[APP] arcadeEIP

[Gildahl]

This post is to announce a little program I wrote that I call arcadeEIP.  It's an emulated game switching program that I wrote primarily to extend GameEx with some features that I often thought I'd like--mainly, a live attract mode--but it adds some extended launch capabilities and a minimalistic game menu for quick game switching and favorites management too.

Since it's a little hard to explain exactly what it's good for, I posted a video here  to introduce it:

 

See the included docs, and especially the MAME Quick Start text file to get started.

https://1drv.ms/u/s!ArCGq1gvf0jkhcps9OhCyubzHy8Usg?e=RcND4F

Additional videos can be found here...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUq6aj4TJUPN9izghAuBdxA

Download link:

https://github.com/gildahl/arcadeEIP

Dave

[tthurman]

I've seen some really cool stuff over the  years, but this program takes it to the next level.  As I don't have a dedicated cab, this isn't' something I can currently take advantage of in a game room setup, but it will be nice to have up and running while I'm playing around with retro games.

The video does a great job describing the functionality and the proxy feature is just amazing, I think! 

Thanks for the share!

 

 

[Draco1962]

I finally had a little time to "breath" and watch the video and I have to say I am genuinely impressed and look to try this out with GameEx Arcade Edition. Like @tthurman, I do not have a dedicated cab but I am certain that I will be able to put it through its paces in the coming weeks!

Thanks again for sharing with us and I encourage everyone else to "kick the tires and light the fires" on this fine contribution to the community and provide @Gildahlsome feedback!

[stigzler]

What a great augmentation. I'd take this for a spin if my cab had a pc in it (released the magic smoke on the mobo yesterday - oops).

[Gildahl]

Added a new dynamic marquee feature, including basic support for display of the game's high score (using hi2txt).  You can see a demonstration video and download link here.

[tthurman]

Nice, what display are you using?

[Gildahl]

1 hour ago, tthurman said:

Nice, what display are you using?

That would be this guy...https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FJ21RNW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

I had actually bought this one first (which might be more suitable as a built-in), but found the above one better as a topper monitor.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QGBL568/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[u-man]

I like your project very much. Especially the multiple MAME feature. BTW, the best MAME version for vector games is 0179b.

[Gildahl]

6 hours ago, u-man said:

I like your project very much. Especially the multiple MAME feature. BTW, the best MAME version for vector games is 0179b.

Thanks!   And one neat feature in arcadeEIP is support for parallel versions of MAME such that if you (for example) setup your mame folders like this:

\Emulators\MAME_179
\Emulators\MAME_237

...any game (such as vector games) whose roms are in the \roms folder of MAME_179 but not in MAME_237 will automatically be run in 179.  Basically, roms are always run from the highest version they are found in.

BTW, in what way is 179 better for vector games?  Is it the HLSL settings?

I should also mention that there are some more recent videos posted here.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUq6aj4TJUPN9izghAuBdxA

[tthurman]

3 hours ago, Gildahl said:

BTW, in what way is 179 better for vector games?  Is it the HLSL settings?

Count me as interested in this as well.