CPViewer coming soon!

[headkaze]

Hey guys CPViewer is on the brink of beta release!!! Did you just wet your pants in excitement? hehe I've been working my butt off to get it finalized and in working order so people can start designing their CP's and also posting label files and emulator maps. But more on that later.

I have some questions to ask, and appreciate it if people would take the time to post their ideas here.

1. CPViewer will support catver.ini, command.dat, controlsdat, MAWS hall of fame, history.dat, mameinfo.dat, nplayers.ini and story.dat (hiscores) and artwork display (snaps, titles, marquees, cabs, cpanels, pcb's) and manuals. I think I've covered about everything you could possibly read about a Mame game. This will all be available at the press of a key *while your playing the game*. Have I missed any data files out there or anything for Mame games that you wan't in your CP Viewer?

2. CPViewer will provide an IRC chat room (again available at all times at the press of a key). What server do you think we should go for and what channel name? #ArcadeChat on EFNet? Also I need someone who has a reliable PC online all day and knows how to op an IRC room. I need someone who can run a bot in the room and op/ban the people we want. Moderators on this forum will have op status but I need someone to keep the place from getting taken over by lamers. If I can't find anyone I have a friend in the Nintendo DS coding scene who can possibly lend me his bot. I have no idea if people will use IRC chat functionality from thier cabs, it may be a big flop I don't know! But it should be good if it gets popular enough to pause a game and go into chat to ask for help if you get stuck in a game, or want to brag about your current highscore! (If CPViewer crashes Mame don't come crying to me though!)

3. CPViewer will support other emulators besides Mame. But there will be issues minimizing and restoring some emulators. I will need help from the community in creating the necessary map files to make it happen. I don't want my program to have to use AutoIt / Autohotkey scripts to deal with emulators so I will need help to figure out how to deal with each one separately. If it simply minimizes and maximizes then no problem, if there needs to be specific code to make it work I will implement it directly into the viewer. Some emulators may not work at all with my program.

4. Console data. Right now CPViewer will support GameEx mdb database files which contain GoodName data for consoles that can be displayed on the CP. This includes Name, Category, Developer, NumPlayers, Date and Description. Additonally you can have label files which will map game specific controls onto a CP. Are there any online databases we can scrape information about consoles?

5. Instruction cards. Currently I have no intstruction card support but it would be nice. Know anywhere I can get them?

6. Finally the name. CPViewer was always a working title, but now it's sort of ended up being the name because I can't think of a better name (yeah and I thought I was creative). CPViewer was initially suppossed to be just that. A CPViewer and editor. But it has taken on a life of it's own. Now it's much more, so can you think of a better name?

I will be posting a complete list of features and screenshots when the beta is released (here first of course!). And Tom will get the first preview

That about covers the main things. I will be accepting PayPal donations for this project because I've put alot of time and effort into it. I'm thinking $10 US should be fair. What do you think? Too high? I do need to buy a new development PC because it's getting painfully slow working on large projects, so donations would be going towards that.

Finally here is a screenshot of some of the things it can do (I wasn't going to post this but what the hay)

[stephenp1983]

Don't really have any answers for your questions, but I just wanted to say this looks incredible. Thanks for all the hard work you put into it.

[iano]

I would gladly donate $20, so i don't think you're asking for much in return (in fact you may be asking too little considering the time you spent on it).

EDIT: Just after checking out the pic - it looks cool !

[ourgrace]

headkaze

I've been waiting for this for a while now, it looks pretty sweet.

As far as the questions in your post;

1 WOW, I can't think of anything else.

2 Nice, I haven't used IRC in a while, but I would think that could be usefull.

3 Can't help ya there.

4 Can't help ya there.

5 I'll help look.

6 GameData, GameInfo, CP +

Let me know about your paypal, and I'll donate to your PC fund.

Thanks Again!

Ourgrace

[LB11]

This sounds like a great tool!

I honestly don't know how many people would be using the IRC channel. It seems like more people on here have arcade cabinets than anything else. I personally use an htpc and would love the feature!

Sorry I cant really help with anything else. If you really need it I might be able to run a bot on the computer at work for the IRC channel. Its a 24/7 computer that picks up the fax line and the boss uses it for internet every now and again. But I wouldn't be able to actively monitor anything and I don't know much about doing that anyways.

EFNET would probably be fine, but don't they have a server dedicated to games. Its been a while since I used IRC, I could be wrong.

[Time Pilot]

This looks awesome! I'll gladly donate! A couple of ideas (though possibly not the ones you were looking for).

(1) Somehow have the button/joystick/trackball colors on the CPViewer control panel match those in the LCD plugin files so everything matches.

(2) Possibly display the CPViewer display on a second display (during gameplay when the CPviewer is not on display #1) ? I've been thinking about sticking a 2nd small (8 inch) LCD display on the cab.

Just crazy thoughts. It looks awesome as it is though! I can't wait to get it on the cab.

-TP

[hansolo77]

It would be really nice if something like Kaillera could be implemented in a future release after all the bugs are worked out. That would be soooo sweet to just go into a game, pull up a list of gamers waiting for competition or what not, and off they go. Or some way to communicate via the chat room and setup games to play together, then somebody launches the game from there. I wouldn't imagine it being too difficult, since everybody using the "CPViewer" would all be in the GameEx scene.

For IRC chat, something I hope is that the function of the onscreen keyboard is secondary, and allows you to talk in it with a standard keyboard as well. The room should be labeled something distinct, and possibly be monitored by GameEx.info and only allow registered nicks to access. Maybe even as far as only allowing registered people to join the room. But as others have mentioned, not really sure how many people would use it. I visit the GameEx web chat room every now and then, but there's never anybody there.

Lastly, I too would be willing to donate for this app/plugin if you can make it work. I'd like to try it out first before putting money into it's development. Kinda like the government's position on BigFoot/Sasquatch... "If you can provide 100% viable, irrefutable proof it exists, we will put money towards complete investigation and research... Not before!" Although I have no doubt this will be a blast!

[headkaze]

hansolo77: Please explain what Kaillera is to me. IRC chat will be separate to the GameEx website. What goes on in IRC will stay on IRC and I or any other moderator here will note tollerate IRC chat being brought into this forum. Sorry but I say that from experience and it's a good thing.

hansolo77: Don't worry it's on it's way I'm just working through some issues with the latest version of Mame. But it should work as said. I don't expect anyone to donate until I release it to the public. It should definately add some extra value to your cab

Time Pilot: Not sure if I can have the buttons change color to match the LEDWiz if thats what you mean. With your second point, the CPViewer can already show on your secondary monitor. I will probably add a feature later on so it can show random images while your playing a game or something. Secondary monitor will be something I will definately enhance in the future.

Thanks for the feeback so far

[headkaze]

Sorry guys I was hoping to release CPViewer this weekend. But I'm having some problems minimizing Mame on my Arcade machine. It runs beautifully on my dev machine but is randomly not working on my cab. I'm not sure what it is, but I've already cracked a few beers to celebrate it's release.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to solve the issue in my inebriated state so I will have to wait until tommorrow. I'm very pissed off about this more than anyone so sorry about the delay and bringing up hopes. Stay tuned it will be released next week some time. I feel it wouldn't be much of a release anyway with Brians mum in hospital so it's for the best IMHO anyway. Hopefully she will recover soon and I can release the software in better spirits. Again Brian our preyers are with you and your family.

[one2three]

Kaze,

I for one am very excited to see the release, however I am willing to wait until you work out the issues. Once you get the paypal thing setup let us know, I'm ready and willing to donate even before the official release as I know you have been "busting butt" to get it done.

Also, if you feel it not appropriate to release until we get word back that everything is cool with Brian and his Mom, then I'm sure we will all support you in that decision.

1

[hansolo77]

hansolo77: Please explain what Kaillera is to me.

Kaillera is a plugin/protocol used by a lot of emulators which allows people to connect to each other over the internet. The first time I used it, me and a buddy of mine loaded up the Gens (Sega Genesis) emulator and fought each other in Mortal Kombat. Basically, Kaillera "emulates" the networked player as another controller. One person decides to be player 1 and hosts the game, and player 2 joins. Player 1 indicates that the controller in port 2 is "network" instead of another controller, and player 2 indicates that the controller in port 1 is "network" as well. Kaillera does the rest.

http://www.kaillera.com/

[iano]

Kaillera is a plugin/protocol used by a lot of emulators which allows people to connect to each other over the internet. The first time I used it, me and a buddy of mine loaded up the Gens (Sega Genesis) emulator and fought each other in Mortal Kombat. Basically, Kaillera "emulates" the networked player as another controller. One person decides to be player 1 and hosts the game, and player 2 joins. Player 1 indicates that the controller in port 2 is "network" instead of another controller, and player 2 indicates that the controller in port 1 is "network" as well. Kaillera does the rest.

http://www.kaillera.com/

This sounds brilliant Han ! But is Kaillera only compatible with MAME32++ and not other versions of MAME ?

[hansolo77]

I don't know, I've never actually used it with MAME

[Brian Hoffman]

I don't know, I've never actually used it with MAME

Unofficial mame version supprt kallireia and some emus...BTW kalleria uses closed source files.. Mame is under the GPL licence.. So there for they cannot include it nor improve it.

[hansolo77]

I said something LIKE Kaillera.

[The G-Man]

You know that I'm really excited about this! I can't wait to make CP's to view for my PC games.

$10 seems very reasonable at first, but when compared to what Tom asks for what he has provided; it seems high. But then again it just shows what a great bargain Game Ex is!

[Adultery]

Kaze...

Let me start by saying how cool this is! You can bet your a$$ that I'd donate just because of all the coding you've already done. Even if I never use this (which I will!) I think you're worth the $10.

I haven't been on IRC in ages! However, I think that's an excellent idea. Especially for the lot of us that test each other's scripts and loaders. Very good call! Wish I could be more helpful... Just let me know what I can do to help. I've been excited about the project since you first mentioned it! Command.dat is a great addition to my vanilla MAME!

Perhaps you could tie graphical filters in for emulators that don't support them? I mean like super eagle and sai and the lot... I don't know that this is even possible. Just throwin it out there...

[headkaze]

You know that I'm really excited about this! I can't wait to make CP's to view for my PC games.

$10 seems very reasonable at first, but when compared to what Tom asks for what he has provided; it seems high. But then again it just shows what a great bargain Game Ex is!

$10 is a suggested amount. You can donate more, less or nothing at all. It all depends on if you like the program and want to support the poor and broke person who spends nights and days of his free time coding it. If your a broke student who has little cash in the first place, I would suggest you keep your money for books and beer instead

[The G-Man]

How did you know I was a poor college student? I'm sure I'll be able to help you out though!

[one2three]

$10 is a suggested amount. You can donate more, less or nothing at all. It all depends on if you like the program and want to support the poor and broke person who spends nights and days of his free time coding it.

Kaze,

Might we expect to see something this weekend? EDIT:Never mind. Just saw your beta tester thread, so that it looks as though your getting very close.

Let us know when you setup the paypal donations. I'm ready to throw you a few bones, even if you need to delay the release.

one

[lingpanda]

The IRC function will set this Frontend apart from the rest of the FE's out now. I would like to see this feature available from within GE's main menu. Not just in game.

[hansolo77]

Just discovered:

http://www.cpviewer.emuchrist.org/

Looks like we do need a new name for this, so people don't get confused.

[headkaze]

Just discovered:

http://www.cpviewer.emuchrist.org/

Looks like we do need a new name for this, so people don't get confused.

Yes I know, part of the reason why it was always a working title and why I was asking for ideas for a new name. I was thinking Control Freak, but I don't think it explains itself well enough. Anyone have any ideas?

[hansolo77]

Maybe something like

GameExTras?

[headkaze]

Maybe something like

GameExTras?

Unfortunately, it's not just a GameEx related program. I could have made it so, but then all my friends in the scene who use other FE's (to their own detrament mind you) won't be able to use my program.

I think I'll stick with CPViewer (too late already made a public beta release anyway!) and hope the author of CPViewer doesn't mind too much. After all it's a pretty generic name for something.