[DOWNLOAD v0.3] Attract True Black - Application

[Oomek]

Attract True Black v0.3

I wrote this application for my own use as I was annoyed how the transitions look in Attract Mode when you launch or exit a game. You got random flashes and a mouse spinner destroying the pleasure of staring at the pure darkness while the game is loading.

Since you guys like experimenting I thought I will share it with you.

What does this app do?
It sits in the system tray waiting for Attract Mode to be launched, then it:
- kills the desktop and all open explorer windows
- sets all the mouse pointers to the transparent one embedded in ATB
- displays a black borderless window to be sure nothing leaks through

When you exit Attract Mode:
- cursors are restored
- desktop is back
- black borderless window is hidden


Remember, I wrote this in a few hours, so I'm not responsible for any mental damage any potential bugs might caused you like for example:
- I've lost all my opened explorer windows, and I can't be bothered to open them again
- my cursors are gone and I had to restore them in the mouse properties window using a keyboard
- my screen is black and I don't know how to use either a task manager or alt tab.

You have been warned, happy experimenting

And remember, set your screen mode to  fullscreen or borderless, or you will get a black screen when you launch AM.

Changelog:
02/01/2018 - fixed a bug that resulted in ATB not restoring mouse pointers occasionally.
03/01/2018 - fixed ATB sitting on top of the AM


Please note that it is only working with Window (no border) mode

DOWNLOAD:

[keilmillerjr]

I am using windows 10 and do not get any of the issues you have. Is it because I am launching without explorer running? The only time I get a curser is when I shutdown.

Edit: I launched explorer and then attract and mame. Still no cursor or visible background issue. Perhaps my machine is launching apps too quickly?

[Oomek]

I get the spinner every time I launch GroovyMame d3d9ex, I think it's because it initialises the fullscreen in a bit different way.

[Oomek]

And Desktop flashes are visible when you launch an emulator in the same resolution and refresh rate as the desktop. In that case there is no transitions between resolutions which would hide the desktop flashes.

[Oomek]

Not everyone is experiencing that issues. It strictly depends on the personal setup.

[hermine.potter]

please offer sourcecode instead compiled .exe. Thanks.

[Oomek]

When I clean this up a bit, sure not a problem.

[djrobx]

Agreed, source code would be nice.  Thanks for sharing the app.

Suggestion to people using it - set AM to "fill screen" mode.   That mode has fewer transition issues. 

[Oomek]

Iv'e tried it with fullscreen and borderless. Works nicely too.

[KTURNER]

I haven't tried this yet but if it works THANK YOU! The transition has gotten on my nerves for a while.

[KTURNER]

Hopefully no one it getting tired of me always asking questions. I wish I could contribute more but I just don't have the knowledge that y'all do. When I use this my screen goes black and I can here the videos​ playing. I can exit out buy pushing esc up then enter and everything goes back to normal. I tried to delete the exe and it says it's in use. I would prefer to use it though.

[Oomek]

Most likely you have another attract.exe hung-up in the memory. check with the task manager.

[Oomek]

When ATB is running there should be a purple icon in your system tray. You can right click to exit.

edit: Oh and make sure AM is configured to fullscreen or borderless before launching ATB. If it's not you will get a black screen.

[KTURNER]

That's probably it. I have it set to fill screen. I'll be trying that when I get home. Thanks!

[feltz916]

FYI, Your application solved my issue of losing focus upon exit of Mame back into AM. No other solution worked. Thanks!