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    Please do not post a support request without first reading and following the advice in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

    Vectrex Overlay Artwork

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    • T
      Threepwood
      last edited by Threepwood

      @mediamogul

      Ok, I have read the thread about the recalbox you posted.

      Generating the config files is no problem.

      But I don't understand it fully. First cfg file named like the rom has to be in the rom folder, with the specifics for the overlay, ok, so far so good.

      Second cfg file comes in the overlay folder, ok... but what has to be written in the second cfg file? The same as in the first? Does there has to be a second cfg file for every game like the first cfg file?

      And what means:
      "I used this command to lauch the game

      If [[ “$emulator” == “vectrex” ]]; then
      /recalbox/scripts/runcommand.sh 4 “$retroarchbin -L $retroarchcores/vecx_libretro.so –config /recalbox/configs/retroarch/vecx_libretro.cfg –appendconfig /recalbox/share/roms/vectrex/$filenameNoExt.cfg \”$1\””
      fi"

      Does he launch the emulator every time per manual command?

      What's up with this "appendconfig"?

      Unfortunately my knowledge about these things is not good...

      I don't know if I can adapt these 1:1 to the retropie system

      Maybe someone can help

      mediamogulM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • mediamogulM
        mediamogul Global Moderator @Threepwood
        last edited by

        @Threepwood said in Vectrex Overlay Artwork:

        Maybe someone can help

        Sure, i was planning on looking into it myself anyway. As I get time throughout the day, I'll throw some spaghetti at it.

        RetroPie v4.5 • RPi3 Model B • 5.1V 2.5A PSU • 16GB SanDisk microSD • 512GB External Drive

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • FloobF
          Floob
          last edited by

          I imagine you can just drop a file gamename.vec.cfg into the rom directory and specify the overlay.
          A bit like this, obviously set sensible resolution details.

          input_overlay = /opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/overlays/arcade-bezel-overlays/alien3.cfg
          input_overlay_enable = true
          input_overlay_opacity = 0.800000
          input_overlay_scale = 1.000000
          
          custom_viewport_width = "1024"
          custom_viewport_height = "800"
          custom_viewport_x = "446"
          custom_viewport_y = "120"
          
          aspect_ratio_index = "22"
          
          video_scale_integer = false
          

          Please read the Docs before asking a new question.
          RetroPie Help Guides: https://goo.gl/3gcNsT

          mediamogulM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • mediamogulM
            mediamogul Global Moderator @Floob
            last edited by mediamogul

            @Floob

            I'm glad you chimed in here @Floob. It's actually your videos that I was just referencing to try and set this up. According to the previous link, vague reference is made to the following examples of a test config file and image. Placing these two files in the vectrex rom folder and naming the .cfg file the same as the rom didn't work. As I have very little experience with overlays in RetroArch, my next attempt was going to involve extrapolating information from your past videos, but perhaps you might have some direct input on the problem with either of these files.

            Edit: Based on your own example, the config syntax seems wildly off here.

            overlays = 1
            
            overlay0_overlay = scramble.png
            
            overlay0_full_screen = true
            
            overlay0_descs = 0
            
            

            And an accompanying 1920x1080 image file:
            undefined

            RetroPie v4.5 • RPi3 Model B • 5.1V 2.5A PSU • 16GB SanDisk microSD • 512GB External Drive

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            • FloobF
              Floob
              last edited by

              That config looks ok. So in a relevant directory, lets call it
              /opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/overlays/vectrex

              put this as scramble.cfg

              overlays = 1
              
              overlay0_overlay = scramble.png
              
              overlay0_full_screen = true
              
              overlay0_descs = 0
              

              as well as the scramble.png file in the same dir.

              Then in the vectrex rom folder put a file similar to the one I posted above, referencing the overlay to be used as
              /opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/overlays/vectrex/scramble.cfg
              You'll probably want a much lighter opacity setting.

              Please read the Docs before asking a new question.
              RetroPie Help Guides: https://goo.gl/3gcNsT

              mediamogulM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
              • mediamogulM
                mediamogul Global Moderator @Floob
                last edited by

                @Floob

                Very keen! I'll give it a try later this evening. Also, seeing as how that was someone else's test image, is it appropriate to make the dimensions match the display size by adding the pillar-box formatting, or would it be better handled by an additional setting in the config file?

                RetroPie v4.5 • RPi3 Model B • 5.1V 2.5A PSU • 16GB SanDisk microSD • 512GB External Drive

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • FloobF
                  Floob
                  last edited by

                  The scramble.png image from the emumovies fullset on that thread is 936x1193 so maybe resize it so the height is 1080.
                  I make that 847x1080

                  Then you just need to play with viewport width and height
                  I think the res for vectrex is 330 × 410 so maintain that ratio as you fill the area on the overlay.
                  They will probably all work out the same, so once youve done it for one game it will work for all.

                  You could try 825 x 1025

                  Please read the Docs before asking a new question.
                  RetroPie Help Guides: https://goo.gl/3gcNsT

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                  • mediamogulM
                    mediamogul Global Moderator
                    last edited by mediamogul

                    Well, much to my disappointment, the images at emumovies are very poorly produced and borderline unusable. However, I had better luck at http://vectrexmuseum.com. The overlay images there are much more natural looking and won't have to be upscaled nearly as much as others I've found. @Threepwood, I'll work on adapting them for use in RetroArch and post a link here when I'm done. @Floob, thanks again for your help. If you look up RetroArch Overlays online, your's is practically the only name that comes up, making you the authority on such things and the reputation is well deserved.

                    RetroPie v4.5 • RPi3 Model B • 5.1V 2.5A PSU • 16GB SanDisk microSD • 512GB External Drive

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • mediamogulM
                      mediamogul Global Moderator
                      last edited by mediamogul

                      Well, these turned out alright. It's much more appealing to play these games with the intended overlays. I had forgotten how fun 'Armor Attack' is. It's even a step up from the Atari 2600 'Combat' in a few areas (mostly pacing).

                      undefined

                      Below is a link to all the pre-configured files. I set it up to where everything inside the 'vectrex' folder here will work when placed inside /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/vectrex/. You'll notice that the initial .cfg files each have the prefix names of the rom files they are referencing. Anyone looking to use this setup will need to change these names to match their own rom names.

                      https://mega.nz/#!Gk8WSKIS!cGFrmmbL2jcRZHRd92aY-tw_KKACcTqfVQG84ryJtl0

                      Edit: It should also be noted that I only made overlays for the original 24 Vectrex release titles that can fully be emulated through RetroArch at this time. There are quite a few homebrew titles out there and you can use the files here as a template to include them later if need be.

                      RetroPie v4.5 • RPi3 Model B • 5.1V 2.5A PSU • 16GB SanDisk microSD • 512GB External Drive

                      caver01C cellyC S FruitybitF 4 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 6
                      • T
                        Threepwood
                        last edited by

                        Thanks @Floob and @mediamogul !

                        You made my day, everything is working!

                        Awesome! Thanks alot!

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

                          @mediamogul said in Vectrex Overlay Artwork:

                          Well, these turned out alright. It's much more appealing to play these games with the intended overlays. I had forgotten how fun 'Armor Attack' is. It's even a step up from the Atari 2600 'Combat' in a few areas.

                          I like what you are doing here with the overlays, but poor Armor Attack has jaggies on the vector lines. Have you tried the Arcade version in AdvanceMAME? It looks fantastic. Vector really needs to run at the native resolution of your display. The rectilinear shapes look fine (square corners) but anything diagonal is going to benefit from high-res.

                          EDIT: Maybe there's a way to specify the resolution of the emulation?

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

                          mediamogulM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • mediamogulM
                            mediamogul Global Moderator @caver01
                            last edited by mediamogul

                            @caver01

                            The arcade version is most certainly superior. Playing the Vectrex version of any arcade title to me is more about the novelty of the experience, in much the same way that I have a lot of fun playing some of the technically inferior raster graphic arcade ports on something like ColecoVision. I've made good use of the vector emulation techniques from your excellent thread and the results are truly spectacular. One of these days, maybe Vecx will recieve a little more development love and a more authentic look can be applied there as well.

                            RetroPie v4.5 • RPi3 Model B • 5.1V 2.5A PSU • 16GB SanDisk microSD • 512GB External Drive

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

                              @mediamogul Yeah, I hear ya. That makes sense. I was always fascinated by the whole plastic overlay thing, so I guess this feeds a lot of that curiosity! It definitely has me inspired to mess with overlays. I'd like to try some things with the curvature effect to simulate a bezel. I am not going all out with a fake TV set or anything, just some proper gradients to look like there is a bezel in the corners.

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

                              mediamogulM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • mediamogulM
                                mediamogul Global Moderator @caver01
                                last edited by

                                @caver01

                                I think that would look great.

                                RetroPie v4.5 • RPi3 Model B • 5.1V 2.5A PSU • 16GB SanDisk microSD • 512GB External Drive

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • cellyC
                                  celly @mediamogul
                                  last edited by

                                  @mediamogul I can't seem to get these to work. Placed your files in the vectrex folder in the roms folder, I made sure all the .cfg files where named to my rom names, nothing. It's probably just some Monday detail I'm missing...

                                  Currently Playing: Tetris (Gameboy)

                                  mediamogulM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • mediamogulM
                                    mediamogul Global Moderator @celly
                                    last edited by

                                    @celly Could you have possibly left off the one of the extensions? If your rom is name named 'spinball.vec', the config file would then be 'spinball.vec.cfg'.

                                    RetroPie v4.5 • RPi3 Model B • 5.1V 2.5A PSU • 16GB SanDisk microSD • 512GB External Drive

                                    cellyC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                    • cellyC
                                      celly @mediamogul
                                      last edited by

                                      @mediamogul Yup! That was it. Wow, I knew it was going to be something stupid like that. Thank you for the help!

                                      Currently Playing: Tetris (Gameboy)

                                      mediamogulM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • mediamogulM
                                        mediamogul Global Moderator @celly
                                        last edited by

                                        @celly No problem.

                                        RetroPie v4.5 • RPi3 Model B • 5.1V 2.5A PSU • 16GB SanDisk microSD • 512GB External Drive

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • D
                                          d8thstar
                                          last edited by

                                          I'll have to give this a try.

                                          Curious if anyone has gotten vectrex overlays to display in mess (which I prefer over vectrex).

                                          Thanks!

                                          RionR 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                          • RionR
                                            Rion @d8thstar
                                            last edited by Rion

                                            @d8thstar said in Vectrex Overlay Artwork:

                                            I'll have to give this a try.

                                            Curious if anyone has gotten vectrex overlays to display in mess (which I prefer over vectrex).

                                            Thanks!

                                            I like to know this to.

                                            @mediamogul Any insight into this?

                                            FBNeo rom filtering
                                            Mame2003 Arcade Bezels
                                            Fba Arcade Bezels
                                            Fba NeoGeo Bezels

                                            mediamogulM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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