headkaze

The fonts folder is for fonts that will load when Evo is launched. This is so you can distribute a theme without the need for people to install the font. Yes, you should be able to drop the font in there and edit the ini files to use it.

Evo supports merged/non-merged zip and 7z format.

I wish I had the time to write a full tutorial but for now I can help with any specific questions. Here are some notes on getting started making your own custom theme for GameEx Evolution: 1. You will need Photoshop to edit layouts. The psd files are located in Themes\Default\Psd 2. Each object has its own layer in the psd and can have its own properties section in the associated layout's ini file. 3. Certain layouts support different orientations and screen aspect ratio's. In the following example [LAYOUT_GAMELIST].ini is the accompanying file for H_4-3 (Horizontal 4:3), H_16-9 (Horizontal 16:9), V_4-3 (Vertical 4:3) and V_16-9 (Vertical 16:9). [LAYOUT_GAMELIST].ini [LAYOUT_GAMELIST_H_4-3].psd [LAYOUT_GAMELIST_H_16-9].psd [LAYOUT_GAMELIST_V_4-3].psd [LAYOUT_GAMELIST_V_16-9].psd 4. A text layer can have a stroke, gradient or shadow properties. For example in the [LAYOUT_CONTROL_PANEL].ini file all text has a stroke width of "3". To apply this to all text values for this layout the following is placed in the [DEFAULT] section of the layout's ini file. [DEFAULT] StrokeWidth=3 5. If you modify a GUI image such as the [MENU_HOME_BUTTON] make sure you place the same image in "Themes\Default\Gui" NOTE: When you make a change to a layout's psd or ini file you will need to hold the SHIFT key when launching GameEx Evolution to re-create the cache.

I just want to point out that I'm in no way trying to minimize Flash's amazing work on the databases. There is no doubt he has spent a massive amount of time doing the data entry for them. The GameEx Database Manager software project was started way back in 2008 to help create the databases we see in GameEx today. DBM processes data from Moby, MAME, Gamebase, Hyperlist, GoodTool, NoIntro, TOSEC and ReDump databases. It has a tonne of features and is in my personal opinion one of the greatest features of GameEx. I'm very proud of this project and most people don't even have a clue about its existence. I've worked with Flash over the years adding features to DBM to help make his work easier. These days though, he's quite a competent C# programmer himself, and will often implement features on his own. This leaves me the valuable time I need to work on Evo. I do feel that one day we will be asking for more help from the community to contribute to the databases. Right now though I think Flash wants to see how far he can get on his own. That's a mighty task to say the least, so again, I take my hats off to him for this huge undertaking. So in answer to your questions: a) There will be a time when we will be asking the community for help again. DBM supports multiple users and can even upload databases directly to the repo. So stay tuned your help may still be needed! b ) With Evo we're creating a foundation for the community to build from. From modifying the layouts, graphics and themes to plugins and addons. We really want Evo to be the BYOFE (Build Your Own Front End). We believe it's the most advanced and customisable FE ever created. So yeah we are very much excited about the community coming along and contributing. There are lots of areas people will be able to help. So this is certainly an exciting time for the GameEx community.

There's a lot of work going on behind the scenes that most people have no clue about. For example the GameEx Database Manager software I've literally spent years and hundreds of hours writing to help create, manage and update the databases for GameEx as easy as possible. Without it they simply would not be possible. And yes Flash has been a great help with a lot of the data entry over the years and these days he even helps with the code on DBM from time to time. So thanks for your help Flash!

I added support for mounting images using Windows 10's built in virtual drive support in Evo and I believe Tom added support soon after for GameEx. Does SSF work with an image mounted using Windows 10? If it does there should be no need for any virtual drive software for Windows 10 users.

It looks like the MameUI team have moved the source to GitHub. In MC64 go to the Downloads tab and select "Download File List" and then it should prompt to update, update it and then follow the MameUI compile instructions. The MameUI source download now contains the entire source required to compile so you no longer need to download vanilla Mame first.

Should be fixed in the next update

To be fair you did write the GameEx Online API which is an essential part of these new features. So yes it was a "team effort" but thanks for the mention

Mame Compiler 64 v2.0.163 Released - Added support for STRIP_SYMBOLS This option is on by default as it will reduce the MAME binary substantially (ie. 118 MB vs 167 MB for a vanilla 64-bit build)