[Feature Request] GameEX support MESS software lists

[B2K24]

I would like to add a near complete MESS setup to GameEX if possible. Is there a way currently to make this happen?

Basically, once GameEX is launched, directly under MAME it would be nice to have a MESS selection. Then when MESS is selected it would show all the systems available, perhaps by reading the files in hash directory of MESS path. Or somehow the user would be able to control exactly which systems is displayed on this screen and set path to ROMs that GameEX can understand if reading paths in MESSUI.ini is not possible. Once a system is selected in GameEX then it would show all of the games say for example PCE

pce_extra_software "H:\MESS EMULATOR\roms\pce"

Is it possible to have a MESS setup like this in GameEX and is it supported as of right now or would it need to be programmed in?

[Draco1962]

I would like to add a near complete MESS setup to GameEX if possible. Is there a way currently to make this happen?

Basically, once GameEX is launched, directly under MAME it would be nice to have a MESS selection. Then when MESS is selected it would show all the systems available, perhaps by reading the files in hash directory of MESS path.

It would have to be programmed in and quite daunting to make it invoke MAME-like since MESS supports quite a few systems to varying degrees. GameEx is ordered by the system being emulated, with the emulator being invoked accordingly. It may be possible to setup something under Emulator Groups through the advanced configuration app, but likely this would be a meets half-way measure.

Or somehow the user would be able to control exactly which systems is displayed on this screen and set path to ROMs that GameEX can understand if reading paths in MESSUI.ini is not possible. Once a system is selected in GameEX then it would show all of the games say for example PCE

pce_extra_software "H:\MESS EMULATOR\roms\pce"

Is it possible to have a MESS setup like this in GameEX and is it supported as of right now or would it need to be programmed in?

The only other option that comes to mind would require the use of Custom Menus as opposed to the stock menu system that GameEx provides. This would be a totally manual process but you could set up a MESS Menu with sub-menus setup buy emulated system. You would still have to setup each system to be emulated separately pointing to MESS as the emulator selected, with the paths set for each system's ROMs accordingly. There would be no interaction with MESSUI.ini as noted.

[B2K24]

If Tom could at least add support for cart systems to start off with, that would be really awesome.

Actually now that I think more about it, this should be possible to implement because of the categories already possible with MAME.

Already selectable when it comes to MAME is Neo-Geo, CPS, Atari, etc. Which I assume generates a listing of games for those systems by reading some XML or file they are listed in. So why couldn't the same be done with MESS systems, considering both projects share the same code?

Is it possible for a user to set up their own sub categories that GameEX shows by changing some config and creating an XML?

Or do these specifically have to be programmed/supported by Tom?

If so, then I could just create my own MESS setup that I would like GameEX to show me in it's menu.

Can someone please describe how this is accomplished and done if it's possible to do currently right now.

When I use mess64 from command prompt all I have to do is type

H:\MESS EMULATOR>mess64 snes -cart ctrigger

And Chrono Trigger loads, so it shouldn't be all that complicated to add the support I just need to figure out how to make it possible.

[Adultery]

Maybe I'm missing the point entirely here, but...

Couldn't you set each system up as it's own emulator yourself and then group them together?

Ahh I suppose that wouldn't sort them by system though. Scratch that.

[B2K24]

I suppose it's possible to do that but it would take eons and unecessary work.

GameEX already has support for MAME because it has custom lists for Neo-Geo, Atari, CPS, lightgun & original games etc. (sub categories)

If I can figure out how this works and is accomplished, I can create my own for MESS I'm hoping.

I'm open to all ideas and suggestions.

[ehuonder]

I'm pretty sure that all of the mappings you're talking about are strictly coded for MAME. I use MESS for multiple systems, and I simply set each one up as a separate emulator and use the supported Custom Menus to create the structure I want for menus. An example would be:

DVDs

Music

Games

---MAME

---Atari 2600 (MESS)

---TRS80 Color Computer (MESS)

---Sega Genesis

---...

etc.

It works great.

[B2K24]

The thing is though, it's not a separate emulator, so it's silly having to setup that way.

A MESS selection directly under MAME would provide a clean and organized look. Giving the users the ability to create their own custom menu's (if possible) I would welcome and appreciate this very much and it could even be a registered feature only

Even people using other emulators might find it fun and enjoy setting up custom game selections per system.

Please Tom, if possible, please consider adding what I'm speaking of.

[Draco1962]

Maybe I am not reading what you are saying correctly. Have you looked at the Custom Menus application that downloads with GameEx? You can do exactly what you are suggesting:

MAME

MESS

Etc.

You can even subdivide that just a little further by emulated system within the emulator menu item. Take a look at the app and give it a try!

[Adultery]

Is that a plugin?

[ehuonder]

It's not a plug-in. It installs as an application in the Start Menu.

GameEx -> Configuration -> Custom Menus

[Adultery]

Hmm. Never noticed it before although I've helped troubleshoot it!

[B2K24]

Thanks for that Draco1962, That is kinda getting on the right track of what I wish to accomplish. I can plug in MESS now directly under MAME, but can't seem to add my own items, which generates custom game lists like MAME has defaulted. (Atari, neo-geo, CPS, lightgun, etc.)

More specifically, what I wish to accomplish is, once MESS is selected in GameEX I would like displayed the names of the XMLs taken from this page. http://git.redump.net/cgit.cgi/mess/tree/hash

So If I selected MESS then aes it would show me a listing of those games just like what's already possible when you pick MAME and select neo-geo games. Even better would be if GameEX could read those XML files and already generate a listing of games in GameEX interface.

If that isn't possible then I wouldn't even mind creating dat files of directories that GameEX could read to generate the lists.

I can't figure out right now how it does it for MAME from the categories I have listed above and in other posts.

I would really love too see this implemented in GameEX