On the fly bezel generation

[mightypeniz]

Ahh this is great stuff! Well done gents!

[lingpanda]

What do you think? Damn it I think I'll have to postpone the plugin and write this first. I love this idea too much hehe

That is HOT!!!! Much props!

[headkaze]

Tom is still trying to find time to implement this, but in the meantime I generated demo bezels to see what attract mode looked like with them on and I must say it's one of the coolest features! This is going to be really handy for finding new games to play expecially with the MAWS star ratings as a guide

Now I've found something interesting along the way because during testing I was always using the ddraw setting because I often test through Remote Desktop. I was a little dissapointed at the quality of the bezels and some were quite unreadable. But when running it through GameEx I realised the quality was perfect! So then I found the reason why, using GameEx I have the d3d option set. So it seems the bezel quality is much better using Direct3D over Direct Draw.

Attached are two screenshots of the bezel's one from using d3d and the other ddraw options. So I would recommend people when using this new feature to use d3d.

Direct 3d (-d3d option)

Direct Draw (-ddraw option)

[bkenobi]

I found the same thing right after the new graphics engine was introduced. I was VERY dissatisfied with the DDraw engine, so I switched to D3D and haven't looked back. As I understand, DDraw is supposed to be the better choice, but it looks terrible.

[LB11]

I think ddraw is supposed to be faster, not better. Thats how I understood it anyways. It definately looks crappier. But plays well. D3D plays almost nothing on the laptop I use.

[iano]

Tom is still trying to find time to implement this, but in the meantime I generated demo bezels to see what attract mode looked like with them on and I must say it's one of the coolest features! This is going to be really handy for finding new games to play expecially with the MAWS star ratings as a guide

Now I've found something interesting along the way because during testing I was always using the ddraw setting because I often test through Remote Desktop. I was a little dissapointed at the quality of the bezels and some were quite unreadable. But when running it through GameEx I realised the quality was perfect! So then I found the reason why, using GameEx I have the d3d option set. So it seems the bezel quality is much better using Direct3D over Direct Draw.

Attached are two screenshots of the bezel's one from using d3d and the other ddraw options. So I would recommend people when using this new feature to use d3d.

Direct 3d (-d3d option)

Direct Draw (-ddraw option)

Does this rule out ArcadeVGA users ? It says on Ultimarc's site that you should use ddraw in the MAME command line ?

[headkaze]

Does this rule out ArcadeVGA users ? It says on Ultimarc's site that you should use ddraw in the MAME command line ?

You can use Direct3D mode for ArcadeVGA it's just recommended to use Direct Draw for more accurate per pixel rendering. Maybe Tom will allow you to set different command line options for attract mode since he will already have to set a different artwork folder (-artwork_directory).

You can still have this feature in Direct Draw mode it's just not as clear. You can look at the screenshot images to make up your own mind.

[bkenobi]

Just wanted to bump this back to the top. Is this still in the works? It would be a shame to have the work go to waste...

[fRequEnCy]

I'm glad things like this get bumped up! I guess I need to read past posts to see what's going on. LOL. Too lazy I guess. But awesome idea! Can't wait to see it implemented into GameEx. Keep up the good work guys!

[Tom Speirs]

I'm glad things like this get bumped up! I guess I need to read past posts to see what's going on. LOL. Too lazy I guess. But awesome idea! Can't wait to see it implemented into GameEx. Keep up the good work guys!

Good timing, Its in 9.03 just released a few minutes ago.

[bkenobi]

sweat...

[fRequEnCy]

Good timing, Its in 9.03 just released a few minutes ago.

Gee Tom! Didn't have to get it done that fast! LOL. Great work. Can't wait to get home and try it all out.

[LB11]

I just tried it out and it is definately all I hoped it would be! Thanks again!

[NizZ8]

I just tried it out and it is definately all I hoped it would be! Thanks again!

Are there some specific paths/options that need to be enabled for this? After the upgrade to 9.03 i went to screensaver -> and enabled the new bezel option but it's not showing up for mame games @ all... Any ideas on what all needs to be enabled to get this working?

Thanks!

[NizZ8]

Are there some specific paths/options that need to be enabled for this? After the upgrade to 9.03 i went to screensaver -> and enabled the new bezel option but it's not showing up for mame games @ all... Any ideas on what all needs to be enabled to get this working?

Thanks!

To add to this, i see a folder named "artworkgameex" being created in my mame folder but it seems to be empty... Here is an snip from the log file for when entering Attract Mode..

01:45:21.9  12/22/2007:  Starting Attract Mode
01:45:22.1  12/22/2007:  Running: cmd.exe /c C: C:\Emulators\Mame32\Mame32.exe frenzy -rompath C:\Emulators\Mame32\roms -video d3d -noswitchres -triplebuffer -ctrlr XArcade -volume -32
01:45:44.7  12/22/2007:  Returning From Attract Mode
01:45:46.6  12/22/2007:  Exiting GameEx!
01:45:46.6  12/22/2007:  Saving Settings
01:45:48.5  12/22/2007:  Disposing Plugins
01:45:48.5  12/22/2007:  Closing database connection
01:45:48.6  12/22/2007:  Checking for applications to Launch On Exit
01:45:48.6  12/22/2007:  Media Center was not open when starting GameEx, so not launching

[Tom Speirs]

To add to this, i see a folder named "artworkgameex" being created in my mame folder but it seems to be empty... Here is an snip from the log file for when entering Attract Mode..

01:45:21.9  12/22/2007:  Starting Attract Mode
01:45:22.1  12/22/2007:  Running: cmd.exe /c C: C:\Emulators\Mame32\Mame32.exe frenzy -rompath C:\Emulators\Mame32\roms -video d3d -noswitchres -triplebuffer -ctrlr XArcade -volume -32
01:45:44.7  12/22/2007:  Returning From Attract Mode
01:45:46.6  12/22/2007:  Exiting GameEx!
01:45:46.6  12/22/2007:  Saving Settings
01:45:48.5  12/22/2007:  Disposing Plugins
01:45:48.5  12/22/2007:  Closing database connection
01:45:48.6  12/22/2007:  Checking for applications to Launch On Exit
01:45:48.6  12/22/2007:  Media Center was not open when starting GameEx, so not launching

Can you post your full log?

[LB11]

Are there some specific paths/options that need to be enabled for this? After the upgrade to 9.03 i went to screensaver -> and enabled the new bezel option but it's not showing up for mame games @ all... Any ideas on what all needs to be enabled to get this working?

Thanks!

I didnt have to do anything, just auto-updated from 9.02 and it worked.

[fRequEnCy]

Me too. Only folders that were pointed to was your marquee and icon folders. Just enable in attract mode and it should work.

[NizZ8]

I closed out GameEX and then opened it again and it asked for the update again--after running that the bezels are showing up! Cool feature guys!.. I'm guessing my first time applying the update didn't take correctly for some reason.

Thanks again!

-n8