[PLUGIN] Infoz

[stigzler]

The GameEx backend you always needed...

Currently in BETA V0.9

Forum | Bugs/Reqs | Download

Infoz was originally meant to be an application to display additional information about games on additional displays, but given the infrastructure developed to support this, it soon became apparent that I could use it to do so much more. So here are some of the things that Infoz does:

Theme Designer

I wanted to take the labour out of theme design - having to build each and every system or 'core' page was a pain. Infoz lets you either build a single template theme for all pages or separate templates for Core and System pages. It will then pull dynamic images (e.g. different backgrounds + media for different systems) to construct the different theme pages. This automates the process. So, if you add more systems, you just run the theme generator again and it generates the new System or Core pages. Once you've set up your templates/layouts, there's nothing more to do! It also has an automated Logo and Selector Builder. It also has an automated logo and Selector generator. Some pics:

     

 

Game Editor and MetaData/Media Scraper

This allows you to edit any game information and also access screenscraper.fr to scrape metadata and game media. Screenscraper is an excellent resource and highly accurate and comprehensive, meaning your roms will have really well matched artworks. You can also choose a preferred region for imports (e.g. Europe or USA) and also a preferred language for game descriptions etc. Additionally, you can import extra media such as publisher and developer logos to use in any Game Info layouts that you make (see below). Infoz also presents you with an images wall, which helps you browse through your games and also has handy filters to help you discover to pesky games that are slipping through the net. Some pics:

   

 

Game Info Displays

These are auto-generated on the fly by infoz when you're browsing the GameEx interface or when you launch a game. You have the option of some animations (for example alternating images between, say, screenshots and title pages) and there's also a menu system which lets users pick what pages they want to see. All layout sets are allocated to a specific display, so you could have one as a Marquee and one as a Game info display, which can display a game info page, a system info page and then the default game controls, and also the menu navigation controls (see below). Infoz has a live view in the admin interface so you can see how the results will look in real time as you are editing things. Some images:

   

 

Games Controls Viewer

I guess this is really the biggie! Infoz lets you set up controllers and controls for each system and then assign each game controls. The level of control is highly granular. For example, each game's controls scheme has 'game modes' - so for example, you may have a control schema for 'on foot' and 'on horseback.' Also, Infoz can handle both in-game and in-emulator remaps of controls. It also manages Control groups (for example a control function for 'D-Pad' - e.g. 'Move' rather than having to have up, down, left, right every time cluttering up your layout). It also automatically imports all MAME controls and even assigns the right button colours. A few pics:

    

  

 

"Where do I start - this looks complicated?" 🤔

As ever, the documentation's a drag. There is a help doc, but it's not fully done yet as I'm not sure how many people will actually use this tbh. I'd probably recommend you have a test GameEx installation that you practice on first whilst you get used to Infoz with some dummy roms + assets folders. The best way to learn Infoz is by watching the tutorial videos I've made. They are a little long, but the results will be worth it. Then you can ask questions in the Infoz Forum (I'd ask you post there to keep all help in one place and keep them separated into topics rather than have them all in this one thread).

This is the tutorial playlist (view the list by clicking the icon in the top right):

 

I've found a bug or I've got a feature suggestion!

Please post these HERE.

 

Download and Installation

You can download it below. Regarding installation, I don't think it's available through the Repository yet, so you'll have to manually install it. Unzip the files, and install it so Infoz.dll sits in the GameEx/PLUGINS directly, thus:

Download it here:

 

Enjoy. 🙂

[Tom Speirs]

It looks very extensive buddy. Hopefully I can check it out soon.

Sorry for the tumbleweeds!

[Draco1962]

Finally back home where I can view a proper video without extreme throttling. Is there supposed to be sound to the stream recording? 

[stigzler]

Well. Hopefully the tutorials will give you a flavour of what it can do and how to use it. Remind me @Tom Speirs about how to get this up and onto the Repo and I'll package it into a releasable version. Would you want a beta first for some testing by the GE boys or straight out into the wilds? It's rough and ready, so will inevitably have some bugs. It's essentially a prototype. 

[Tom Speirs]

Again, sorry for the tumbleweeds buddy. Britannia no longer rules the waves but god bless the king! He finally got a job!

PS: I did have a look at the vids. Note that the plugin manager is no longer included in the setup. Feel free to post/share it though.

[stigzler]

Yeah I know. It comes with infoz which re installs it! Given your repo system, and thus versioning system, I didn't know how you want the plugin files? Just on here as a zip file or what? Where do I put the version of the build (aside from in the plugin class itself). Also, how do you handle updates? 

[stigzler]

Version 0.9.0 Released

Beta Release

"Buggy Mc-Bug-Face" Edition

I need a peanut.

(Original post updated to actually say what this thing is!)

[Phantom]

Hi,

I'm following along with your videos. I'm working on Tutorial 3 to set up multiple screens.

When I get to the ADD IMAGE part, it adds the same image in your videos (a screen shot of an old game with THE BATHROOM)

If I "touch" the photo the plugin crashes. I can't change the image or anything. I tried to look to see if the image was in one of the folders but it isn't. 

Is it looking for a file that you may have had on your system? if so can I fool it some how to load a different pic?

[stigzler]

Urgh. GDI+ error....

Hard to visualise from your text - could you make a quick vid with OBS and upload it to youtube?

What happens if you select "Continue"?

 

[Phantom]

Hi,

If I hit continue it seems to let me keep using the program unless I touch th pic again.

I made the video. I'm not sure if you can get the info you need from the debug window. I can redo it if you tell me what you need.

Thanks

Here it is

https://youtu.be/gTadn0VrNpM

 

[stigzler]

Hmmmm. Could be tricky. Could you raise a ticket on the Issues link. Also:

Do a vid of creating a new layout and recreating the error.

Post the full area in the bug report.

Thanks