NEWS: GameEx 9.71 released

[Lawrence]

I've been getting quite a few problems since updating.

WMV videos no longer work. I was using the Gameex WMV video from the site as my startup video, and it doesn't load at all any more. I have now disabled it.

WMV videos in my Videos folder also no longer work. Gameex outright crashes when they try to preview.

All other videos preview just fine and also play fine -- BUT when I return to the Gameex menu it gets halfway through the 3D animation and crashes.

Everything was working just fine before -- it's not a problem of my system not handling the 3D animations.

Immediately after updating Gameex I uninstalled ffdshow and installed the vista codec pack. Since then I've uninstalled that, installed the latest ffdshow, uninstalled that, installed the latest stable release of ffdshow, and even restored my system to a time prior to all of this. I was using the recommended old version of ffdshow before and never had troubles with video. All have the same results.

I'm running 64-bit Vista.

I can post logs or whatever if necessary.

[headkaze]

Please bare with us as the last update changes the video system in a substancial way. It is for the better trust us but there may be some things that need to be done differently.

To play videos in the new video system there needs to be a DirectShow filter installed for the video type. While it would seem obvious that there should already be DirectShow filters for WMV installed I haven't done any testing with that particular format. Most people have XVid or DivX preview videos but we obviously want WMV support as well. Seems strange they arn't playing for you.

You should be okay leaving the Vista Codec Pack installed and just help us figure out how to get them working. For example when you run the ffdshow video decoder configuration have you tried setting the WMV format to use the libavcodec (ie. ffdshow) or wmv9 from the drop down list? It looks like they are disabled by default.

[Tom Speirs]

Please bare with us as the last update changes the video system in a substancial way. It is for the better trust us but there may be some things that need to be done differently.

To play videos in the new video system there needs to be a DirectShow filter installed for the video type. While it would seem obvious that there should already be DirectShow filters for WMV installed I haven't done any testing with that particular format. Most people have XVid or DivX preview videos but we obviously want WMV support as well. Seems strange they arn't playing for you.

You should be okay leaving the Vista Codec Pack installed and just help us figure out how to get them working. For example when you run the ffdshow video decoder configuration have you tried setting the WMV format to use the libavcodec (ie. ffdshow) or wmv9 from the drop down list? It looks like they are disabled by default.

Ben, It seems the new code wont render WMV files. I noticed this the other day, although my original code which we replaced does render them. Im playing around with the graphs, we should be able to fix it. If you play around graph builder yourll see whats happening, its not creating all the filters for WMV it needs a WMV audio and video decoder.

[Lawrence]

Good to hear that it isn't just me.

The hanging on the return from the video doesn't happen every time, but very nearly. Seems to happen more often with MPG files, but difficult to determine for sure.

In any case, I'll reinstall the Vista Codec Pack.

[headkaze]

Ben, It seems the new code wont render WMV files. I noticed this the other day, although my original code which we replaced does render them. Im playing around with the graphs, we should be able to fix it. If you play around graph builder yourll see whats happening, its not creating all the filters for WMV it needs a WMV audio and video decoder.

Tom, my code works fine just change

hr = m_pGraphBuilder->RenderStream(NULL, NULL, sourceFilter, grabberFilter, nullRenderer);

to this

hr = m_pGraphBuilder->RenderStream(NULL, &MEDIATYPE_Video, sourceFilter, grabberFilter, nullRenderer);

and it renders WMV files fine

[Tom Speirs]

Tom, my code works fine just change

hr = m_pGraphBuilder->RenderStream(NULL, NULL, sourceFilter, grabberFilter, nullRenderer);

to this

hr = m_pGraphBuilder->RenderStream(NULL, &MEDIATYPE_Video, sourceFilter, grabberFilter, nullRenderer);

and it renders WMV files fine

Fantastic. This is fixed in 9.74. Available in about 10.

Thanks!

[Visitor Q]

There are few situations where you will be using the 64-bit version of ffdshow and you may have noticed the download is marked as "experimental" on sourceforge. ffdshow is a filter that supports many different video formats but there may be other filters already installed on your PC. I would recommend you uninstall the 64-bit version and install something like the Vista Codec pack which includes ffdshow. Or install the 32-bit version of ffdshow. I like the Vista Codec pack because it includes extra filters for some formats that ffdshow doesn't support. There is no point in installing 64-bit codecs unless you have 64-bit software to use them.

I can give it a try...

Is this what you recommend?

http://majorgeeks.com/Vista_Codec_Package_d5326.html

What I currently have installed is the following...

ffdshow_rev2014_20080617_x64

GSpot270a

XviD-1.1.3-28062007

Should I uninstall all of them before install the pack?

[Lawrence]

Thanks Tom! That's a bit better. WMV files now play. And another minor problem which I forgot to mention in my previous message is also gone (the first video in the list wouldn't show a preview until I moved down then back up).

However, it still barfs upon returning from a video (about 80% of the time). Gets halfway through the 3D animation and freezes. Have to go into task manager to close Gameex.

It never did this prior to the video updates, and as I said I've tried numerous different packs.

If you need me to upload any logs, config files, etc. I'd be happy to.

[Tom Speirs]

Thanks Tom! That's a bit better. WMV files now play. And another minor problem which I forgot to mention in my previous message is also gone (the first video in the list wouldn't show a preview until I moved down then back up).

However, it still barfs upon returning from a video (about 80% of the time). Gets halfway through the 3D animation and freezes. Have to go into task manager to close Gameex.

It never did this prior to the video updates, and as I said I've tried numerous different packs.

If you need me to upload any logs, config files, etc. I'd be happy to.

Try 9.75 when its available in a couple of mins.

If not what type of video file is it failing on?

[Tom Speirs]

Try 9.75 when its available in a couple of mins.

If not what type of video file is it failing on?

Also, in my tests freezing was generally down to codecs, so verify what codec is playing the file and what type of file it is.

For example the WinDVD 9 codecs are quite buggy.

[Dickle]

I am still not able to play videos at all. Preview videos are gone now as well... I am using the November 08 release of FFDShow, and GameEx 9.75. The exception in the log reads as thus:

21:58:14.8 12/7/2008: Open Video: D:\Documents & Media\Media\My Videos\TV Shows\Aqua Teen Hunger Force\22-Super Computer.avi

21:58:15.3 12/7/2008: Exception from HRESULT: 0x80040216

21:58:15.4 12/7/2008: at DvdCore.GeneralEngineClass.Open(String file)

at k.a(Boolean A_0, Boolean A_1, String A_2, String A_3, Boolean A_4)

I have tried both auto and manual install. This is a Windows XP machine.

[Tom Speirs]

Full log.

Also:

Do videos play in WMP?

Pretty sure this would be a codec issue.

[Dickle]

Thanks for the prompt reply! The log is posted below:

21:57:51.6 12/7/2008: GameEx: Version 9.75: Starting Log

21:57:51.6 12/7/2008: Operating System Platform: Win32NT

21:57:51.6 12/7/2008: Operating System Name: Windows XP

21:57:51.6 12/7/2008: Operating System Version: 5.1.2600

21:57:51.6 12/7/2008: Checking for versions of .net Framework installed

21:57:51.6 12/7/2008: .net Framework 2.0 Installed

21:57:51.6 12/7/2008: Intel® Celeron® D CPU 3.06GHz, 511MB

21:57:51.6 12/7/2008: 3.07Ghz

21:57:51.6 12/7/2008: Running Randomize()

21:57:51.6 12/7/2008: Loading PlugIns

21:57:51.7 12/7/2008: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup

21:57:51.7 12/7/2008: Running Misc startup tasks

21:57:51.7 12/7/2008: Setting Menu types

21:57:51.7 12/7/2008: Opening Configuration File

21:57:51.7 12/7/2008: Getting Configuration Values

21:57:51.7 12/7/2008: Using Theme: Default - Default - Animated

21:57:51.7 12/7/2008: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - Default - Animated

21:57:51.7 12/7/2008: Using Images from theme: Default - Default\MEDIA\

21:57:51.7 12/7/2008: Launching HideOS.exe

21:57:51.7 12/7/2008: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's

21:57:51.7 12/7/2008: GameEx will check for media insertion (may affect performance)

21:57:51.7 12/7/2008: Hiding Taskbar

21:57:51.9 12/7/2008: Is Media Center running?

21:57:51.9 12/7/2008: Checking/Creating LCD Registry values

21:57:51.9 12/7/2008: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode

21:57:51.9 12/7/2008: Media Center Mode 0

21:57:51.9 12/7/2008: Video previews on. Warning: Only recommended on modern systems

21:57:51.9 12/7/2008: Snap Delay set to: 2

21:57:51.9 12/7/2008: Get other settings

21:57:51.9 12/7/2008: Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis

21:57:52.0 12/7/2008: Start work for Form

21:57:52.0 12/7/2008: Getting Original Screen Size

21:57:52.0 12/7/2008: Opening Database Connection

21:57:52.0 12/7/2008: Initializing Component

21:57:52.1 12/7/2008: Retrieving resolution setting

21:57:52.1 12/7/2008: MAME Path is: C:\EMULATION\Emulators\Arcade\Mame32

21:57:52.1 12/7/2008: daphne Path is: C:\EMULATION\Emulators\Arcade\Daphne

21:57:52.1 12/7/2008: daphne EXE file is: Daphne.exe

21:57:52.1 12/7/2008: Use daphne on. Daphne.exe will launch games

21:57:52.1 12/7/2008: MAME EXE file is: Mame32.exe

21:57:52.1 12/7/2008: ROM Path is: C:\EMULATION\ROMs\Mame

21:57:52.1 12/7/2008: Catver.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\catver.ini

21:57:52.1 12/7/2008: controls.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\data\controls.ini

21:57:52.1 12/7/2008: History.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\history.dat

21:57:52.1 12/7/2008: nplayers.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\nplayers.ini

21:57:52.1 12/7/2008: MAMEinfo.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\mameinfo.dat

21:57:52.2 12/7/2008: Loading Controls.ini map file

21:57:52.2 12/7/2008: Snap Path is: C:\EMULATION\Media\Mame\snap

21:57:52.2 12/7/2008: AVI Snap Path is: C:\EMULATION\Media\Mame\videos\Horizontal

21:57:52.2 12/7/2008: Flyer Path is: C:\EMULATION\Media\Mame\flyers

21:57:52.2 12/7/2008: Cabinet Path is: C:\EMULATION\Media\Mame\cabinets

21:57:52.2 12/7/2008: Title Path is: C:\EMULATION\Media\Mame\titles

21:57:52.2 12/7/2008: PCB Path: Not Found

21:57:52.2 12/7/2008: Artwork Preview Path: Not Found

21:57:52.2 12/7/2008: Panel Path is: C:\EMULATION\Media\Mame\cpanel

21:57:52.2 12/7/2008: Manual Path: Not Found

21:57:52.2 12/7/2008: Icon Path is: C:\EMULATION\Media\Mame\icons

21:57:52.2 12/7/2008: Marquee Path is: C:\EMULATION\Media\Mame\marquees

21:57:52.2 12/7/2008: Using 3D Alpha Blended Animations. This could be slow

21:57:52.2 12/7/2008: Using General Font: Trebuchet MS

21:57:52.2 12/7/2008: Using Title Font: Trebuchet MS

21:57:52.2 12/7/2008: Initialising DirectDraw

21:57:52.2 12/7/2008: Applying GameEx is Loading Image

21:57:52.3 12/7/2008: Creating DirectDraw Device

21:57:52.3 12/7/2008: Using Device: NVIDIA GeForce 7300 SE/7200 GS

21:57:52.4 12/7/2008: 252mb video memory available

21:57:52.5 12/7/2008: Setting Resolution to 800x600 32 bit color

21:57:52.5 12/7/2008: Creating DirectDraw Surfaces

21:57:52.5 12/7/2008: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode

21:57:52.5 12/7/2008: Creating Back Buffer

21:57:52.5 12/7/2008: Loading graphic Surfaces

21:57:52.6 12/7/2008: Display is running at: 800x600 32bit color, 60hz

21:57:52.6 12/7/2008: Creating Surfaces Flags

21:57:52.7 12/7/2008: Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs

21:57:52.7 12/7/2008: Creating Surfaces Volume

21:57:52.7 12/7/2008: Creating Surfaces Arrows

21:57:52.7 12/7/2008: Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text

21:57:52.7 12/7/2008: Creating Surfaces Toolbar

21:57:52.7 12/7/2008: Creating Surfaces Backgrounds

21:57:54.6 12/7/2008: Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls

21:57:54.6 12/7/2008: Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo

21:57:54.6 12/7/2008: Creating Surface Unselected

21:57:54.6 12/7/2008: Creating Surfaces Home & Exit

21:57:54.6 12/7/2008: Creating Surfaces Snaps

21:57:54.6 12/7/2008: Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars

21:57:54.7 12/7/2008: Creating Fonts

21:57:54.7 12/7/2008: Creating Game Font

21:57:54.8 12/7/2008: Creating Game Font Faded

21:57:54.9 12/7/2008: Creating Title Font

21:57:54.9 12/7/2008: Restoring Title Font From Cache

21:57:55.0 12/7/2008: Creating Menu Font

21:57:55.1 12/7/2008: Creating Font Black

21:57:55.2 12/7/2008: Creating Font Black Small

21:57:55.3 12/7/2008: Fonts Created Succesfully

21:57:55.3 12/7/2008: 207mb video memory left available

21:57:55.3 12/7/2008: Creating instance of global keyboard hook

21:57:55.3 12/7/2008: Attempting to load game list

21:57:55.5 12/7/2008: Loading Custom Emulators

21:57:55.5 12/7/2008: Loading Emulator 1: Nintendo Entertainment System

21:57:55.5 12/7/2008: Loading Emulator 2: Super Nintendo

21:57:55.6 12/7/2008: Loading Emulator 3: Super Famicom

21:57:55.6 12/7/2008: Loading Emulator 4: Translations - Super Famicom

21:57:55.7 12/7/2008: Loading Emulator 5: Nintendo N64

21:57:55.7 12/7/2008: Loading Emulator 6: Nintendo GameBoy

21:57:55.8 12/7/2008: Loading Emulator 7: Nintendo GameBoy Color

21:57:55.9 12/7/2008: Loading Emulator 8: GameBoy Advance

21:57:55.9 12/7/2008: Loading Emulator 9: Sega Master System

21:57:56.0 12/7/2008: Loading Emulator 10: Sega Genesis

21:57:56.0 12/7/2008: Loading Emulator 11: Sega CD

21:57:56.1 12/7/2008: Loading Emulator 12: Sega Game Gear

21:57:56.2 12/7/2008: Loading Emulator 13: NEC TurboGrafx 16

21:57:56.2 12/7/2008: Loading Emulator 14: NEC PC Engine

21:57:56.3 12/7/2008: Loading Emulator 15: NEC TurboGrafx CD

21:57:56.3 12/7/2008: Loading Emulator 16: Sony PlayStation

21:57:56.4 12/7/2008: Loading Emulator 17: Atari 2600

21:57:56.5 12/7/2008: Loading Emulator 19: DooM

21:57:56.8 12/7/2008: Text/Language: English

21:57:56.8 12/7/2008: Applying Language/Text

21:57:56.8 12/7/2008: Initialising Bass Audio Library

21:57:57.0 12/7/2008: MAME CMD options: -triplebuffer -nowindow -joy -skip_gameinfo

21:57:57.0 12/7/2008: Loading last used Game List

21:57:57.0 12/7/2008: Loading Start Page

21:57:57.1 12/7/2008: Setting Music Volume

21:57:57.1 12/7/2008: Creating DirectSound Device

21:57:57.1 12/7/2008: Trying: Primary Sound Driver

21:57:57.1 12/7/2008: Loading Sound Files

21:57:57.1 12/7/2008: DirectSound Device Created Successfully

21:57:57.1 12/7/2008: Creating ICONS

21:57:57.2 12/7/2008: Recreating ICONS

21:57:57.5 12/7/2008: Gamepad/Joystick disabled

21:57:57.5 12/7/2008: Initializing MCE Remote

21:57:57.5 12/7/2008: Initialization OK! Starting GameEx!

21:57:57.5 12/7/2008: Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame

21:57:58.2 12/7/2008: Testing Main Loop Once: Main Loop ran successfully

21:58:14.8 12/7/2008: Open Video: D:\Documents & Media\Media\My Videos\TV Shows\Aqua Teen Hunger Force\22-Super Computer.avi

21:58:15.3 12/7/2008: Exception from HRESULT: 0x80040216

21:58:15.4 12/7/2008: at DvdCore.GeneralEngineClass.Open(String file)

at k.a(Boolean A_0, Boolean A_1, String A_2, String A_3, Boolean A_4)

21:58:47.8 12/7/2008: Exiting GameEx!

21:58:47.8 12/7/2008: Saving Settings

21:58:49.5 12/7/2008: Disposing Plugins

21:58:49.5 12/7/2008: Closing database connection

21:58:49.5 12/7/2008: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

[Tom Speirs]

Do videos play in WMP?

[Dickle]

Interesting that you aska bout WMP... I just checked and NO... my vids do not play (although they did before I started updating FFDShow)

I had been using ffdshow-rev1839_20080202 until the update of GameEx to 9.71 and video quit working then(apparently only in GameEx, though I didn't think to check WMP at the time). I updated to the latest stable FFDShow thinking that was the problem and no luck. Proceeded to update to GameEx ver 9.74 and then to 9.75 and still broken. I uninstalled FFDShow and went back to ffdshow-rev1839_20080202 and viola! It works again.

Thanks for the support!! Woo.

[Visitor Q]

I hate to keep sticking my nose in here but this video stuff really seem to me like if itâ??s not broke don't fix it sorta thing. I am not even sure what the point of updating the codec is if the videos all play ok already... I mean the only purpose of the codec is to play the video files in the front end for the different previews of the game correct or is there something more?

[Tom Speirs]

In your case, if its working Id just leave it

[discgolfer72]

ok just installed gameex from the dl on the site to install on a custom cab im building for my cousin

im using misfit mame (he wants a all pacman cab) well now every time i try and launch a game, screen goes black and then it goes right back to the game launch screen

if i launch misfit mame on the new build all the games launch fine it only messes up when using gameex

could this be caused by the new update

i had the same setup on my pc running the older version of gameex pre this latest update (to make shure i had my theme and everything ready )and it works flawless

[Tom Speirs]

I doubt this is caused by the latest update, youd be better creating a new topic.

[discgolfer72]

I doubt this is caused by the latest update, youd be better creating a new topic.

well it might be i just got done overwriting the new install of gameex on the new cab build using the older build of game ex that was on my pc and now everything is loading fine

there is no diffrence in my setup at all as i used stock options other than changing the backgrounds for a theme (and i used that same theme with the new build )

oh well ill start from scratch again with the new build and if it encounters the same problem it must be the new build and ill start a new thread

and thanks tom for the great frontend

[headkaze]

ffdshow_rev2014_20080617_x64

GSpot270a

XviD-1.1.3-28062007

As I've said to you before you should remove all of your codecs and codec packs then install the Vista Codec pack.

I hate to keep sticking my nose in here but this video stuff really seem to me like if itâ??s not broke don't fix it sorta thing. I am not even sure what the point of updating the codec is if the videos all play ok already... I mean the only purpose of the codec is to play the video files in the front end for the different previews of the game correct or is there something more?

I think the main point of the move to DirectShow is that people would like to have up to date codec packs. Many people run GameEx on Media Centre PC's and that requires codec packs to play different types of media. It doesn't make sense to force people to use an old version of ffdshow that will quite likely conflict with newer codec packs. I think Tom made a good decision and in the long run (once a few bugs are ironed out) it will be better for everyone. I think a few people will like the .flv playback support for previews as well.

[Visitor Q]

flv support would be nice on two levels. If you plan on doing stuff in the front end like another well know front end or for me, just so I don't have to have two copies of the videos since I use both front ends. Is this now possible? To use the flv video previews instead of avi's?

Either way, thanks for all the tips and I must be one of the lucky few cause flv is another thing that has always played ok for me. I guess it just with people stating about some of the issues they are having if it is worth updating my codec at this point. If I do, I will take your advice and uninstall all currently, then install the codec pack.

Thanks.

[Tom Speirs]

Tom,

I'm using 9.62, so if this has already been corrected, please accept my apologies....

It appears to me that it is impossible to change the name of Daphne.exe. I have tried it both by using the Advanced Configuration Program, and by editing GameEx.ini. I'm assuming that this is a bug?

Maybe you have a duplicate setting in gameex.ini, as I can see no bug in GameEx.

[headkaze]

Is this now possible? To use the flv video previews instead of avi's?

Did I not just say that?

I think a few people will like the .flv playback support for previews as well.

Oh yes I did

[Tempest]

Maybe you have a duplicate setting in gameex.ini, as I can see no bug in GameEx.

I stand Partially corrected, I can change it in Gameex.ini, but not in the Advanced Configuration program. I also checked for a duplicate entry, but didn't find any. How about a launch before, and after for Daphne?