Zinc Wrapper

[fRequEnCy]

Since NoLogic's Zinc Wrapper is no longer available I decided to write my own to make the known games run by their name instead of their number.

What other options would be recommended to add in this wrapper? Any suggestions are appreciated so that I can add to it.

[headkaze]

I've always wondered why there was a need for a Zinc wrapper when GameEx already integrates it. Someone care to explain it to me?

[fRequEnCy]

I've always wondered why there was a need for a Zinc wrapper when GameEx already integrates it. Someone care to explain it to me?

I don't either. I just wrote it cuz I was bored and learning to script and I've seen it in the forum lately. LOL.

[Tempest]

I'm going to be honest, when I first saw HK's response I didn't get it. I thought if I don't need a wrapper then I'll move on. I can now see (because of Tom educating me in British humor, and Australia being a British colony and all) that what he was saying is "If Gameex integrates it, it should be integrated better". Come to think of it, aren't we a British colony too?

I don't beleive I am the right person to answer this, because I'm not sure what a wrapper can do.

I can tell you that Zinc is a pain because:

1. It use's numbers instead of names
   
2. There's no built in way to edit sound and grahics plugins (can be done in other programs)
   
3. There are no default.cfg, so each game has to be set up individually for controls and other options
   

Even winterblast's plugin sucks in response to #3. If I remember right, there are two basic control setups, so why not set them up once, and have the plugin crank out the appropriate game configs?

I guess it would be nice to have these issues addressed, and then a simple explanation of how to get it setup.

It just occured to me that I don't know what the hell I'm talking about!

I shouldn't cross threads, but with Brian's setup is there an easy way to have the artwork display? I tried re-naming the artwork to the bat file, instead of the rom name, but it didn't help...

[fRequEnCy]

Well the number part is easy and I already have that part worked out. Simply tell the wrapper to run the respective number of the rom from the rom name in the commandline.

As far as sound and graphics, I see your point. Would either need total control of the settings or basically a whole new gui will need to be written to select these options. Or build wrapper to support one of the two frontends available for ZiNc. But one with commandline options to be more cab-friendly.

As for the controller I just used winterblasts plugin for first time and see that it makes a different controller.cfg for each game where as aldo's frontend only makes one controller.cfg. Both of these are useful frontends and maybe I can do something simple to integrate both into one with commanline options.

Guess I was getting way in way over my head to make this work. LOL. But then again it gives me something to do to make it more cab-friendly which is what I'm all about as all of us are right? I had it working by using aldo's frontend but think a whole rewrite is required to make it run flawless.

[Tempest]

Well the number part is easy and I already have that part worked out. Simply tell the wrapper to run the respective number of the rom from the rom name in the commandline.

As far as sound and graphics, I see your point. Would either need total control of the settings or basically a whole new gui will need to be written to select these options. Or build wrapper to support one of the two frontends available for ZiNc. But one with commandline options to be more cab-friendly.

As for the controller I just used winterblasts plugin for first time and see that it makes a different controller.cfg for each game where as aldo's frontend only makes one controller.cfg. Both of these are useful frontends and maybe I can do something simple to integrate both into one with commanline options.

Guess I was getting way in way over my head to make this work. LOL. But then again it gives me something to do to make it more cab-friendly which is what I'm all about as all of us are right? I had it working by using aldo's frontend but think a whole rewrite is required to make it run flawless.

Yeah, I wasn't suggesting you do all this. I was just bitching. My point with winterblast's plugin, is that you DO have to do every freakin' game, I don't get why it doesn't build all of the .cfgs for you from one setup. At any rate, I have all of my configs from WB's plugin, but nobody has offered up a way to use them, So I'm going to use AHK. I think it will be easier in the long run, when I build a new cabinet, and want to change mappings anyway.

If you have a version that you want me to try, post it. Also, the biggest issue right now for me is the Artwork...

I shouldn't cross threads, but with Brian's setup is there an easy way to have the artwork display? I tried re-naming the artwork to the bat file, instead of the rom name, but it didn't help...

[fRequEnCy]

You bitching? LOL. I know. But I don't like the current setup of it so I'm gonna do it anyways. LOL. Will simplify things for everybody that wants ZiNc as a separate emulator.

As for Brian's setup. Have no clue on that one. Haven't taken a look at his stuff. Briannnnn????? LOL. A little help here.

[Tempest]

You bitching? LOL. I know. But I don't like the current setup of it so I'm gonna do it anyways. LOL. Will simplify things for everybody that wants ZiNc as a separate emulator.

As for Brian's setup. Have no clue on that one. Haven't taken a look at his stuff. Briannnnn????? LOL. A little help here.

I can't wait to see what you come up with. If you need someone to bitch about how your doing things, let me know!

[fRequEnCy]

I can't wait to see what you come up with. If you need someone to bitch about how your doing things, let me know!

Awww you know I don't have to let you know. You'll do that all on your own. LOL.

[Brian Hoffman]

What do you guys want? Im confused... You want winterblast plugin support?

[Tempest]

What do you guys want? Im confused... You want winterblast plugin support?

Brian - relax...I don't want anything, seriously! Frequency asked what else his wrapper should do, and I took a shot at it. Then that turned into bitching, and so on, and so forth....

I might want some help in the future though if I can't figure out what I've screwed up now...

Hey, you know what? I did want something...I wanted to know if there was a way to setup Jaguar (PT), and I was also trying to setup FreeDo, but the only setup I could find used closemul.zip, and it doesn't seem to exist. Also, (since you asked) It would seem that I've farked my pj64 (getting file not found errors, but my paths look right, and it runs standalone) ,and For whatever reason, Vpinball won't run(well it runs, but it doesn't show on top, after I shut down Hide OS, it's there)...After that, if you could take a look at my ports, and while your at it help me drink this case of beer while shooting some pool, then I would be happy.

I'm just frustrated today is all...it seems like it's always 2 steps forward, 1 step back. But that's still progress. Right?

[Brian Hoffman]

Brian - relax...I don't want anything, seriously! Frequency asked what else his wrapper should do, and I took a shot at it. Then that turned into bitching, and so on, and so forth....

I might want some help in the future though if I can't figure out what I've screwed up now...

Hey, you know what? I did want something...I wanted to know if there was a way to setup Jaguar (PT), and I was also trying to setup FreeDo, but the only setup I could find used closemul.zip, and it doesn't seem to exist. Also, (since you asked) It would seem that I've farked my pj64 (getting file not found errors, but my paths look right, and it runs standalone) ,and For whatever reason, Vpinball won't run(well it runs, but it doesn't show on top, after I shut down Hide OS, it's there)...After that, if you could take a look at my ports, and while your at it help me drink this case of beer while shooting some pool, then I would be happy.

I'm just frustrated today is all...it seems like it's always 2 steps forward, 1 step back. But that's still progress. Right?

Hahaha... Ill be home about 630 its 11am now.. I can help you with your ports.

What command are you using for project64? It should be project64.exe [rompath]/[romfile]

As far as the beers go... I would.. But its closer for me to drive to the liquor store.

Vpin ball must not be launching fullscrenn or on top.. I believe there is an option for that

I dont have jaguar setup or 3d0... Perhaps they may be something I can look at whil were figuring out your port issues

[Tempest]

Hahaha... Ill be home about 630 its 11am now.. I can help you with your ports.

What command are you using for project64? It should be project64.exe [rompath]/[romfile]

As far as the beers go... I would.. But its closer for me to drive to the liquor store.

Vpin ball must not be launching fullscrenn or on top.. I believe there is an option for that

I dont have jaguar setup or 3d0... Perhaps they may be something I can look at whil were figuring out your port issues

I'm glad you are laughing....I am always afraid somebody's going to take me the wrong way!

[Adultery]

GameEx intergration works to a point, but it doesn't work for all games. I thinkj this is a Winterblast issue, since many games (if not all) from the ZN1 BIOS don't run at all without, say, Joy2Key since Winterblast doesn't work for any their key assignments.

Also, who wants to set up a config on a game-by-game basis when you could just use a wrapper and get things going more or less out of the box?

I'd be all for a wrapper as long as it can parse data to GameEx when it builds the MAME list. It took Nologic a while to get that going just right.

[fRequEnCy]

Well instead of making a whole new gui I just utilized ZiNcGUI and made it possible to use commandline options. Will release today after work.

It will run zinc using rom name instead of number and automatically use ZiNcGUI's config settings, renderer settings, and controller settings. So now Winterblast's plugin will work. As far as the renderer settings I have it working with D3D but if other settings are needed like OpenGL etc. then give me time to get that working. Not sure if others use these renderers.

[Tempest]

Looking forward to it....

[fRequEnCy]

Looking forward to it....

Here Tempest!

Give this a try and let me know if it's working correctly. I have to pick up my daughter from school so will work more on it if needed. Want you to try it out before I package it.

1. Copy to Zinc directory

2. Make sure you have everything setup in ZiNcGUI or it won't load the game if it's not setup (assuming you have all the correct ZiNcGUI folders, installed in ZiNc directory, etc....).

3. Run with ZiNcGUI_Wrapper.exe [ROM]

Edit:

Here's another version. Tweaked some of the settings. Now supports all Renderers included with ZiNcGUI (D3D, OpenGL, Glide, Soft GPU)

ZiNc_Wrapper.zip

[Tempest]

Here Tempest!

Give this a try and let me know if it's working correctly. I have to pick up my daughter from school so will work more on it if needed. Want you to try it out before I package it.

1. Copy to Zinc directory

2. Make sure you have everything setup in ZiNcGUI or it won't load the game if it's not setup (assuming you have all the correct ZiNcGUI folders, installed in ZiNc directory, etc....).

3. Run with ZiNcGUI_Wrapper.exe [ROM]

I will try it in the morning, Got things to do tonight....I will let you know!

[fRequEnCy]

I will try it in the morning, Got things to do tonight....I will let you know!

Cool! Check post above you. Uploaded an update. Let me know!

[Tempest]

Cool! Check post above you. Uploaded an update. Let me know!

I'm probably stupid or something...My zinc folder has so much crap in it, it's not even funny...

So I'm going through, setting up everygame using ZincGUI, and winterblasts plugin, and I'm thinking to myself that this can't be right...

I need a Go here, and get this file, then configure it using this file then set it up in gameex like this, hand holding type of thing...

Unless of course I am supposed to set up every game individually again, then just give me the OK, and I'll do it. I think this is what kept messing with me before, I just couldn't believe you had to go to this much trouble, until I finally broke down and did it.

I'll tell you this, if I check the properties on my zinc folder, I have 494 files in 37 folders, 761MB total. Doesn't that seem crazy?

You want to know why I'm stupid? Because Zinc runs at 24 FPS on my computer, and I'm still trying to set it up!

[shaunopp]

Well, possibly the funniest (or saddest?) thing is that you seemed to have ZiNc all figured out back in February.

Shaunopp,

Well, believe it or not...I (we) did it!

I truly appreciate your patience, I'm sure if I was you I would have poked my eyes out just so I didn't have to see any more posts about Zinc!

Thanks!

[fRequEnCy]

I'm probably stupid or something...My zinc folder has so much crap in it, it's not even funny...

So I'm going through, setting up everygame using ZincGUI, and winterblasts plugin, and I'm thinking to myself that this can't be right...

I need a Go here, and get this file, then configure it using this file then set it up in gameex like this, hand holding type of thing...

Unless of course I am supposed to set up every game individually again, then just give me the OK, and I'll do it. I think this is what kept messing with me before, I just couldn't believe you had to go to this much trouble, until I finally broke down and did it.

I'll tell you this, if I check the properties on my zinc folder, I have 494 files in 37 folders, 761MB total. Doesn't that seem crazy?

You want to know why I'm stupid? Because Zinc runs at 24 FPS on my computer, and I'm still trying to set it up!

LOL. I'll check my folders when I get home but that doesn't seem right at all.

[Tempest]

Well, possibly the funniest (or saddest?) thing is that you seemed to have ZiNc all figured out back in February.

I laughed when I saw that you had replied, I knew where this was going!

Yeah, I reinstalled Gameex, and lost my loader!

I'm really just killing time, and trying to help, but i'm probably more of a pain than anything...

I would just like to see it easier to set up for everybody, and frequency wanted a guinea pig for his loader, and I volunteered. I figure if I can get his loader going, then it's pretty much idiot proof!

@frequency,

I'm willing to do this as long as you are...but do I really have to set up the config for every game again?

[fRequEnCy]

I'll tell you this, if I check the properties on my zinc folder, I have 494 files in 37 folders, 761MB total. Doesn't that seem crazy?

Does that include the roms? Cuz that's way off!

[fRequEnCy]

ZiNcGUI sucks for setting up as a config for each rom is needed (controller, config, renderer). It's easier to stick with Aldo's Zinc Front-End as it just requires one config. Will redo wrapper to use Aldo's Zinc Front-End better since it's much more simple and cleaner. Better for the noobs.