Messages

1

General / Re: Setting up consoles and computers in Attract Mode using MAME

« on: November 04, 2018, 09:59:16 AM »

So... All my non MAME roms are in their own directories. I've set up separate emulators in AttractMode all using MAME and different ROM paths. Most of them work. A couple seem to ignore the ROM path - For some reason MAME won't run NES unless I put the full path in the arguments.

At this point the only thing I wish I could do is separate the Arcade games from the other ROMs in my MAME ROMs directory, but I can live with it the way it is.

Thanks for all the help folks!

2

General / Re: N00B - AttractMode 2.4.1 on Linux not playing intro, nor changing layout

« on: November 04, 2018, 09:54:33 AM »

I did some more digging and it looks like I was missing an import file. Now Genres are working in MAME.

Thanks everyone!

3

General / Re: Setting up consoles and computers in Attract Mode using MAME

« on: November 01, 2018, 03:52:31 PM »

trs80.zip is an operating system and not a game. Running it just gives you the OS command line.

All versions of MAME are expecting matching MAME rom sets (it uses checksums). When using MAME you need to tell it how to launch the various systems via the command line. Below are some examples using MAME roms.

Nintendo Entertainment System

Code: [Select]

# Generated by Attract-Mode v2.4.1
#
executable           \Emulators\MAME\mame64.exe
args                 nes -cart "[romfilename]"
rompath              \Roms\MAME\Software List\nes
romext               .zip
system               nes
info_source          listsoftware
import_extras        .\extras\catver.ini


Thanks... Atari 2600 is working, but for some reason MAME won't look in the correct location for the NES roms. I get a File not found error. AttractMode won't start any of the NES roms.

To start a NES cartridge from the command line I need to  use  mame nes -cart $HOME/emu/nes/roms/1943.zip. Yes, I've edited the mame.ini file to include the path to my NES roms. I've also got the correct path in AttractMode.

...and a side question. I don't have the "import_extras" field in my emulator setup. What is it for? Not sure if it matters but I'm running under Linux.

4

General / Re: Setting up consoles and computers in Attract Mode using MAME

« on: October 31, 2018, 07:29:44 PM »

I think one of my issues is that MAME expects a "MAME" romset and not just any set of roms. The romset I have works with Stella, but MAME doesn't seem to like a lot of the roms. I can get MAME to play some of the Atari 2600 roms, for example, but not all of them.

5

General / Setting up consoles and computers in Attract Mode using MAME

« on: October 31, 2018, 06:53:41 PM »

Hello again!

Now that I have AttractMode, MAME and robospin working really well I'd like to set up some consoles and computers to launch from AttractMode and emulate with MAME.

I've been able to get AttractMode to work with separate emulators (Like Stella for the Atari 2600), but I would like to use the emulation in MAME.

I think that my biggest issue is that all of my roms are in a single directory, so that my TRS-80 roms are mixed with the Arcade roms and my C64 roms, etc. I'm really hoping that I don't have dig through the roms directory and take out the roms that I want to list separately.

Can AttractMode differenciate between Arcade roms and computer roms and console roms?

One reason that I'm asking is that, for example, I have a TRS80.zip rom file. I can run it if I use the command line "mame TRS80" and it works. It does NOT appear in AttractMode when I'm scrolling through my MAME arcade games. Why is this rom different from from an arcade rom?

So, in short, Can I set up a "Computers" emulator in AttractMode using MAME without having to separate my rom files?

Thanks!

6

General / Re: N00B - AttractMode 2.4.1 on Linux not playing intro, nor changing layout

« on: October 31, 2018, 06:34:51 PM »

Yes! I have Attract Mode set up with MAME, showing videosnaps, snaps and marquees and manufacturers logos with the robospin layout!

I have one more question for this thread...

This layout shows a "?" graphic near the bottom left corner of the screen. I assume that this is a game category icon, and since MAME doesn't categorize the games it shows the default "unknown" graphic.

Is it possible to add an "Arcade" genre with an accompanying graphic that would appear for MAME?  I know I could just change the image for the "unknown" graphic, but I'd rather do it right.

I see in the .nut file a section for Genre image, but I'm not sure what I can put here that would match with MAME arcade games.

Code: [Select]

...
"action": [ "action" ],
"adventure": [ "adventure" ],
"fighting": [ "fighting", "fighter", "beat'em up" ],
...
You'll notice that "fighting", for example, has a match for the genre "fighting", "fighter", "beat'em up"... If I added an "arcade" genre, what would I match for MAME Arcade roms?

7

Themes / Re: New theme - HUD 1.0.0

« on: October 30, 2018, 12:10:40 AM »

HUD 1.0.0 theme for Attract Mode 2.4.0

Good job on this excellent layout.

I do have one suggestion, and a question.

First of all, it appears that you haven't got support for MAME in the layout. I get Unknown System appearing when using MAME with your layout. The machine is identified as "Arcade".

Second, where does the layout pull the information for the various information and artwork? Several sections of the layout just come up as "Missing" or "Not found" and I'd like to add the required info and artwork, but I don't know where to put it.

Thanks again!

8

General / Re: N00B - AttractMode 2.4.1 on Linux not playing intro, nor changing layout

« on: October 30, 2018, 12:05:30 AM »

Each layout defines what the artwork fields will be called it's layout.nut file. For boxes people usually use "flyer", "box" or "boxart" but it could really be anything. If you provide the name of the layout or the layout.nut file we can give you a more specific answer. Also, keep in mind that not every layout is created to show boxart.

I have never heard of or seen a "UI1.0.0" layout. I think you might mean "HUD 1.0.0", if this is the case the person that made this layout didn't include any type or MAME or Arcade game systems (which is unusual) and that is why you see "unknown system". You could ask the author to add these types of systems to the layout or modify the layout yourself to include them.

I will take a look at the nut file and see if I can identify what it's looking for and come back here if I have issues.

Yes, you're right. It's the HUD 1.0.0 layout I was referring to. I'll let the author know about this suggestion.

Thanks again!

9

General / Re: N00B - AttractMode 2.4.1 on Linux not playing intro, nor changing layout

« on: October 29, 2018, 05:50:02 PM »

Thanks for the information. I was able to get the layouts and intro video working.

For the intro, I had to put the full path to the mp4 file. It didn't default to looking in $HOME/.attract/intro.

For the layouts, I didn't realize that they were on an emulator basis. Once I figured that out I was able to get the layouts working.

Now I have another "dilemma"

The layouts don't appear to be picking up the boxart that I have for my roms. The images are named the same as the roms, the "flyer" setting is pointing to the directory where the boxart is (should I add an artwork item?) Basically, I need to know where the layout is trying to find the boxart, etc.

...and the last thing. In the UI1.0.0 layout MAME is being identified as an unknown system. The system identifier is set to Arcade (the default) and I don't know what the layout is looking for to identify MAME.

Thanks for the help!!!

10

General / N00B - AttractMode 2.4.1 on Linux not playing intro, nor changing layout

« on: October 28, 2018, 08:32:30 PM »

I've added the HUD 1.0.0 layout in my ~/.attract/layouts directory, and a intro.mp4 video in my ~/.attract/intro directory. I've also got to Displays->Displays Menu Options and set Menu Style/Layout to HUD 1.0.0. When I start AttractMode I don't see the video and I still have the pacman layout displayed.

I'm a total n00b when it comes to AttractMode, so I don't know what I am doing wrong.

Do these files need special permissions? Do I have to modify any settings or configuration files? Are there limitations on what the Linux version can do?

This is on Mint Linux 19.

Any help is appreciated.