Download Service Utility

[starbuck]

As I tweak my cabinet setup using the new download service utility, I have questions popping up. I know that GameEx now uses AVI's or FLV's. Which of these are the one that the group is using. There is no need to have both in my asset directory as they both have the exact same files in each. I know that there are other front ends that only use FLVs, so there may be a benefit if you use more then one front end. But having both movie files doubles the amount of disc space used. Does GameEx handle FLV's as good as AVI's and i so should that be the movie file of choice to keep.

When GameEx starts using the Service will it update your files or do we still need to mannually check each folder from time to time for updates to the media.

[Tom Speirs]

Assuming you have codecs installed GameEx should handle FLVs just fine, and the whole world seems to be going hs crazy so it might be best but other front ends will only use AVIs, so it really depends what you are using or going to use but as far as GameEx either should work just as well I would think assuming codecs are good.

As to your seconde questions, currently this is a manual process, but there will be improvements.

[starbuck]

Thanks for the fast reply. Can play both just fine and Circo seems to be updating both. Right now HD space is cheap so keeping both isn't a problem. Before starting to using the service I had 120 plus different systems running thru GameEx. Currently I have reduced it to the 70 in the service. Once I have them all tweaked and have Circo's folder names down pat, I'll start adding some of other systems with the hope that Circo will one day expand his service to include other systems.

Circo seperates snaps and movies into seperate folders. I like the idea of having the movie plays as I scroll the game list. When I go to the indivdual game name I then like the snap to be in the list with box, title etc. I do this now with the extra folder slots. As you update Gameex to include the extra folders, it would be nice to sereate the current snap/video folder into 2 seperate folders.

Don't know if this is a GameEx or Circo question but I'll throw it out. When I update a game list by adding games (Be it a no-intro, Tosec, Goodrom, etc.), I assume unlike Mame GameEx will automatically update the Game list on start up. But could a label be put on the GameEx screen telling you the last date that that particular game list was run thru the service as a reminder that your media has not been updated to include the new games. Something similar to what mame does when you change your games, asking you to update the game list. I know that currently GameEx won't update your media but a reminder would help us old guys trying to remember to run the service for a perticular system.

[Tom Speirs]

As to your second point, its not really related to either Circo or GameEx, but is me, since I am the developer of the download service. I will be making improvements to the download service as time moves on. Its all still quite new, and still officialy in Beta. There will also be a specific GameEx version/implementaion which will integrate with the systems and paths setup in GameEx.

The snap/video folder has been requested before many times, but you can actually view the snap even if its not in the list by viewing any artwork full screen on the game info page, then moving through with the directional controls.

PS: In regard to the old guys bit, count me in too on that!

[starbuck]

Hi Tom,

Been tryng to run my dreamcast roms thru the download service and it never works properly. I have tried it with the roms zipped and unzipped. I have ran them in folders and out of folders.

It seems to miss roms no matters what I do. What am I doing wrong. Somethin simple I bet.

Thanks

Sratbuck