IMBerzerk

Flash, how's things? if you use the set I posted in 2012, there are a ton of descriptions. I went bananas working with that set and got a lot of them in there... now I need it to work.. LOL!

Thanks for the replies. If I want to use the Gamebase DB, is it a matter of just copying it into the Data/emulators folder of GameEx? A few years back I went to great lengths to try and get as many games as possible into the C64 GameEx set. But for whatever reason that I can't figure out, I don't see descriptions anymore. I use 3D Tic-Tac-Toe as a test as it's ported to several other consoles. I've checked to make sure the description is therein the DB, which it is, but nothing shows in GE. However, all the ports show. I'll keep messing with it... maybe it's something really simple I'm not seeing. IMB

Hi guys. Been a long time! Wow, so much has changed. The forum and website look awesome, and GameEx has come a really long way. Still loving it so many years later. Well, now to my small issue. Everything is working great... except I can't see any game descriptions for Commodore 64 games. I've had this issue since GE10 and gave up on it more or less. All other emulators and everything else I have running works flawlessly. I tried the newest version of GE, and even pulled down and dropped in the standard DB's. Nothing. I thought maybe it was my DB set. But the end result is still blank. The Log says it reads everything, and everything is configured ok. All games list correctly and the C64 games are located on other emulators as a 'clone' game (IE Alien Syndrome) But I still have no descriptions. Thanks for any help you can provide. I can live without it, but it would be really great to have it working like everything else. Also... so cool to finally have CCS64 working with GameEx so smoothly. IMB

Tom, thanks. I pulled down the file and as soon as I get home from vacation (9 days), I'll load it and let you know how it goes. IMB

Thanks Tom... I think that option will be one we're going to have a lot of fun with. I know I am definately looking forward to it. I will keep an eye out for it and begin to modify all my posted databases to reflect the new changes when it's ready. IMB

8trek, This is also something you might have to in the Theme Editor. Basically, open the editor, scroll through and choose your screen from the top list, click somewhere on the 'work area' so that the red box is the background... meaning... you highlight the background.... go to the 'open' button, and point to the background you want to use... if it is supplied with the theme. If not, you can make you own (hard to do unless you have/know how to use Photoshop/Gimp), or use the default backgorund supplied. I hope that helps and confused you more... IMB

Hansolo, I tried this already, with several games, but the only way to make it work is to change the first colmn to match the MAME parent... which of course changes the name of the game displayed in your list... so for example... my Intellivision game "Space Armada" gets changed to "Space Invaders"... it then shows the MAME parent "Space Invaders" ... but... that's not the real name of the Intellivision game... so the authenticity is lost. Another great example would be Odessy2's "K.C. Muncher" which is a port of "Pac-Man"... how cool would it be to link the two so that it displayed the MAME video.

I use M$ Access to edit all my databases, but there is other free editor's out there. I agree, "Parent" would be a better choice, just brainstorming, I thought of 'clone'... but it is the parent. What would it take to make this happen? Is it in the database, or the way GameEx reads/references the databases?

In my infinite desire to drive myself past the brink of utter insanity... I've been playing with db's again. My ultime desire is to link as many console clones to original arcade games... meaning... games that were not licensed to use the real arcade game name, but were a best version of the game for that console. example... Intellivision's "Space Armada"... is their obvious version of Bally/Midway's "Space Invaders". The only way I am able to link the two is to change Space Armada to Space Invaders... which then allows the link to the arcade, plus any other console clones of Space Invaders. I don't want to do this... What would be great is to create another column called 'clone' and add in the actual name of the game it's cloning, which then could be linked to the actual games on other console.... so... For Space Armada, it will link to Space Invaders, and display all the other clones and licensed versions on other systems... like Alien Invaders on Channel F, Space Invaders on Atari 2600.. and so on... Is this something that can be done, or is already an option I simply have not figured out yet.. Thanks. IMB

8trek, you also can change things in the gameex setup wizard that effect the layout and theme. Selecting 'simple' removes a lot of the extra stuff like that long line of 'by manufacturer... by year... etc..' it's a lot of work, but in the end, once you figure it out, it works well... and believe it or not... it's fun too. I combined the layout of Future Retro with the graphics of Black Glass... looks awesome on my BerZerk cabinet! IMB

no problem Draco. No did not upgrade to 12.78. I will today and see if it helps.

congrats!

Tom, here's my log. It says I am not running Media Player 9 or above... I have 11 installed?? When I turn off the music, everything is fine... no crashes. ---------------------------------------------------------- 6:56:28.8 7/18/2012: Opening Configuration File 16:56:28.9 7/18/2012: GameEx: Version 12.74: Starting Log 16:56:28.9 7/18/2012: Operating System Platform: Win32NT 16:56:28.9 7/18/2012: Operating System Name: Windows XP 16:56:28.9 7/18/2012: Operating System Version: 5.1.2600 16:56:28.9 7/18/2012: Getting CPU and RAM info 16:56:28.9 7/18/2012: AMD Athlon™ 64 Processor 3700+, 2047MB 16:56:28.9 7/18/2012: 2.21Ghz 16:56:28.9 7/18/2012: Running Randomize() 16:56:29.0 7/18/2012: Loading PlugIns 16:56:29.0 7/18/2012: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup 16:56:29.0 7/18/2012: Running Misc startup tasks 16:56:29.1 7/18/2012: Setting Menu types 16:56:29.1 7/18/2012: Getting Configuration Values 16:56:29.1 7/18/2012: Using Theme: FutureRetro2 16:56:29.1 7/18/2012: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: FutureRetro2 16:56:29.1 7/18/2012: Launching HideOS.exe 16:56:29.1 7/18/2012: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's 16:56:29.1 7/18/2012: Hiding Taskbar 16:56:29.2 7/18/2012: Is Media Center running? 16:56:29.2 7/18/2012: Checking/Creating LCD Registry values 16:56:29.2 7/18/2012: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode 16:56:29.2 7/18/2012: Media Center Mode 2 16:56:29.3 7/18/2012: Video previews on. Warning: Only recommended on modern systems 16:56:29.3 7/18/2012: Custom Keyboard Input enabled: Getting custom codes 16:56:29.3 7/18/2012: Snap Delay set to: 2 16:56:29.3 7/18/2012: Get other settings 16:56:29.3 7/18/2012: Desktop set to Hide ICONS and set Background to Black 16:56:29.3 7/18/2012: Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis 16:56:29.3 7/18/2012: Using DirectInput for keyboard input 16:56:29.3 7/18/2012: Start work for Form 16:56:29.3 7/18/2012: Getting Original Screen Size 16:56:29.4 7/18/2012: Opening Database Connection 16:56:31.0 7/18/2012: Initializing Component 16:56:31.1 7/18/2012: MAME Path is: G:\MAME 16:56:31.1 7/18/2012: daphne Path is: G:\Daphne 16:56:31.1 7/18/2012: daphne EXE file is: Daphne.exe 16:56:31.2 7/18/2012: Use daphne on. Daphne.exe will launch games 16:56:31.2 7/18/2012: MAME EXE file is: mame_d.exe 16:56:31.2 7/18/2012: ROM Path is: G:\MAME\roms 16:56:31.2 7/18/2012: Catver.ini is located at: G:\GameEx\DATA\catver.ini 16:56:31.2 7/18/2012: History.dat is located at: G:\GameEx\DATA\history.dat 16:56:31.3 7/18/2012: nplayers.ini is located at: G:\GameEx\DATA\nplayers.ini 16:56:31.3 7/18/2012: command.dat is located at: G:\GameEx\DATA\command.dat 16:56:31.3 7/18/2012: MAMEinfo.dat is located at: G:\GameEx\DATA\mameinfo.dat 16:56:31.3 7/18/2012: Loading Controls.ini map file 16:56:31.3 7/18/2012: Snap Path is: G:\MAME\snap 16:56:31.3 7/18/2012: Background Snap Path: Not Found 16:56:31.3 7/18/2012: AVI Snap Path is: G:\MAME\avis 16:56:31.3 7/18/2012: Flyer Path is: G:\MAME\flyers 16:56:31.3 7/18/2012: Cabinet Path is: G:\MAME\cabinets 16:56:31.3 7/18/2012: Cabinet 3D Path is: G:\MAME\3d cabinets 16:56:31.4 7/18/2012: Title Path is: G:\MAME\titles 16:56:31.4 7/18/2012: PCB Path: Not Found 16:56:31.4 7/18/2012: Artwork Preview Path: Not Found 16:56:31.4 7/18/2012: Panel Path: Not Found 16:56:31.4 7/18/2012: Manual Path: Not Found 16:56:31.4 7/18/2012: Icon Path: Not Found 16:56:31.4 7/18/2012: Marquee Path is: G:\MAME\marquees 16:56:31.4 7/18/2012: Applying Language/Text 16:56:31.4 7/18/2012: Text/Language: English 16:56:31.4 7/18/2012: Loading Language/Text 16:56:31.5 7/18/2012: Loading Custom Emulators 16:56:31.5 7/18/2012: Loading Emulator 1: Atari 2600 16:56:31.6 7/18/2012: Loading Emulator 2: Atari 5200 16:56:31.6 7/18/2012: Loading Emulator 3: Atari 7800 16:56:31.6 7/18/2012: Loading Emulator 4: Mattel Intellivision 16:56:31.6 7/18/2012: Loading Emulator 5: GCE Vectrex 16:56:31.7 7/18/2012: Using Version 3 Themes Animations 16:56:31.7 7/18/2012: Retrieving resolution setting 16:56:31.8 7/18/2012: Using General Font: Trebuchet MS 16:56:31.8 7/18/2012: Using Title Font: Alien League 16:56:31.8 7/18/2012: GameEx will try to reduce CPU usage 16:56:31.8 7/18/2012: Initialising Direct3D 16:56:32.1 7/18/2012: Applying GameEx is Loading Image 16:56:32.2 7/18/2012: Setting Resolution to 1024x768 32 bit color 16:56:32.2 7/18/2012: Creating Surfaces 16:56:32.7 7/18/2012: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode 16:56:32.7 7/18/2012: Creating Back Buffer 16:56:32.8 7/18/2012: Version 2 Theme being used. Loading. 16:56:32.8 7/18/2012: Loading Button Data 16:56:32.8 7/18/2012: Loading Font Data 16:56:32.8 7/18/2012: Loading Layout Data 16:56:32.8 7/18/2012: Loading Taskbar Data 16:56:32.8 7/18/2012: Loading graphic Surfaces 16:56:32.8 7/18/2012: Display is running at: 1024x768 32bit color, 60hz 16:56:32.9 7/18/2012: Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT 16:56:32.9 7/18/2012: Max texture size: 4096x4096 16:56:32.9 7/18/2012: Available texture memory: 488MB 16:56:33.0 7/18/2012: Initialising Bass Audio Library 16:56:33.2 7/18/2012: Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs 16:56:33.9 7/18/2012: Creating Surfaces Volume 16:56:33.9 7/18/2012: Creating Surfaces Arrows 16:56:33.9 7/18/2012: Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text 16:56:33.9 7/18/2012: Creating Surfaces Toolbar 16:56:34.0 7/18/2012: Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls 16:56:34.0 7/18/2012: Creating Surfaces Backgrounds 16:56:34.0 7/18/2012: Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo 16:56:34.0 7/18/2012: Creating Surface Unselected 16:56:34.0 7/18/2012: Creating Surfaces Snaps 16:56:34.0 7/18/2012: Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars 16:56:34.1 7/18/2012: Creating Fonts 16:56:34.1 7/18/2012: Creating Game Font 16:56:34.3 7/18/2012: Creating Game Font Faded 16:56:34.4 7/18/2012: Creating Title Font 16:56:34.4 7/18/2012: Restoring Title Font From Cache 16:56:34.8 7/18/2012: Creating Font Black 16:56:34.8 7/18/2012: Creating Font Black Small 16:56:35.0 7/18/2012: Fonts Created Succesfully 16:56:35.0 7/18/2012: 3MB Video Memory Used 16:56:35.3 7/18/2012: Playing Startup Video On Thread 16:56:35.3 7/18/2012: Attempting to load game list 16:56:36.1 7/18/2012: MAME CMD options: -nowindow -joy -skip_gameinfo -crop_artwork 16:56:36.1 7/18/2012: Loading music 16:56:36.2 7/18/2012: Initialising Windows Media Player Component 16:56:37.9 7/18/2012: Initialising Windows Media Player Component 16:56:38.0 7/18/2012: Error accessing Windows Media Player, check you are running Version 9 orelse above 16:56:38.0 7/18/2012: Value does not fall within the expected range. 16:56:38.1 7/18/2012: at WMPLib.IWMPPlaylistArray.Item(Int32 lIndex) 16:56:38.1 7/18/2012: at GameEx.GameEx.mainform.d(Boolean A_0, Boolean A_1, Boolean A_2) 16:56:38.2 7/18/2012: Initialising DirectInput for Gamepad support 16:56:38.4 7/18/2012: Unable to create a joystick device 16:56:38.4 7/18/2012: Initialising DirectInput for Keyboard support 16:56:38.4 7/18/2012: Loading Start Page 16:56:38.5 7/18/2012: Initializing MCE Remote 16:56:57.7 7/18/2012: Playing intro sound file 16:56:57.7 7/18/2012: Initialization OK! Starting GameEx! 16:56:57.7 7/18/2012: Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame 16:56:58.1 7/18/2012: --**-- 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: ERRORS DETECTED: EXITING 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: Error in the application. 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: at Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.Device.BeginScene() 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: at Direct2D.Direct2d.Device.BeginScene(Boolean Clear, Color ClearColour) 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: at Direct2D.Direct2d.Device.BeginScene(Boolean Clear) 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: at GameEx.GameEx.mainform.c(Boolean A_0) 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: at GameEx.GameEx.mainform.dw() 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: It was detected you experienced a DirectX error. 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: Please note the following for possible solutions to your problem: 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: 1. Ensure you have the latest version of DirectX installed. 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: 2. Ensure you have the latest Manufacturer provided video card drivers. 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: NOTE: Windows/Microsoft Update does not contain the latest. 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: NOTE: Manufacturer normally means ATI, NVidia, or Intel. Not the brand. 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: www.ati.com www.nvidia.com 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: 3. If you do not have a modern video card try the following. 1. Turn off advanced Graphics. 2. Try a lower resolution. 3. Try turning on and using 16-bit colour 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: 4. Ensure any required video codecs are installed. 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: 5. Try a different theme, or try running the theme at the resolution it was designed for 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: 6. Try the latest version of GameEx. GameEx is updated all the time. 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: 7. If you performed an auto update to this version. Try performing a manual download and install. 16:56:58.2 7/18/2012: 16:56:58.7 7/18/2012: Exiting GameEx! 16:56:58.7 7/18/2012: Disposing all videos 16:56:58.8 7/18/2012: Deleting temporary Karaoke videos 16:56:58.8 7/18/2012: Disposing Image List 16:56:58.8 7/18/2012: Disposing Fonts 16:56:58.8 7/18/2012: Disposing Surfaces 16:56:58.8 7/18/2012: Saving Settings 16:56:58.8 7/18/2012: Shutting down Bass 16:56:58.8 7/18/2012: Closing HideOS.exe 16:56:59.0 7/18/2012: Disposing Plugins 16:56:59.1 7/18/2012: Disposing Plugins 16:56:59.1 7/18/2012: Closing database connection 16:56:59.1 7/18/2012: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit 16:56:59.1 7/18/2012: Bye

Tom, I was wondering if there is a way to manipulate the position and size of the 'now playing' scroller and also the 'visualization boxes' inside the Theme editor. If not, is it something you could add with ease? It would be great to choose a font, color, size... resize the bar, place it whereever.. etc. I know you can turn visualizations on/off in the wizard, but more over-all design control would be great as well. Thanks as always, IMB

No problem Tom, I'll post it later today. What I find strange about the album cover issue is it does not post on every page of my theme, nor do I see anyway to move it or remove it in the theme editor. My theme is a heavily modifed FutureRetro using BlackGlass graphics. It was a 2.0 upgraded to 4.0 using the theme editor. Best, IMB

@blakepoet... I have MESS 146 running Vectrex, A2600, 5200, 7800, and about 12 other emus. I hand-selected the games of all systems I have, all images... named them as I wanted them to appear in the list and added them all in. Took forever and a day, was mind boggling... but it all works without an issue in MESS and GameEx. Maybe there is something wrong with your emulator set up? Mess really doesn't care what the name of the rom is... as long as the rom is good and compatible with Mess. (.bin, .rom) etc. Can I work with you on this? I'm and 'old skool' nut... I even have all the classic Vectrex overlays working with the Vectrex/MESS emulator... and that was hell to get right. IMB

I don't know why this is happening, but here: When I have the music player turned on, my intro video plays (the TRON style intro video)... about 1/4 of the way through, the video staggers, and I get a GameEx crash with a DX9 error posted in the log. Also... no matter what I do, I get the album cover pic displayed even though I have visuals turned off for Media Player. If I turn the music player off, all works fine... no issues, smooth intro video .. .but no music. Clean load of WinXP bare bones install old Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe Nvidia GeForce GT6600 182.50 drivers AMD 2.2 Ghz Athalon socket 939 2 Gig DDR 333 memory DX9 loaded Shark007 codecs Media Player 11 I didn't post the log as I can see it blows-up with the Direct draw error... but I'll post if need to. I don't think GameEx is the problem as everything is a clean, new install... I know my system is old, maybe I need more memory?

I find I have to manually change the position of the boxes myself sometimes. You do this by going to the second list on the left, selecting the page you are having troubles with, open the tree, and allow the layout to display in the main window. You'll see the positions of all the boxes, and just place them where you want them. I think this happens because the theme either creates a new page for the emulator and uses a default layout... or your naming of your emulator might not match the provided pages in the theme.... if that makes sense. I've had the same problem and cured it by just manually moving things around. For sanity of mind... I also find it's A LOT easier on your blood pressure to just use the same box positions in each background, but change the look of the background. You can then use the 'global' editiing method... which is when you first start the theme editor. I hope I helped here and not confused you more... theme editing is not an exact science to me.

ah-HA! Your answer is the diamond I have been searching for... yes, I will submit a request. It is definately something that should be user controlled if the user is truly making a custom theme set-up. Really, many of the options regards to the theme in Setup Wizard should be moved to the theme editor... it makes sense when you are building it, where to place items, size... etc. THanks for the help Draco!

I'd really like to make my own theme, and have been trying. But there are some pieces that I just can't seem to figure out. 1. Where are the scroll-bar settings for the name of the song that plays in Media Player? I want to fit it within a small range, but it shows too wide presently. 2. The 'Image 2' selection is based on what? In mame I either get the 3d Cabinet if present, or a title.. or a flyer... 3. The 'By Manufacturer, By Category...etc" menu.. where is that and how can I manipulate it? Is there a new version of the theme editor that maybe I am not using? Thanks for the help, maybe this will help others as well. All the best, IMB

Also... when you build it yourself, it's more work, and can sometimes balloon into a much larger project than expected. Take a look on the I-net, depending where you live, you might have someone withing driving distance that has a warehouse full of old machines. THere are a lot of guys that do this stuff now. Even pawn shops... but having an 'old classic' cleaned up and in show condition is ALWAYS an attention grabber at parties and get-togethers. Plus owning an oldie is fun and it keeps the project within the spectrum of the cabinet itself.

if you can get your hands on a Galaga, Pacman or even a Mr. Do cocktail cabinet, you'll have a nice piece to start with, a small unit and easy to work on.

Thanks Draco, I don't want to remove it, I just want to reduce the width to fit the background. It's presently covering the right side, which is where the controls are. Is that in an ini file somewhere? I'm just not seeing where I can adjust it.

No other takers on this? Darn... I'll keep fiddling and hope I hit a home run. All the best...

thanks... so many options now, I didn't see that one...