Start games maximized

[Itchigo]

I need someone better versed in this than myself. I have these 3 games working. I'd like them to start out maximized. One of these has an F4 option for full screen, the other 2 games don't. But I don't want to have a keyboard hooked to my bartop constantly.

These aren't Mame games, they are custom (.exe only). I think they were made with Gamemaker 4. So, I'd like them to start full screen, and possibly remap a couple keys on Astrobeer. Anyone want a crack at it??

astrobeer.zip Beertruck.zip Yeastman.zip

[Draco1962]

Are you using PinballX to load them on your pincab? If so, can you provide your pinballx.ini and log.txt files.

A clue as to which one uses F4 to go fullscreen would be helpful.  Also, do you use anything like x360ce for in-game key management?

Edit: I am not able to take on the challenge, just trying to setup for someone else that may.

[Mike_da_Spike]

I will take the challange and will test in a few hours. First need to do some DIY in house for mrs DA Spike

[Itchigo]

Sorry, it's Beertruck that requires F4 for Full Screen. The other 2 games don't have this option. I'm using Pinball X without VP on my bartop, so everything is being done via other systems. So I have Mame and other systems setup.

Thanks Guys.

[Mike_da_Spike]

I created a small AHK script to launch it. Put both files in the same directory and launch the LaunchBeertruck.exe

 

Edited September 27, 2020 by Mike_da_Spike
old exe file removed

[Itchigo]

Awesome thank you! I'll try it out later today. I know AHK files are simple, but I haven't done them before. Could I use this same file for the other games (just rename)?

[Mike_da_Spike]

7 minutes ago, Itchigo said:

Awesome thank you! I'll try it out later today. I know AHK files are simple, but I haven't done them before. Could I use this same file for the other games (just rename)?

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No. I have the exe added to the ahk script and compiled it. Didnt check the other 2, because you mentioned that those didnt have an f4 option.

Let me know if this works for you and I will check the others tomorrow 

[Itchigo]

Only Beertruck has the F4 option, the others don't have any options that I can find.

 

Is it possible via AHK to remap keys on a different game?

[Mike_da_Spike]

23 minutes ago, Itchigo said:

Is it possible via AHK to remap keys on a different game?

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I'm not an ahk expert ( i could create this and I was happy with it :p ), but found the following: 

https://www.autohotkey.com/docs/misc/Remap.htm

so yes, I think it is possible 

 

[Itchigo]

Hmm, I tried it briefly on this PC and it worked once. Then I added it to my bartop and it didn't (opened small). Then I retried it on this PC and it didn't work.

 

I'm checking that link as far as remapping keys, thanks.

[Mike_da_Spike]

2 hours ago, Itchigo said:

Hmm, I tried it briefly on this PC and it worked once. Then I added it to my bartop and it didn't (opened small). Then I retried it on this PC and it didn't work.

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Hmmm... on my pc it worked everytime. Could be a timing issue. Will check for you

[Mike_da_Spike]

Small adjustment to Beertruck and added AstroBeer.
I now wait until the program is launched and set it to full screen .
Can you try this again ?

For  Yeastman I cannot find how to put it to full screen. You should ask developer to add it in his code

BeerTruck.zip Astrobeer.zip

[Draco1962]

I did give Yeastman a try at fullscreen after downloading from the author's site at http://www.mrgoodbeer.com/games/ - I have to say that based upon the site and many images no longer displaying that it may be abandoned along with the game support.

I tried the following and failed:

F1 - Displays About information

F4 - I know tried before but did so from my side just to say I tried, Interestingly, pressing F4 creates a .sav file...

Launch from Shortcut (.lnk file created by right click on yeastman.exe and left-click Create shortcut):

 -  Shortcut tab added -fullscreen switch to the exe in the Target line. No change

 - Shortcut tab - setting shortcut to run maximized. No change, Just wrapped in a window and tucked - same size - in the upper left corner of the window.

 - Compatibility tab - Tried Windows XP SP2 compatibility. No change in size but did slow the cycle from the splash screen (where I could briefly read to hit F1 for more info) and appears that the yeast and bacteria run a slight bit slower which is probably closer to the hardware/OS speeds when this was written (Wednesday, ‎May ‎29, ‎2002, ‏‎12:30:10 AM per yeastman.exe Properties>General tab)

- Run in 640x480 screen resolution. CLOSE - Almost took complete vertical screen real estate for 1920x1080 BUT annoying OS Optimal Display Resolution splash and really messes with Win 10 until you exit. 

WIN+SHIFT+ENTER  after launch - No response

Task Manager - Launch Yeastman.exe, then open Task Manager. Click down arrow on yeastman,exe in Processes and Right-click yeatman in dropdown, select Maxi.mize. Opens centered in maximized window but still not full screen top to bottom.

Based upon my experiments and conclusion from various Game Maker programming site is that if the functionality is not programmed to either launch fullscreen or with a window/fullscreen toggle then it won't.  The best you may be able to hope for is for someone to come along that could setup a bezel overlay to wrap around it (hence where having the pinballx.ini and log.txt files comes in handy - display dimensions!) 

[Itchigo]

Thanks guys for trying on these, I know they are very old, but I got a kick out of them. They've been on my old pc for quite a while, and I decided to add them to my bartop.

Astrobeer: Has a FS option via F2

Beertruck: I tried Mike's version, and didn't get FS. It does have the option via F4.

Yeastman: I can't find anything to make it FS. I don't think there is an option. I was hoping there was a way within windows to make the file open a certain way. Like an AHK script or something.

Astrobeer, Beertruck: I could use X Padder to potentially remap a couple keys, but I don't want to do it at a global level. I'm afraid I might affect other Mame games already in my bartop. Is there a way within an AHK script to do the same thing as X Padder? Like pressing this key triggers F4 or something like that? Just an idea.

 

I forgot to mention I'm running 7, but that shouldn't make too much of a difference.

 

[Mike_da_Spike]

The new version of beertruck and astrobeer still not working for you in fullscreen ?

Odd I launch the program, wait until the program window is ready, activate the window and press f4 for beertruck and f2 for astrobeer. 

Is it an very old pc you running on ? 

On my test pc (i5 9600) , my pinball cabinet (i7 7600) and my arcade machine (ryzen 5 3600) it is working like a charm.

For Yeastman, try to use a startscript that lowers the resolution of your screen and set the program to runn full screen. It worked for me a bit, but you must try it yourself. After quitong the game, set the resolution back

[Itchigo]

Define old lol. This pc I'm testing on I built for my cab about 8 years ago. It has an I-5 2400k. 16gb of ram. I overbuilt it at the time so I could use it as a dual purpose.

Now my pinball cab has it's own pc (Ryzen 5 running 7).

My bartop is a very old HP (2008) with 2gb ram. But it only runs windows, Mame, and Stella. It's even running integrated graphics (no card), with no issues. I basically installed 7 on it and turned off updates. It's only running like 32 processes which I think is why I have no issues.