Does GameEx do animated icons?

[Adultery]

I've been thinking about creating some GX icons in AVI... Like the M series except the logo would be a cabinet with some gameplay AVIs chained together to run on a lower layer.... Console icons would be TVs with respective gameplay for their systems, handhelds would be AVIs in their screen areas... You get the idea.

Before I get into this project, I was wondering if this is even possible with GameEx? If not I'll drop a feature request.

[iano]

I've been thinking about creating some GX icons in AVI... Like the M series except the logo would be a cabinet with some gameplay AVIs chained together to run on a lower layer.... Console icons would be TVs with respective gameplay for their systems, handhelds would be AVIs in their screen areas... You get the idea.

Before I get into this project, I was wondering if this is even possible with GameEx? If not I'll drop a feature request.

Hi Adultery. Someone asked about this a few months ago. Something like having an avi preview inset in the m logo. It's a good idea.

[Tom Speirs]

GameEx does support it, and id love to see it.

[firebrand_X]

That would be a really REALLY sweet idea.

[Adultery]

Well okay then! I may start with the M series as a test run. After I get some prototypes running I'll upload them for all to see.

Again, way to be way ahead of me Tom!

[headkaze]

I was playing with this idea yesterday (after reading this thread) and have come up with a few ways of doing this.

First there are a few tools needed

- advancecomp-1.15-windows-pentium.zip. This contains a utility called advmng.exe which can extract png frames from mng's.

- VirtualDub. This program can read in png frames and write them to an avi.

- ImageMagick. Used to overlay an image on each frame.

- The attached LogoCreator scripts which demonstrate how to overlay an image to each frame.

Okay so this is how I did it...

1. Run Mame with the game you want to grab the frames from. Press Shift-F12 to start recording. It will output an mng file (default snap\[rom]).

2. Run advmng.exe -x 0000.mng (or whatever the mng file is called). This will extract png frames from the mng file.

3. Place them into the Backgrounds folder for LogoCreator. Then run "runme.bat". You should have ImageMagick installed for this to work. It will overlay the "M" logo to each frame.

4. Run VirtualDub and open the first frame saved in the Output folder

5. You will probably need to change a few settings like turn off audio, change the FPS to 30 etc. Save the AVI

There is an easier way than this and that would be to use the EmuMovies collection and a program like Adobe Premiere and simply overlay the logo on one of the avi snaps. But the above will work with freeware so I thought it would be worth showing.

BTW I couldn't find the psd of the original M series so I left Nologic's one there for the demo (LogoCreator was something I made a while ago). Obviously we need to change it back to yours Adultery or create a new one.

LogoCreator.zip

[Tempest]

Well okay then! I may start with the M series as a test run. After I get some prototypes running I'll upload them for all to see.

Again, way to be way ahead of me Tom!

I don't know if you are taking requests or not...

How about Tempest for one of the logos? (Vector, Spinner, Favorites)

[bkenobi]

Damn, what is it with Tempest and you?

[Tempest]

Damn, what is it with Tempest and you?

Are you talking to Adultery?

Do you have a problem with me Adultery?

Hey, if there's a problem, let me know, I'm sure it's all just a big misunderstanding...

[bkenobi]

Naw, Tempest keeps asking for Tempest crap

[headkaze]

Are you talking to Adultery?

Do you have a problem with me Adultery?

Hey, if there's a problem, let me know, I'm sure it's all just a big misunderstanding...

I think bkenobi was talking about your obsession with the Tempest game. So no need to derail another thread guys!

[Adultery]

Heh heh!

@HK: I'll give that a try, but I thought it would be easier to use Premiere... If I hit a wall it's nice to know I have these steps to fall back on. However, splicing vids and adding an overlay would probably be easier for me in Premiere. I am going to start today and get on it.

I was thinking of using 3 or 4 games for each category and seperating the games with TV static... Don't want to dish too much until I see how it goes.

@Tempest: No issue here bub! Don't let me worry you. If I didn't like you, you'd know. Trust me!

[bkenobi]

I think bkenobi was talking about your obsession with the Tempest game. So no need to derail another thread guys!

sorry, my bad

[headkaze]

Yeah I realised after messing around with all these command line tools that Premiere would make it a hell of a lot easier. Just didn't know if you had it or not. Premiere would make it really easy. Do you have EmuMovies HQ set? That would be perfect for this. Just overlay a png with transparent area where you want to show the video through.

I like your idea of using a few videos in the category and having static between them. I think something else that might work is 3d text of the category name spinning around below the logo. Have you ever played with a program called Xara 3D or ULead Cool 3D? It's really easy to make 3d text spin around that could be used below the logo.

Another thing I was thinking about is transparency. This is probably more of a question for Tom, and that is do avi logo's support the black color key? I think it will be important to have the background around the logo to be transparent.

I was mucking around with the Mame logo today and have come up with some psd's your welcome to use (no hidden copyright ) and it also has the Mame logo in wmf format so it can be opened in high quality. You will need to use the included wmf importer for Photoshop. Also included is the "Metal Styles" I used to add the metal effect to the Mame logo.

Anyway I can't wait to see what you come up with Adultery!

bkenobi: No worries mate

MameLogo.7z

[Tempest]

Adultery,

If you don't have an FTP account at Emumovies.com, I will donate the $ for one for you...consider it my reconcilliation for all the goofing around...

And yes, I was goofing, I didn't think you were mad at me. BK started it...MOM!

[Adultery]

@Tempest: Sadly, I don't. But I do have a set of MAME AVIs from PD I was going to use... As I experiment further I'll let you guys know what I come up with. I will likely just break down and buy FTP access to EmuMovies, I'm just a little strapped for cash right now due to the cab I'm working on (the LED buttons are gonna kill me probably!) and school tuition. I will try and knock out the MAME icons first and then move on to consoles.

@HK: I will check out the MAME psd's you posted (especially since you-know-who might not want to see me alter his PSD that he 'unconditionally' gave to me... We know how deep those promises run!). I only have a couple questions...

I see you have already posted about my first concern which is absolute black. This would more or less be mandatory unless I were to add some type of background layer... Maybe static behind the logo as opposed to between games, with a nice border... Of course, that will be last resort.

My second concern is resolution. What do you think would be a good rez to save the AVIs as? I assume GameEx will probably size them down accordingly, but the closer I can get to size of the icon the smaller the file would be.

When I get some MAME icons rolling I'll create, host and post a torrent file so everyone here can get at them for free.

[headkaze]

Well the transparency thing is something I'm sure Tom could add support for quite easily. Of course he would have to be careful not to have it spoil avi snaps so perhaps support for avi logo's only or something. So I'm sure Tom will pipe in with an answer to that. Without color keying I'm not sure they would look any good, although I could be wrong.

Resolution-wise I would go with 320x240 or 640x480. The EmuMovies HQ set is 640x480 but that might be too much for slower PC's. I think you should definately create a set in 640x480 first though as it's not that hard to use VirtualDub to make a smaller set if needed.

For compression I would probably use XVid with mp3 audio. That is if you want to add audio which I think would be cool if done well.

[Adultery]

I was thinking of audio, as I have some retromercials for some consoles. However, my issue there is that it would interfere with playlist operation if people use the music player at the same time. I'm not sure the effect there.

I'm attempting the first logo now, hopefully I should have a battle plan in an hour or so.

[Adultery]

Okay...

I donated to EmuMovies. Anyone know how long it takes for the FTP access? I want to use his HQ snaps as the intro vids I got from PD just aren't cutting it.

[headkaze]

Okay...

I donated to EmuMovies. Anyone know how long it takes for the FTP access? I want to use his HQ snaps as the intro vids I got from PD just aren't cutting it.

Check your PM

[headkaze]

Here is an example of using Xara 3d for the text underneath.

Vector.zip

[firebrand_X]

I don't know if you are taking requests or not...

How about Tempest for one of the logos? (Vector, Spinner, Favorites)

I second using Tempest for the Vector logo video.

If you're actually taking requests, the only one I really want to make is 'Aliens vs Predator' for 2 player co-op.

Let me know if you need any help making avi's. And good luck finding something for the 'Adult' icon that won't be too obscene

[Adultery]

@Firebrand:

I have plans for you actually. If these M logos go well, I was gonna whip up some icons for your new theme. You can even pick the games!

But first things first. I'm gonna go play around on EmuMovies and see what I got myself into.

@Kaze: That is sweet! It's definately going to have to be implimented. I may want to adjust the speed of the text (if possible) and perhaps change the font so the lines are a bit cleaner... But I really like that idea! Damn, Ben... your mind must be a mile a minute sometimes.

[headkaze]

@Kaze: That is sweet! It's definately going to have to be implimented. I may want to adjust the speed of the text (if possible) and perhaps change the font so the lines are a bit cleaner... But I really like that idea! Damn, Ben... your mind must be a mile a minute sometimes.

I think I've had too much coffee tonight I sometimes drink a large iced coffee drink with a tablespoon of coffee!

Yeah Xara is really easy to use, you basically pick a font, type in what you want, select the animation, and export to an avi. So yeah changing the font or speed is easy to do.

[greatflash]

I second using Tempest for the Vector logo video.

If you're actually taking requests, the only one I really want to make is 'Aliens vs Predator' for 2 player co-op.

Let me know if you need any help making avi's. And good luck finding something for the 'Adult' icon that won't be too obscene

I treble using Tempest for Vector logo (or spinner)

Tempest is a great game, though perhaps Asteroids is a more defining moment in vector game history?