Draco1962

Are you having problems with the task bar showing, the desktop, or both when exiting VPinball? I have been very patient thus far, and, probably to my undoing, have entertained trying to address additional "issues" you have raised within this thread. This front-end is not MaLa. Since GameEx is designed to work as a plug-in to Windows Media Center, as a stand-alone HTPC solution for those running it on machines that do not have WMC, and as a cabinet front-end, there is a lot more code involved to accommodate those scenarios and different emulator combinations. It is not going to be "one size fits all" as there are too many variables at play with hardware, OS and driver variances. I have jumped through hoops and have helped to resolve some of your initial issues, whether it was directly with advice or gathering the facts from you so that Tom could see the issue more clearly and make some fixes that he could fit in within his build cycle. I have asked others to take a breath and focus on the issues you presented instead of your approach. That said, in this thread and posts in others, I have seen your "humor" expressed. Humor is meant to be funny and not used for a backhand swipe at someone. even Monty Python does not come across as mean spirited. You come across as if your only joy in life is to haughtily nit-pick on minutiae and brow beat those that disagree. At this point, I give up! The others may help you if they desire, but until I see some sincere changes in the approach you take with the admins, mods and users within this forum, my support is withdrawn.

Here is a default logo file I am using for this genre on my system.

I would start there as it may be, as mentioned before, a matter of the refresh rates/resolutions changing when GameEx is attempting to resume focus. As I have not used Stella in some time I cannot tell you where to go to investigate it - but if you could upload copies of your log and Stella config file, we can take a look to see if anything stands out.

Not a problem. I just wanted to do it right. There are only about 55 entries. I did not include the Infocom re-releases (Trilogy packs, etc.). I am sure there will be updates to the db as time goes by and I will release version updates to the original post in the pinned topics and point it out to everyone. I am also going to rename this thread as I would like to refer back to it from time to time regarding this type of game and interpreters/emus.

I did not know that (I have yet to install and run VPinball since my reimage and had just been installing it prior to it so never got to that level of fine tuning and invoking the loader. If it is just a split second, that isn't bad. There are quite a few emus that will give a flicker of the desktop regardless of whether or not hide OS is enabled. Not much really that can be done as the FE regains focus from the closing application.

For VP - go into the advanced emulator setup and make sure that Show Desktop is set to No, save the change and let me know if this resolves for you. As for the Mame Bezel issue - check under \gameex\media\bezelv2 - you should see two files; bezel.lay and mame.png. Please confirm you have these files in this location. Under Advance Mame settings, please confirm that Use Bezel is set to Use Bezel for Vertical Games. Let me know if you had to make any changes and, if so, whether or not the issue is resolved.

The only thing I can think of "possibly" is using XP Mode (the MS Virtual PC option not to be confused with Compatibility Mode) that is available. Still not sure if this will serve what you are expecting, but it is worth a shot. The problem you are going to find with most any VM environment are conflicts with the drivers and limitations due to the sound and graphics they are able to employ, memory limitations, etc.

For those interested in Interactive Fiction (or Text Adventures) using interpreters such as <a href="http://www.ifarchive.org/if-archive/infocom/interpreters/frotz/WindowsFrotzInstaller.exe" class="bbc_url" title="External link" rel="nofollow">Windows Frotz</a> I have compiled a DB based upon the offerings from Infocom and Adventure International (Scott Adams, et al). I have also included a copy of my emulator ini file. PC Z-Code Interactive Fiction INI File.zip PC Z-Code Interactive Fiction.zip

Brendan - A good place to start to learn more about Interactive Fiction and find links for various freeware z-code files is the IF Wiki. You can download the latest version of Windows Frotz here. This is a very good z-File interpreter (z-file format developed by Infocom). I have created a database for use with this software.Enjoy!

+1 to both Tom & Adultery's responses!

Somehow it has lost its way - may need to delete cache files and restart GameEx. You can probably confirm your suspicions by looking at the log file before doing so.

When I am using the Setup Wizard, I see the logos that are in the \MEDIA\LOGO folder of the theme I am using. Do you have yours setup the same or under a different path?

OK, ya got me with this one. Are you rotating the vertical game with something outside of GameEx? From what I saw from your gameex.ini, are you experiencing any issues with the bezel not showing when running a vertical game vertically?

That is an awesome looking theme, Massop! You can submit your theme via this link and just follow the prompts. That way we can all share in its glory from the Themes section on the GameEx site. I really think you should make this an entry for the contest once you have uploaded it - it is worthy!!!

I didn't realize it but there are quite a few (probably thousands) of interactive fiction (text adventures) for free - many written into this year! I guess kind of a niche hobby. The db will contain only those games with either the .dat or .z# extensions. Anything else is likely to be run through DOS Box which is not my focus here.

If you have Windows Media Center, you can launch GameEx from within. I also believe that there are a few forum members that are successfully using VB launches as an external program.

Hi - You mention using Windows Media Center. Are you using Windows Vista or 7? If so, are you also launching GameEx via WMC on the second monitor?

I appreciate the assist! I am working on a db for the Infocom titles and will probably add the Scott Adams titles to it.

d'Oh! Well that seemed to work for a few. Will need to check my paths again but I think I am on my way. Thanks!

Rodney - the attachment appears to be a partial log file. Please attach a copy of the entire log.txt file and gameex.ini file. Thanks!

Well, sorry for starting something! Text Adventures (or Interactive Fiction as it is officially referred to or preferred by the writers) hold a very important place in early PC entertainment. They were the "first person shooter for 2nd person thinkers!" Kind of the interactive adventure books of the computer age. Creating snaps will probably not happen here, might have to pull something from box art, etc. As for new logo files.. maybe but not today! LOL! Here is my ini from my setup (you can launch Setup Wizard, select Custom, then select Emulator Selection. Next you will highlight on the left colum the emulator you want to export a config, then click on the Export Emulator icon in the middle column - piece of paper with right arrow).

@Se_lees - Well that is good news about Daphne. It can be a bit of a bear to get going with much of the limitation being the demands of the Daphne software itself. Would you say we can cross Daphne off the list for now? A few questions and a suggestion - What version(s) are you running of Visual Pinball? I know that there are quite a few that run VP8 and VP9 as separate emulators because VP9 has compatibility issues with tables created through VP8 and prior. Are you using Visual PinMAME at all? I would also recommend reviewing the forum post here as there is some useful conversation regarding the setup of VP in GameEx (with a config example or two) and a link to the VP Loader that may be of help to you as well, especially with correct exiting from a table. Now that you have detailed further what you are looking for, this sounds like it might be resolved by a feature request made by yours truly a while back. What I was looking for was a feature to create a "play list" on a per emulator basis, cross emulator basis (e.g. create an Asteroids play list of all Asteroid incarnations from MAME, Atari2600, NES, etc.). This would function very similar to a "Favorites" list This would not require any manipulation of game lists within the emulator (MAME32 in your case). I am not certain what would be required in implementing such a request. Even if it could be setup with multiple play lists (or Game Groups) per emulator if global is not possible would be a big plus. Again, since this is a functionality enhancement issue, we will need to defer to Tom and Headkaze to see what may be possible along this or similar lines.

I think you will find your answer here. Save states are not supported by all games, you will return to where you left off if save states are supported by the game, however, not all save states are compatible between all versions of MAME.

Will have to give Level 9 a looksie. Regardless of which format (.dat or z3, 4, 5, etc.) I get the same error. If you wouldn't mind exporting your emulator config for it that would be awesome!

Glad those two items are resolved. Tom will have to answer for how the files are randomized. Regardless of whether or not there is a repeating pattern in the randomizing process, I think he has met your concerns regarding. Regarding Visual Pinball - there are the ROM filter settings where you may enter the extensions of the files to open (e.g. *.vpt) or multiple file extension types separated by semi-colon (e.g. *vpt;*tbl). As for what you are asking regarding Daphne and the multiple MAME ini files for Favorites, I am not sure that is possible but will defer this to the community and Tom. I do have a few questions to ask if you don't mind entertaining them: Are you currently using any front end software and, if so, what? Another question based upon the issues you have presented regarding the MAME Favorite ini files and Daphne and dependent upon a positive for a front end in use currently or in the past - Have you found any front end that will handle these as you expect? This is not meant to bait you, just trying to see a clearer understanding of where you are coming from. Regards, Mike