NEWS: GameEx V3 themes preview

[Tom Speirs]

It does not really do it justice, but here is a preview of the new gui that will be avialable very soon.

As ive said before V3 themes arnt about skinning just yet, but a way of providing a nicer interface.

[VIPER0904]

awesome work as allways

[chriss]

looks very promising! I love the idea to see the artwork with the videos

[headkaze]

Sweet!! You have been busy Tom! I love the horizontal menus

[Stu1983]

Looking good, how do you access the horizontal menu? Do you still hold left?

Before the menu was on the side so it was intuitive to hold left but it might feel a little odd to hold left to select the menu above?

While you're working on a 'nicer interface' is there any chance of getting menu wrapping added?

Stu

[fRequEnCy]

Good job Tom! Can't Wait!

[Tempest]

Really nice Tom!

I especially like the "change views" feature!

[LB11]

I cant wait! Good job!

[Brian Hoffman]

It looks very nice.

Has there been any progress on how customizable the menu system is..

EG... can I specify multiple many image directory's and use the theme editor to place and sizethe window then tell it what directory to pull the data from?

Really looking forward to v3 themes?

[Tom Speirs]

It looks very nice.

Has there been any progress on how customizable the menu system is..

EG... can I specify multiple many image directory's and use the theme editor to place and sizethe window then tell it what directory to pull the data from?

Really looking forward to v3 themes?

Thanks for the push, but no not even nearly yet, in fact I expect Ill get a lot of requests for that kind of thing once I release it. I have not cracked under the pressure just yet, so we should be good for a few more features Although I prefer software to just work, and Ive not really ever been into the whole skinning thing. v3 themes are more of a media center or htpc enhancment to me right now, although should work really nice on a cab, theres just no positional skinning yet.

[Brian Hoffman]

Thanks for the push, but no not even nearly yet, in fact I expect Ill get a lot of requests for that kind of thing once I release it. I have not cracked under the pressure just yet, so we should be good for a few more features Although I prefer software to just work, and Ive not really ever been into the whole skinning thing. v3 themes are more of a media center or htpc enhancment to me right now, although should work really nice on a cab, theres just no positional skinning yet.

I hear ya.. On the whole media centre thing... Perhaps implmenting something like that would let you redefine how the jukebox works. It already pulls the cd artwork... In vista media center you have a page with 15 or so album covers and you choose the one you want. Then it goes into the menu with your play options etc... I was thinking you may be able to recreat that also. Then the audio counter would be great to reposition it and make it large. Also if your in your start page I can have a small pic of the alum art and the id3 tag info about the song next to it.

Just thinking out loud.

Are these do able... Or am I making your head hurt think about all the work

[greatflash]

Thanks for the push, but no not even nearly yet, in fact I expect Ill get a lot of requests for that kind of thing once I release it. I have not cracked under the pressure just yet, so we should be good for a few more features Although I prefer software to just work, and Ive not really ever been into the whole skinning thing. v3 themes are more of a media center or htpc enhancment to me right now, although should work really nice on a cab, theres just no positional skinning yet.

Quick note (don't worry - happy to wait) Will there be a way to import V2 themes. Oh, and can i have alpha channels :)

[iano]

I hear ya.. On the whole media centre thing... Perhaps implmenting something like that would let you redefine how the jukebox works. It already pulls the cd artwork... In vista media center you have a page with 15 or so album covers and you choose the one you want. Then it goes into the menu with your play options etc... I was thinking you may be able to recreat that also. Then the audio counter would be great to reposition it and make it large. Also if your in your start page I can have a small pic of the alum art and the id3 tag info about the song next to it.

Just thinking out loud.

Are these do able... Or am I making your head hurt think about all the work

@Tom - Thanks the preview looks cool !

@Brian - Yeah, i know what you mean by the album cover view. It's featured in a few media player apps like Album Player & Media Portal.

@GreatFlash - No, you can't have alpha channels

[Tom Speirs]

I hear ya.. On the whole media centre thing... Perhaps implmenting something like that would let you redefine how the jukebox works. It already pulls the cd artwork... In vista media center you have a page with 15 or so album covers and you choose the one you want. Then it goes into the menu with your play options etc... I was thinking you may be able to recreat that also. Then the audio counter would be great to reposition it and make it large. Also if your in your start page I can have a small pic of the alum art and the id3 tag info about the song next to it.

Just thinking out loud.

Are these do able... Or am I making your head hurt think about all the work

Actually that hurts my head less, and is loosly more along the line of the way things are looking going forward.

Edit: but primarily of course its still about the games

[Brian Hoffman]

@Tom - Thanks the preview looks cool !

@Brian - Yeah, i know what you mean by the album cover view. It's featured in a few media player apps like Album Player & Media Portal.

@GreatFlash - No, you can't have alpha channels

Yeah... Then with it pulling data from multiple directorys perhaps game specifc themes could be a reality. Rg when highlighting streetfighter have it pull a diffrent backround Cab and Marquee. Versus a standard mambak or snap.

[shaunopp]

Quick note (don't worry - happy to wait) Will there be a way to import V2 themes. Oh, and can i have alpha channels :)

Yes, alpha channels purty please. While we're at it, full control of sizing, positioning and what menu items appear. Just some suggestions, happy to get whatever though.

GameEx is such a cool tool it makes me sad not being able to give it a fully tricked out theme. Don't underestimate the power of eye candy, if you build it they will come.

[Brian Hoffman]

Actually that hurts my head less, and is loosly more along the line of the way things are looking going forward.

Edit: but primarily of course its still about the games

Its always about the games... I cant wait to see this in action if everything your invisioning come into reality

[iano]

Tom, i'm just wondering what spec machine you're running the v3 preview on ? Are you using the emumovie HQ set (640x480) ? I thought that Circo said on his site the GX may have a problem with HQ set but Greatflash said it depends on system spec.

[Tom Speirs]

Yeah... Then with it pulling data from multiple directorys perhaps game specifc themes could be a reality. Rg when highlighting streetfighter have it pull a diffrent backround Cab and Marquee. Versus a standard mambak or snap.

Im also the project manager for GameEx, so have to take decisions about what it will and wont do, and sometimes I just have to leave certain things to other products, as they just dont always fit.

Theres certainly some very nice ideas floating around here, and as always things will move on in incremental releases.

[Tom Speirs]

Tom, i'm just wondering what spec machine you're running the v3 preview on ? Are you using the emumovie HQ set (640x480) ? I thought that Circo said on his site the GX may have a problem with HQ set but Greatflash said it depends on system spec.

It will depend on system I would think. Im actually running Crashtests MNG's. I have not checked out the HQ set yet.

[iano]

It will depend on system I would think. Im actually running Crashtests MNG's. I have not checked out the HQ set yet.

Hmm - didn't know about those mngs. Everything seems to look very polished on the preview - i just assumed they were the HQ set.

[greatflash]

It will depend on system I would think. Im actually running Crashtests MNG's. I have not checked out the HQ set yet.

The HQ set works a treat on mine. The vids appear instantly with alpha blend on. System is a medium range 2gig ram quad core. I'm sure a high clock single core or any dual core would run the HQ set Perfectly. Even on a 1.7 gig laptop they do play with minimal stutters (unfortunatley)

[iano]

The HQ set works a treat on mine. The vids appear instantly with alpha blend on. System is a medium range 2gig ram quad core. I'm sure a high clock single core or any dual core would run the HQ set Perfectly. Even on a 1.7 gig laptop they do play with minimal stutters (unfortunatley)

I've an old P4 1.8G and was wondering if they would play on it.

EDIT: They may play ok if i turn alpha blending & advanced graphics off ?

[Tom Speirs]

I've an old P4 1.8G and was wondering if they would play on it.

EDIT: They may play ok if i turn alpha blending & advanced graphics off ?

I tested a sample from the site and it works fine for me on mid range quad core. Both when showing in the background alpha blended and in the corner. This was on Vista too.

The alpha blend only matters when there playing as the background image.

Its because the video are 60fps that makes it require more horespower. I agree with Greatflash in that any Dual Core should do it.

[Tom Speirs]

I've an old P4 1.8G and was wondering if they would play on it.

EDIT: They may play ok if i turn alpha blending & advanced graphics off ?

Why not test it out and see, you can get a sample from the site. I just tested with DKong.