Seeing Desktop on OS X when launching & ending games

[verion]

@omegaman

I think it will flash regardless of how quick the game will start.
But maybe that git-hub fix will deal with that.

The menu flash looks like in attached screen shot.

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But I'm so glad that "mouse pointer in hot corner" issue was identified.
It was a tricky one - good job Mofy.

[omegaman]

That's the os x menu bar correct? Is that what you are referring to when you say am bar. Too bad os x doesn't have a hide menu bar option because that would easily solve the problem.

But, there may be another option. You could probably load an image.png when you transition to the game, basically like the fade in function in hyperspin. That would definitely hide that annoying menu bar.

[verion]

> Is that what you are referring to when you say am bar?

yes

> Too bad os x doesn't have a hide menu bar option because that would easily solve the problem.

OS X used to have that - previous version had something called "PresentationMode" - a simple switch in config file enabling "special" mode without menu and UI elements. But sadly it was removed in current version of the system.

> You could probably load an image.png when you transition to the game

Maybe... but I don't know how to do that. If you would be so kind and post a code snippet that can do that - I'd gladly test if that helps. A whole robospin layout.nut with that code would be even better. Regardless of that menu thing - this is something I was thinking about lately - instead of "Player Ready" screen - a simple black (or wallpaper like graphics) full screen splash with game title (wheel graphics) in center.

[omegaman]

Sure, Let me see what I can whip up.

[verion]

No change - menu is still visible for a moment.

But it is not that intrusive. Raygun is clearly working on hiding the menu, so maybe we can test it with next AM build and see if the problem goes away.

[Mofy]

So it looks like we are not losing focus, but fullscreen on mame launch. Quick question Verion, do you also see the window chrome (the stoplight buttons and frame) when in mame mode, I can't check right now (at work, on lunch break) or I would post a screenshot.

 I will [try] and build the actual dev version tonight. To see if this fixes things.

[verion]

no - we are not loosing focus anymore - after bottom-right-corner issue tamed with hot corner disabled

no - there is no chrome visible

This is normal menu - but overlaid on AM fill screen (i.e. it doesn't squash AM screen vertically)

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Maybe it is important distinction - I'm using FILL SCREEN mode, not the FULL SCREEN mode.
in FULL SCREEN mode it is even worse - we have menu visible and AM screen disappears showing desktop (or other app windows), and we are loosing focus after game quit.

But according to Raygun - FILL SCREEN should be default option.

[omegaman]

You definitely want to use the fill screen option. On my windows and Linux setups, I never see the desktop at all. This is just an odd issue with OS X and am.

A fade in function that loads an image before launching the emulator would mask this type of behavior as well.  I was able to load an image from a to game transition that hides the desktop but unloading the image in the from game transition is giving me an issue.  I'm on the right track though.

[omegaman]

verion-

I forgot that raygun mentioned there was a fade in module in the reflect and cools layout. Could you try one of these layout and tell me if the result is the same. I am going to mess around with the fade in module today. Even a simple do statement loading an image from to game transition should work. 

[verion]

same thing with reflect and cools layouts

[omegaman]

Ok, thanks for the feedback. That helps a lot, I have to attend to some personal things for a few hours. But, when I get back I'll work on it some more. 

[Mofy]

Maybe it is important distinction - I'm using FILL SCREEN mode, not the FULL SCREEN mode.
in FULL SCREEN mode it is even worse - we have menu visible and AM screen disappears showing desktop (or other app windows), and we are loosing focus after game quit.

But according to Raygun - FILL SCREEN should be default option.

Awesome that explains why your screenshot looked better than mine  cheers.

I have been using full screen.

[verion]

Well... that screenshot was photoshopped to fit on forum in low res - it was taken on 27" display and cut-pasted just to illustrate the problem.

[verion]

I will [try] and build the actual dev version tonight. To see if this fixes things.

If it is not for pure fun of compiling , maybe you can just wait - It seems that someone [h0tw1r3] is already planning to compile OS X binaries
http://forum.attractmode.org/index.php?topic=289.0

[omegaman]

verion-

I made some changes to robospin including a butchered fadescreen with no timer. Need to see if it works on your system first.

Now for the changes. Under layout options, you can now choose blue, black, grid or none under one setting. The same goes for masking, you now have options for dark, darker, or none. I probably should do scanlines as well.

What you need to do: You need an image called splash.png in your layout folder to test the fadescreen. Also, make sure you have  backgrounds named bkg, bkg2, grid etc... 

This script is not to be released into the wild until further testing. Thanks...