Draco1962

I checked on the old hfc essentials page and noted that "This ZiNc wraper was added to pass configurations for your controller on a BIOS basis through the Advanced MAME setup in GameEx" per NoLogic's description of the ZiNc tools. That may be a place to start if someone was so inclined to create a new wrapper. One question I have, having not used ZiNc or Model 2 emulation - how much better are the games through these vs. just using MAME? I know that there are some that do not work in MAME or are not that great and do better in the other emulators just from reading the various posts.

I definitely understand your dilemma. Depending on your setup (Steering hardware, pedals, etc.) you may be able to use XPadder or other mapping software to create custom inputs for your regular MAME build and save the hi scores. There are quite a few here that swear by it and can probably help you on your way with how to do it in that build as opposed to ShifterMAME. BTW, what frontend software are you using? If you are not currently using GameEx, I would encourage you to give it a go. It is very customizable and has great forum support from the users and author!

The gameex.ini file is located in the \gameex\data path. You will need to open it in Notepad and save as a text file before uploading to the forum or zip it and upload. After making changes, you need to first audit your games in MAME, then Update list in GameEx. Try this first if you haven't already and repost your log file and gameex.ini file.

I am almost finished with both logo packs. I know that some were chomping at the bit to get their virtual mitts on the logos with system images. You can download them here on the GameEx.com site under Media & Images (Logo Pack #2 by Draco1962). Please give them a try and let me know how they look on your system. Screen captures optional! I will be releasing the next logo pack in a day or two in the same style without systems and the remaining common GameEx logos to complete the collection.

Not saying I am not either! LOL!

I agree! Let's do it! heh-heh

Take a deep breath... relax... and don't try to get them all done in one day! You will drive yourself daffy!

Not every one. Yours is coming up this summer. I will probably tire of giving happy b-day wishes well before then!

bkenobi you are so silly! Tom hasn't released that version of GameEx yet! If you open the data.mdb in MS Access, you have the ability to export to .an excel spreadsheet or Comma Separated Values (.csv) file, and, if using Office 2007 or later, a few other formats including PDF. Of course, if you don't have MS Office, you can always grab a copy of Sun's (or is it Oracle now?) OpenOffice which is compatible with the MS formats and is free.

Since reimaging my system I have only played a few games and only through MAME. The Data.mdb appears to be where the System Statistics draws the data as it shows the emu number (0 being MAME), ROMFile, Favorite, Times Played, Last Played, Minutes Played, Video Position and Aspect Ratio. I think it is safe to say that is where I would start. You could easily export it to a .csv file so you could "drill down" through the data and sort much more easily to find what you are looking for.

Welcome to the GameEx forums! Usually, being able to update the high scores in MAME requires compiling the latest MAME build with whatever .diff files you desire to remove the Left-Right nag screen and hiscore.txt file to allow for saving of high scores. I reviewed what few docs are available for this program and there is no mention of being able to save high scores. Since this is a non-standard modified build, your best bet is with the author unless someone here has had any success otherwise.I saw where you posted on the Arcade Controls forum a few days ago - have you tried to email Minwah at [email protected] (found in the text file with his post from June 2009)? Best I can tell he hasn't been very active on that site since 2009, so may not be actively involved in maintaining the project any longer. Regards, Mike

Happy Birthday! I have kids your age. What are you doing here? Get your feet off the coffee table! You did WHAT to my car? Get a hair cut and a job! Hope it's a good one!

Kinda what I was thinking. GameEx already uses an icon path for the weather icons. Initially, wouldn't really need to have any additional artwork paths specifically for this, just an internal call to the system being emulated for the game and display the correspondingly named icon in that path. Would take out the guesswork on the user end.

I definitely do not disagree with you about a unified appearance. My point was more to what point does the programmer draw the balance between form and function. Since it was something enabled for MAME, it may not be that much more code to add to at least draw from an icon path as I suggested previously to default to an icon based upon the system emulated for the game in favorites. If not that difficult, I am sure he will probably add this to his to-do list at some point. Might need to move this thread to the Feature Requests so that it gets good notice.

Creating icons is easy enough with most any graphic editing program. There are even some shareware and commercial programs that will convert any image to icon for you. It is a matter of picking something that is recognizable. Most icons used by MAME are 32x32 pixels. Have attached a copy of one I made for N64 and Xbox, with the original graphic. I just have to wonder, however, how much is too much? We have logos, snaps, titles cabs, 3D cabs, custom art files, etc. Not saying it shouldn't be done or couldn't, but I can think of some features that definitely could use a higher priority (Overhaul of the Theme Editor which is long overdue). Additionally, the icons will have to be created and even if you use the same one for all of your game ROMs, you would have to save a copy to match the name of every ROM to match how it is currently handled for MAME. Now if Tom could program GameEx to look at the system for the game in the Favorites and have the icon for each system emulated (again, would have to match a proper, consistent naming convention) saved under the GameEx\Icons path and display a system icon for the system, then that I think would be doable and much cleaner. I would be glad to make my services available to create the system icons to work with such a feature. n64.ico xbox.ico

Most of my work has had some sort of customer service/call center type angle to it, including my last job. In between I had done some contract work providing internal IT help desk support. While it was not as well paying as my last job, I actually enjoyed it more. I could actually leave the job behind most days and not feel totally consumed by it.

Understand that! I have helped to raise a total of 4 - two stepsons with the first wife and a stepson and stepdaughter with the second. Regardless of whose blood courses through their veins, love them as my own! As for dealing with people, kinda wish I was but I know that I will again real soon. Lost my job of almost 5 years so on the hunt for new employment. Hopefully a positive change in direction as a result.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's, whether you are a forum member, girlfriend or spouse, have naked ape babies or fur babies! I just made French Toast for the miss-us so a check mark in the good column for me for the day!

You are correct, Sir! You have to configure each emulator you use through GameEx to point to the same paths that the emulator is using for ROMs, Snaps, etc. You'll get the hang of it and we are here to help if you get stuck along the way. I prefer using the Advanced Configuration app to fine-tune the paths, etc.

Glad ya got it figured out! Keep in mind that the term "driver" is relative. While it turned out not to be a driver issue in the classic sense of video or audio as I thought it might be (the usual suspects and easiest to fix), there are program drivers as well. Personally, I find that running with the x64 versions if you have a 64-bit OS installed is generally the best policy. x86 on an x64 machine will generally run OK in a 64-bit OS, but you do not get the gains you will generally find with the wider bandwidth the x64 architecture provides.

Is the PC restarting or require you to restart?

The main thing is the .net framework (which it appears you have) and Direct X and the up-to-date drivers. I assume that you probably have onboard audio, too, and that is OK. I do on my machine and have had few if any problems as a result. Before venturing to other emulators let's see what we can do to get GameEx stable on the affected machine. For those new, I usually recommend starting with MAME, get it configured and working, then GameEx, wash - rinse - repeat. Once you have those two working well together, you can get adventurous. It is easy to get spread too thin troubleshooting multiple emulator issues, system issues, etc. and that will only add to your frustration and start a nasty self-feeding loop of despair and kill any joy you may get from this interesting and fun hobby.

I would ensure that you have the most up-to-date video drivers installed for your graphics adapter and sound card drivers. My guess is that you have about 3-4 GB of RAM installed with onboard video (built into the motherboard). Also make sure you have the latest DirectX version installed. If you have just built this machine it is possible that you may be butting head against a driver issue. I woul probably limit my attention to one application at a time. You picked GameEx so you are in good hands with a very supportive and knowledgeable member base. Work with that for now.

The current GameEx version is 11.71. Did you have a previous version installed and, if so, did you update to the latest via update within GameEx after receiving a notification within that an updae was available?

Yes I know. Which is why I posted the same link you did!