and etc.) However, when I try to launch MAME the screen just goes black and MAME throws the "Can't Create Direct3D device" error. I can hover over the open window in the taskbar and it previews what's on the screen in MAME (the only way I can see the error message). What I've Tried: C++ updates, these should all be updated as I just installed Visual Studio for application building which I think updates all of them. DotNet framwork updates to latest from windows update. Latest automatic updates and optional drivers etc. They should all be good. Direct X runtimes. I tried the web installer and it said I had the latest version and then quit. Then I downloaded the "directx_Jun2010_redist" extracted to desktop, found and installed the "DXSetup.exe" within and updated them that way. Then I restarted the computer (as others have suggested). No luck. I can run the MAMEUI64.exe manually from within the MAME folder (v.149) and it will launch and run the game fine. Just not from GameEx. I went to Intel's website and downloaded their "Intel(R) Driver Update Utility 2.5" and it said there was an "Intel Graphics Driver for Windows 10/7/8.1." I thought that must be it, but it says my computer "does not meet the minimum requirements for installing the software." i7-4790K + 16GB RAM + Samsung M.2 SSD? Does not meet minimum requirements? Give me a break! Have any Ideas? I can Guarantee it's not an issue with my GameEx setup. It must be related to DirectX or video driver dependencies. I know that MAME added OpenGL support (yay) but I don't want to have to go through all the hassle of updating and compiling another version of MAME (I still can't figure out how to do it without screwing everything up, even after multiple reads through the tutorials for CLRmamepro). You all seem to do it so effortlessly, it makes me jealous. I know that a GPU would solve this, but I'm still waiting for prices to come down for the GTX 970. EDIT: I just tried Upfdating the video graphics driver in device manager as well, then restarted and it still throws the error. I also tried re-running intel's driver updater tool and it still won't install the driver they list. Not that it should matter, the device manager's updater and windows automatic updater should have that covered.

1941 - Counter Attack (I can't find it on the list and can't believe it's not)

Just noticed that the first entry (1941) is not showing in the list. Did we figure out why? Nevermind, it's not on the list. ??? that's hard to believe.

"MAME Settings" --> "Custom Lists Path" = the folder the below HiScore.ini is in (it is not nested within another folder therein, however the online updater app folder is in this folder as well) "MAME Settings" --> "Favorates file" = the actual HiScore.ini above (not just the folder it's in). Just, performed a Mame list update and guess what? It worked! I'm not sure why I couldn't get it to work last night. Anyway, I guess I don't need the Favorates file to point at the INI unless I want them there, correct? Lastly, can I add multiple arguments in the startup field to update both the INI and MAP files? HiScore.ini

Not sure If I did this correctly or not, probably not since it's not displaying the custom favorites ini, but I tried to follow the posts as closely as possible. I picked up a copy of HiScore Updater and set it up as directed. To test It, I added 1927 (a bogus entry) as a game on the list and loaded GameEx. When I exited the ini it had been replaced with the good copy as expected. So that part is ok. Here's my problem. The list that is supposed to appear in my Mame menu doesn't at all. Only the lists I enabled to show in the wizard do (vertical, Light gun, and all mame). I pointed the "custom list path" at the folder that contains the Hiscore.ini and nothing happened, so I tried also selecting the HiScore.ini in the "favorates file" field and all that did was add the list to my favorites menu (which is mixed with the other games I have favored in GameEx). I tried updating my mame list to no avail too. So, what did I do wrong? Or shoud I just go with Han's emulator option (which I did and it works fine, I would just like it under my mame menu).

Confirmed the RSS feed is back up. Great work!

Not sure how hard coded this is, but it would be nice to be able to change the font in the theme editor for the RSS scroller, date, time, menu lists, and other text (besides the Title) each individually instead of them all changing when one is.

Thanks. Any ETA? Not that I'm in a rush, I just like seeing that cool scroller boast the accomplishments of other members. It would only shame me .

It must be the xml, I just tested with text and a different rss and both work as intended, so it's not just me. So the rss feed that houses the hi-scores is down at the moment.

This is my start page rss (http://gameinfo.hfc-essentials.com/hiscore/HiScore.rss). No 404 error "page not found". It looks like xml to me, shouldn't it be displaying something?

I'm using @Krakerman's gameroomEX 2.0 theme which has many rss highscoores feeds. I've modified the theme to begin a new theme, but noticed that the rss scroller is not functioning at all. Did i miss an option somewhere?

I can see that you can only choose from MKV and MP4 with handbrake for output videos. That's all well and fine, but I like Video/Audio TS folders containing *.VOB format videos because burning the TS file direct to DVD creates the DVD without the need for converting. Is there a way to convert the MP4/MKV to Video TS (vob) from there? @Adultery if you right-click the icon in the system tray for passkey you can select "Rip to hard disk" or "Rip to image." It creates the whole disc though. I prefer DVD Shrink for DVDs because it lets you re-author the DVD and outputs to TS. Be careful with DVD Shrink's installer if you want to try it though. Norton 360 auto-quarantined it when I tried to Download it, but when I overruled and carefully installed it everything was fine. It tries to trap you into downloading a virus toolbar (installs a Rootkit), you can avoid it if your careful to decline and uncheck everything related to special offers. They employ behavioral phychology (Decline button and a check box auto checked. If you don't uncheck the box and hit the decline in haste it installs anyway...or something like that.), so again be careful with the installer if you want to try it. Just a FYI for anyone reading this post (I don't like giving viral advice)..

Thanks I'll give it a try. Actually, I've trived to use handbrake before to rip dvd's but had to "aquire" the encryption keys and put them in some folder (I didn't want to mess with that again since it didn't seem to work or was too slow to tell if it was working). I guess I'll give it another try, DVDFab passkey does the job of ripping well, so I wont need the MakeMKV. Actually I've been meaning to ask what the advantages of MKV files are? I have all my videos in Video/Audio TS folders so I can painlessly re-burn a DVD from them (without menus!). Kodi runs fine with them and I've had no need to use another format. However, I see that alot of people like MKV, why?