Problem with adding PC games

[Drakendoder]

Hi all,

Adding windows games into gameex has been not much of a problem so far, and i think i've added about twenty so far. The last 2 games, Altitude via Steam and Trine (running independently), suddenly have risen the following problem: Exiting the games doesn't return me to game-ex. After exiting, Game-ex is still runnning in the process-manager, but even alt-tabbing my way back into it doesn't do the trick. I have to forcefully end the program with Taskmanager, and start it back up again to get it working properly again. Also, and this goes for both games, the ambient-music from game-ex menus keeps playing while in-game where normally of course it doesn't. It leads me to believe game-ex doesn't take its 'normal' action when launching a game, but somehow remains in a more active-role process-wise(?). But thats just guessing, because i basically have no clue. The fact that it happens to two unrelated games two times in a row, after twenty games that do not have these problems (and still don't), makes me fear i may have toggled a switch in the gameex-config i wasn't supposed to. But i have no idea if this is true (and i can't remember fiddling with anything), nor do i know if this actually is the problem. Any ideas..anyone? Thanks for any help in advance

[bkenobi]

GameEx is probably waiting for a process to end. Perhaps the game uses a loader of some kind that's not exiting in a way GameEx likes? Post a log file for starters.

[Drakendoder]

okayyy....how do i open up a log-console ?

[fRequEnCy]

  On 3/10/2010 at 8:28 PM, Drakendoder said:

okayyy....how do i open up a log-console ?

How to ask for help can be found here by one of our members, Tempest. It explains all the things that will be asked by us when needing help.

[Drakendoder]

allright here goes...thanks to tempest whoms presence is even there when he isn't there

this is the start..

18:47:42.4 11-3-2010: GameEx: Version 10.35: Starting Log

18:47:42.4 11-3-2010: Operating System Platform: Win32NT

18:47:42.4 11-3-2010: Operating System Name: Windows 7

18:47:42.4 11-3-2010: Operating System Version: 6.1.7600

18:47:42.4 11-3-2010: Aero running

18:47:42.4 11-3-2010: Initializing Vista/Windows 7 volume control

18:47:42.4 11-3-2010: Checking for versions of .net Framework installed

18:47:42.4 11-3-2010: .net Framework 2.0 Installed

18:47:42.4 11-3-2010: .net Framework 3.0 Installed

18:47:42.4 11-3-2010: .net Framework 3.5 Installed

18:47:42.4 11-3-2010: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Processor, 4095MB

18:47:42.4 11-3-2010: 3,4Ghz - 4 Cores or CPU's

18:47:42.4 11-3-2010: Running Randomize()

18:47:42.4 11-3-2010: Loading PlugIns

18:47:42.4 11-3-2010: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup

18:47:42.4 11-3-2010: Launching and waiting: D:\ArcadeHeaven\Programmatuur\batchesforgameex\Startup.bat

18:47:54.6 11-3-2010: Running Misc startup tasks

18:47:54.6 11-3-2010: Setting Menu types

18:47:54.6 11-3-2010: Opening Configuration File

18:47:54.6 11-3-2010: Getting Configuration Values

18:47:54.6 11-3-2010: Using Theme: ArcadeHeaven

18:47:54.6 11-3-2010: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: ArcadeHeaven

18:47:54.6 11-3-2010: Launching HideOS.exe

18:47:54.6 11-3-2010: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's

18:47:54.6 11-3-2010: GameEx will check for media insertion (may affect performance)

18:47:54.6 11-3-2010: Hiding Taskbar

18:47:54.6 11-3-2010: Is Media Center running?

18:47:54.6 11-3-2010: Checking/Creating LCD Registry values

18:47:54.6 11-3-2010: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode

18:47:54.6 11-3-2010: Media Center Mode 2

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: Video previews on. Warning: Only recommended on modern systems

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: Custom Keyboard Input enabled: Getting custom codes

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: Custom Game Device Input enabled: Getting custom codes

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: Snap Delay set to: 2

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: Get other settings

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: Desktop set to Hide ICONS and set Background to Black

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: Using DirectInput for keyboard input

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: Start work for Form

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: Getting Original Screen Size

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: Opening Database Connection

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: Initializing Component

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: Retrieving resolution setting

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: MAME Path is: D:\ArcadeHeaven\Arcade\MameUI64

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: daphne Path is: D:\ArcadeHeaven\Laser Disc

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: daphne EXE file is: Daphne.exe

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: Use daphne on. Daphne.exe will launch games

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: Model 2 Path Path is: D:\ArcadeHeaven\Arcade\Sega Model 2

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: Multi Core/Hyper Threading detected. Looking for emulator_multicpu.exe

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: Model 2 EXE file is: emulator_multicpu.exe

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: Model 2 emulator with command line support detected

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: Use Model 2 on. emulator_multicpu.exe will launch Sega Model 2 games

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: MAME EXE file is: mameui64.exe

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: ROM Path is: D:\ArcadeHeaven\Arcade\MameUI64\roms

18:47:54.7 11-3-2010: Catver.ini is located at: D:\ArcadeHeaven\Programmatuur\GameEx10\DATA\catver.ini

18:47:54.8 11-3-2010: History.dat is located at: D:\ArcadeHeaven\Programmatuur\GameEx10\DATA\history.dat

18:47:54.8 11-3-2010: nplayers.ini is located at: D:\ArcadeHeaven\Programmatuur\GameEx10\DATA\nplayers.ini

18:47:54.8 11-3-2010: MAMEinfo.dat is located at: D:\ArcadeHeaven\Programmatuur\GameEx10\DATA\mameinfo.dat

18:47:54.8 11-3-2010: Loading Controls.ini map file

18:47:54.8 11-3-2010: Snap Path: Not Found

18:47:54.8 11-3-2010: AVI Snap Path: Not Found

18:47:54.8 11-3-2010: Flyer Path: Not Found

18:47:54.8 11-3-2010: Cabinet Path: Not Found

18:47:54.8 11-3-2010: Title Path: Not Found

18:47:54.8 11-3-2010: PCB Path: Not Found

18:47:54.8 11-3-2010: Artwork Preview Path: Not Found

18:47:54.8 11-3-2010: Panel Path: Not Found

18:47:54.8 11-3-2010: Manual Path: Not Found

18:47:54.8 11-3-2010: Icon Path: Not Found

18:47:54.8 11-3-2010: Marquee Path: Not Found

18:47:54.8 11-3-2010: Loading Custom Emulators

18:47:54.8 11-3-2010: Loading Emulator 1: Atari 2600

18:47:54.8 11-3-2010: Loading Emulator 2: Nintendo N64

18:47:54.8 11-3-2010: Loading Emulator 3: Nintendo NES

18:47:54.8 11-3-2010: Loading Emulator 4: Nintendo SNES

18:47:54.9 11-3-2010: Loading Emulator 5: Sega 32x

18:47:54.9 11-3-2010: Loading Emulator 6: Sega CD

18:47:54.9 11-3-2010: Loading Emulator 7: Sega Genesis

18:47:54.9 11-3-2010: Loading Emulator 8: [Console] Sega Dreamcast (nullDC)

18:47:54.9 11-3-2010: Loading Emulator 10: Sony Playstation

18:47:54.9 11-3-2010: Loading Emulator 11: Future Pinball

18:47:54.9 11-3-2010: Loading Emulator 12: Capcom CPS Arcade

18:47:54.9 11-3-2010: Loading Emulator 15: Nintendo GameCube en Wii

18:47:54.9 11-3-2010: Loading Emulator 16: MSX

18:47:55.0 11-3-2010: Loading Emulator 17: [Arcade] Arcade (ZiNc)

18:47:55.0 11-3-2010: Loading Emulator 18: Arcade Sega Model 2

18:47:55.0 11-3-2010: Loading Emulator 19: [PC] Microsoft Windows

18:47:55.1 11-3-2010: Using Version 3 Themes Animations

18:47:55.1 11-3-2010: Using General Font: Ageone bold

18:47:55.1 11-3-2010: Using Title Font: Ageone bold

18:47:55.1 11-3-2010: Initialising DirectDraw

18:47:55.1 11-3-2010: Applying GameEx is Loading Image

18:47:55.2 11-3-2010: Creating DirectDraw Device

18:47:55.2 11-3-2010: Using Device: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series

18:47:55.4 11-3-2010: -1806mb video memory available

18:47:55.7 11-3-2010: Setting Resolution to 1680x1050 32 bit color

18:47:55.7 11-3-2010: Creating DirectDraw Surfaces

18:47:55.7 11-3-2010: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode

18:47:55.7 11-3-2010: Creating Back Buffer

18:47:55.8 11-3-2010: Version 2 Theme being used. Loading.

18:47:55.8 11-3-2010: Loading Button Data

18:47:55.8 11-3-2010: Loading Font Data

18:47:55.8 11-3-2010: Loading Layout Data

18:47:55.8 11-3-2010: Loading Taskbar Data

18:47:55.8 11-3-2010: Loading graphic Surfaces

18:47:55.8 11-3-2010: Display is running at: 1680x1050 32bit color, 59hz

18:47:55.8 11-3-2010: Creating Surfaces Flags

18:47:55.8 11-3-2010: Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs

18:47:55.9 11-3-2010: Creating Surfaces Volume

18:47:55.9 11-3-2010: Creating Surfaces Arrows

18:47:55.9 11-3-2010: Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text

18:47:55.9 11-3-2010: Creating Surfaces Toolbar

18:47:55.9 11-3-2010: Creating Surfaces Backgrounds

18:47:58.7 11-3-2010: Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls

18:47:58.7 11-3-2010: Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo

18:47:58.7 11-3-2010: Creating Surface Unselected

18:47:58.7 11-3-2010: Creating Surfaces Snaps

18:47:58.7 11-3-2010: Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars

18:47:58.7 11-3-2010: Creating Fonts

18:47:58.7 11-3-2010: Creating Game Font

18:47:59.1 11-3-2010: Creating Game Font Faded

18:47:59.8 11-3-2010: Creating Title Font

18:48:02.2 11-3-2010: Creating Font Black

18:48:02.2 11-3-2010: Creating Font Black Small

18:48:02.4 11-3-2010: Fonts Created Succesfully

18:48:02.4 11-3-2010: -1909mb video memory left available

18:48:02.4 11-3-2010: Creating instance of global keyboard hook

18:48:02.4 11-3-2010: Initialising Bass Audio Library

18:48:02.4 11-3-2010: Attempting to load game list

18:48:02.5 11-3-2010: Applying Language/Text

18:48:02.5 11-3-2010: Text/Language: Custom

18:48:02.6 11-3-2010: MAME CMD options: -skip_gameinfo

18:48:02.6 11-3-2010: Loading last used Game List

18:48:02.7 11-3-2010: Loading Music Play List

18:48:02.7 11-3-2010: Loading Playlist Directory

18:48:02.7 11-3-2010: Creating DirectSound Device

18:48:02.7 11-3-2010: Trying: Primair geluidsstuurprogramma

18:48:02.7 11-3-2010: Loading Sound Files

18:48:02.7 11-3-2010: DirectSound Device Created Successfully

18:48:02.7 11-3-2010: Initialising DirectInput for Gamepad support

18:48:02.7 11-3-2010: Looking for Device: Logitech Cordless RumblePad 2 USB

18:48:02.7 11-3-2010: Device Created

18:48:02.8 11-3-2010: Initialising DirectInput for Keyboard support

18:48:02.8 11-3-2010: Initializing MCE Remote

18:48:02.9 11-3-2010: Initialization OK! Starting GameEx!

18:48:02.9 11-3-2010: Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame

18:48:03.1 11-3-2010: Testing Main Loop Once: Main Loop ran successfully

(then a bunch of errorcodes regarding non-existing assets-paths for just about every emulator....this has always been the case, but if you want i can c/p it also...it's just very long...for all emulators in fact)

18:48:25.8 11-3-2010: Running: cmd.exe /c E: E:\PC Games\Trine\trine.exe

18:49:20.6 11-3-2010: Exiting GameEx!

18:49:20.6 11-3-2010: Saving Settings

18:49:26.0 11-3-2010: Disposing Plugins

18:49:26.0 11-3-2010: Closing database connection

18:49:26.1 11-3-2010: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

18:49:26.1 11-3-2010: Launching and waiting: D:\ArcadeHeaven\Programmatuur\batchesforgameex\OnExit.bat

18:49:26.2 11-3-2010: Media Center was not open when starting GameEx, so not launching

In the interval 18:48:25.8 till 18:49:20.6 i was having the same problems as usual with this game -> background music gameex still playing during the game, and on exiting i don't return to game-ex but in this case was able to return and safely exit after alt-tabbing my way back into it. Perhaps that was the case because i ran game-ex on my primary screen, not my secondary (wich is running standalone as a primary device when i start up game ex normally). I hope this helps, but have a feeling more info will be needed, so ask me and i try to deliver Thanks!,

[Drakendoder]

just for completion purposes, i ran game-ex under 'normal' conditions where i can't get back into game-ex with Alt-tab like in the previous post, the log is identical except for resolution, and this is the last part...

19:05:05.5 11-3-2010: Running: cmd.exe /c E: E:\PC Games\Trine\trine.exe

19:06:47.9 11-3-2010: Exiting GameEx!

19:06:48.0 11-3-2010: Saving Settings <-- last line in the log

Exiting game-ex was done through TaskManager, where i had to shut it down. When i've exit the game, and am looking at my desktop while i'm unable to return to game-ex, the music is still playing though, and Taskmanager says it's working fine. When i rightclick in the taskmanager, to manually maximise game-ex, i get a black hiding-os screen but am not able to return to the menu-screen, nor does game-ex respond to my ESC-key that would normally exit the program instantly

[Tom Speirs]

Can you post a list of running tasks when GameEx is in that state. Do you see any called "cmd"? or anything else which would perhaps be from part of the game?

Just to confirm its not an issue with GameEx - can you try setting up again from scrach as a new emulator one of the games that previously worked. This will rule out (or in) if its a bug in GameEx. Id like to be sure.

Are you saying GamEEx starts to Play Ambience when you exit the game (o try to)?

[Drakendoder]

  On 3/11/2010 at 7:30 PM, TSpeirs said:

Can you post a list of running tasks when GameEx is in that state. Do you see any called "cmd"? or anything else which would perhaps be from part of the game?

no "cmd", GameEx is the only task listed when i've quit the game, and i am not returning to game-Ex but am left at my desktop with AmbienceMusic from GameEx menu playing on my speakers

  Quote

Just to confirm its not an issue with GameEx - can you try setting up again from scrach as a new emulator one of the games that previously worked. This will rule out (or in) if its a bug in GameEx. Id like to be sure.

i'm not sure what you meant, but i deleted the link for a Windows-Game that worked fine, and made a new .lnk for the list. Again, the game worked fine. Mind you, every game still works great except the two(Altitude, Trine) i mentioned.

  Quote

Are you saying GamEEx starts to Play Ambience when you exit the game (o try to)?

No, when i press 'Play this Game' the music stops, and the game starts up. About 4-5 seconds in-game when you still get the introscreens from developers and so on, the music from Game-Ex starts playing again, and in fact doesn't stop anymore. It keeps playing when i exit the game, although i'm not returning to the GameEx menu and taskmanager tells me it's running fine.

i'm really clueless about this one. I checked all parameters from the .lnk-files but couldn't find any differences between the games that have and do not have this problem

thanks for the help so far guys,

[dreamer]

i have over 200 pc game running in gameEX whit no problem i have a folder whit all short cuts in one folder heres my config

[Emulator_9]

Enabled=True

STARTPAGENAME=PC games

TITLETEXT=PC games

StartPageLogo=pc

ROMFilter=*.lnk

RomsInFolders=False

RomPath=C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\games

SnapPath=

WorkingPath=C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\games

MapKeys=False

WaitBeforeKeys=

SendKeys=

ReplaceDash=True

ReplaceUnder=True

Capitals=True

RemoveBrackets=True

ShowDesktop=False

Debug=False

MAPFile=

AlsoLaunch=

Command=""[RomPath]\[RomFile]""

OLDatZip=

TitlePath=

BoxPath=

LaunchBefore=

LaunchAfter=

CartPath=

configFile=

ExcludedFiles=

CustomBackground=

PlayMusic=

PCGame=False

DATABASE=

DumbyValue=

GamesIn7Zips=

PlayInScreenSaver=True

ManualPath=

lastgame=

DontShowInfo=

ShowMostPlayed=

RandomMostPlayed=

CDCheck=

CDCheckFile=

ControlPanelPath=

InstructionsPath=

PlaySelectionMusic=

SelectionMusicFolder=

UseDbName=

CustomArtName1=

CustomArtPath1=

CustomArtName2=

CustomArtPath2=

CustomArtName3=

CustomArtPath3=

MergeSets=

[Tom Speirs]

When the music starts GameEx thinks the process has ended and is returning. This is because the game uses a loader. You need to setup up an advanced config and put all the games processes in it.

[dreamer]

its advancedconfigeditor/process wait, then add game exe

tom tell me if iam wrong

[twotone8]

hrm. i'm having the same problem. i'm sure the advice posted here will help.

also, i've been wondering how to put multiple pc games into one 'emulator' category. the idea of putting several different shortcuts into one 'rom' directory is a great idea.

is there any way to do this for pc games that need you to mount an iso? is it possible to create a batch file that can launch daemon tools on a specific game to game basis?

edit: figured it out. managed to get the game in question working without the loader, and created a batch file to get it all mounted and ready.

i was stumped with this problem when the loader was being used. i'm glad there was an alternative .exe apart from the loader, because i simply could not figure out what process was preventing gameex from restoring. i hope the op has more luck.

[Drakendoder]

allright, this is a bit ackward

In light of what you said i tried finding out what 'loaders' were used during the startup of the process, but couldn't find any in the Taskmanager processes list. So i figured my best bet would be launching AutoHotkey WindowSpy to see if anything popped up there, and sure enough i was amazed at how many exes were loaded in a brief second during the intros. Exactly at the point where normally GameEx Music starts to play again. I couldn't find those exe-files in the directory anywhere, so i tried googling them......they were all Trojans, Malwares etc.

I updated my free AVG as soon as possible (it had been disabled for 3 weeks, right before i 'got' Trine, and had been a bit lazy at fixing it) and sure enough red flags were flying all over the place. The ackward part of course is that you don't get these Trojans, Malwares and such if you have a legal copy, only when obtained on the darker sides of the web. So i guess i'm rightfully punished, but for the record i would like to state i'm no enemy of the PCgaming-Industry as i have bought just about over 50 games, most of them with the sole purpose of rewarding its developers. I do like to try before i buy though, so i'm guilty for that as charged

Altitude, the other game, i in fact did buy legally but obviously there seem some problems with steam loading up as well probably confusing Steam. I also have StreetFighter IV through steam(also legally), but there i have it all working inside a AHK-script wich probably makes it all 1 process in the eyes of GameEx. Okay now i gotta run, i hear sirens roaring up into the streets... BB is everywhere

[Drakendoder]

the silence is deafening, just close the thread and bury it already

[Tempest]

Okee DoKee.