MAME video settings

[MNMax21]

Hey all,

Awhile back I changed my MAME video setting to stretch the bezels and fill my entire screen. I use a 32" LCD TV in my cab and before I did this I always had the annoying black bars on the sides. I found settings on a link and was able to accomplish this. However, it's an unfortunate compromise due to the fact that I can now only see about 20% of the artwork for the bezel. I am wondering if anyone has any knowledge on a patch or settings that would make the bezel fill the outer area of the screen? Is there a way I could create my own bezel with a specific resolution that may fill the entire screen? I like the way it is if that's the only option. The playing area is not stretched or distorted, just the bezel seems to almost be maximized. It would be awesome to see the entire piece of artwork though.

[stigzler]

Tackled something like this a while ago. Can't remember a thing about it now, but basically, my setup uses a random bezel form a selection of homemade one to play the game with. Think it sorted all the stretch issues as well - anywhoos - I remember it worked ok. Link here:

https://sites.google.com/site/alienarcade74/sub-projects/software-setups/mame-setup#TOC-Artwork

Dunno if it's what yer after but take a look.

Oh, btw - would this be better in the main forum?

P.S. How did the C64 setup go? (this was my favourite as my main home console/comp when i was a kid!!)

[MNMax21]

Yeah, I thought I put this in the social club. I'm having trouble with the tap a talk app. Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.

Can I move it? Or does an admin have to do it?

[Draco1962]

I already moved it.

[DazzleHP]

You can indeed create your own artwork for MAME and have it all fit the screen properly (or even edit existing artwork to fit your monitor). You'll need to look into lay files which essentially tell MAME what images to use and where to put them on screen

Try these:

http://mamedev.org/devwiki/index.php?title=Layouts_and_Rendering_for_MAME_Artwork_System

http://mamedev.org/devwiki/index.php?title=LAY_File_Basics_-_Part_I

More info that will be very usefull if you go for it:

http://mrdo.mameworld.info/mame_artwork_faq.php

Good Luck!

[MNMax21]

Thanks Draco, my apologies. Thanks too Dazzle. I will check it out!

[MNMax21]

Hey Dazzle. Would it then be as easy as loading a current bezel into gimp and just changing the resolution to fit my monitor size. I imagine the game screen would stay the same and I would just be expanding the bezel?

[Draco1962]

Only problem with changing the resolution on the image is that it may distort horizontally or vertically depending on the source image's proportions or aspect ratio.

You may want to look at the aspect ratio comparison image here. If you scale the image within the same aspect ratio, say 16:9, then you shouldn't suffer any "squishing" or "stretching" effects, although you may experience some pixelization or "jaggy lines" in the image if you are upscaling the image. You should not see any of this, however, if you are downscaling the image.

[MNMax21]

Are the defaults for MAME artwork 4:3? I am pretty sure the default resolution for my LCD TV is 16:9 and I think it's 1920x1080. If I edited existing artwork, would I want to then change it to 16:9 and risk awkwardness or should I try changing my screen resolution or MAME resolution to a larger 4:3? However, I think I would still have black boxes correct?

[Draco1962]

Yeah, you are going to have black boxes if using an image with 4:3 aspect ratio. I am not certain but willing to bet that the default images are probably 4:3 as well. It is going to take a little tinkering but I think that it is possible to create. Have you checked out the bezel layout generator online? It would be a cool application to have developed with a simple GUI if one of our Devs were so inclined... FEATURE REQUEST!!!

[Draco1962]

You may find these threads helpful...

http://www.gameex.info/forums/topic/13384-abc-guide-for-custom-default-gamex-bezel-for-vetical-games/?p=109272

http://www.gameex.info/forums/topic/13380-custom-bezels-for-mame/?p=109238

[MNMax21]

I ended up just changing the MAME settings 'per-window video options' resolution to my ideal resolution for my TV, which Nvidia gave me at 1360x768. I then changed keepaspect from 1 to 0 and voila. My bezels now fit the entire screen with the game in the center. I lose a little bit in height of the game itself due to the bezel above and below, but no more black bars!!