Messages

16

Themes / Re: DynamicArcade layout beta-v7 released 18 Jan 2021

« on: January 24, 2021, 10:22:08 PM »

No, that is fine. Another user has sent me some screenshots.

With your confirmation of test2 working I will use that approach. I'll implement it, organise a beta-v8 and release it after dinner tonight.
Thanks.

17

Themes / Re: DynamicArcade layout beta-v7 released 18 Jan 2021

« on: January 24, 2021, 07:45:09 PM »

...I'm using an AMD Radeon 7850, so not Nvidia. I'm on Windows 10, 64-bit.

Ok, here are two separate test patches I will get you try. This is only for the Title Screens at moment, will put it to Video Snaps if one of them works.
Do you have a Title Screen image that is of 640x480 resolution to test with? If not just make one that size, doesn't matter about quality for testing these purposes.

1) backup your DynamicArcade folder.. (make it easier to get back to where you are now)
2) extract test1.zip into DynamicArcade folder (overwriting files)
3) run Attractmode and take a screenshot of what the Title Screen looks like on the cabinet. I need to see what it looks like so upload or link the image here.

4) exit Attractmode if you still have it running.
5) extract test2.zip into DynamicArcade folder (overwriting files)
6) run Attractmode and take a screenshot of what the Title Screen looks like on the cabinet. I need to see what it looks like so upload or link the image here.

Hopefully one or both of these tests works.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JMbuMzyrwGNUawWW34Z4jexJhq4Gn7a6/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OfMced0qo50hqo9d9gC-bK51H4gxpaG3/view?usp=sharing

Because I'm in process of working on beta-v8 you also need to change the naming conventions in your Attractmode/emulators/ folder mame.cfg file:
artwork    wheel
artwork    cabinets
artwork    marquee 
artwork    tscreens
artwork    snap

wheel is the game logos
snap is the game videosnaps
marquee has no s on end now

What I'm primarily looking for is the rounding of the corners.. So you will need to test with a Title Screen that has a background colour as I did in my example in the above post.
The scanlines I will modify the look of (not so dark) if we decide to move forward with it.

18

Themes / Re: DynamicArcade layout beta-v7 released 18 Jan 2021

« on: January 24, 2021, 07:13:45 PM »

You should be able to [alt]+[tab] to switch between Attractmode and the Console window?

I've nearly got a couple of test files ready that I'll get you to run and see if they work. Might be an acceptable 'work around' for the CRT-Lottes shader.
See sneak preview below of image on the cabinet screen.

19

Themes / Re: New theme in progress... (Choose the name)😉👍

« on: January 24, 2021, 03:54:15 PM »

Similar to 'man cave' perhaps 'game cave'?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_cave

20

Themes / Re: DynamicArcade layout beta-v7 released 18 Jan 2021

« on: January 24, 2021, 03:51:26 PM »

I've poked around in the code a bit, regarding my issue of video not appearing, and I learned that it has something to do with the CrtLottes shader (named as shaderLOTTES2). If I disable that bit of code the video will show. Any idea what the issue could be with that shader?

Hi, sorry I've been away from here a few days as I'm feeling under the weather.
Another user has had similar issues recently. At the moment we have tracked it down to 'not using' Nvidia graphics card. Specifically using video hardware that does not have glsl shader v1.2 support. Could this be the same as your case?

Can you do the following for me please:
1) Download the latest 'daily build' of AttractMode from here http://forum.attractmode.org/index.php?topic=2324.0
(In the daily builds you see the four .exe files. Two are 64bit, two are 32bit.. The ones with console in name open up a second window in background called console which display info or error messages).
2) Can you supply a screenshot of the Attractmode console showing any errors that might be displayed when you are only getting the black screen?
3) What brand and model of graphics hardware are you using please?
4) Plus, maybe let me know are you on Windows or MAC or Linux, etc, 32bit or 64bit, and I'll see what I can do.

PS: The 'daily build' is so much faster than the year old standard 2.6.1 release.

Cheers.

Edit:
Also, is it all shaders that you can't visibly see functioning or just certain ones.
Here is a list of all shaders in the layout so far:
A) Title Screen CRT-Lottes shader = fishbowl effect, rounding corners, crt effects
B) Video Snap CRT-Lottes shader = fishbowl effect, rounding corners, crt effects
C) Video Snap Bloom shader = colour exciter effect
D) Marquee Bloom shader = lit up marquee effect
E) Default Marquee image Bloom shader = lit up marquee effect
F) Game Count text Bloom shader = colour exciter effect
G) All Meta Data text Bloom shader = colour exciter effect
H) Selected Game wheel logo Ripple Shader = selected logo ripple wave effect
I) Faux multi-texture/pass blur shader setup on the Arcade Background Video

So, will be interesting to know which ones are working or not working.

21

Themes / Re: DynamicArcade layout beta-v7 released 18 Jan 2021

« on: January 20, 2021, 01:39:58 AM »

Please ignore my recommendation to use dxva2.. I have done some testing and I've found it causing a massive performance loss and have contacted an Attractmode developer about it. You will get a 2-3 times performance increase in Attractmode if you do not use dxva2.

Also, make sure you are using the latest daily build of Attractmode. It is so much faster than the year old 2.6.1 standard release version.

22

Themes / Re: DynamicArcade layout beta-v7 released 18 Jan 2021

« on: January 19, 2021, 01:28:52 PM »

A long time ago, but I used a modified Carrier to create this back in early December last year.
So, I know what I'm doing thanks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6ok2KSEAzg
Thank you for your interest.

23

Themes / Re: DynamicArcade layout beta-v7 released 18 Jan 2021

« on: January 17, 2021, 06:39:24 PM »

Beta-v7 released.
- the 'previous cabinet leaving' animation is removed due to my creation of a better suited multi-cabinet layout instead.
- completed modulation of the layout components.
- Damonxxx request: fade out animation on game title screens.
- more tweaks to shader usage.
- minor code tweaks throughout.

Link in first post.

Please pay attention to the recent **Artwork Naming Convention** used in your cfg file in the (AttractMode)\emulators\ folder.
glogos = game logos (preferably of resolution smaller than 1000 width / 400 height so not to overload AttractModes image cache).
cabinets = game cabinets (this layout uses cabinet images of resolution 1300x1080).
marquees = game marquees (preferably of resolution smaller than 1500 width / 400 height so not to overload AttractModes image cache).
gvideos = game videos (preferably 640x480 or 320x240 for correct 4:3 aspect ratio for shader effect settings. included cabinet graphic screens are also 4:3).
tscreens = game title screens (preferably 640x480 or 320x240 for correct 4:3 aspect ratio for shader effect settings. included cabinet graphic screens are also 4:3).

24

Themes / Re: DynamicArcade layout beta-v6 released 11 Jan 2021

« on: January 17, 2021, 03:08:32 PM »

This is not using Carrier or Conveyor.. I really think this is better left for AttractMode+ or if Oomek releases his 'inertia' module.

25

Themes / Re: DynamicArcade layout beta-v6 released 11 Jan 2021

« on: January 16, 2021, 03:16:00 PM »

its, just modified, carrier, module

I think the purpose of Conveyor or Carrier modules are for displaying multiple assets at the same time. Just using it for one asset is overkill. This could be done just using the built-in Animate module. I'll consider setting this up in animation after I finish beta-v7 which I'm currently busy with at moment.

26

Themes / Re: DynamicArcade layout beta-v6 released 11 Jan 2021

« on: January 15, 2021, 09:22:09 PM »

pretty shure, it can be done..

here is what i got...  dont have the grafix, all sized to all sized 100% just a quick mock up
but u can get the idea...

sample = https://youtu.be/b10zO2-U840

Interesting idea, care to share what code you are using there? Will like to see it showing the next and previous cabinet at the same time. Hopefully not using the conveyor module? I'm not using that due to performance issues.

27

Themes / Re: DynamicArcade layout beta-v6 released 11 Jan 2021

« on: January 15, 2021, 09:16:11 PM »

Anyway, I'm going to try the change you mentioned and I'll report back to you here in a bit.

Yes, please do.. Also the 'blinking' is directly tied to the use of 'EndNavigation' with the Animation Module on line #342.

28

Themes / Re: DynamicArcade layout beta-v6 released 11 Jan 2021

« on: January 15, 2021, 04:23:16 PM »

It sounds like you two are only just seeing this theme for the first time now, having not followed it through the version variations. The cabinet coming in from the left is just a layout styling from the beginning of time.. Cabinet on left and a game list or wheel on the right. The idea of animating the cabinet sliding in from the left is just an extension of that. That styling has been seen before in other layouts like the well known 'at the arcade' layout in the 'great theme collection'.

Here it is most probably a necessity with current AttractMode because each 'dynamic cabinet' is made up of four to five components. When this is drawn in view on-screen (possibly either with or without 'free navigation') there is a likely chance you will for an instance see-through one of the components. So, to avoid that the 'dynamic cabinet' is drawn off-screen first before sliding in as one unit into view.

The 'cabinet leaving' animation was a recent addition to add another piece of uniqueness to this theme and also to show off more of the 'dynamic cabinets' which is the purpose of this theme. I think seeing two 'dynamic cabinets' adds to the atmosphere.

The right side of the screen is already quite populated due to the cabinet taking up the left half of the screen. Normally, from an artistic preference I wouldn't have various assets layering over each other (as in cabinet moving under game list wheel and scroll bar, etc). I don't think it would look as appealing to have cabinets sliding in from the right underneath those assets. For example I've already added a blur to the background video to make it easier to see those assets. I don't feel the leaving animation is as intrusive though, especially when you consider that you won't see it until you end navigation.

Visually, I can't perceive how you could get three of these cabinets on screen while still having an image based list/wheel with any/many other assets (scroll bar, system logo, game count, game meta data, etc) in view at same time... And still having an atmospheric background at all. Having a three cabinet setup, and scrolling through them left and right is a nice idea but really would need a different overall look, everything in different dimensions and placements, smaller cabinets, etc.

From a technical stand-point I wouldn't even attempt that at the moment. Possibly AttractMode Plus or some future released modules might make that more feasible.
I'm sorry if what I've typed above doesn't explain it well.. I've tried to give you my thoughts and reasoning of my experience thus far. But the only way to understand is to try it first hand. I'm in the process of modulating the cabinets so in probably beta-v8 you will be able to start playing around with layout coding yourself and seeing what animation you can come up with.

29

Themes / Re: DynamicArcade layout beta-v6 released 11 Jan 2021

« on: January 15, 2021, 07:44:19 AM »

Personally I'm not much of a dev, so I'm not much help on the nuts and bolts. I think, were I to start this layout, I'd try starting with just 2 static pics of cabinets. Work on the animation so that there's no blink during the transition.  Work in additional elements, one at a time. Once the entire cabinet is in there working, then worry about the rest of the background.

Or, were I to start this and I had that blink problem, I'd just do a wholesale cabinet swap without worrying about the animation. There would still be a flash, but it wouldn't be as distracting.

Anyway, if you can nail that problem it'll be solid.

Mahuti, can you make these changes to the layout.nut and tell me if it is an improvement?

Line #340 put // at start of line so it looks like this
//   arcsurfl.set_pos( -1300, 0);

Line #342 change start = 0 to read start = -650

Hopefully that is an improvement? You could play around with the 'start' number to see if you find something that feels better? If so, let me know if you change it to something else.

30

Themes / Re: DynamicArcade layout beta-v6 released 11 Jan 2021

« on: January 15, 2021, 02:03:22 AM »

Each cabinet is a 'combined surface', so they work in same way as a static image. We just have to wait to see what the future brings.

I'm working on some new features at the moment that will complement this dual cabinet setup with animation. Hopefully they will shift the balance to outweigh the 'downside'.

I can probably also set the 2nd cabinet as an selectable user option.