Necromancyr

THEME ABILITY REQUEST: Ability to add any of the following to a theme (note, any/all of these may be coming in an update but I haven't read through this entire thread so...)...in order of what I think would expand themability: 1. Placeable static images (i.e., not dependent on emu/etc.) for any individual layout where you can do X/Y/Z positioning for them (i.e., insert a png file at x:10 y:100 top z layer in a layout.) 2. Seconding a request above, ability to select what field is used for Image 1/Image 2/etc. from those set in Config Wizard 3. A placeable image (X/Y/Z positioning all controllable) that is based on the emulator name. (e.g., ImageEmu). This could make themeing a lot easier by making it possible to have a emu 'theme' image that can be placed on a standard background. (This may be possible now using a logo, but I'm not sure how and if you were to do it then a logo would be set that might cause missing art issues.) 4. Add missing art images for each image possible in a theme (i.e., Image1, Image2, Image3, etc., all able to have 'MissingImage1-EMUNAME.png's' And...I'm done with requests/suggestions for a bit I think (I may have requested those already...sorry if I did... )

Ah...makes sense. So basically databases are supported in both formats now but the core (i.e., your setup database) is run in db3 - if I'm understanding things right?

...shit. I had a 4 paragraph response typed and clicked on your image above and accidentally deleted it. Few things. 1. GameEx doesn't support bezels for horizontal games I don't think (based on config wizard). (Null can confirm this). 2. For vertical games, the bezel file MAY need to be the same aspect ratio as your monitor to be useful/fill in the gaps. So, my suggestion would be to make a 1980x1024 bezel and see how that looks first. It may need to be changed to suit the resolution MAME is running at for you, but the aspect ratio should, most likely, need to be maintained. 3. If that fails, you can design a Bezel for MAME, and set up mame to use bezel art and zoom to crop (both under video settings in the menu you can access via tab). That will do max zoom for the game and fill in the rest of the screen with your custom bezel. Big issue is making a custom bezel for every...single...one...of your mame roms. You can prob. automate that naming with a bat file or something...not totally sure how off the top of my hear myself though.

Alpha - just wanted to followup real quick. You don't have C64 setup on a cab right? I know a few guys at BYOAC do and I'm just trying to determine optimal key config for a decent subset of games. Thinking Summer Games, Winter Games, IMpossible mission, jumpman, etc. Stuff like that. The damn trainers are killing the 'easily loaded' setup though! Debating going to originals or some mish-mash setup because of it.

Sledge - let us know how they play. I have u360's in my cab w/restrictors and definitely curious how good these are for an alternate CP I'm working on.

Null, I may be trying to do something nutty and convert in some fields into current databases from GameBase files. Is GameEx moving away from .mdb's to .db3's? (I'm coming at this with a know enough to be dangerous standpoint so...any insight you can give would be great as to why db3 vs mdb, etc. - thanks!)

OK...I'm trying to use a number of them as well. The autolinking to extras is the big thing, in particular manuals. Biggest issue with the conversion over to GameEx, from what I've read thus far, is the rom naming conventions. I need to dig into exactly what's covered and how in the current databases and see what is possible. Honestly...chances of this happening are slim to none...but I'll see what I can do. (About to have a baby...2nd...so...once that happens time available is going to go poof.) What's the biggest reason you use the gamebases over using the emu's in GameEx?

A question thread that people may use later for support/question answering isn't the place for this discussion I don't think - I should have taken it private IM. Apologies for that. Anyway, back on topic. I have a few ideas on how to get things working Bigby - what emu's are you using now through Gamebase?

Draco - the defensiveness gets old, seriously. Just asking about a potential feature and if it's available, no need to keep going into the 'like what you have and shut up'. If that's the stance, there's no need for a forum or to sell a lifetime upgrade option. Bigby: I'm trying to see if there's some way to convert the GameBase info over to GameEx database format...given I know nothing about the structure of either database, not even sure it would work or convert anything meaningful. Then you could use a stock emulator in GameEx and gbwrapper.exe to call the games through GameBase still.

REQUEST: Have GameBase emulators have the same options available as internal emulators regarding how data is displayed (e.g., show game info page, etc), launch a program before/after, etc.

REQUEST: Have GameBase emulators use background/foreground images similar to those used for internal emulators based off the same naming schema as the .ini used for them (i.e., the name of the GameBase database is what's looked for in the graphics). (Same as Bigby's above, just adding in my request.)

Hrm...so what background file does GameBase actually use then? (emubak or something similar?) And damn...so basically you either get the features of gamebase (i.e., game info, categories, etc.) and no GameEx capabilities or GameEx capabilities and no Gamebase features. That stinks... :/

Ok, just trying to integrate GameBase into my setup because of all of the extras, manuals, etc. Definitely liking all the potential with this - not sure if I'll just use GB directly yet for consoles or get manuals/etc. and link that way. But...few questions to help me decide... 1. What's the naming format for GameBase custom theme screens? (i.e., Theme_Background_????, ???.ini) 2. Can any GameEx options be used with emulators being used through GameBase? (i.e., running a program/bat before it runs the game, etc) or does it need to be completely configured through GameBase and GEMUS scripting. 3. Is there any rhyme or reason to image selection from Gamebase into GameEx - or is it just whatever comes up as with normal GameEx theming/images? 4. What are the benefits of using GameBase over GameEx for emulators that have a database? TIA for any help. Trying to tweak out my cab some and GameBase seems like a great way to integrate all the software - just trying to figure out how to get it integrated (visually) into my GameEx theme and have the controls all setup correctly.

Is it possible, and if so what's the naming convention, for logo's for custom MAME menu/lists? (The logo shown in the main MAME list for that item/sub-list, basically). ANSWER: Yes. Use the exact same name as the Custom MAME game list. Spaces should be included AS spaces. Also, these graphics can be 'hot added' as some other items are. GameEx has to be restarted for them to appear.

Ok, figured that's what it was. Was hoping to just put it into the normal dialog format or something... Thanks!

Yeah...I got everything working half-way decently. Load times are still a bit of a bitch, but assigning a key to toggle warp seems to work around that somewhat. The majority of Gamebase64 seems to be tapes though, which is annoying. And I'm having some script issues I believe with GEMUS in getting joysticks setup right - but there could be a breakdown somewhere else since I need to remap my U360's to 4-ways, then xpadder them, then start vice - all from in GameBase since you can't do before/after programs for a gamebase emu from w/in GameEx.

My point was, with standard/non custom menus then there's the potential for multiple images of the emu logo appearing on the screen at once if you're missing multiple pieces of art. Anyway - I'm noticing a new dialog with the most recent update. It comes up as a grey box across the bottom of the screen when starting and, of the text I can read, it says something like 'Downloaded NES art' or something similar. Wondering what that is, if it's skinnable, etc.

Yeah, I found that version of Vice and am actually setting it up - I put that request in in 2010 and it got incorporated into the 2.3 SDL source but I had issues building it. Lo and behold, they now have an SDL build for Windows on their site so...good to go! And yeah, there's the potential for keyboard related issues, but I'm going to have a streamlined games list with only action/platformer type games that I wouldn't be able to play otherwise. And I'm going to remap the other 5 buttons on my control panel to appropriate keys for most games and use the virtual keyboard when needed in other places.

Hehe...I meant if it would carry them over. I know it can do that. Honestly, I can't get GameBase working with Mess for C64 games as of right now so may be a moot point. :/ (God damn mirror cab.)

...hrm...semi-related, can you do custom lists w/GameBase? (...would love more documentation on certain things...hehe..

WAD? (Working as Designed?) I can see the reason it works this way, it's just not clear. Also, if you're not using custom menus, things could get...screwey.

Ok, fixed it and found the bug/issue causing it. I'm not sure if this only happens w/custom menus or what, BUT if you have a logo set for an emulator, the image not found image only replaces "image" in a theme/screen, it does not replace Image 2, etc., if they aren't found. To get around this, using custom menus, you set a custom menu item to have a logo for the emulator and then do not set a logo for the emulator itself in the emulator config screen. The image not found image will only appear, however, for "Image" - additional images on a screen just don't appear if not found.

Damn...kind of stinks. Would be nice to have that capability from MAME carry over to the other emus...

Tried searching but couldn't find anything...can you have multiple custom game lists for non-mame emulators? If so, how? To be clear - I want to have Misfit Mame have a 'all Games' list, and a 'Worth playing list' and maybe a few others. Same with consoles, want to do a 'RPG' list, 'shooter' list, etc.

Ok...additional question. Normally for an emu you set a logo for the system and that is what's shown when there's no image. However, if you have MULTIPLE images being shown (in my instance, the cartridges are being shown) it still is showing the logo for that piece of art. So, for the Snap it shows the 'no image found' image you set, but for the cart it shows the logo for the emulator. Any to stop this - or have it just not show a 'image missing' image at all?