Retroach Windows Setup (cannot launch games)

[RandoCalrisian]

I'm having trouble launching games from AttrachMode in Windows 10.
Retroarch 1.5 with snex9x core is my emulator of choice.

If in Windows CMD I run the following, the game launches in Retroarch with no problem:
C:\Emulation\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L C:\Emulation\retroarch\cores\snes9x_libretro.dll "C:\Emulation\SNES\roms\Super Metroid (Japan, USA).smc"

In attract mode I feel I've done all the requisite things to get everything working.  Snaps and the wheel and everything looks fine.
The only thing that doesn't happen is game launch.  I press accept to launch a game, the screen blips, and no game launch.

My snes9x emulator file looks as follows:
# Generated by Attract-Mode 1.5.1
#
executable           C:\Emulation\retroarch\retroarch.exe
args                 -L C:\Emulation\retroarch\cores\snes9x_libretro.dll "[romfilename]"
rompath              C:\Emulation\SNES\roms\
romext               .smc;.sfc;.zip
system               Super Nintendo (SNES)
info_source          thegamesdb.net
artwork    snap            C:\Emulation\HyperSpin\Media\Super Nintendo Entertainment System\Video
artwork    wheel           C:\Emulation\HyperSpin\Media\Super Nintendo Entertainment System\Images\Wheel

Can someone help me understand what I might be doing wrong?

[bionictoothpick]

I don't believe args should read

-L snes9x_libretro.dll "[romfilename]"

[RandoCalrisian]

I don't believe args should read

-L snes9x_libretro.dll "[romfilename]"

Tried:
-L snes9x_libretro.dll "[romfilename]"

Still no launch.

Also, here's a sampling of my romlist file:
Super Metroid (Japan, USA);Super Metroid (Japan, USA);snes9x;;1994;Nintendo;Platform;;;;;0;;;;;

[hermine.potter]

@RandoCalrisian
i've tested your settings on both : Win7 and Win10 with AM 2.1.0
it works.

my settings:

Code: [Select]

executable           C:\attract\EMU\RetroArch\retroarch.exe
args                 -L C:\attract\EMU\RetroArch\cores\snes9x_libretro.dll "[romfilename]"
rompath              C:\attract\EMU\RetroArch\roms
romext               .smc

you use AM 1.5.1? try new version 2.2.1

[RandoCalrisian]

@RandoCalrisian
i've tested your settings on both : Win7 and Win10 with AM 2.1.0
it works.

my settings:

Code: [Select]

executable           C:\attract\EMU\RetroArch\retroarch.exe
args                 -L C:\attract\EMU\RetroArch\cores\snes9x_libretro.dll "[romfilename]"
rompath              C:\attract\EMU\RetroArch\roms
romext               .smc

you use AM 1.5.1? try new version 2.2.1

# Generated by Attract-Mode 1.5.1                this is just what happens to be listed at the top of the emulator files by default.
I'm running AM 2.2.1.
Should I remove this line from my emulator files?  It just seems like an arbitrary comment.

Given that it works for you, and not for me, and I'm on the latest version, can you give any other suggestions?

[omegaman]

Here try this:

executable  C:\attract\EMU\RetroArch\retroarch.exe  -L C:\attract\EMU\RetroArch\cores\snes9x_libretro.dll
args "[romfilename]"

[hermine.potter]

omegaman proposal works too.

@RandoCalrisian
Please generate your romlist again:
start AM > press TAB key > Emulators > RetroArch > Generate Collection/Rom List

After this, you have a clean emulator config (# Generated by Attract-Mode v2.2.1) and romlist again.
Then try it once more.

[RandoCalrisian]

Running AttractMode as admin solved the issue.
This feels strange to me.
I'm glad it's working, but I'm confused as to why this was a solution.
I guess I won't look a gift horse in the mouth, though.

Thanks for your help all.
I didn't end up using:
executable  C:\attract\EMU\RetroArch\retroarch.exe  -L C:\attract\EMU\RetroArch\cores\snes9x_libretro.dll
args "[romfilename]"

I gave it a shot in a test environment, and it worked though.

[Denzquall]

Hi All,

In the process of setting up attract mode, for the first time, on Windows 10, I set the parameters following instructions I found on YouTube, still my games will not load. Tried opening AttractMode as admin but still the same problem. AM will just flash but retroarch will not open. btw. games run fine on retroarch by itself

This is what's on my emulators file.

# Generated by Attract-Mode v2.4.1
#
executable           D:\Arcade\Emulators\RetroArch\retroarch.exe
args                 D:\Arcade\Emulators\RetroArch\cores\gambatte_libretro.dll "[romfilename]"
workdir              C:\Emulators
rompath              D:\Arcade\ROMS\Nintendo GB
romext               .zip

Your help will be highly appreciated. 

[hermine.potter]

@ Denzquall
I'm not working with retroarch. So I'm not sure why it doesn't work.
But I think the line workdir with C:\Emulators is probably not correct.
So delete this line / leave it empty/or it should point to D:\Arcade\Emulators\RetroArch too (retroarch probably create a config file; this config file should be there exists).

I'm sure, that your args-line is not correct. You have to set the -L parameter too:

Code: [Select]

args                 -L D:\Arcade\Emulators\RetroArch\cores\gambatte_libretro.dll "[romfilename]"

[Denzquall]

Thanks for the response Hermine,

I figured it out a few hours ago after reading more forum posts. You are definitely correct that I forgot to put "-L" in the args line. Everything started working after that.

Now trying to figure out an efficient way to configure and rename my downloaded media to make it look ATTRACTive MODE. hehehe.

#Dadjokes

[hermine.potter]

@ Denzquall
It's recommended, to test an emulator system first on command line (cmd.exe). Most of emulator system works this way by correct command-line:
e.g. zsnes

path_to_your_emulator_system\emulator_system.exe -parameters_that_starts_a_rom path_to_your_roms\romfile.rom_extension

this command-line starts a specific snes-game directly:
C:\attract\EMU\zsnes\zsnesw.exe -m C:\attract\EMU\zsnes\roms\my_snes_game.smc

In AM use this config:
executable           C:\attract\EMU\zsnes\zsnesw.exe
args                 -m "[romfilename]"
rompath              C:\attract\EMU\zsnes\roms
romext               .smc

After setting the config in AM, and emulator or roms won't start, try to start AM via attract-console.exe
You'll see a window with many information. If something is wrong (path not found or something else), you'll see it in this window