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    How to make vector arcade games look their best

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General Discussion and Gaming
    vectoradvancemame
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    • caver01C
      caver01 @Riverstorm
      last edited by

      @Riverstorm These are the ones I have loaded:

      asteroid
      astdelux
      bzone
      bwidow
      gravitar
      llander
      mhavoc
      omegrace
      ripoff
      solarq
      spacduel
      spacfury
      starcas
      startrek
      starwars
      tailg
      tempest
      esb
      

      My 4-player cocktail style cabinet built as a custom "roadcase"

      RiverstormR 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • RiverstormR
        Riverstorm @caver01
        last edited by

        @caver01 said in How to make vector arcade games look their best:

        @Riverstorm These are the ones I have loaded:

        Thanks Caver I am missing a few that I need to load. Have a great weekend!

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • RiverstormR
          Riverstorm
          last edited by

          @caver01

          Set them to your display's maximum resolution. Mine is 1280 and 1024. These settings only affect vector games. This alone will tell AdvanceMAME to render the vector game at the highest resolution that will fit inside your display's width and height.

          display_width 640
          display_height 480
          

          If you remove these lines does it try to negotiate the highest possible resolution?

          If I remember right it seems the default sets the width but no the height in the rc file. Which kind of makes sense as you'll usually fill the height before width if it's negotiating or upscaling?

          What I was trying to figure out was the best way to go about using both a 720p and 1080p TV as I switch back and forth.

          However, you should start by checking your RUNCOMMAND to see what resolution you are running when you launch the emulator.

          Is this set by a RUNCOMMAND or just the settings in the rc file?

          caver01C 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • BuZzB
            BuZz administrators
            last edited by BuZz

            Removing those lines will default to 640x480 afair

            To help us help you - please make sure you read the sticky topics before posting - https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

            RiverstormR 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • RiverstormR
              Riverstorm @BuZz
              last edited by Riverstorm

              @BuZz said in How to make vector arcade games look their best:

              Removing those lines will default to 640x480 afair

              Thanks Buzz, so if I set it to 1920x1080 (1080p) in the .rc file but start it on a TV at 1280x720 (720p) will it default back to 640x480 as the set resolution isn't possible?

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              • BuZzB
                BuZz administrators
                last edited by

                It will render to 1280x720 scaled to the tv res I should think. which may end up not looking very nice.

                To help us help you - please make sure you read the sticky topics before posting - https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • caver01C
                  caver01 @Riverstorm
                  last edited by

                  @BuZz said in How to make vector arcade games look their best:

                  It will render to 1280x720 scaled to the tv res I should think. which may end up not looking very nice.

                  @Riverstorm And yet, it may be acceptable, and probably better than if it would have been at 640x480. Having this resolution capability in the .rc file is still a fantastic enhancement for vector games. It may still be a fixed resolution, but at least it is controllable. You'd be in the same situation on other hardware using AdvanceMAME's modelines. This is much easier.

                  My 4-player cocktail style cabinet built as a custom "roadcase"

                  RiverstormR 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • RiverstormR
                    Riverstorm @caver01
                    last edited by Riverstorm

                    @caver01 said in How to make vector arcade games look their best:

                    @BuZz said in How to make vector arcade games look their best:

                    It will render to 1280x720 scaled to the tv res I should think. which may end up not looking very nice.

                    @Riverstorm And yet, it may be acceptable, and probably better than if it would have been at 640x480. Having this resolution capability in the .rc file is still a fantastic enhancement for vector games. It may still be a fixed resolution, but at least it is controllable. You'd be in the same situation on other hardware using AdvanceMAME's modelines. This is much easier.

                    Ok, so to throw out a silly question or probably more accurate I don't quite understand. :) Would the correct aspect ratio for vector games be 4:3? Do you gain anything trying to shoot for a particular resolution that fits an aspect ratio say like 1280x960 or is that where the resizeeffect comes into play? In the documentation they refer to it as expansion and reduction in the different modes.

                    If possible I would just set it to 1080p and leave it if it will produce decent results or lower if that's a better option. I have a smaller box setup that I tote around to friends and family and I just never know what I'll run into or what brand. I finally just set the config_hdmi_force_hotplug=1as some older TV's aren't receiving the signal or broadcasting or something the Pi couldn't pickup.

                    I know I am shooting for that blanket config which can be difficult.

                    @caver01
                    I know I am duplicating some settings but that's ok since it's only about a dozen games. I tyring to reserve the globals for non vector unless most of the settings are vector. This is what I set for Monochrome and color vector games from the tutorial. Is that about correct?

                    astdelux/display_resizeeffect auto
                    astdelux/display_rgbeffect none
                    astdelux/display_scanlines no
                    astdelux/display_antialias yes
                    astdelux/display_translucency yes
                    astdelux/display_beam 1.2
                    astdelux/display_intensity 1.5
                    astdelux/display_flicker 15
                    

                    and for color:

                    gravitar/display_resizeeffect filter
                    gravitar/display_rgbeffect triad3dot
                    gravitar/display_scanlines no
                    gravitar/display_antialias yes
                    gravitar/display_translucency yes
                    gravitar/display_beam 1.2
                    gravitar/display_intensity 2.5
                    gravitar/display_flicker 10
                    
                    caver01C 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • caver01C
                      caver01 @Riverstorm
                      last edited by

                      @Riverstorm Not sure about astdelux/display_resizeeffect auto I think I would just specify filter here too. Also, I would set all of the vector settings with vector/display_resizeeffect fitler and so on, instead of referencing every single monochrome title. At least that way you have defaults for all vector games, only need to specify the changes to intensity, flicker and rgbeffect per color game as overrides.

                      My 4-player cocktail style cabinet built as a custom "roadcase"

                      RiverstormR 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • RiverstormR
                        Riverstorm @caver01
                        last edited by

                        @caver01 said in How to make vector arcade games look their best:

                        only need to specify the changes to intensity, flicker and rgbeffect per color game as overrides.

                        Genius! This will cut down configuration lines considerably. So I could set the vector globals with the color settings and override the two monochrome games (Asteroids and Deluxe Asteroids) with the two settings that are different flicker and intensity?

                        astdelux/display_flicker 15
                        astdelux/display_intensity 1.5
                        asteroids/display_flicker 15
                        asteroids/display_intensity 1.5

                        I'll shoot for the 1080p resolution and see how it looks as I try it out on different TV's.

                        8.7 Display Vector Configuration Options
                        8.7.1 display_antialias
                        8.7.2 display_beam
                        8.7.3 display_flicker
                        8.7.4 display_translucency
                        8.7.5 display_intensity
                        
                        caver01C 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • caver01C
                          caver01 @Riverstorm
                          last edited by

                          @Riverstorm You should remove the rgb triad effect from monochrome too. The shadow mask is not present on mono vector.

                          My 4-player cocktail style cabinet built as a custom "roadcase"

                          RiverstormR 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • RiverstormR
                            Riverstorm @caver01
                            last edited by Riverstorm

                            @caver01 said in How to make vector arcade games look their best:

                            @Riverstorm You should remove the rgb triad effect from monochrome too. The shadow mask is not present on mono vector.

                            How does this look to you? I set the scanlines to no so no vector games get them as I've been playing around with them a little globally on non-vector games. My plan is to use your tutorial as the baseline and then tweak to preference from there.

                            Oh I don't much care for the regular asteroid.zip backdrop but I really like the Asteroids Deluxe one though. :)

                            vector/display_resizeeffect filter
                            vector/display_rgbeffect triad3dot
                            vector/display_scanlines no
                            vector/display_antialias yes
                            vector/display_beam 1.2
                            vector/display_flicker 10
                            vector/display_translucency yes
                            vector/display_intensity 2.5
                            astdelux/display_rgbeffect none
                            astdelux/display_intensity 1.5
                            astdelux/display_flicker 15
                            asteroid/display_rgbeffect none
                            asteroid/display_intensity 1.5
                            asteroid/display_flicker 15
                            asteroid/display_artwork_backdrop no
                            bzone/display_rgbeffect none
                            bzone/display_intensity 1.5
                            bzone/display_flicker 15
                            
                            caver01C 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • caver01C
                              caver01 @Riverstorm
                              last edited by

                              @Riverstorm Yes. Looks good. I simply deleted my asteroids artwork. I also adjusted the artwork to make it dimmer for omega race and asteroids deluxe. It;s just too bright otherwise.

                              My 4-player cocktail style cabinet built as a custom "roadcase"

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • RiverstormR
                                Riverstorm
                                last edited by

                                @caver01 One more question for you is Battlezone considered monochrome like Asteroids? I was reading on a Wiki and it looks like it's a physical overlay on the top portion of the screen.

                                "The game uses wireframe vector graphics on a black and white (with green and red sectioned color overlay) vector monitor."

                                caver01C 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • caver01C
                                  caver01 @Riverstorm
                                  last edited by

                                  @Riverstorm Yes. It's MONOCHROME. The overlay is an image designed to mimic the artwork on the inside of the cabinet as well as a painted bezel with green cellophane/gel to color the vectors, and red over the radar, but the game image itself is monochrome. You don't want to have a shadow mask on Battlezone.

                                  My 4-player cocktail style cabinet built as a custom "roadcase"

                                  RiverstormR 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • RiverstormR
                                    Riverstorm @caver01
                                    last edited by

                                    @caver01 said in How to make vector arcade games look their best:

                                    You don't want to have a shadow mask on Battlezone.

                                    That what's I wanted to verify! :) Battlezone looks sharp with the artwork overlay. Thank you for all the help in tweaking things. I think my vector games are set for now. :) I hope good vector settings and artwork make it's way into lr-mame2003. Then it will almost be a perfect all-in-one MAME emulator for retro gaming.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • B
                                      bifelix89
                                      last edited by

                                      Hello everyone! :-) I have tried the tempest romset 0106 but does not work can anyone help me? Thanks!

                                      rbakerR caver01C 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • rbakerR
                                        rbaker @bifelix89
                                        last edited by

                                        @bifelix89 A 0.106 romset is compatible with Advmame 1.4 only. What emulator are you using? If it is this version of mame, you don't have a 0.106 rom.

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • B
                                          bifelix89
                                          last edited by

                                          The romset in my possession is a .106 so it was written where I found ... but using advmame 1.4 does not work does anyone know where you can find a romset .106? Thanks :-)

                                          edmaul69E 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • edmaul69E
                                            edmaul69 @bifelix89
                                            last edited by

                                            @bifelix89 you cant ask these kinds of question here. Try google.

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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