VT-Vincent

I think the registered version is a good value. The fee is relatively low, the license is valid forever (unlike most software where going from 1.x to 2.x requires a new purchase) and GameEx is practically the only product of it's kind.

I'm currently designing a custom theme for GameEx on my media center, and I wanted to know... is there any way to entirely eliminate elements such as the title, select lines, and other interface elements? And if so, could someone point me in the direction of how to do that?

I just figured it out... I had the "Advanced Graphics" option disabled, this option controls loading custom backgrounds.

Here's my GameEx.ini GameEx.zip

Nope, no custom backgrounds are working... I tried several of the included backgrounds. I also installed a test copy of GameEx on another computer and attempted to load scdart.png as the background, it worked correctly. I think there has to be something in my main configuration file that's preventing it from working (since this issue exists regardless of the theme I choose, and the fact the image works in a different install of GameEx). Unfortunately, I have no idea what I could have in the main config file that's causing it not to work...

I just tried it with Valhalla Final and Custom V2 Default to no avail.

I finally got a chance to set the snap path... I also set the other paths as well to fix the "Path not found" errors, but I still am not getting the custom background to come up

Full Log: 03:15:56.6 7/2/2007: GameEx: Version 8.20: Starting Log 03:15:56.6 7/2/2007: Operating System Platform: Win32NT 03:15:56.6 7/2/2007: Operating System Name: Windows XP 03:15:56.6 7/2/2007: Operating System Version: 5.1.2600 03:15:56.6 7/2/2007: Checking for versions of .net Framework installed 03:15:56.6 7/2/2007: .net Framework 1.0 Installed 03:15:56.6 7/2/2007: .net Framework 1.1 Installed 03:15:56.6 7/2/2007: .net Framework 2.0 Installed 03:15:56.6 7/2/2007: Intel® Core2 CPU 6300 @ 1.86GHz 03:15:56.6 7/2/2007: 1.86Ghz - 2 Cores or CPU's 03:15:56.6 7/2/2007: Running Randomize() 03:15:56.6 7/2/2007: Loading PlugIns 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Running Misc startup tasks 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Setting Menu types 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Opening Configuration File 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Getting Configuration Values 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Using Theme: Default - My Games for MCE - Widescreen 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - My Games for MCE - Widescreen 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Launching HideOS.exe 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Hiding Taskbar 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Is Media Center running? 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Checking/Creating LCD Registry values 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Media Center Mode 2 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Video previews on. Warning: Only recommended on modern systems 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Snap Delay set to: 2 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Get other settings 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Start work for Form 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Getting Original Screen Size 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Opening Database Connection 03:15:56.7 7/2/2007: Initializing Component 03:15:56.8 7/2/2007: Creating Radio Station Genres 03:15:56.8 7/2/2007: Succesfully created station genres 03:15:56.8 7/2/2007: Loading Controls.ini map file 03:15:56.9 7/2/2007: Loading Custom Emulators 03:15:56.9 7/2/2007: Loading Emulator 2: NEC TurboGrafx CD 03:15:56.9 7/2/2007: Loading Emulator 3: Gameboy 03:15:56.9 7/2/2007: Loading Emulator 4: Nintendo Gameboy Advance 03:15:56.9 7/2/2007: Loading Emulator 5: Nintendo 64 03:15:56.9 7/2/2007: Loading Emulator 6: Nintendo Classic 03:15:57.0 7/2/2007: Loading Emulator 7: Super Nintendo 03:15:57.0 7/2/2007: Loading Emulator 8: PC Games 03:15:57.0 7/2/2007: Loading Emulator 9: Sega Genesis / 32X 03:15:57.0 7/2/2007: Loading Emulator 11: Sega Master System and Game Gear 03:15:57.1 7/2/2007: Loading Emulator 12: Sony Playstation 03:15:57.2 7/2/2007: Using 2D Animations 03:15:57.2 7/2/2007: Using General Font: Segoe Media Center 03:15:57.2 7/2/2007: Using Title Font: Segoe Media Center 03:15:57.2 7/2/2007: MAME CMD options: -triplebuffer -nowindow -joy 03:15:57.2 7/2/2007: Initialising DirectDraw 03:15:57.2 7/2/2007: Creating DirectDraw Device 03:15:57.2 7/2/2007: Using Device: Primary Display Driver 03:15:57.2 7/2/2007: 245mb video memory available 03:15:57.6 7/2/2007: Setting Resolution to 1024x567 32 bit color 03:15:57.6 7/2/2007: Cannot Set Resolution 03:15:57.6 7/2/2007: Trying current windows resolution 03:15:57.6 7/2/2007: Creating DirectDraw Surfaces 03:15:57.6 7/2/2007: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode 03:15:57.6 7/2/2007: Creating Back Buffer 03:15:57.6 7/2/2007: Loading graphic Surfaces 03:15:57.6 7/2/2007: Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs 03:15:57.7 7/2/2007: Creating Surfaces Volume 03:15:57.7 7/2/2007: Creating Surfaces Arrows 03:15:57.7 7/2/2007: Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text 03:15:57.7 7/2/2007: Creating Surfaces Toolbar 03:15:57.7 7/2/2007: Creating Surfaces Backgrounds 03:15:57.7 7/2/2007: Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls 03:15:57.7 7/2/2007: Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo 03:15:57.7 7/2/2007: Creating Surfaces Home & Exit 03:15:57.7 7/2/2007: Creating Surfaces Snaps 03:15:57.7 7/2/2007: Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars 03:15:57.8 7/2/2007: Creating Fonts 03:15:57.8 7/2/2007: Creating Menu Font 03:15:57.8 7/2/2007: Restoring Menu Font From Cache 03:15:57.8 7/2/2007: Creating Game Font 03:15:57.9 7/2/2007: Creating Font Black 03:15:58.0 7/2/2007: Creating Font Black Small 03:15:58.1 7/2/2007: Creating Game Font Faded 03:15:58.2 7/2/2007: Creating Title Font 03:15:58.2 7/2/2007: Restoring Title Font From Cache 03:15:58.3 7/2/2007: Fonts Created Succesfully 03:15:58.3 7/2/2007: 200mb video memory left available 03:15:58.3 7/2/2007: Creating instance of global keyboard hook 03:15:58.3 7/2/2007: Starting GameExtender Publisher 03:15:58.3 7/2/2007: Text/Language: English 03:15:58.3 7/2/2007: Applying Language/Text 03:15:58.3 7/2/2007: Initialising Bass Audio Library 03:15:58.4 7/2/2007: Loading last used Game List 03:15:58.4 7/2/2007: Loading Start Page 03:15:58.5 7/2/2007: Setting Music Volume 03:15:58.5 7/2/2007: Cannot Load Play List. Check Path and filename 03:15:58.5 7/2/2007: Creating DirectSound Device 03:15:58.5 7/2/2007: Trying: Primary Sound Driver 03:15:58.5 7/2/2007: Loading Sound Files 03:15:58.5 7/2/2007: DirectSound Device Created Successfully 03:15:58.5 7/2/2007: Initialising DirectInput for Gamepad support 03:15:58.5 7/2/2007: Using Device USB Joystick 03:15:58.6 7/2/2007: Using Device USB Joystick 03:15:58.6 7/2/2007: Initializing MCE Remote 03:15:58.6 7/2/2007: Initialization OK! Starting GameEx! 03:15:58.6 7/2/2007: Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame 03:15:58.9 7/2/2007: Testing Main Loop Once: Main Loop ran successfully 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_2: Custom Background: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_2: Snap Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_2: Snap Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_2: Database: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_2: Database Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_2: Title Snap Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_2: Title Snap Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_2: Box Art Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_2: Box Art Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_2: Cart Art Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_2: Cart Art Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_2: Manual Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_2: Manual Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_3: Custom Background: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_3: Custom Background Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_3: Snap Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_3: Snap Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_3: Database: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_3: Database Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_3: Title Snap Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_3: Title Snap Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_3: Box Art Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_3: Box Art Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_3: Cart Art Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_3: Cart Art Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_3: Manual Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_3: Manual Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_4: Custom Background: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_4: Custom Background Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_4: Snap Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_4: Snap Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_4: Database: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_4: Database Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_4: Title Snap Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_4: Title Snap Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_4: Box Art Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_4: Box Art Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_4: Cart Art Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_4: Cart Art Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_4: Manual Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_4: Manual Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_5: Custom Background: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_5: Custom Background Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_5: Snap Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_5: Snap Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_5: Database: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_5: Database Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_5: Title Snap Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_5: Title Snap Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_5: Box Art Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_5: Box Art Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_5: Cart Art Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_5: Cart Art Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_5: Manual Path: G:\stella\manuals 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_5: Manual Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_6: Custom Background: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_6: Custom Background Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_6: Snap Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_6: Snap Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_6: Database: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_6: Database Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_6: Title Snap Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_6: Title Snap Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_6: Box Art Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_6: Box Art Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_6: Cart Art Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_6: Cart Art Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_6: Manual Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_6: Manual Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_7: Custom Background: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_7: Snap Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_7: Snap Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_7: Database: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_7: Database Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_7: Title Snap Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_7: Title Snap Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_7: Box Art Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_7: Box Art Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_7: Cart Art Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_7: Cart Art Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_7: Manual Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_7: Manual Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_8: Custom Background: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_8: Custom Background Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_8: Snap Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_8: Snap Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_8: Database: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_8: Database Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_8: Title Snap Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_8: Title Snap Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_8: Box Art Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_8: Box Art Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_8: Cart Art Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_8: Cart Art Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_8: Manual Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_8: Manual Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_9: Custom Background: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_9: Custom Background Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_9: Snap Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_9: Snap Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_9: Database: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_9: Database Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_9: Title Snap Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_9: Title Snap Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_9: Box Art Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_9: Box Art Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_9: Cart Art Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_9: Cart Art Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_9: Manual Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_9: Manual Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_11: Custom Background: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_11: Custom Background Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_11: Snap Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_11: Snap Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_11: Database: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_11: Database Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_11: Title Snap Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_11: Title Snap Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_11: Box Art Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_11: Box Art Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_11: Cart Art Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_11: Cart Art Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_11: Manual Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_11: Manual Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_12: Custom Background: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_12: Custom Background Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_12: Snap Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_12: Snap Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_12: Database: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_12: Database Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_12: Title Snap Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_12: Title Snap Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_12: Box Art Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_12: Box Art Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_12: Cart Art Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_12: Cart Art Path Does not exist 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_12: Manual Path: 03:16:00.7 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_12: Manual Path Does not exist 03:16:00.8 7/2/2007: Restoring Emulator from Cache 03:16:03.3 7/2/2007: Restoring Emulator from Cache 03:16:10.4 7/2/2007: Restoring Emulator from Cache 03:16:12.8 7/2/2007: Restoring Emulator from Cache 03:16:15.0 7/2/2007: Restoring Emulator from Cache 03:16:19.4 7/2/2007: Restoring Emulator from Cache 03:16:21.5 7/2/2007: Restoring Emulator from Cache 03:16:59.4 7/2/2007: Exiting GameEx! 03:16:59.4 7/2/2007: Saving Settings 03:17:00.6 7/2/2007: Disposing Plugins 03:17:00.6 7/2/2007: Closing database connection 03:17:00.7 7/2/2007: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit 03:17:00.7 7/2/2007: Media Center was not open when starting GameEx, so not launching

Hmm... I'm using the "My Games for MCE - Widescreen" theme, and I added the following to the theme.ini: [Emulator_2] CustomBackground=scdart.png and it's still not showing up... however, I looked at my GameEx log, and this is what I found: *snip* 03:07:15.0 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_2: Custom Background: 03:07:15.0 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_2: Snap Path: 03:07:15.0 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_2: Snap Path Does not exist 03:07:15.0 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_2: Database: 03:07:15.0 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_2: Database Does not exist 03:07:15.0 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_2: Title Snap Path: 03:07:15.0 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_2: Title Snap Path Does not exist 03:07:15.0 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_2: Box Art Path: 03:07:15.0 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_2: Box Art Path Does not exist 03:07:15.0 7/2/2007: Validating: Emulator_2: Cart Art Path: 03:07:15.0 7/2/2007: Warning: Emulator_2: Cart Art Path Does not exist *snip* By looking at the log, it appears to have found the background image since it does not say it doesn't exist like the others, but for some reason, it just doesn't seem to be doing anything with it.

I have created several custom backgrounds in PNG format for GameEx and I have tried to apply them to several of my emulators. The custom background appears in the dropdown and I select it, but when I launch GameEx, the standard theme's background displays instead. Is there anything that could be causing my custom backgrounds not to display? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

The new themes look great! I did have two Q's however, first, is there any way to vertically center the text on the buttons for "Hybrid Blue"? The text appears to be a bit too high on the button. The second was rather a general question about themes... Is there any way to have the images on the left of the interface alpha blend properly? I noticed that PNGs w/ alpha blending display an ugly rough black edge instead of properly alpha blending.

Hello, I'm a new user of GameEx, and I was wondering about two specific issues. The first issue is exiting ZSNES via the escape key, for some reason, it is the only emulator that will not exit by that means and I'd like to know if there's any way to correct that. The second issue is I noticed some platforms (mainly SNES), keep a last played list at the top of the ROM list, I'd also like to know if there's any way to get rid of that. Thank you!