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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

    Pro tip for anyone thinking of installing MESS

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Help and Support
    messoverheat
    31 Posts 7 Posters 4.1k Views
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    • S
      SpudsMcToole Banned @mediamogul
      last edited by

      @mediamogul How did you get the Astrocade to work?

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

        @SpudsMcToole

        I used AdvanceMESS, which is installed alongside AdvanceMAME and I in-turn installed the Astrocade BIOS (astrocde.zip) to /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/rom/. Afterwards, I createad a directory named 'astrocade' at /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/ for the ROMs and then another directory named 'astrocade' at /opt/retropie/configs/ where I copied /opt/retropie/mame-advmame/advmess.rc, so the system could have its own unique config file. Also, in /opt/retropie/configs/, I created a emulators.cfg file with the following contents:

        astrocade-advmess = "/opt/retropie/emulators/advmame/bin/advmess astrocde -cfg /opt/retropie/configs/astrocade/advmess.rc -cart %ROM%"
        default = "astrocade-advmess"
        

        Finally, I edited /opt/retropie/configs/all/emulationstation/es_systems.cfg to include:

            <name>astrocade</name>
            <fullname>Bally Astrocade</fullname>
            <path>/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/astrocade</path>
            <extension>.bin .BIN</extension>
            <command>/opt/retropie/supplementary/runcommand/runcommand.sh 0 _SYS_ astrocade %ROM%</command>
            <platform>astrocade</platform>
            <theme>astrocade</theme>
          </system>
        

        That should do it, but below I'll also include my /opt/retropie/configs/astrocade/advmess.rc as a reference. There, you'll see a few settings that refine the picture and also setup analog control for the games that need it. All in all though, it's not too dissimilar from the settings you find in AdvanceMAME.

        debug_crash no
        debug_rawsound no
        debug_speedmark no
        device_alsa_device default
        device_alsa_mixer channel
        device_color_bgr15 yes
        device_color_bgr16 yes
        device_color_bgr24 yes
        device_color_bgr32 yes
        device_color_bgr8 yes
        device_color_palette8 yes
        device_color_yuy2 yes
        device_dpi_pclock_low 31250000
        device_hdmi_pclock_low 0
        device_joystick auto
        device_keyboard raw
        device_mouse auto
        device_raw_firstkeyhack no
        device_raw_mousedev[0] auto
        device_raw_mousedev[1] auto
        device_raw_mousedev[2] auto
        device_raw_mousedev[3] auto
        device_raw_mousetype[0] pnp
        device_raw_mousetype[1] pnp
        device_raw_mousetype[2] pnp
        device_raw_mousetype[3] pnp
        device_sdl_samples 512
        device_sound auto
        device_video auto
        device_video_cursor auto
        device_video_doublescan yes
        device_video_fastchange no
        device_video_interlace yes
        device_video_output auto
        device_video_overlaysize auto
        device_video_singlescan yes
        dir_artwork /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/artwork
        dir_crc /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/crc
        dir_diff /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/diff
        dir_hi /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/hi
        dir_image /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/image
        dir_inp /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/inp
        dir_memcard /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/memcard
        dir_nvram /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/nvram
        dir_rom /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/rom
        dir_sample /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/sample
        dir_snap /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/snap
        dir_sta /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/sta
        display_adjust none
        display_antialias yes
        display_artwork_backdrop yes
        display_artwork_bezel no
        display_artwork_crop yes
        display_artwork_overlay yes
        display_aspect auto
        display_beam 1
        display_brightness 1
        display_buffer no
        display_color auto
        display_expand 1.0
        display_flicker 0
        display_flipx no
        display_flipy no
        display_frameskip auto
        display_gamma 1
        display_intensity 1.5
        display_interlaceeffect none
        display_magnify auto
        display_magnifysize 640
        display_mode auto
        display_pausebrightness 1
        display_resize integer
        display_resizeeffect none
        display_restore yes
        display_rgbeffect none
        display_rol no
        display_ror no
        display_scanlines no
        display_skipcolumns auto
        display_skiplines auto
        display_translucency yes
        display_vsync yes
        include 
        input_hotkey yes
        input_idleexit 0
        input_map[event10] auto
        input_map[event11] auto
        input_map[event12] auto
        input_map[event13] auto
        input_map[event14] auto
        input_map[event1] auto
        input_map[event2] auto
        input_map[event3] auto
        input_map[event4] auto
        input_map[event5] auto
        input_map[event6] auto
        input_map[event7] auto
        input_map[event8] auto
        input_map[event9] auto
        input_map[key_0] auto
        input_map[key_1] auto
        input_map[key_2] auto
        input_map[key_3] auto
        input_map[key_4] auto
        input_map[key_5] auto
        input_map[key_6] auto
        input_map[key_7] auto
        input_map[key_8] auto
        input_map[key_9] auto
        input_map[key_a] auto
        input_map[key_again] auto
        input_map[key_alt] auto
        input_map[key_asterisk] auto
        input_map[key_b] auto
        input_map[key_back] auto
        input_map[key_backquote] auto
        input_map[key_backslash] auto
        input_map[key_backspace] auto
        input_map[key_break] auto
        input_map[key_c] auto
        input_map[key_capslock] auto
        input_map[key_closebrace] auto
        input_map[key_colon] auto
        input_map[key_comma] auto
        input_map[key_copy] auto
        input_map[key_ctrl] auto
        input_map[key_cut] auto
        input_map[key_d] auto
        input_map[key_del] auto
        input_map[key_diesis] auto
        input_map[key_doublequote] auto
        input_map[key_down] auto
        input_map[key_e] auto
        input_map[key_edit] auto
        input_map[key_end] auto
        input_map[key_enter] auto
        input_map[key_equals] auto
        input_map[key_esc] auto
        input_map[key_f10] auto
        input_map[key_f11] auto
        input_map[key_f12] auto
        input_map[key_f13] auto
        input_map[key_f14] auto
        input_map[key_f15] auto
        input_map[key_f16] auto
        input_map[key_f17] auto
        input_map[key_f18] auto
        input_map[key_f19] auto
        input_map[key_f1] auto
        input_map[key_f20] auto
        input_map[key_f21] auto
        input_map[key_f22] auto
        input_map[key_f23] auto
        input_map[key_f24] auto
        input_map[key_f2] auto
        input_map[key_f3] auto
        input_map[key_f4] auto
        input_map[key_f5] auto
        input_map[key_f6] auto
        input_map[key_f7] auto
        input_map[key_f8] auto
        input_map[key_f9] auto
        input_map[key_f] auto
        input_map[key_fctn] auto
        input_map[key_find] auto
        input_map[key_forward] auto
        input_map[key_g] auto
        input_map[key_graph] auto
        input_map[key_h] auto
        input_map[key_help] auto
        input_map[key_hold] auto
        input_map[key_home] auto
        input_map[key_i] auto
        input_map[key_ins] auto
        input_map[key_j] auto
        input_map[key_k] auto
        input_map[key_l] auto
        input_map[key_lalt] auto
        input_map[key_lctrl] auto
        input_map[key_left] auto
        input_map[key_less] auto
        input_map[key_lshift] auto
        input_map[key_m] auto
        input_map[key_menu] auto
        input_map[key_minus] auto
        input_map[key_move] auto
        input_map[key_n] auto
        input_map[key_numlock] auto
        input_map[key_o] auto
        input_map[key_open] auto
        input_map[key_openbrace] auto
        input_map[key_p] auto
        input_map[key_pad_0] auto
        input_map[key_pad_1] auto
        input_map[key_pad_2] auto
        input_map[key_pad_3] auto
        input_map[key_pad_4] auto
        input_map[key_pad_5] auto
        input_map[key_pad_6] auto
        input_map[key_pad_7] auto
        input_map[key_pad_8] auto
        input_map[key_pad_9] auto
        input_map[key_pad_asterisk] auto
        input_map[key_pad_colon] auto
        input_map[key_pad_diesis] auto
        input_map[key_pad_enter] auto
        input_map[key_pad_minus] auto
        input_map[key_pad_plus] auto
        input_map[key_pad_slash] auto
        input_map[key_paste] auto
        input_map[key_pause] auto
        input_map[key_period] auto
        input_map[key_pgdn] auto
        input_map[key_pgup] auto
        input_map[key_play] auto
        input_map[key_plus] auto
        input_map[key_pound] auto
        input_map[key_print] auto
        input_map[key_q] auto
        input_map[key_quickload] auto
        input_map[key_quote] auto
        input_map[key_r] auto
        input_map[key_ralt] auto
        input_map[key_rctrl] auto
        input_map[key_record] auto
        input_map[key_restore] auto
        input_map[key_rew] auto
        input_map[key_right] auto
        input_map[key_rshift] auto
        input_map[key_s] auto
        input_map[key_scrlock] auto
        input_map[key_semicolon] auto
        input_map[key_shift] auto
        input_map[key_slash] auto
        input_map[key_space] auto
        input_map[key_stop] auto
        input_map[key_store] auto
        input_map[key_t] auto
        input_map[key_tab] auto
        input_map[key_u] auto
        input_map[key_undo] auto
        input_map[key_up] auto
        input_map[key_v] auto
        input_map[key_w] auto
        input_map[key_x] auto
        input_map[key_y] auto
        input_map[key_z] auto
        input_map[p1_dialx] auto
        input_map[p1_dialy] auto
        input_map[p1_lightgunx] auto
        input_map[p1_lightguny] auto
        input_map[p1_mousex] auto
        input_map[p1_mousey] auto
        input_map[p1_paddlex] mouse[0,x] mouse[1,x] mouse[2,x]
        input_map[p1_paddley] mouse[0,x] mouse[1,x] mouse[2,x]
        input_map[p1_pedalbrake] auto
        input_map[p1_pedalgas] auto
        input_map[p1_pedalother] auto
        input_map[p1_stickx] auto
        input_map[p1_sticky] auto
        input_map[p1_stickz] auto
        input_map[p1_trackballx] auto
        input_map[p1_trackbally] auto
        input_map[p2_dialx] auto
        input_map[p2_dialy] auto
        input_map[p2_lightgunx] auto
        input_map[p2_lightguny] auto
        input_map[p2_mousex] auto
        input_map[p2_mousey] auto
        input_map[p2_paddlex] mouse[0,y] mouse[1,y] mouse[2,y]
        input_map[p2_paddley] mouse[0,y] mouse[1,y] mouse[2,y]
        input_map[p2_pedalbrake] auto
        input_map[p2_pedalgas] auto
        input_map[p2_pedalother] auto
        input_map[p2_stickx] auto
        input_map[p2_sticky] auto
        input_map[p2_stickz] auto
        input_map[p2_trackballx] auto
        input_map[p2_trackbally] auto
        input_map[p3_dialx] auto
        input_map[p3_dialy] auto
        input_map[p3_lightgunx] auto
        input_map[p3_lightguny] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_a] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_b] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_bet] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_c] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_chance] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_chi] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_d] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_double_up] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_e] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_f] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_flip_flop] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_g] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_h] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_i] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_j] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_k] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_kan] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_l] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_m] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_n] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_pon] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_reach] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_ron] auto
        input_map[p3_mahjong_score] auto
        input_map[p3_mousex] auto
        input_map[p3_mousey] auto
        input_map[p3_paddlex] auto
        input_map[p3_paddley] auto
        input_map[p3_pedalbrake] auto
        input_map[p3_pedalgas] auto
        input_map[p3_pedalother] auto
        input_map[p3_stickx] auto
        input_map[p3_sticky] auto
        input_map[p3_stickz] auto
        input_map[p3_trackballx] auto
        input_map[p3_trackbally] auto
        input_map[p4_dialx] auto
        input_map[p4_dialy] auto
        input_map[p4_lightgunx] auto
        input_map[p4_lightguny] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_a] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_b] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_bet] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_c] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_chance] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_chi] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_d] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_double_up] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_e] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_f] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_flip_flop] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_g] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_h] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_i] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_j] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_k] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_kan] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_l] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_m] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_n] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_pon] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_reach] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_ron] auto
        input_map[p4_mahjong_score] auto
        input_map[p4_mousex] auto
        input_map[p4_mousey] auto
        input_map[p4_paddlex] auto
        input_map[p4_paddley] auto
        input_map[p4_pedalbrake] auto
        input_map[p4_pedalgas] auto
        input_map[p4_pedalother] auto
        input_map[p4_stickx] auto
        input_map[p4_sticky] auto
        input_map[p4_stickz] auto
        input_map[p4_trackballx] auto
        input_map[p4_trackbally] auto
        input_map[safequit] auto
        input_map[service_coin5] auto
        input_map[service_coin6] auto
        input_map[service_coin7] auto
        input_map[service_coin8] auto
        input_steadykey no
        lcd_server none
        lcd_speed 4
        lcd_timeout 500
        misc_bios default
        misc_cheat no
        misc_cheatfile /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/misc/cheat.dat
        misc_difficulty none
        misc_eventdebug no
        misc_eventfile /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/misc/event.dat
        misc_freeplay no
        misc_hiscorefile /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/misc/hiscore.dat
        misc_lang none
        misc_languagefile /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/misc/english.lng
        misc_mutedemo no
        misc_quiet yes
        misc_ramsize auto
        misc_safequit no
        misc_smp yes
        misc_timetorun 0
        record_sound yes
        record_sound_time 15
        record_video yes
        record_video_interleave 2
        record_video_time 15
        script_coin1 
        script_coin2 
        script_coin3 
        script_coin4 
        script_emulation 
        script_event1 
        script_event10 
        script_event11 
        script_event12 
        script_event13 
        script_event14 
        script_event2 
        script_event3 
        script_event4 
        script_event5 
        script_event6 
        script_event7 
        script_event8 
        script_event9 
        script_knocker on(kdb, 0b100); wait(!event()); off(kdb, 0b100);
        script_led1 on(kdb, 0b1); wait(!event()); off(kdb, 0b1);
        script_led2 on(kdb, 0b10); wait(!event()); off(kdb, 0b10);
        script_led3 
        script_play 
        script_safequit 
        script_start1 
        script_start2 
        script_start3 
        script_start4 
        script_turbo while (event()) { toggle(kdb, 0b100); delay(100); } off(kdb, 0b100);
        script_video wait(!event()); set(kdb, 0);
        sound_adjust auto
        sound_equalizer_highvolume 0
        sound_equalizer_lowvolume 0
        sound_equalizer_midvolume 0
        sound_latency 0.05
        sound_mode auto
        sound_normalize yes
        sound_samplerate 44100
        sound_samples yes
        sound_volume -3
        sync_fps auto
        sync_resample auto
        sync_speed 1
        sync_startuptime auto
        sync_turbospeed 3
        ui_color[help_other] 000000 808080
        ui_color[help_p1] 000000 ffff00
        ui_color[help_p2] 000000 00ff00
        ui_color[help_p3] 000000 ff0000
        ui_color[help_p4] 000000 00ffff
        ui_color[interface] 000000 ffffff
        ui_color[select] 000000 afffff
        ui_color[tag] 247ef0 ffffff
        ui_font auto
        ui_fontsize auto
        ui_helpimage auto
        ui_translucency 0.8
        input_map[ui_pause] keyboard[0,w] keyboard[0,a]
        input_map[ui_reset_machine] keyboard[0,w] keyboard[0,b]
        input_map[ui_snapshot] keyboard[0,w] keyboard[0,y]
        input_map[ui_save_state] keyboard[0,w] keyboard[0,q]
        input_map[ui_load_state] keyboard[0,w] keyboard[0,l]
        input_map[ui_configure] keyboard[0,tab] or keyboard[0,w] keyboard[0,x]
        input_map[ui_up] keyboard[0,up]
        input_map[ui_down] keyboard[0,down]
        input_map[ui_left] keyboard[0,left]
        input_map[ui_right] keyboard[0,right]
        input_map[ui_select] keyboard[0,enter] or keyboard[0,a]
        input_map[ui_cancel] keyboard[0,esc] or keyboard[0,w] keyboard[0,t]
        input_map[p1_up] keyboard[0,up]
        input_map[p1_down] keyboard[0,down]
        input_map[p1_left] keyboard[0,left]
        input_map[p1_right] keyboard[0,right]
        input_map[p1_doubleright_up] 
        input_map[p1_doubleright_down] 
        input_map[p1_doubleright_left] 
        input_map[p1_doubleright_right] 
        input_map[p1_doubleleft_up] 
        input_map[p1_doubleleft_down] 
        input_map[p1_doubleleft_left] 
        input_map[p1_doubleleft_right] 
        input_map[p1_button1] keyboard[0,b]
        input_map[p1_button2] 
        input_map[p1_button3] 
        input_map[p1_button4] 
        input_map[p1_button5] 
        input_map[p1_button6] 
        input_map[p1_button7] 
        input_map[p1_button8] 
        input_map[p1_button9] 
        input_map[p1_button10] 
        input_map[p1_start] 
        input_map[p1_select] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_a] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_b] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_c] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_d] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_e] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_f] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_g] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_h] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_i] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_j] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_k] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_l] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_m] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_n] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_kan] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_pon] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_chi] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_reach] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_ron] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_bet] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_chance] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_score] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_double_up] 
        input_map[p1_mahjong_flip_flop] 
        input_map[p2_up] keyboard[0,3_pad]
        input_map[p2_down] keyboard[0,4_pad]
        input_map[p2_left] keyboard[0,1_pad]
        input_map[p2_right] keyboard[0,2_pad]
        input_map[p2_button1] keyboard[0,6_pad]
        input_map[p2_button2] 
        input_map[p2_button3] 
        input_map[p2_button4] 
        input_map[p2_button5] 
        input_map[p2_button6] 
        input_map[p2_button7] 
        input_map[p2_button8] 
        input_map[p2_button9] 
        input_map[p2_button10] 
        input_map[p2_start] 
        input_map[p2_select] 
        astrocde/input_setting[p1_paddlex] keydelta:20,centerdelta:20,sensitivity:20,reverse:1
        astrocde/input_setting[p2_paddlex] keydelta:20,centerdelta:20,sensitivity:20,reverse:0
        astrocde[home_pi_retropie_roms_astrocade_bally_pinball]/input_map[p1_button1] keyboard[0,l]
        astrocde[home_pi_retropie_roms_astrocade_bally_pinball]/input_map[p2_button1] keyboard[0,q]
        astrocde[home_pi_retropie_roms_astrocade_bally_pinball]/input_map[p2_down] keyboard[0,b]
        
        

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

        S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • S
          SpudsMcToole Banned @mediamogul
          last edited by SpudsMcToole

          @mediamogul Cheers for that, but it's not working for me - I get dumped straight back to the Retropie menu for every ROM, not even going through the MESS splash screens first.

          I'd already figured most of it out for a couple of other systems, as noted here:

          https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/19816/getting-control-inputs-to-work-in-advmess

          ...but for the Astrocade with your files above I'm not even getting as far as I did with those - the BBC and Astrovision do at least both boot to their respective systems, I just can't get any sort of input to register.

          I've got every conceivable BIOS file and variant in the directory you specified, called ASTROCADE.ZIP, ASTROCDE.ZIP, ASTROCDW.ZIP, ASTRO.BIN and BIOSWHIT.BIN. I've got all the game files in .BIN format in the usual ROMS directory in a folder called ASTROCADE.

          Can I just check a couple of things quickly to see if I can get to the bottom of it?

          (1) When you say "in /opt/retropie/configs/, I created a emulators.cfg file with the following contents:", do you mean just in the root CONFIGS folder, or inside the CONFIGS/ASTROCADE folder? (I've tried both with no discernible difference, but it'd be good to rule it out as the possible problem source.)

          (2) In the line astrocade-advmess = "/opt/retropie/emulators/advmame/bin/advmess astrocde -cfg (etc), is that spelling at the end ("astrocde" with no "a") correct? (Same again, have tried both ways but just trying to narrow things down.)

          (3) When you say to put the BIOS files in /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/rom/, is that right? I've been putting the other ones in /opt/retropie/configs/mame-advmame/rom. (Once again, have tried both.)

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

            @SpudsMcToole said in Pro tip for anyone thinking of installing MESS:

            (1)

            The files should be located at /opt/retropie/configs/astrocade/emulators.cfg and /opt/retropie/configs/astrocade/advmess.rc

            (2)

            It is spelled right there. That argument is meant to specify the driver that AdvanceMESS will use. It also means that I made a typo when referencing the BIOS name, which should be astrocde.zip. I'll correct it above.

            (3)

            The path that AdvanceMAME will check for its BIOS files is specified in the advmess.rc. You should check yours to see what it's set to, but I would advise the path be different than your MAME files so that it's easier to manage separately.

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

            S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • S
              SpudsMcToole Banned @mediamogul
              last edited by SpudsMcToole

              @mediamogul said in Pro tip for anyone thinking of installing MESS:

              The path that AdvanceMAME will check for its BIOS files is specified in the advmess.rc. You should check yours to see what it's set to, but I would advise the path be different than your MAME files so that it's easier to manage separately.

              Which path? dir_image? dir_rom?

              Otherwise I'm perplexed. I'm doing everything you say and I've got all the files where they should be and I'm still getting dumped straight back to the menu. I can't find anything different that I'm doing to what I'm doing with the BBC and Arcadia setups, but those are working except for inputs.

              For clarity:

              (1) I've copied your emulator.cfg file and put it in /opt/retropie/configs/astrocade/

              (2) I've copied your advmess.rc file and put it in the same folder.

              (3) I've copied your lines for es_systems.cfg and added them into mine.

              (4) I've got astrocde.zip, containing astro.bin, in /opt/retropie/configs/mame-advmame/rom (and also in /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/rom)

              (5) I've got my game ROMs as unzipped BIN files in /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/astrocade

              But I don't even get as far as the MESS warning screens.

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

                @SpudsMcToole said in Pro tip for anyone thinking of installing MESS:

                Which path? dir_image? dir_rom?

                dir_rom

                But I don't even get as far as the MESS warning screens.

                After it fails to launch, post the contents of your /dev/shm/runcommand.log to pastebin.com and let's see if we can't find where the breakdown is happening.

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

                S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • S
                  SpudsMcToole Banned @mediamogul
                  last edited by SpudsMcToole

                  @mediamogul Okay, huge breakthrough, thanks to the tried and tested "flail around hitting buttons at random and see what happens" method.

                  When I use this as the .RC file:

                  debug_crash no
                  debug_rawsound no
                  debug_speedmark no
                  
                  device_alsa_device default
                  device_alsa_mixer channel
                  device_color_bgr15 yes
                  device_color_bgr16 yes
                  device_color_bgr24 yes
                  device_color_bgr32 yes
                  device_color_bgr8 yes
                  device_color_palette8 no
                  device_color_yuy2 no
                  
                  device_joystick auto
                  device_keyboard sdl
                  device_mouse auto
                  
                  device_raw_firstkeyhack no
                  device_raw_mousedev[0] auto
                  device_raw_mousedev[1] auto
                  device_raw_mousedev[2] auto
                  device_raw_mousedev[3] auto
                  device_raw_mousetype[0] pnp
                  device_raw_mousetype[1] pnp
                  device_raw_mousetype[2] pnp
                  device_raw_mousetype[3] pnp
                  
                  device_sdl_samples 512
                  device_sound auto
                  
                  device_video sdl
                  device_video_cursor auto
                  device_video_doublescan yes
                  device_video_fastchange yes
                  device_video_interlace no
                  device_video_output overlay
                  device_video_overlaysize 0
                  device_video_singlescan no
                  device_video_clock 10 - 150 / 30.5 - 60 / 55 - 130
                  
                  dir_artwork /home/pi/.advance/artwork:/usr/local/share/advance/artwork:/opt/retropie/emulators/advmame/share/advance/artwork
                  dir_crc /home/pi/.advance/crc
                  dir_diff /home/pi/.advance/diff
                  dir_hi /home/pi/.advance/hi
                  dir_image /home/pi/.advance/image:/usr/local/share/advance/image:/opt/retropie/emulators/advmame/share/advance/image:/opt/retropie/configs/mame-advmame/image:/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/bbcmicro
                  dir_inp /home/pi/.advance/inp
                  dir_memcard /home/pi/.advance/memcard
                  dir_nvram /home/pi/.advance/nvram
                  dir_rom /home/pi/.advance/rom:/usr/local/share/advance/rom:/opt/retropie/emulators/advmame/share/advance/rom:/opt/retropie/configs/mame-advmame/rom
                  dir_sample /home/pi/.advance/sample:/usr/local/share/advance/sample:/opt/retropie/emulators/advmame/share/advance/sample
                  dir_snap /home/pi/.advance/snap
                  dir_sta /home/pi/.advance/sta
                  
                  display_adjust none
                  display_antialias no
                  display_artwork_backdrop no
                  display_artwork_bezel no
                  display_artwork_crop no
                  display_artwork_overlay no
                  display_beam 1
                  display_brightness 1
                  display_buffer no
                  display_color auto
                  
                  # Below widens the screen to 16:9
                  # display_expand 1.35
                  
                  display_flicker 0
                  display_flipx no
                  display_flipy no
                  display_frameskip auto
                  display_gamma 1
                  display_intensity 1.5
                  display_interlaceeffect none
                  display_magnify auto
                  display_magnifysize 640
                  display_mode auto
                  display_pausebrightness 1
                  display_resize fractional
                  display_resizeeffect none
                  display_restore no
                  display_rgbeffect none
                  display_rol no
                  display_ror no
                  display_scanlines no
                  display_skipcolumns auto
                  display_skiplines auto
                  display_translucency no
                  display_vsync yes
                  
                  include 
                  input_hotkey yes
                  input_idleexit 0
                  input_map[event10] auto
                  input_map[event11] auto
                  input_map[event12] auto
                  input_map[event13] auto
                  input_map[event14] auto
                  input_map[event1] auto
                  input_map[event2] auto
                  input_map[event3] auto
                  input_map[event4] auto
                  input_map[event5] auto
                  input_map[event6] auto
                  input_map[event7] auto
                  input_map[event8] auto
                  input_map[event9] auto
                  
                  input_map[key_0] joystick_button[0,18] or keyboard[0,0]
                  input_map[key_1] joystick_button[0,8]  or keyboard[0,1]
                  input_map[key_2] joystick_button[0,9]  or keyboard[0,2]
                  input_map[key_3] joystick_button[0,10] or keyboard[0,3]
                  input_map[key_4] joystick_button[0,11] or keyboard[0,4]
                  input_map[key_5] joystick_button[0,12] or keyboard[0,5]
                  input_map[key_6] joystick_button[0,13] or keyboard[0,6]
                  input_map[key_7] joystick_button[0,14] or keyboard[0,7]
                  input_map[key_8] joystick_button[0,15] or keyboard[0,8]
                  input_map[key_9] joystick_button[0,16] or keyboard[0,9]
                  
                  input_map[key_a] auto
                  input_map[key_again] auto
                  input_map[key_alt] auto
                  input_map[key_asterisk] auto
                  input_map[key_b] auto
                  input_map[key_back] auto
                  input_map[key_backquote] auto
                  input_map[key_backslash] auto
                  input_map[key_backspace] auto
                  input_map[key_break] auto
                  input_map[key_c] auto
                  input_map[key_capslock] joystick_digital[0079_0006_3,0,1,1] or keyboard[0,capslock]
                  input_map[key_closebrace] auto
                  input_map[key_colon] auto
                  input_map[key_comma] auto
                  input_map[key_copy] auto
                  input_map[key_ctrl] auto
                  input_map[key_cut] auto
                  input_map[key_d] auto
                  input_map[key_del] joystick_button[0,17] or keyboard[0,del] or keyboard[0,backspace]
                  input_map[key_diesis] auto
                  input_map[key_doublequote] auto
                  input_map[key_down] auto
                  input_map[key_e] auto
                  input_map[key_edit] auto
                  input_map[key_end] auto
                  input_map[key_enter] joystick_button[0,19] or keyboard[0,enter]
                  input_map[key_equals] auto
                  input_map[key_esc] auto
                  input_map[key_f10] auto
                  input_map[key_f11] auto
                  input_map[key_f12] auto
                  input_map[key_f13] auto
                  input_map[key_f14] auto
                  input_map[key_f15] auto
                  input_map[key_f16] auto
                  input_map[key_f17] auto
                  input_map[key_f18] auto
                  input_map[key_f19] auto
                  input_map[key_f1] auto
                  input_map[key_f20] auto
                  input_map[key_f21] auto
                  input_map[key_f22] auto
                  input_map[key_f23] auto
                  input_map[key_f24] auto
                  input_map[key_f2] auto
                  input_map[key_f3] auto
                  input_map[key_f4] auto
                  input_map[key_f5] auto
                  input_map[key_f6] auto
                  input_map[key_f7] auto
                  input_map[key_f8] auto
                  input_map[key_f9] auto
                  input_map[key_f] auto
                  input_map[key_fctn] auto
                  input_map[key_find] auto
                  input_map[key_forward] auto
                  input_map[key_g] auto
                  input_map[key_graph] auto
                  input_map[key_h] auto
                  input_map[key_help] auto
                  input_map[key_hold] auto
                  input_map[key_home] auto
                  input_map[key_i] auto
                  input_map[key_ins] auto
                  input_map[key_j] auto
                  input_map[key_k] auto
                  input_map[key_l] auto
                  input_map[key_lalt] auto
                  input_map[key_lctrl] auto
                  input_map[key_left] auto
                  input_map[key_less] auto
                  input_map[key_lshift] keyboard[0,lshift] or joystick_button[0079_0006_3,2]
                  input_map[key_m] auto
                  input_map[key_menu] auto
                  input_map[key_minus] auto
                  input_map[key_move] auto
                  input_map[key_n] auto
                  input_map[key_numlock] auto
                  input_map[key_o] auto
                  input_map[key_open] auto
                  input_map[key_openbrace] auto
                  input_map[key_p] auto
                  input_map[key_pad_0] auto
                  input_map[key_pad_1] auto
                  input_map[key_pad_2] auto
                  input_map[key_pad_3] auto
                  input_map[key_pad_4] auto
                  input_map[key_pad_5] auto
                  input_map[key_pad_6] auto
                  input_map[key_pad_7] auto
                  input_map[key_pad_8] auto
                  input_map[key_pad_9] auto
                  input_map[key_pad_asterisk] auto
                  input_map[key_pad_colon] auto
                  input_map[key_pad_diesis] auto
                  input_map[key_pad_enter] auto
                  input_map[key_pad_minus] auto
                  input_map[key_pad_plus] auto
                  input_map[key_pad_slash] auto
                  input_map[key_paste] auto
                  input_map[key_pause] auto
                  input_map[key_period] auto
                  input_map[key_pgdn] auto
                  input_map[key_pgup] auto
                  input_map[key_play] auto
                  input_map[key_plus] auto
                  input_map[key_pound] auto
                  input_map[key_print] auto
                  input_map[key_q] auto
                  input_map[key_quickload] auto
                  input_map[key_quote] auto
                  input_map[key_r] auto
                  input_map[key_ralt] auto
                  input_map[key_rctrl] auto
                  input_map[key_record] auto
                  input_map[key_restore] auto
                  input_map[key_rew] auto
                  input_map[key_right] auto
                  input_map[key_rshift] keyboard[0,rshift]
                  input_map[key_s] auto
                  input_map[key_scrlock] auto
                  input_map[key_semicolon] auto
                  input_map[key_shift] auto
                  input_map[key_slash] auto
                  input_map[key_space] auto
                  input_map[key_stop] auto
                  input_map[key_store] auto
                  input_map[key_t] auto
                  input_map[key_tab] auto
                  input_map[key_u] auto
                  input_map[key_undo] auto
                  input_map[key_up] auto
                  input_map[key_v] auto
                  input_map[key_w] auto
                  input_map[key_x] auto
                  input_map[key_y] auto
                  input_map[key_z] auto
                  input_map[p1_dialx] auto
                  input_map[p1_dialy] auto
                  input_map[p1_lightgunx] auto
                  input_map[p1_lightguny] auto
                  input_map[p1_mousex] auto
                  input_map[p1_mousey] auto
                  input_map[p1_paddlex] auto
                  input_map[p1_paddley] auto
                  input_map[p1_pedalbrake] auto
                  input_map[p1_pedalgas] auto
                  input_map[p1_pedalother] auto
                  input_map[p1_stickx] auto
                  input_map[p1_sticky] auto
                  input_map[p1_stickz] auto
                  input_map[p1_trackballx] auto
                  input_map[p1_trackbally] auto
                  input_map[p2_dialx] auto
                  input_map[p2_dialy] auto
                  input_map[p2_lightgunx] auto
                  input_map[p2_lightguny] auto
                  input_map[p2_mousex] auto
                  input_map[p2_mousey] auto
                  input_map[p2_paddlex] auto
                  input_map[p2_paddley] auto
                  input_map[p2_pedalbrake] auto
                  input_map[p2_pedalgas] auto
                  input_map[p2_pedalother] auto
                  input_map[p2_stickx] auto
                  input_map[p2_sticky] auto
                  input_map[p2_stickz] auto
                  input_map[p2_trackballx] auto
                  input_map[p2_trackbally] auto
                  input_map[p3_dialx] auto
                  input_map[p3_dialy] auto
                  input_map[p3_lightgunx] auto
                  input_map[p3_lightguny] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_a] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_b] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_bet] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_c] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_chance] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_chi] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_d] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_double_up] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_e] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_f] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_flip_flop] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_g] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_h] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_i] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_j] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_k] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_kan] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_l] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_m] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_n] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_pon] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_reach] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_ron] auto
                  input_map[p3_mahjong_score] auto
                  input_map[p3_mousex] auto
                  input_map[p3_mousey] auto
                  input_map[p3_paddlex] auto
                  input_map[p3_paddley] auto
                  input_map[p3_pedalbrake] auto
                  input_map[p3_pedalgas] auto
                  input_map[p3_pedalother] auto
                  input_map[p3_stickx] auto
                  input_map[p3_sticky] auto
                  input_map[p3_stickz] auto
                  input_map[p3_trackballx] auto
                  input_map[p3_trackbally] auto
                  input_map[p4_dialx] auto
                  input_map[p4_dialy] auto
                  input_map[p4_lightgunx] auto
                  input_map[p4_lightguny] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_a] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_b] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_bet] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_c] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_chance] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_chi] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_d] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_double_up] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_e] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_f] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_flip_flop] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_g] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_h] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_i] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_j] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_k] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_kan] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_l] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_m] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_n] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_pon] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_reach] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_ron] auto
                  input_map[p4_mahjong_score] auto
                  input_map[p4_mousex] auto
                  input_map[p4_mousey] auto
                  input_map[p4_paddlex] auto
                  input_map[p4_paddley] auto
                  input_map[p4_pedalbrake] auto
                  input_map[p4_pedalgas] auto
                  input_map[p4_pedalother] auto
                  input_map[p4_stickx] auto
                  input_map[p4_sticky] auto
                  input_map[p4_stickz] auto
                  input_map[p4_trackballx] auto
                  input_map[p4_trackbally] auto
                  input_map[safequit] auto
                  input_map[service_coin5] auto
                  input_map[service_coin6] auto
                  input_map[service_coin7] auto
                  input_map[service_coin8] auto
                  input_map[ui_cancel] joystick_button[0079_0006_3,8] joystick_button[0079_0006_3,10] or keyboard[0,f7]
                  input_map[ui_mode_next] keyboard[0,f24]
                  input_map[ui_mode_pred] keyboard[0,f24]
                  input_map[ui_reset_machine] joystick_button[0079_0006,4] or joystick_button[0079_0006_2,4] or keyboard[0,f9]
                  input_map[ui_toggle_debug] keyboard[0,f24]
                  
                  input_steadykey no
                  
                  lcd_server none
                  lcd_speed 4
                  lcd_timeout 500
                  
                  misc_bios default
                  misc_cheat no
                  misc_cheatfile cheat.dat
                  misc_difficulty none
                  misc_eventdebug no
                  misc_eventfile event.dat
                  misc_freeplay no
                  misc_hiscorefile hiscore.dat
                  misc_lang none
                  misc_languagefile english.lng
                  misc_mutedemo no
                  misc_quiet yes
                  misc_ramsize auto
                  misc_safequit no
                  misc_smp no
                  misc_timetorun 0
                  
                  record_sound no
                  record_sound_time 15
                  record_video no
                  record_video_interleave 2
                  record_video_time 15
                  
                  script_coin1 
                  script_coin2 
                  script_coin3 
                  script_coin4 
                  script_emulation 
                  script_event1 
                  script_event10 
                  script_event11 
                  script_event12 
                  script_event13 
                  script_event14 
                  script_event2 
                  script_event3 
                  script_event4 
                  script_event5 
                  script_event6 
                  script_event7 
                  script_event8 
                  script_event9 
                  script_led1 on(kdb, 0b1); wait(!event()); off(kdb, 0b1);
                  script_led2 on(kdb, 0b10); wait(!event()); off(kdb, 0b10);
                  script_led3 
                  script_play 
                  script_safequit 
                  script_start1 
                  script_start2 
                  script_start3 
                  script_start4 
                  script_turbo while (event()) { toggle(kdb, 0b100); delay(100); } off(kdb, 0b100);
                  script_video wait(!event()); set(kdb, 0);
                  
                  sound_adjust auto
                  sound_equalizer_highvolume 0
                  sound_equalizer_lowvolume 0
                  sound_equalizer_midvolume 0
                  sound_latency 0.05
                  sound_mode auto
                  sound_normalize yes
                  sound_samplerate 44100
                  sound_samples yes
                  sound_volume 0
                  
                  sync_fps auto
                  sync_resample auto
                  sync_speed 1
                  sync_startuptime auto
                  sync_turbospeed 3
                  
                  ui_color[help_other] 000000 808080
                  ui_color[help_p1] 000000 ffff00
                  ui_color[help_p2] 000000 00ff00
                  ui_color[help_p3] 000000 ff0000
                  ui_color[help_p4] 000000 00ffff
                  ui_color[interface] 000000 ffffff
                  ui_color[select] 000000 afffff
                  ui_color[tag] 247ef0 ffffff
                  ui_font auto
                  ui_fontsize auto
                  ui_helpimage auto
                  ui_translucency 0.8
                  
                  280x210/display_resize fractional
                  320x192/display_mode sdl_1824x984
                  320x192/display_resize fractional
                  320x192x59/display_mode sdl_1824x984
                  320x192x59/display_resize fractional
                  336x225/display_mode sdl_416x288
                  336x225/display_resize fractional
                  320x204/display_mode sdl_1920x1080
                  320x204/display_resize fractional
                  800x300x50/display_mode generate-double
                  
                  bbcbp128[home_pi_retropie_roms_bbcmicrochuckieegg_chuckie]/script_play delay(750); simulate_key(key_scrlock,75); simulate_key(key_c,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_h,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_a,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_i,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_n,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_space,75); delay(200); simulate_key(key_lshift,200); simulate_key(key_2,50); delay(200); simulate_key(key_c,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_h,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_u,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_c,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_k,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_i,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_e,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_space,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_e,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_g,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_g,75); delay(200); simulate_key(key_lshift,200); simulate_key(key_2,50); delay(200); simulate_key(key_enter,75); delay(75);
                  
                  bbcbp128[home_pi_retropie_roms_bbcmicroelite_elite]/script_play delay(750); simulate_key(key_scrlock,75); simulate_key(key_c,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_h,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_a,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_i,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_n,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_space,75); delay(200); simulate_key(key_lshift,200); simulate_key(key_2,50); delay(200); simulate_key(key_l,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_o,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_a,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_d,75); delay(200); simulate_key(key_lshift,200); simulate_key(key_2,50); delay(200); simulate_key(key_enter,75); delay(75);
                  
                  bbcbp128[home_pi_retropie_roms_bbcmicroplanetoid_planetoid]/script_play delay(750); simulate_key(key_scrlock,75); simulate_key(key_c,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_h,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_a,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_i,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_n,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_space,75); delay(200); simulate_key(key_lshift,200); simulate_key(key_2,50); delay(200); simulate_key(key_l,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_o,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_a,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_d,75); delay(200); simulate_key(key_lshift,200); simulate_key(key_2,50); delay(200); simulate_key(key_enter,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_scrlock,75); delay(75);
                  
                  bbcbp128[home_pi_retropie_roms_bbcmicrothrust_thrust]/script_play delay(750); simulate_key(key_scrlock,75); simulate_key(key_c,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_h,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_a,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_i,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_n,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_space,75); delay(200); simulate_key(key_lshift,200); simulate_key(key_2,50); delay(200); simulate_key(key_t,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_h,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_r,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_u,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_s,75); delay(75); simulate_key(key_t,75); delay(200); simulate_key(key_lshift,200); simulate_key(key_2,50); delay(200); simulate_key(key_enter,75); delay(75);
                  
                  input_map[p1_up] joystick_digital[0079_0006_3,0,0,0] or keyboard[0,up]
                  input_map[p1_down] joystick_digital[0079_0006_3,0,0,1] or keyboard[0,down]
                  input_map[p1_left] joystick_digital[0079_0006_3,0,1,1] or keyboard[0,left]
                  input_map[p1_right] joystick_digital[0079_0006_3,0,1,0] or keyboard[0,right]
                  input_map[p1_start] joystick_button[0079_0006_3,7] or keyboard[0,1]
                  input_map[p1_select] joystick_button[0079_0006_3,7] or keyboard[0,5]
                  input_map[p2_up] joystick_digital[0079_0006,0,0,0] or keyboard[0,r]
                  input_map[p2_down] joystick_digital[0079_0006,0,0,1] or keyboard[0,f]
                  input_map[p2_left] joystick_digital[0079_0006,0,1,1] or keyboard[0,d]
                  input_map[p2_right] joystick_digital[0079_0006,0,1,0] or keyboard[0,g]
                  input_map[p2_button1] joystick_button[0079_0006,1] or keyboard[0,a]
                  input_map[p2_button2] joystick_button[0079_0006,3] or keyboard[0,s]
                  input_map[p2_button3] joystick_button[0079_0006,5] or keyboard[0,q]
                  input_map[p2_button4] joystick_button[0079_0006,0] or keyboard[0,w]
                  input_map[p2_button5] joystick_button[0079_0006,2]
                  input_map[p2_button6] 
                  input_map[p2_button7] 
                  input_map[p2_button8] 
                  input_map[p2_button9] 
                  input_map[p2_button10] 
                  input_map[p2_start] joystick_button[0079_0006,4] or joystick_button[0079_0006_3,10] or keyboard[0,2]
                  input_map[p2_select] joystick_button[0079_0006,4] or joystick_button[0079_0006_3,10] or keyboard[0,6]
                  input_map[ui_up] joystick_digital[0079_0006_3,0,0,0] or keyboard[0,up]
                  input_map[ui_down] joystick_digital[0079_0006_3,0,0,1] or keyboard[0,down]
                  input_map[ui_left] joystick_digital[0079_0006_3,0,1,1] or keyboard[0,left]
                  input_map[ui_right] joystick_digital[0079_0006_3,0,1,0] or keyboard[0,right]
                  input_map[ui_select] joystick_button[0079_0006_3,2] or keyboard[0,enter]
                  input_map[ui_record_start] 
                  input_map[ui_record_stop] 
                  
                  

                  ...(almost) everything miraculously works! I have keyboard access on BBC, and it also works for the Arcadia and Astrocade (although not, bizarrely, Fairchild Channel F).

                  The only tiny problem left with the BBC is that because Tab is a key on the BBC keyboard, MESS doesn't recognise it for accessing the menu, and I can't figure out how to fix it because the keyboard map code is all incomprehensible bollocks like this:

                  input_map[key_tab] joystick_button[0079_0006_3,1]
                  

                  Which is annoying, because if I could figure out the maps I could either enable Tab and set controls via the menu, or just set the joystick directly in the RC file to Z, X, /, : and Return and take care of about 90% of BBC games straight away.

                  (I've tried pasting in the line from the Astrocade RC file after I've mapped Tab to a joystick button, which is this:

                  input_map[ui_configure] keyboard[0,tab] or joystick_button[0079_0011_2,7]
                  

                  but that doesn't seem to do anything in the BBC file.)

                  But yeah, otherwise that RC file is the Rosetta Stone and I have no clue why.

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

                    @SpudsMcToole said in Pro tip for anyone thinking of installing MESS:

                    The only tiny problem left with the BBC is that because Tab is a key on the BBC keyboard, MESS doesn't recognise it for accessing the menu

                    You might try something like:

                    input_map[key_tab] keyboard[0,tab]
                    input_map[ui_configure] keyboard[0,lalt] keyboard[0,tab] or keyboard[0,ralt] keyboard[0,tab]
                    

                    In theory that would allow the BBC environment to use the 'Tab' key as its own, while the config menu would be invoked by either 'LeftAlt+Tab' or 'RightAlt+Tab'.

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                    • S
                      SpudsMcToole Banned @mediamogul
                      last edited by

                      @mediamogul Hmm, nope. Adding those lines has no discernible effect - pressing either Alt with Tab just acts like a normal BBC tab.

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                      • ?
                        A Former User
                        last edited by

                        I would like to thank mediamogul. Those Astrocade instructions worked perferct.
                        Just one thing to add to the advmess.rc, this for joystick support.
                        Scroll down to these lines and make sure they look like so.

                        input_map[p1_up] auto
                        input_map[p1_down] auto
                        input_map[p1_left] auto
                        input_map[p1_right] auto
                        input_map[p1_button1] auto
                        input_map[p1_button2] auto
                        input_map[p1_button3] auto
                        input_map[p1_button4] auto
                        input_map[p1_button5] auto
                        input_map[p1_button6] auto
                        input_map[p1_button7] auto
                        input_map[p1_button8] auto
                        input_map[p1_button9] auto
                        input_map[p1_button10] auto
                        input_map[p1_start] auto
                        input_map[p1_select] auto

                        That should work for whatever controller you are using for player 1.
                        One thing that I noticed was that the actual emulation wasn't very good. Lots of flickering, and often garbled sprites can be seen ,on some games, at the top of the screen. The sound was also a bit crackly, popping, and other weird sounds. I used the same Advmess as the original instruction, so perhaps a newer version has many fixes.
                        Off to try BBC emulation, and a few other systems.

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                        • mediamogulM
                          mediamogul Global Moderator @SpudsMcToole
                          last edited by mediamogul

                          @SpudsMcToole said in Pro tip for anyone thinking of installing MESS:

                          Alt with Tab just acts like a normal BBC tab.

                          Ha! Well, that was me assuming that 'Alt' wasn't used in the BBC environment, but if it is, it would just put you back at square one. I've run into this before with other emulated computer systems that map the majority of the keyboard. While there might be a more elegant solution out there, I ended up mapping keys for emulator functions that weren't used in the emulated environment. Normally, I'd say to open up the options menu to discover which keys aren't already being used, but in your case you can't open up the options menu to check. If your physical keyboard has media controls, I doubt they would be in use here. For example, you might try using:

                          input_map[ui_configure] keyboard[0,playpause]
                          

                          @John_RM_70

                          That should work for whatever controller you are using for player 1.

                          Those are indeed likely to be the sanest default settings. One word of warning however, is that when set to 'auto', AdvanceMAME/MESS will grab whatever controller is assigned by the OS as js0 and js1 for players one and two respectively and so on down the line. Seeing as how this assignment often varies between sessions, it can create issues with setups that require the player controls to remain constant.

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                            SpudsMcToole Banned @mediamogul
                            last edited by

                            @mediamogul said in Pro tip for anyone thinking of installing MESS:

                            @SpudsMcToole said in Pro tip for anyone thinking of installing MESS:

                            Alt with Tab just acts like a normal BBC tab.

                            Ha! Well, that was me assuming that 'Alt' wasn't used in the BBC environment, but if it is, it would just put you back at square one. I've run into this before with other computer systems that map the majority of the keyboard. While there might be a more elegant solution out there, I ended up mapping keys for emulator functions that weren't used in the emulation environment. Normally, I'd say to open up the options menu to discover which keys aren't already being used, but in your case you can't open up the options menu to check. If your physical keyboard has media controls, I doubt they would be in use. For example, you might try using:

                            input_map[ui_configure] keyboard[0,playpause]
                            

                            Sadly my keyboard is a basic one with nothing like that. But the BBC doesn't have an Alt key, so goodness knows what's going on.

                            https://acorn.huininga.nl/pub/software/BeebEm/BeebEm-4.14.68000-20160619/Help/keyboard.jpg

                            I've tried everything I can think of in terms of editing the RC file manually, both trying to get the menus up and trying to hardcode the joystick to keys, especially around these lines:

                            input_map[p1_up] joystick_digital[0079_0006_3,0,0,0] or keyboard[0,up]
                            input_map[p1_down] joystick_digital[0079_0006_3,0,0,1] or keyboard[0,down]
                            input_map[p1_left] joystick_digital[0079_0006_3,0,1,1] or keyboard[0,left]
                            input_map[p1_right] joystick_digital[0079_0006_3,0,1,0] or keyboard[0,right]
                            input_map[p1_start] joystick_button[0079_0006_3,7] or keyboard[0,1]
                            input_map[p1_select] joystick_button[0079_0006_3,7] or keyboard[0,5]
                            

                            but nothing has any effect. I know people HAVE managed to get the MESS menu up in the BBC emulator, but Lord knows how they did it.

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                            • mediamogulM
                              mediamogul Global Moderator @SpudsMcToole
                              last edited by mediamogul

                              @SpudsMcToole said in Pro tip for anyone thinking of installing MESS:

                              BBC doesn't have an Alt key, so goodness knows what's going on.

                              Still, it may be using the 'Alt' key as a stand-in for some other key. If you could find one key that isn't being used, you should be able to access the menu. Below is a list of all the available options.

                              a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z, n0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0_pad, 1_pad, 2_pad, 3_pad, 4_pad, 5_pad, 6_pad, 7_pad, 8_pad, 9_pad, f1, f2, f3, f4, f5, f6, f7, f8, f9, f10, f11, f12, esc, backquote, minus, equals, backspace, tab, openbrace, closebrace, enter, semicolon, quote, backslash, less, comma, period, slash, space, insert, del, home, end, pgup, pgdn, left, right, up, down, slash_pad, asterisk_pad, minus_pad, plus_pad, period_pad, enter_pad, prtscr, pause, lshift, rshift, lcontrol, rcontrol, lalt, ralt, lwin, rwin, menu, scrlock, numlock, capslock, stop, again, props, undo, front, copy, open, paste, find, cut, help, calc, setup, sleep, wakeup, file, sendfile, deletefile, xfer, prog1, prog2, www, msdos, coffee, direction, cyclewindows, mail, bookmarks, computer, back, forward, closecd, ejectcd, ejectclosecd, nextsong, playpause, previoussong, stopcd, record, rewind, phone, iso, config, homepage, refresh, exit, move, edit, scrollup, scrolldown, leftparen_pad, rightparen_pad, intl1, intl2, intl3, intl4, intl5, intl6, intl7, intl8, intl9, lang1, lang2, lang3, lang4, lang5, lang6, lang7, lang8, lang9, playcd, pausecd, prog3, prog4, suspend, close, brightnessdown, brightnessup, macro, mute, volumedown, volumeup, power, compose, f13, f14, f15, f16, f17, f18, f19, f20, f21, f22, f23, f24

                              EDIT: Anyone know what the 'coffee' key is?

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                              • ?
                                A Former User
                                last edited by

                                Got it working great.
                                Followed Spud11's post, and partly mediamogul's astrocade posts.
                                Just fired up Planetoid, looks good.
                                Tried a few bbc disk commands, and they too worked - *cat, *!boot , etc....
                                It's 2am here, so off to bed. Tomorrow, I will test a real BBC Master, alongside the Pi, and post some screens from the same games.
                                Whats weird is that my BBC Master has a Pi Zero inside it, running as a co-pro, along with usb and a CF HD. Amazing what people are doing with the Pi, even adding it to it's big old granddad, the BBC.

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                                • mediamogulM
                                  mediamogul Global Moderator @A Former User
                                  last edited by

                                  @John_RM_70 said in Pro tip for anyone thinking of installing MESS:

                                  Tomorrow, I will test a real BBC Master, alongside the Pi, and post some screens from the same games.

                                  Very nice! I look forward to seeing how it holds up.

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                                  • S
                                    SpudsMcToole Banned @mediamogul
                                    last edited by SpudsMcToole

                                    @mediamogul said in Pro tip for anyone thinking of installing MESS:

                                    @SpudsMcToole said in Pro tip for anyone thinking of installing MESS:

                                    BBC doesn't have an Alt key, so goodness knows what's going on.

                                    Still, it may be using the 'Alt' key as a stand-in for some other key. If you could find one key that isn't being used, you should be able to access the menu. Below is a list of all the available options.

                                    Gah. My best bet out of this lot was probably "lwin", but that does nothing either.

                                    0_1541156114382_lwin.jpg image url)

                                    I booted the emulator up and tried every key at the command prompt, and the only one that had no discernible effect on either the BBC or MESS was F12, but that was no good either. How in the heck are people getting the menus up?

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                                    • ?
                                      A Former User
                                      last edited by A Former User

                                      Here are 2 wholly un-scientific images from a real BBC Master, and a Raspberry Pi 3b+ running Advmess.

                                      The hardware
                                      https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/jgjFDN.png
                                      https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/922/xNrlqc.png

                                      Just 2 images, for now.
                                      https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/923/6qkdSb.png
                                      https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/921/qKm7Jx.png

                                      Can't get images working, so only links for now. The first image under "Just 2 images, for now.", is the BBC Master.
                                      You can see the Pi isn't running in the correct aspect ratio. But overall, it's not bad for composite. The Master is RGB Scart.

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                                      • mediamogulM
                                        mediamogul Global Moderator @A Former User
                                        last edited by

                                        @John_RM_70

                                        Very nice. When I got into retro emulation years ago, I made a decision to focus my attention on North American games only, mainly due to there being more titles there alone than I could ever play in a lifetime. However, I've constantly found that the European computer systems are just too hard to ignore. Some of the most original game concepts I've ever seen originate there and the hobbyist spirit is arguably stronger than any other area of gaming.

                                        The first stretch of free time I can find, I plan to start exploring these games and their history more deeply. My first brush has been looking at rivalry between Clive Sinclair and Chris Curry, which led me to the BBC docu-drama 'Micro Men', but I can't help but think that production was a bit embellished for entertainment, similarly to the Steve Jobs and Bill Gates television docu-drama, 'Pirates of Silicon Valley' as seen in the trailer below.

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                                        • ?
                                          A Former User
                                          last edited by

                                          You should also give the Amstrad CPC, a go. Great games, and when programmed properly they were often very colourful games that looked best across all the 8-bit computers. I got the Pi Amstrad emulator working, and it looks and runs great. Again, I own the real thing, but I can't use the same TV as the Pi, since the Amstrad came with it's own 14" monitor. So a comparison isn't apples to apples. But it's close.

                                          That Micro Men docu, was good. But, like you said, a few liberties were taken when it came to Sir Clive. I believe he was portrayed a bit too nicely, probably for TV. Some people from that era have said he has often a bit of a bastard, and wanted things completed yesterday.

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