Passwords for Config and Update lists?

[Toonces]

Hi Tom,

Would it be possible to password protect configure and update list? Here's the situation. I have 3 kids ranging in age from 4 to 11. They all love to play "GameEx" (That's what they call my mame machine since it's what they see loading :-) and being kids there are always problems of some kind (How does a 4 year old hit 14 buttons at the same time as going up on 1 joystick and down on another?) and I end up having to go into configuration to change something or to reenable showing rebuild list so I can update things. I have these things hidden and just reenable them when I need to use them. What I would really like is for those items to remain hidden and use a key combo to bring up config or rebuild list or create snaps and a password to get in. Nothing terribly secure. just a password box and if it does not get the correct password, it stays at the menu if it gets the right password it goes into config or rebuilds the list, etc. That would keep me from having to pop back and forth between config to reenable rebuild list then going back to GameEx to d it then going back to config to disable it. Exit GameEx would also be a good canidate for hiding and using a key combo & PW to exit.

Pretty much the only thing keeping from hiding exit GameEx or even making it my shell is that there are still basic maintenance and little fixes that mean I have to exit to accomplish.

Another thought might be to move those items to a sub-menu and PW protect it? Something like System Tools (which could be hidden and activated via a key combo) that had all of the rebuild list, config, and anything else which would be used for maintenance. Then it would only require 1 key combo to be used to get at all of the tools.

Thanks!

Toonces

[Tom Speirs]

Hi Tom,

  Would it be possible to password protect configure and update list? Here's the situation. I have 3 kids ranging in age from 4 to 11. They all love to play "GameEx" (That's what they call my mame machine since it's what they see loading :-) and being kids there are  always problems of some kind (How does a 4 year old hit 14 buttons at the same time as going up on 1 joystick and down on another?) and I end up having to go into configuration to change something or to reenable showing rebuild list so I can update things. I have these things hidden and just reenable them when I need to use them. What I would really like is for those items to remain hidden and use a key combo to bring up config or rebuild list or create snaps and a password to get in. Nothing terribly secure. just a password box and if it does not get the correct password, it stays at the menu if it gets the right password it goes into config or rebuilds the list, etc. That would keep me from having to pop back and forth between config to reenable rebuild list then going back to GameEx to d it then going back to config to disable it. Exit GameEx would also be a good canidate for hiding and using a key combo & PW to exit.

Pretty much the only thing keeping from hiding exit GameEx or even making it my shell is that there are still basic maintenance and little fixes that mean I have to exit to accomplish.

Another thought might be to move those items to a sub-menu and PW protect it? Something like System Tools (which could be hidden and activated via a key combo) that had all of the rebuild list, config, and anything else which would be used for maintenance. Then it would only require 1 key combo to be used to get at all of the tools.

Thanks!

Toonces

Hi certainly possible but its not on the list at the moment, sorry.

[Tom Speirs]

Hi,

This also opens up GameEx more to bootleggers like your other update request.

I hope you don't ask for a credit button next

[Toonces]

Hi,

This also opens up GameEx more to bootleggers like your other update request.

I hope you don't ask for a credit button next 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Now this concerns me. I really like GameEx. So much so I donated. Something I have not done with any other front end or mame support program simply because so many of them are difficult to configure. None of them even come close to being easy to setup and use. It bothers me the insinuation that the feature requests I have made are for bootleggers.

Now, my arcade cabinet is used by my 3 kids who absolutely love it and as much as I love them, there isn't a day that goes by that when they are playing they inevitably call me and tell me there's something wrong. for the 4 year old, most of the time she's exited GameEx and is sitting at the desktop. For my 6 year old, he's hit some combination of buttons and now the screen is black. My 11 year old is the only one that can play and not find himself in a spot where he can't get out of trouble. I have tried hiding these options to the point of having to start up in safe mode because I have GameEx loading on startup and hiding Exit GameEx is a bad idea when it starts automatically. Every update means I have to go back to the desktop and reenable viewing of the options and launch config or launch update list, etc. all of which are uncomfortable at 640X480 interlaced. My requests aren't about bootlegging. It's about trying to use GameEx as a solid front end. One I don't have to exit and reenter several times to use/configure/update. One that I can use completely via the arcade controls and one I don't have to tend to all the time when my kids are playing.

If I were trying to use a front end for bootlegging I certainly would not choose one with as many features as GameEx. I would choose something simple like Game Launcher or hire a programmer to write one that suits my needs or use the one that already has coin processing in the front end. There are many other choices besides GamEx that are more suitable to that task.

If you want to have a non-free version that has the lockdown features or automatic updating, let me know how much and where I can buy it. Like I said, I REALLY like GameEx and it would be worth it for me to have such features so my kids can play and not get dumped out to the desktop and I can maintain without leaving the comfort of the interface that looks great at 640X288. Those are the types of features that would make it possible to make GameEx the shell as well.

Best Regards,

Erik

[Tom Speirs]

Now this concerns me. I really like GameEx. So much so I donated. Something I have not done with any other front end or mame support program simply because so many of them are difficult to configure. None of them even come close to being easy to setup and use.  It bothers me the insinuation that the feature requests I have made are for bootleggers.

Now, my arcade cabinet is used by my 3 kids who absolutely love it and as much as I love them, there isn't a day that goes by that when they are playing they inevitably call me and tell me there's something wrong. for the 4 year old, most of the time she's exited GameEx and is sitting at the desktop. For my 6 year old, he's hit some combination of buttons and now the screen is black. My 11 year old is the only one that can play and not find himself in a spot where he can't get out of trouble. I have tried hiding these options to the point of having to start up in safe mode because I have GameEx loading on startup and hiding Exit GameEx is a bad idea when it starts automatically.  Every update means I have to go back to the desktop and reenable viewing of the options and launch config or launch update list, etc. all of which are uncomfortable at 640X480 interlaced.  My requests aren't about bootlegging. It's about trying to use GameEx as a solid front end. One I don't have to exit and reenter several times to use/configure/update. One that I can use completely via the arcade controls and one I don't have to tend to all the time when my kids are playing.

If I were trying to use a front end for bootlegging I certainly would not choose one with as many features as GameEx. I would choose something simple like Game Launcher or hire a programmer to write one that suits my needs or use the one that already has coin processing in the front end. There are many other choices besides GamEx that are more suitable to that task.

If you want to have a non-free version that has the lockdown features or automatic updating, let me know how much and where I can buy it. Like I said, I REALLY like GameEx and it would be worth it for me to have such features so my kids can play and not get dumped out to the desktop and I can maintain without leaving the comfort of the interface that looks great at 640X288. Those are the types of features that would make it possible to make GameEx the shell as well.

Best Regards,

Erik

Appologies if you misunderstood and thought I was insuating that you were a bootlegger. I was not suggesting this, and I certainly did not say this. If you notice the 'Smiley' at the end of my last message about Credit Button. This was a 'JOKE', and meant to be taken as such.

I was however suggesting that the features would be good for bootleggers, and that they would take an awful lot of my time and effort to do with what in my opinion don't offer a lot of benefit.

Just also undertand, I do Gameex fun, it takes a lot of my time, and I really appreciate your donation AND support, but undertand, I probably earn more than the average donation in one hour with my day job, sometimes in half an hour.

I would like to reconfirm I was not calling you a bootlegger, I appreciate your input, support AND donation.

Even if I did want to implement your feature it would take me about 30 hours, and I would rather do something for 10 people than 1. If you want to hire me for custom development let me know, but I don't think we need to go there.

[Tom Speirs]

Appologies if you misunderstood and thought I was insuating that you were a bootlegger. I was not suggesting this, and I certainly did not say this. If you notice the 'Smiley' at the end of my last message about Credit Button. This was a 'JOKE', and meant to be taken as such.

I was however suggesting that the features would be good for bootleggers, and that they would take an awful lot of my time and effort to do with what in my opinion don't offer a lot of benefit.

Just also undertand, I do Gameex fun, it takes a lot of my time, and I really appreciate your donation AND support, but undertand, I probably earn more than the average donation in one hour with my day job, sometimes in half an hour.

I would like to reconfirm I was not calling you a bootlegger, I appreciate your input, support AND donation.

Even if I did want to implement your feature it would take me about 30 hours, and I would rather do something for 10 people than 1. If you want to hire me for custom development let me know, but I don't think we need to go there.

Also could you confirm when you sent your donation, this is not because I don't believe you, its that I want to check I received it OK because I personally like to thank everyone who donates on an individual basis, and I am sorry I missed you out. Let me know.

[Tom Speirs]

By the way, there should be no problem hiding exit just because its loading on startup even if your shelling into GameEx. CTRL-ALT-DELETE should be able to do it.

Also, if you have everything disabled, how can your kids mess it up in the first place?

I am more interested in addressing these kind of bugs or improvements.

Let me know.

[Tom Speirs]

By the way, there should be no problem hiding exit just because its loading on startup even if your shelling into GameEx. CTRL-ALT-DELETE should be able to do it.

Also, if you have everything disabled, how can your kids mess it up in the first place?

I am more interested in addressing these kind of bugs or improvements.

Let me know.

In addition, as your machine is obviosly networked why dont you use VNC to access it from another machine, rather than view it interlaced.

I think the problem is more bulletproofing GameEx from your kids rather than new features and I am happy to address this with you.

If it takes you a bit longer to update GameEx when you get new roms or a new version, I am really not interested, sorry.

[Toonces]

Appologies if you misunderstood and thought I was insuating that you were a bootlegger. I was not suggesting this, and I certainly did not say this. If you notice the 'Smiley' at the end of my last message about Credit Button. This was a 'JOKE', and meant to be taken as such.

I was however suggesting that the features would be good for bootleggers, and that they would take an awful lot of my time and effort to do with what in my opinion don't offer a lot of benefit.

Just also undertand, I do Gameex fun, it takes a lot of my time, and I really appreciate your donation AND support, but undertand, I probably earn more than the average donation in one hour with my day job, sometimes in half an hour.

I would like to reconfirm I was not calling you a bootlegger, I appreciate your input, support AND donation.

Even if I did want to implement your feature it would take me about 30 hours, and I would rather do something for 10 people than 1. If you want to hire me for custom development let me know, but I don't think we need to go there.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Tom, I really appreciate what you have done with GameEx. I love it. For me to donate says a lot. I don't buy software or make donations lightly. It's not about the money. It's about the quality of the software. I have very few pieces of software that I actually consider worth what I paid. The exception is GameEx which is already worth 10 times what I donated.

The biggest problem I have is that I really want a front end that I can operate soley with arcade controls. This isn't because I don't want to pick up a keyboard but rather to compensate for my low res monitor. It's something I am stuck with for the foreseeable future and other than having to go to the desktop at 640X480 interlaced, it does very well. I would think that the majority of people with arcade cabinets are in a similar situation and do not have a VGA or better monitor and the features would be most welcome. The less I have to do on the desktop the better. I'd really like to make GameEx my shell and keep my kids from having to call me when they are using it too. It's little things like them calling me to get back in when they accidentaly exit which I find somewhat annoying. I know it's not your fault they call me. I just want help in getting them to stop

I can make a windows script (or more appropriately, I can have one of my programmers make one) that does the update but I figured it would be something better integrated into the product. I understand your views about wanting people to actually visit the pages and thought it would best be a function built into GameEx. This is something I will tackle and if I come up with something, donate back to here for inclusion or use (depends on how I do it I guess). As far as password protecting a System Tools entry and having all the configuration, exit, etc under there, I still think that would add value to many people but if you don't want to add it I understand and won't keep bringing it up.

Now, as far as hiring you for private development, please send me your languages and availabilies. I have need for programmers all the time and keep 3 on staff and several more on a project basis. Mostly web, php, perl, etc but occasionally I need a good VB or C programmer.

Best Regards,

Erik

[Toonces]

Also could you confirm when you sent your donation, this is not because I don't believe you, its that I want to check I received it OK because I personally like to thank everyone who donates on an individual basis, and I am sorry I missed you out. Let me know.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I receved your thank you. it was at my gameadvance.com email.

Thank You!

[Toonces]

In addition, as your machine is obviosly networked why dont you use VNC to access it from another machine, rather than view it interlaced.

I think the problem is more bulletproofing GameEx from your kids rather than new features and I am happy to address this with you.

If it takes you a bit longer to update GameEx when you get new roms or a new version, I am really not interested, sorry.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I had vnc installed but kept running into problems with sound. I initally installed the vnc server at the same time I setup GameEx and thought it was something with GameEx. As I went back and retraced what I had installed and removed things it was apparent that vnc was the source of the problem. The problem is that sound in many williams games like Robotron, defender,etc would be distorted and get clipped. It was VERY noticable in both startup and Gameplay. Sounds would skip and the high notes would cut off. I even tried installing a PCI SB16 to see if it was the built in sound on the motherboard but it did the same thing. Since I have removed vnc I get perfect sound every time.

As far as using other remote control progs, I tried Dameware which installs itself when you connect but unfortunately I went cheap and bought XP home which when used without a password, disables remote access. Took me a while to find out why that didn't work too but apparently, MS have disabled any kind of remote access on XP Home if you don't have a password set. If I set a password then I have to login. Catch 22 really.

[Toonces]

In addition, as your machine is obviosly networked why dont you use VNC to access it from another machine, rather than view it interlaced.

I think the problem is more bulletproofing GameEx from your kids rather than new features and I am happy to address this with you.

If it takes you a bit longer to update GameEx when you get new roms or a new version, I am really not interested, sorry.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's isn't really about how long. I just wanted to be able to do it with my arcade controls. No problem though. I think I've beat this to death. I get it :-)

[Tom Speirs]

Tom, I really appreciate what you have done with GameEx. I love it. For me to donate says a lot. I don't buy software or make donations lightly. It's not about the money. It's about the quality of the software. I have very few pieces of software that I actually consider worth what I paid. The exception is GameEx which is already worth 10 times what I donated.

The biggest problem I have is that I really want a front end that I can operate soley with arcade controls. This isn't because I don't want to pick up a keyboard but rather to compensate for my low res monitor. It's something I am stuck with for the foreseeable future and other than having to go to the desktop at 640X480 interlaced, it does very well. I would think that the majority of people with arcade cabinets are in a similar situation and do not have a VGA or better monitor and the features would be most welcome. The less I have to do on the desktop the better. I'd really like to make GameEx my shell and keep my kids from having to call me when they are using it too.  It's little things like them calling me to get back in when they accidentaly exit which I find somewhat annoying. I know it's not your fault they call me. I just want help in getting them to stop 

I can make a windows script (or more appropriately, I can have one of my programmers make one) that does the update but I figured it would be something better integrated into the product. I understand your views about wanting people to actually visit the pages and thought it would best be a function built into GameEx. This is something I will tackle and if I come up with something, donate back to here for inclusion or use (depends on how I do it I guess). As far as password protecting a System Tools entry and having all the configuration, exit, etc under there, I still think that would add value to many people but if you don't want to add it I understand and won't keep bringing it up.

Now, as far as hiring you for private development, please send me your languages and availabilies. I have need for programmers all the time and keep 3 on staff and several more on a project basis. Mostly web, php, perl, etc but occasionally I need a good VB or C programmer.

Best Regards,

Erik

A script would be the best solution for automic downloading. Its obviously something I would not make available (even though I could develop it) due to the reasons I stated. I have a low res monitor too, probably in worse state than yours!

I use UltraVNC when I need to 'administer' the cab. I suggest you look into that.

To be honest what your really asking for if you think about it is an Operating System that can be controlled by arcade controls, and used on a low res monitor. All this is just outside the scope of the gameex project I am afraid.

Might be my next project though!

[Toonces]

By the way, there should be no problem hiding exit just because its loading on startup even if your shelling into GameEx. CTRL-ALT-DELETE should be able to do it.

Also, if you have everything disabled, how can your kids mess it up in the first place?

I am more interested in addressing these kind of bugs or improvements.

Let me know.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When I had disabled exit, I didn't think of trying CTL-ALT-DEL. Does that just bring up the task list then I have to end the program or does it give me an exit? I'll have to try it I guess. At the time, I had disabled everything and when I tried to get back to the desktop I couldn't. Well, at least as far as I knew then. I'll try this and see what i get. If that works then I really have no need for a password protected area although I still think it's a good idea

[Toonces]

A script would be the best solution for automic downloading. Its obviously something I would not make available (even though I could develop it) due to the reasons I stated. I have a low res monitor too, probably in worse state than yours!

I use UltraVNC when I need to 'administer' the cab. I suggest you look into that.

To be honest what your really asking for if you think about it is an Operating System that can be controlled by arcade controls, and used on a low res monitor. All this is just outside the scope of the gameex project I am afraid.

Might be my next project though!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I tried UltraVNC and it game me terrible sound problems. Especially in Robotron. Very bad clipping and skipping of sounds. As soon as i removed UltraVNC the problems went away.

My Hardware:

P4 2.4Ghz

512MB RAM

80GB HD

built in AC '97 sound

ArcadeVGA 7000

802.11b wireless network card

JPac

Namco Cyber Lead Cabinet

Thanks!

Toonces

[Tom Speirs]

I had vnc installed but kept running into problems with sound. I initally installed the vnc server at the same time I setup GameEx and thought it was something with GameEx. As I went back and retraced what I had installed and removed things it was apparent that vnc was the source of the problem. The problem is that sound in many williams games like Robotron, defender,etc would be distorted and get clipped. It was VERY noticable in both startup and Gameplay. Sounds would skip and the high notes would cut off. I even tried installing a PCI SB16 to see if it was the built in sound on the motherboard but it did the same thing. Since I have removed vnc I get perfect sound every time.

As far as using other remote control progs, I tried Dameware which installs itself when you connect but unfortunately I went cheap and bought XP home which when used without a password, disables remote access. Took me a while to find out why that didn't work too but apparently, MS have disabled any kind of remote access on XP Home if you don't have a password set. If I set a password then I have to login. Catch 22 really.

Probably was not VNC exatcly, probably more utilisation in general. Try again and look at the MAME sound setting if it happens again. Especially Audio Latency, Resample, and Sample rate.

I get these problems, even without VNC, on my MCE pc.

[Tom Speirs]

Probably was not VNC exatcly, probably more utilisation in general. Try again and look at the MAME sound setting if it happens again. Especially Audio Latency, Resample, and Sample rate.

I get these problems, even without VNC, on my MCE pc.

Yourll probably get performance issues when the connection is open, but when not in use, the MAME tweaks I suggested should do it.

As I said more that VNC is using your CPU and system utilisation in general I think rather than a conflict.

[Toonces]

Yourll probably get performance issues when the connection is open, but when not in use, the MAME tweaks I suggested should do it.

As I said more that VNC is using your CPU and system utilisation in general I think rather than a conflict.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks, I'll give it a try. I did notice it did not seem to matter whether a connection was in use or not. When I removed it the connection was definately not open and it made an immediate difference.

[Toonces]

Probably was not VNC exatcly, probably more utilisation in general. Try again and look at the MAME sound setting if it happens again. Especially Audio Latency, Resample, and Sample rate.

I get these problems, even without VNC, on my MCE pc.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How should these be adjusted? I am using the commandline version of mame .92 (not trusting .93 until the bugs of the new sound system are worked out).

Thanks,

Toonces

[Tom Speirs]

How should these be adjusted? I am using the commandline version of mame .92 (not trusting .93 until the bugs of the new sound system are worked out).

Thanks,

Toonces

You can add them to the MAME options in GameEx, so that ther'll be consistent with MAME, MAME32, and if you update your mame directories.

Look the MAME 32 help file, under MAME Documents, Usage and Configuration for the required settings.:

Basically to improve you need to do some or all of the following.

Turn off the resampling, lower the sample rate, and adjust the latency to a higher value.