IMBerzerk

I can help you here... since you are a MAME user, and a GameEx user, this should be a quickie. Regardless of where the ROMs came from, we'll simply say you got them from 'said' place. It's totally illeagal to post, suggest or plug any ROM locations on this site. But hey... we all screw-up now and then. If you are a MAME user, then you know all the ROMs go in the 'rom' folder in MAME and MAME sees them. They are all individual 'zipped' folders and have been like that for about 7 years now, if not more. If you run MAME outside of GameEx, and they all show/work, then you know your ROMs and MAME are good to go. Next.. GameEx. If you've checked the paths, and they are all correct, then the list needs to be updated. Let it rebuild the list of games. It takes a while. If all filters are turned off like you said, then the list should work. Regardless of where I get my ROMs from, they all show in the game list. Whether or not they actually work because of MAME updates, ROM compiles, or etc.. is another story. GameEx is a front end, it doesn't care where your ROM's are from, or if they are good or not. If the list is updated, the ROMs show. If you have all the filters turned off, the list will actually show EVERYTHING in the folder you have GameEx pointed at. So try that. IMBerzerk

[iMB falls down on his knees like Charlton Heston in Planet of the Apes] Damn you! Damn you all.... did you have to notice that!! It was only a mistake.... !!! aaarggg!!

MAME32 is a GUI version of MAME. It's been around almost as long as MAME. For years people have tried to use it behind a front end, some with success, other not. We've seen a few members on this forum have strange troubles with it when using GameEx. But when we recommended changing to command line MAME, it worked. MAME has HS Stretching turned on by default, the only way to turn it off is to specify that option in the run statement. Perhaps something in the MAME32 GUI is messing up GameEx when it attempts to run the game. The only options you really need to add to the command line in GameEx to run the command line version of MAME is: -skip_gameinfo -skip_disclaimer (might not even be active anymore) -mouse I have been using the Windows command line version of MAME for years, on all of my 3 cabinets, 2 running GameEx and 1 running Mala. No issues... never were, and I don't think there ever will be as I am done updating MAME. Take my best advice and dump MAME32. It's good if you are going to use it as a stand alone for yourself, but if you are using a front-end like GameEx, or any others, use the command line version of MAME. To re-compile it with the Highscore patch is a breeze with HeadKaze's MAME compiler. I am the worst for programming, and all the intricate stuff of emulation. I can do it, so you can to. He made it idiot proof, and I did it... so I'm definitely NOT an idiot... maybe something else... ? I won't call myself an expert of MAME, but I have been using it for 10 years now, and 8 of them have been in a game cabinet, using MAMEWah, Mala, ArcadeOS, and now.. the best of them all, GameEx. I hope that helps you out some. Hang with us, we'll get you through this.

Thanks for the reply, sorry for my silly question, I didn't realize it was already part of GameEx. Most of the time I do updates and never read what has been updated... Add to the list... Anything by Williams (noted MP and Defender are there): Stargate, Joust, Robotron Front Line Jungle Hunt Jungle King Elevator Action Asteroids Asteroids Deluxe Space Invaders

Fyrecrypts, Welcome, and thanks for the posting all this great info on the HiToText project. It's a greast idea and no doubt makes it more 'interesting' to have users are look at the high score list while scoping out a game to play. I remember back in the day we used to sign sheets with our names and high-scores, then tag the machines with them. If the Arcade owner was cool, he'd leave the lists active hainging on the machines... this was WAAAAY before games saved high-score lists. As far as recompiling MAME, I found HeadKaze's Compiler and methold a lot esier to use than the one you posted, this coming from someone who has ZERO programming skills. Here is the link: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=71845.0 I originally tried to use MKChamp's method and messed it all up, again.. without a GUI... I'm useless. It's all me, don't take it personal. The latest version of GameEx has some kind of support for showing High Scores on certain games, is this the same as HiToText? Will they conflict at all? All the best

Baaah!!! Darn... I turn 39 in only 9 days and I'm acting like it's 80!!! Sorry about missing the link, and thank Tempest for picking it up for me.

Go here and read... it's not too bad, in fact, it's easier than it ever was thanks to HeadKaze. If I can do it.. you definitely can.

Send me a PM with your email if you need it. Not a problem for me, you already have it, we're just trying to find a root cause to a problem, that all.

Let me know how you make out. If not, I can send you mine when I get home from work. I read somewhere that there was a problem in the initial release of 128, then another release followed shortly, but not as a 'U'. The problem had something to do with the highscore recording, but still would not have caused what you are getting.

Nope, not yet. What is that Goodbase 64 anyway? Is it a front end? I was reading the site, and downloaded the v.05 but it never posted any kind of exe or shortcut anywhere. When I ran it, it created a ton of lettered folders as if it wanted to change the names of the roms. How do you use this program, and what is it? I've been cleaning up my C64 folder this week as it was a total mess. I'd like to put my C64 issues to bed at this point, it's the last emulator I am going to load on my rig. I like the 'old school' stuff. I was going to add the Amiga as well, but I only ran about 6-8 games on it, most others needed keyboard or mouse support, which I don't want. I don't think it's worth the hassle of setting up UAE to run them. Wings of Fury Persion Gulf Inferno Hostages Indy 500 Wings The Blue Max Thanks for asking... what games did you program on the C64?

Flash, I have the same version patched with the Highscore patch and the other info/warning screens removed. No issues. I tested with Donkey Kong, Galga, Galaxian, and Front Line. All display highscores and drop in and out without any errors. Maybe something went wrong in the build? I understood there was a problem with 128 when it was first released. Have you tried a more recent version? Maybe that will cover it?

Darn Flash... you really are a The Flash!! You beat me to this one. I agree with GF 100%. Dump MAME32 and use the Windows command line version of the MAME emulator. It's better for GameEx and gives you less troubles.. and might even be faster for an older PC. What you are doing is essentially running a GUI inside of a GUI by using MAME32. Go here for the latest version... plus you can then come back and ask how to patch MAME to use the Highscores again, and dump the info screens permanently. http://mamedev.org/release.html (use the binary ones). IMBerzerk

Sure man, no problem. There is no rush on my end, I just wanted to make sure it was not something I did wrong. I'll look for that goodbase64 setup and change the rom names to fit that with Romcenter. Thanks for all your hardwork on this and the other GameEx DB's. They look great and work like a charm. Do you have that C64 disk swapping wrapper handy? I tried the links from the config file thread and they don't work. I'd like to get that in so I can use Racing Destruction Set and a few others. Thanks as always...

I've been finalizing my GameEx setup for C-64 and noticed no matter what I set the game name to, it does not display the game information from the new C-64 database. I used Axis Assassin as a test game. I opened the C-64 database, and noted the name is the same in both columns. So I copied and pasted the name in the database to the name of the file to make sure it's matched. No change. I then ran Romcenter to change the name as well. No help. I don't understand why it's not seeing the games. All other databases work fine for all my other emulators. I used the database from the Theme update posted on the main download page. Thanx as always

I was using Stella for a very long time, and when I came across MESS, I tried it. The only real difference I saw between the MESS version of anything and other emulators is that it does HW stretch in full-screen. Some of the other emulators drop it, or it doesn't look right. Other than that, I can't tell the difference. It's just easy to set-up in MESS. I guess it really depends if you own the real system, or if you were a fan of it. For me, it was the Sears version of the Intellivision. I run Nostalgia but again, it drops the full-screen HW stretch. I tried MESS, but it doesn't support the Classic Game Controller. Bliss does, but same thing, no full screen HW stretch. So many options....

Guys, I'm just curious. Why fight with this to make it work, when MESS works great with all Atari emulation? I have the 7800 working without an issue, but then again, I never owned a 7800. Is there something I am missing? Does MESS lack the correct setup for the joysticks? Thanks

LOL! You're right about that. Good God, I remember trying to get support on that site was a nightmare. You had to have real thick skin to even create an account on there. Newbies beware!! Unfortunately, as RBelmont told me on the MESS forum, it had to be closed down. It just got ridiculous with annoyances. Most of the guys that make MAME also frequent the MESS board as well. So if I have a question, I ask there, but at this point, I have using MAME down to a routine, and with GameEx running it, it's even easier. IMBerzerk... and so are you if you don't use GameEx!!!

Try using the command line version of MAME. I'm curious to see if that helps. The commandline version has HW stretching turned on as default. All you need to do is add -skip_intro and -mouse to the GameEx command line so that your mouse works (which is associated to the trackball), and you skip the annoying warnings. If you really get into it, you can recompile, add the highscore patch and remove that annoying white box that opens. The command line version is 100% better. http://mamedev.org/release.html I've used the commandline version of MAME behind front ends for years. It's tricky at first, but it's easier on the PC's resources and you have a lot more control over the emulator. MAME32 is not supported by the MAME Dev team, so that should tell you something. Best to run everything bare-bones when using frontends like GameEx. IMBerzerk

Hello... try this... - Disconnect the J-Pac and just plug a keyboard directly into the PC. See if that helps. - You might be a little shy on resources. 256MB RAM is like the absolute lowest XP will operate at, it might be that GameEx combined with MAME32 is killing it your RAM. - Use the command line version of MAME. MAME32 is a front end for MAME32, so it kinda defeats the purpose to use MAME32 if you are going to use another front end like GameEx. It might be that MAME32 is getting in the way of GameEx. GameEx will look to see if there is a correctly setup version of MAME first, if not... it crashes with an error list. It just might be overloading your PC somehow. - Don't worry about the Internet access. I have the same thing. Not one of my 3 cabinets is on the net. This allows me to run slower PC's as I don't have to worry about XP Upates and other background checkers hogging the hell out of my resources. So you should be OK there. Come back with your results. I'm sure it's something simple that your missing. Believe me, I did the same when I setup GameEx with all the emulators... and I had a TON of problems. But they were all fixed by taking a break, going to bed, and having at it a day later. Now it's running smooth and I can really enjoy it. Here are the GameEx minimums... and for RAM... your right there. Minimum System Requirements: Pentium 3 800Mhz CPU (or equivalent) DirectX(DirectDraw) Compatible Video card, capable of 16 bit colour at 640X480. [Your video card does not normally need to be too special unless using videos or DVD, although older motherboard onboard video is not recommended] DirectSound Compatible Sound Card. 256MB Ram Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP, MCE, Vista 250MB Free hard drive space Microsoft .net framework 2 Microsoft Direct X 9.0 Windows Media Player 9 or above -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IMBerzerk

MESS - ColecoVision 2600 5200 7800 Channel F Vectrex - including all overlays NES I use all of these under in MESS as it was easy to set up, and gives a good look with the HW Stretching enabled. Plus it's all under 1 umbrella. I use Nostalgia for INTV support, but I might switch to Bliss. MESS does not support BIN and INT file extension, and does not support the Classic Game Controller, which allows you to play INTV games with original INTV controllers. IMBerzerk

Works great Tom. Thanks for the FFDshow update. All the larger videos are working, and all the other issues I had are gone. Not sure why... but who cares. Great job! IMBerzerk

Thanks for the help TS. Yes, I've noticed that certain themes react in different ways with fonts and all that. In fact, I learned that just because GameEx has the intro video turned on in it's INI file, does not mean it will play. I had to alter the INI file of the Theme I have in order to get it to work. So I'll go back and look over everything again. Might be something simple I missed somewhere. IMBerzerk

I upgraded from 9.67, with no changes made to any of my emulators, ini's or anything else in GameEx. Everything was status quo, just an upgrade. It all worked fine prior to this. Even when I do the 'verify' check in the setup wizard it does not flag my setup as missing any directories for the INTV files, other then the manuals, which I don't have setup anyway. I'm at work, so I can't post the log file, I really didn't think it would have helped as I never had this problem before. All of my INTV images worked in all previous versions, and the fonts looked OK. The best way to describe the fonts is that they look rough on the edges. I selected '32bit' grahics and made sure the Alpha-blending was selected as well. Still the same. Other then that, I loaded the new FFDshow file recently posted, which was no change. Could that have screwed up something? Thanks

I just updated last night, and now my INTV pics won't show, other than the snaps. Also, my fonts look terrible. What happened? Thanks in advance, IMBerzerk.

It had to do with swapping games that used multiple discs. I was hoping to have that option with a single button press, then select. As it is now, you have to use several button depending on either CCS64 or WinVice.