Adultery

Okay, I have a couple ideas I want to run by you all. If I'm going to start coding this, I would like some input from all of you first. Let me bounce my ideas off of you and see what you think. #1) A plugin Using a plugin is probably the quickest way to add in the functionality. I can make a configuration screen where you would select, say, the SNES emulator from a pull-down list. I would have a subsection where you would tell the plugin where your achievements emulator is for each system. Then in a seperate pull-down menu, you can select the game and apply the change. Then when GameEx is running, it will look to the XML and say "Oh, this is an acheivements game. I know what to do!" Then, I could internally pull out the normal command line and replace it with a new one, and hand it back to GameEx. This is basically how MAME Commander handles emulator overrides for specific games. There's some pros and some cons if I go this route: PROS: I could quickly have something up and running, making this a fast coding project since I already know exactly how I would handle this.I can add an update check for the emulator in each supported emulator's configuration menu (probably accessed from a ToolStrip).I already know my way around the plugin system, so nothing is outside of the realm of possibilities (ie no request is out of the question).There's already a centralized list of supported games on the site, and the author has some sort of API (I haven't looked into it yet, but I may be able to sync the games list automatically and be able to make the plugin run automatically for supported games)This is probably the best way to support user created achievementsExisting plugins (like Xpadder) would already work without a need to add anything extraCONS: The end user would need to set it up themselves, which is probably gonna lead to a lot of questions from usersThere would be some elbow grease required if you wanted to keep your game list and emulators up to date (provided I can't get anything useful from the API)I would need to figure out a way to intercept the ESC key, which brings up the achievements menu in the emulator, since GameEx would just exit the emulator if this key is pressedThere's a limit to what can be accomplished via a plugin as opposed to an external launcher EXE, which brings me to my next idea...2) An external launcher EXE (or a front-end of sorts) I could build a launcher, kind of like the Taito Type X ArcadePC Launcher works. This could handle everything from the game list, to the emulators, to the achievements. You would need to set it up in GameEx like an emulator, and I would add in a slew of command-line arguments to specify the system, the ROM file, and any other args the actual emulator supported. This would obviously be a lot more global for the solution, and I would get up with the author of the achievements web site. If he or she would be willing to help me out, I could do a ton more, like integrated user acievements, maybe display your current achievements, etc. The possibilites are really quite endless. Now for the pros and cons: PROS: Functionality that only a front-end launcher can provide (Think of it as a MAMEUI vs MAME thing)Integration with achievement lists, creation tools. memory searches, etcFully hook and keep an eye on emulator versions, artwork (if applicable), game list updates, etcSupport for virtually any front-end that can pass command-line args, not specifically GameExIntegrated update support for the EXE, much like GameEx checks for updatesThe ESC hook in GameEx can easily be bypassed using an advanced configPossibly be able to hook your User Account from the main site, displaying buddy lists and your global achievements, etc (this would be possible only if the author allows obviously, again I'll have to take a closer look at the dev team's API)CONS: It would take a lot longer to come up with something that would be usable by everyoneThe leg work (getting with the author of the site, asking for things, gathering command-line args for each emulator, etc)The project scope is a lot larger since it's like a mini front-end in itselfWhat do you guys think? I'm working on a launcher program for GameEx and PinballX, but I'll put that down and pick this up for a while, I want to be able to use it on my cab so that'll motivate me to code this bad boy. I feel like if we use Option #2, the author would probably be a lot more willing to help, since it will be usable by everyone, with or without a front-end, since it's kind of like a front-end in itself. But again, I'm merely speculating. I kind of like to think that #2 would be a better option for me personally, solely based on the notariety aspect as a developer... but that's more of a pat-on-the-back kind of thing. I'm never opposed to making things that require one to use GameEx, since my heart and soul is in this community. Then again, maybe I could do both, and the plugin could hook the front-end... But that's a lot to bite off.

How cool is this! Looks like I've got some work ahead, gonna figure out how to integrate this into the cabinet without making new entries... Time for Emulator Commander! :-)

/me facepalm It's up to you to name all your ROMs in one of many commonly used formats, every last collection depends on the naming for the best results. Some things are just not going to be automated, this hobby takes elbow grease, and a good deal of it. I can't put it much better than riffman did, but here: You download a DAT. Try ReDump.org for a GameCube DAT File download.Then you get a ROM Manager, like ClrMAMEPro.Then you load the DAT in the software.Tell it where your ROMs reside.Scan.???Profit!!

Not if you have a dat or a file renaming utility... :-/

Nice!!!! It's like you answered my prayers. haha!

That gamercard looks real sharp! Is it one stock background/font or is it skinnable? I was thinking about porting my Game Tagger plugin for GameEx over to PinballX, but if I can skin the stock card I will save the effort. @zeenon: Of course you would be playing Funhouse...

Not a Slingbox user, but I wanted to pop in and say thanks for everything you do oviano. You're an asset to the community in many ways. :-)

I'm sure this will be added along with the new online features. At least I'm pretty sure he's mentioned it. :-)

As it's an early beta, Tom will have to look at the server logs and see what the deal is. I'm sure it's but a minor hiccup. I'll un-ban you, I think you learned your lesson about trying to be helpful. :-) @Tom: I think the user icon is being displayed from the old setup before you migrated your storage, my user icon has been changed a few times since Bowser. Just a heads up, since users who have come along since then are showing no avatar in their user page (like zeenon).

Once you see what we have in store for the rebirth, you're gonna want to evolve I bet. There's just so many reasons why this will be the next big thing in front end software, it'll make the original look like child's play. When it drops, hopefully the upgrade will be painless for existing users... Trust me, you'll want to take the jump, especially if you're using a cabinet. :-)

@zeenon: I think the images are hooked into GamesDB, not connected to your local machine. If there's not a solid way to contribute images and database info to gamesdb, there ought to be. :-) @censored: It's probably a silly question, but you're using your forum login details right? Did you try clicking the button a couple times? I had to click logon twice before it logged me in finally (on Chrome if it matters).

Stellar!!! Looks like I'll be setting up PinballX tonight then. :-)

Until I figure out how to take screenshots of full screen d3d apps (which I'm working on), unfortunately not, sorry.

2.1.6 Beta 2 is out... Just a couple minor things and a couple bug fixes: Split Launch Before/After/Also commands into seperate EXE and Command Line entriesFixed bug with Add/Remove from lists buttons on main formTweaked some backend codeFixed a bug in the plugin with emulator overriding, emulator command variables are now replaced properlyGet it from the first post.

Oh my... Can I come over and play Funhouse or Addams Family? That is one sexy bitch right there!!

Try changing the font size under display settings in the GameEx settings wizard.

Change that and see if it makes a difference. I'm away from home so I cannot post an example.

I think you need to manually add that line to the ini, or else it's in the GameEx settings ini.

Well welcome back my friend! Glad to see you have decided to give GameEx another go, hopefully our knowledgeable user base can help you in all aspects of your build. Don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions, we don't mind! Again, welcome back!

....mame commander 2 also does this... /me disappears

See what happens when you allowed me to be an admin? Lol!

I'd totally rather hang around with a dumbass as opposed to a smartass! Glad you got it sorted! Marking as [RESOLVED]!

Ok for the updater, you need to take off the extra quotes around the whole line. You don't need to encompass the whole thing in quotes or it won't launch properly. Try this: "C:\HiScoreUpdater\HiScoreUpdater.exe" -type 0 -mfile "C:\GameEx\Map Files\HiScore Competition.map" Double check and make sure you installed the updater software to that path, and change it if need be. That should do it... Note also that the hi-score snapper plugin currently doesn't work on standalone emulator setups, it's designed to only work on GameEx's integrated MAME setups. To use the snapper plugin, go to the integrated MAME menu and select a game in the competition. Remember, it only takes snaps of games that are part of the competition. Try running Shinobi in MAME and taking a snapshot. :-)

Hmm, it may be a permissions issue with writing the mame map file... Do you have the proper permissions to write to the GameEx > Data folder? Try running GameEx as administrator and see if that works.

Map a volume key under the Input Options in the Setup Wizard. :-)