Attract-Mode Support Forum
Attract-Mode Support => General => Topic started by: Joe737 on August 05, 2018, 11:38:32 AM
-
Hi All, I have search high and low and can't diagnose this issue. It seems to be with how Nevato launches - other themes work fine.
Problem: Attract Mode works great, using the Nevato theme. When launching a game in AM (enter), the screen flashes, but the game doesn't launch. When I directly launch using MAME, it plays fine. All the rompaths are correct as far as I can see (AM config, mame.ini), and the roms are present, and versions match the version of MAME. I am trying this on a new computer, the only thing I can think of that changed is the processor, I upgraded to a 64-bit processor but I'm still using 32-bit Windows XP updated to SP3. When I try in console mode, it only says "***Running..." no errors given.
I'm sure it's something simple, hoping someone can help!
Below is my config file for AM and my Mame.ini:
# Generated by Attract-Mode v2.4.0
#
display mame
layout nevato
romlist mame
in_cycle yes
in_menu yes
global_filter
rule CloneOf not_equals .*
exception Name equals chplft
rule Title not_contains Mahjong
rule Title not_contains Trivia
filter All
filter Favourites
rule Favourite equals 1
sound
sound_volume 100
ambient_volume 100
movie_volume 100
input_map
configure Tab
prev_letter LControl+Up
next_letter LControl+Down
filters_menu LControl+Left
next_filter LControl+Right
configure Escape+Up
edit_game Escape+Down
add_favourite Escape+LControl
prev_letter Joy0 Up+Joy0 Button0
next_letter Joy0 Down+Joy0 Button0
filters_menu Joy0 Left+Joy0 Button0
next_filter Joy0 Right+Joy0 Button0
configure Joy0 Up+Joy0 Button1
edit_game Joy0 Down+Joy0 Button1
add_favourite Joy0 Button0+Joy0 Button1
back Escape
back Joy0 Button1
up Up
up Joy0 Up
down Down
down Joy0 Down
left Left
left Joy0 Left
right Right
right Joy0 Right
select Return
select LControl
select Joy0 Button0
custom1 Space
default back exit
default up prev_game
default down next_game
default left prev_display
default right next_display
general
language en
exit_command
default_font arial
font_path C:\WINDOWS\Fonts
screen_saver_timeout 600
displays_menu_exit yes
hide_brackets no
startup_mode default
confirm_favourites yes
confirm_exit yes
mouse_threshold 10
joystick_threshold 75
window_mode window
filter_wrap_mode default
track_usage yes
multiple_monitors yes
smooth_images yes
accelerate_selection yes
selection_speed_ms 40
scrape_snaps yes
scrape_marquees yes
scrape_flyers yes
scrape_wheels yes
scrape_fanart yes
scrape_videos yes
scrape_overview yes
hide_console no
video_decoder
menu_prompt Displays Menu
menu_layout
layout_config nevato
param cabScreenType video
param divider1
param divider2
param divider3
param divider4
param divider5
param divider6
param divider7
param enable_bg_art flyer
param enable_mask medium
param enable_scanlines light
param enable_static_bkg black
param lcdRight filter
param marquee_type marquee
param mute_videoSnaps no
param spinwheelArt wheel
param transition_ms 80
layout_config flat_blue
param crt_shader Disabled
param game_info_1 Year
param game_info_2 Played Count
param layout_rotation None
param menu_art_type Flyer
param menu_video Disabled
param scanline_strength Weakest
param shadow_strength Medium
param show_wheel Enabled
layout_config Game Station
param blue 110
param enable_strip Yes
param enable_time Yes
param green 67
param mode Expert
param ratio No
param red 5
param sound Yes
param wheel_logo Wheel Only
intro_config
param detect_aspect Yes
param layout_rotation none
param play_intro No
param video_16x9 intro.mp4
param video_3x4 intro_3x4.mp4
param video_4x3 intro_4x3.mp4
param video_9x16 intro_9x16.mp4
param video_default intro.mp4
plugin KeyboardSearch
enabled yes
param results_mode Show Results
param trigger Custom1
plugin AudioMode
enabled no
param dir
param info_button
param skip_button
MAME INI
<UNADORNED0>
#
# CORE CONFIGURATION OPTIONS
#
readconfig 1
#
# CORE SEARCH PATH OPTIONS
#
rompath C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\MameUnpackedROMS121
samplepath samples
artpath artwork
ctrlrpath ctrlr
inipath .;ini
fontpath .
#
# CORE OUTPUT DIRECTORY OPTIONS
#
cfg_directory cfg
nvram_directory nvram
memcard_directory memcard
input_directory inp
state_directory sta
snapshot_directory snap
diff_directory diff
comment_directory comments
#
# CORE FILENAME OPTIONS
#
cheat_file cheat.dat
#
# CORE STATE/PLAYBACK OPTIONS
#
state
autosave 0
playback
record
mngwrite
wavwrite
#
# CORE PERFORMANCE OPTIONS
#
autoframeskip 0
frameskip 0
seconds_to_run 0
throttle 1
sleep 1
speed 1.0
refreshspeed 0
#
# CORE ROTATION OPTIONS
#
rotate 1
ror 0
rol 0
autoror 0
autorol 0
flipx 0
flipy 0
#
# CORE ARTWORK OPTIONS
#
artwork_crop 0
use_backdrops 1
use_overlays 1
use_bezels 1
#
# CORE SCREEN OPTIONS
#
brightness 1.0
contrast 1.0
gamma 1.0
pause_brightness 0.65
#
# CORE VECTOR OPTIONS
#
antialias 1
beam 1.0
flicker 0
#
# CORE SOUND OPTIONS
#
sound 1
samplerate 48000
samples 1
volume 0
#
# CORE INPUT OPTIONS
#
ctrlr
mouse 0
joystick 0
lightgun 0
multikeyboard 0
multimouse 0
steadykey 0
offscreen_reload 0
joystick_map auto
joystick_deadzone 0.3
joystick_saturation 0.85
#
# CORE INPUT AUTOMATIC ENABLE OPTIONS
#
paddle_device keyboard
adstick_device keyboard
pedal_device keyboard
dial_device keyboard
trackball_device keyboard
lightgun_device keyboard
positional_device keyboard
mouse_device mouse
#
# CORE DEBUGGING OPTIONS
#
log 0
verbose 0
#
# CORE MISC OPTIONS
#
bios default
cheat 0
skip_gameinfo 1
#
# WINDOWS DEBUGGING OPTIONS
#
oslog 0
#
# WINDOWS PERFORMANCE OPTIONS
#
priority 0
multithreading 1
#
# WINDOWS VIDEO OPTIONS
#
video d3d
numscreens 1
window 0
maximize 1
keepaspect 1
prescale 1
effect none
waitvsync 0
syncrefresh 0
#
# DIRECTDRAW-SPECIFIC OPTIONS
#
hwstretch 1
#
# DIRECT3D-SPECIFIC OPTIONS
#
d3dversion 9
filter 1
#
# PER-WINDOW VIDEO OPTIONS
#
screen auto
aspect auto
resolution auto
view auto
screen0 auto
aspect0 auto
resolution0 auto
view0 auto
screen1 auto
aspect1 auto
resolution1 auto
view1 auto
screen2 auto
aspect2 auto
resolution2 auto
view2 auto
screen3 auto
aspect3 auto
resolution3 auto
view3 auto
#
# FULL SCREEN OPTIONS
#
triplebuffer 0
switchres 0
full_screen_brightness 1.0
full_screen_contrast 1.0
full_screen_gamma 1.0
#
# WINDOWS SOUND OPTIONS
#
audio_latency 2
#
# INPUT DEVICE OPTIONS
#
dual_lightgun 0
-
Check your /attract/emulators/mame.cfg to make sure your argument is correct. MAME arcade games use "[name]" which is different from most systems that use ""[romfilename]"".
It should look like this
args [name]
and not like this
args "[romfilename]"
If this isn't your issue post the mame.cfg file from AM.
-
Thanks for the idea, it didn't work - however, I changed themes to Attrac-Man and all seems to work fine, so it's something wht Nevato theme. Does anyone know if I need .Net installed to use Nevato? - I'll try to figure it out based on that lead. But open to ideas!
# Generated by Attract-Mode v2.4.0
#
executable C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\mame121b\mame.exe
args [romfilename]
rompath C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\mame121b\roms
romext .zip;.7z;<DIR>;Compressed (zipped) Folder
system Arcade
info_source thegamesdb.net
artwork flyer C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\Attract Mode 2.4 XP\menu-art\flyer
artwork marquee C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\Attract Mode 2.4 XP\menu-art\marquee
artwork snap C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\Attract Mode 2.4 XP\menu-art\snap
artwork wheel C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\Attract Mode 2.4 XP\menu-art\wheel
-
leaving aside your problem and without trying to offend you, I'll tell you that your paths seem the worst choice that can be made on a PC: 8)
On disk C:, only the operating system. The data always in another. The viruses damage the system in C:, but your data, and in this case, your AM system would survive.
If you only have one hard drive, make two partitions, the s.o. to C: and data to D: (For example the aimp music player in C:\Program files\aimp\aimp.exe and the music in D:\my_music\files.mp3. The first site where a malware will go to erase your music will be in C:\Users\user\music and C:\my music ;D).
And if you do not know how to do it, or do not want to, at least do not put anything on the desktop other than shortcuts. Your system will thank you and go more fluid. The desk is the worst place in the world to store anything. It is as if all the furniture in your house you put in the hall of the house
Best choice: D:\Attract
Worst choice: C:\Attract
Bad idea C:\users\user\desktop\Attract
Very bad idea C:\Documents and Settings\user\Desktop\Attract
Now, everyone in their house does what they want... ;)
-
No offense taken - willing to give it a try. This computer lives in a MAME upright cabinet, so I just set it up quickly. The exact same configuration (paths, OS, etc) worked before - stumped as to why Nevato (and Robospin) won't start games anymore..
-
No offense taken - willing to give it a try. This computer lives in a MAME upright cabinet, so I just set it up quickly. The exact same configuration (paths, OS, etc) worked before - stumped as to why Nevato (and Robospin) won't start games anymore..
I use relative paths ... maybe it would be a solution, but it is not easy and less with your configuration, see an example:
For MAME (Data East Classics), the attract mode path: E:\arcade\attract\attract.exe
Normal Paths:
# Generated by Attract-Mode v2.0.0
#
executable E:\arcade\systems\mame\mamearcade64.exe
args [name]
rompath E:\arcade\systems\mame\roms
romext .zip;.7z;<DIR>
system Data East Classics
info_source arcade.accdb
# exit_hotkey Escape
artwork flyer E:\arcade\systems\mame\flyer;E:\arcade\systems\mame\titles
artwork marquee E:\arcade\systems\mame\marquee
artwork snap E:\arcade\systems\mame\snap
artwork wheel E:\arcade\systems\mame\wheel
Relative paths:
# Generated by Attract-Mode v2.0.0
#
executable \arcade\systems\mame\mamearcade64.exe
args [name]
rompath ..\..\arcade\systems\mame\roms
romext .zip;.7z;<DIR>
system Data East Classics
info_source arcade.accdb
# exit_hotkey Escape
artwork flyer ..\..\arcade\systems\mame\flyer;..\..\arcade\systems\mame\titles
artwork marquee ..\..\arcade\systems\mame\marquee
artwork snap ..\..\arcade\systems\mame\snap
artwork wheel ..\..\arcade\systems\mame\wheel
With the relative paths i can use AM on the disk i want.
-
@ Joe737
windows and commandline got problems with spaces in folder and filenames.
Are you able to start game directly from commandline?
"C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\mame121b\mame.exe" "C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\mame121b\roms\enter_name_of_any_example_game.zip"
Probably this works to you:
executable "C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\mame121b\mame.exe"
args "[romfilename]"
rompath "C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\mame121b\roms"
Generate the romlist again
@ zlagos
risk of virus attack becomes smaller when data are outsourced? Not really. Sorry ^-^
With a simple dos commandline command you see all connected drive letters. and this is a easy peasy stupid dos command.
a simple virus or an encryption trojan is more powerful and complex. so this will be checked certainly too ^-^
wmic volume get driveletter
-
Guys, guys!
Keep your eyes on the road. You've wandered too far from the OP question.
The problem is:
- the same game
- the same emulator (and path, config, etc.)
- runs ok in ATTRAC MAN theme
- does not run in NEVATO theme
I'm NEVATO theme author - and I can't help that guy. It seems not theme related - buy somehow it is because switching theme helps.
Maybe you can help.
-
@Joe737 - Do you have DirectX installed? Is a current version even available for XP? In your mame.ini you have it set to use it.
Line from your mame.ini telling mame to use DirectX
#
# WINDOWS VIDEO OPTIONS
#
video d3d
To test and pin point your issue. I recommend...
1. rename your mame.ini to mame.ini.old
2. run mame.exe from Windows or the command line (not from AM) and then exit mame. it will create a new mame.ini
3. edit the new mame.ini "rompath" line only to include the the path to your roms and save the file
#
# CORE SEARCH PATH OPTIONS
#
rompath roms;C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\MameUnpackedROMS121
4. run mame.exe from Windows or the command line (not from AM) and make sure a game works.
5. run the same game used in step 5 using AM and let us know the results.
-
But he says it can run games perfectly fine - with ATTRAC MAN theme. But not with Nevato and Robospin.
-
But he says it can run games perfectly fine - with ATTRAC MAN theme. But not with Nevato and Robospin.
I understand but you have to start somewhere. Clearly there is a piece that isn't right. If it truly is a layout issue it can only be a screen resolution or a windowed mode type of problem. The steps I provided would take less than 5 minutes to try and would be easy to put back if it doesn't work. Sometimes people move or upgrade mame and don't account for the changes needed in the mame.ini.
-
Everyone, thank you so much for your thoughts and ideas. I don't know the exact fix, but I upgraded my graphics card from an ATI X300 to an ATI HD 4670. I had previously updated the drivers to the latest available. I installed the drivers (Catalyst 14.4) that also included C++ updates? Anyway, after only changing the graphics card and installing drivers, I can now launch all MAME games from Nevato once again, I'm so happy! Hope this helps someone else, and maybe it can narrow down requirements for AM and wheel-based themes. I don't know if it was a missing bit of software, or the old hardware couldn't handle it.. Hopefully this makes sense to those who understand the code. PS, I'm humbled that Verion stopped in to show support - very impressive! What a great community. Thanks for helping this ancient MAME machine breath new life!
-
I'm glad you have resolved it.