Development of module-script generator for lr-mess, lr-mame and mame standalone

[Ashpool]

@Folly Well, after some meddling with the script and mess systems, I can only say: so far (as said, had just used it before for the handhelds) I was pleasantly surprised that it covered a lot of the hazards I feared so far whence using mess systems. But somewhat disappointing is that from all things I tried (appleII|appleIIc/bbcb/pc8801/lynx), only lynx was somewhat satisfying and the other ones had various issues, but as those are not related to the scriptmodules, i also have to say that neither i had found anything that I could report in this regards :]

[Folly]

@Ashpool

Thanks for testing ;-)
Did you already discover that you can update the test versions from within the script ?
I am planning to do some more work when I have the time.

Will try those systems you mentioned and see what results I get.
Indeed much is related to the source code of mame itself.
For bbcb I know it works but other emulators do a better job.
What was your issue with bbcb ?

Btw,
I am working and testing now on Ubuntu 22.04 and all seems to work pretty good now.

I only had 2 issues so far :

• auto removing the top-bar so emulationstation will use the whole screen. (installing extension manager and enable hide top-bar)
• changing some shortcut key-combinations in OSX so they don't interfere with ctrl in combination with the cursor keys in the Ubuntu VM (^->,^<-, etc)

Edit :
Sadly, Ubuntu 22.04 has a lot more issues described over here ;-(

[Ashpool]

@Folly said in Development of module-script generator for lr-mess, lr-mame and mame standalone:

Did you already discover that you can update the test versions from within the script ?

Nope, good to hear ;) last think I remember is:

 Remember : the test versions (253.06) can't be updated right now because they are still in the 00-workdir-00. If update is selected it will downgrade to 253.05.

What was your issue with bbcb ?

gfx glitch in "elitea", the cobras "console"/interior ploted fine, but the "outside" view/grafic wasn't fitting the screen (only ~1/4 visible, as if zoomed into the topleft position of a virtual display).

I am working and testing now on Ubuntu 22.04 and all seems to work pretty good now.
I only had 2 issues so far :

auto removing the top-bar so emulationstation will use the whole screen. (installing extension manager and enable hide top-bar)

Mh, didn't know that hiding the top-bar was possible, I avoided it by "falling back" from wayland to xorg.

[Folly]

@Ashpool

I am adding update info in this post now :
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/29682/development-of-module-script-generator-for-lr-mess-lr-mame-and-mame-standalone/1364

You first have to update manually, after that updating is possible from within the script.

[Folly]

@Ashpool said in Development of module-script generator for lr-mess, lr-mame and mame standalone:

gfx glitch in "elitea", the cobras "console"/interior ploted fine, but the "outside" view/grafic wasn't fitting the screen (only ~1/4 visible, as if zoomed into the topleft position of a virtual display).

Indeed too bad, I have the same issue.
Also tested bbcm but that makes no difference.

[DTEAM]

@Folly

Hi Folly,

I tried to use th PCECD add-on with:

mame-system-pcecd-cdrm-autoframeskip = "/opt/retropie/emulators/mame/mame -v -c -autoframeskip -ui_active pce pcecd  -cdrm %ROM%"

I tried to use the "no intro romset" and it doesn't work.

If I don't use the "basename" command, normally I should be able to use a ROM no matter the name? Right?
I don't remember if it's different for .chd (cd ) games.

Here's my log. If I use the good MAME Rom, It should work, but I'm trying to use it without the hashfile.

Parameters: 
Executing: /opt/retropie/emulators/mame/mame -v -c -autoframeskip -ui_active pce pcecd  -cdrm "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/tg-cd/Buster Bros. (US).chd"

"pcecd" approximately matches the following
supported software items (best match first):

* Software list "pcecd" (NEC PC Engine / Turbografx-16 CD-ROMs) matches: 
fanspc1           PCEngine Fan Special CD-ROM Volume I (Japan)
hyprcata          PCEngine Hyper Catalog Duo-RX - Disc A (Japan)
hyprcatb          PCEngine Hyper Catalog Duo-RX - Disc B (Japan)
hypercap          PCEngine Hyper Catalog (CD-ROM Capsule) (Japan)
policeco          Police Connection (Japan)
prinmak2          Princess Maker 2 (ACD, SCD)(Japan)
spcfzone          Space Fantasy Zone (CD, SCD)(Japan, prototype)
psycdet3          Psychic Detective Series Vol. III - Aya (Japan)
psycdet4          Psychic Detective Series Vol. IV - Orgel (Japan)
psycdet3d         Psychic Detective Series Vol. III - Aya - Auto Demo (Japan)
hyperdyn          Hyper Dyne SideArms Special (Japan)
princesm          Princess Minerva (Japan)
priveyed          Private eye dol (ACD, SCD)(Japan)
psychics          Psychic Storm (Japan)
spaceinv          Space Invaders - The Original Game (Japan)
supersch          Super Schwartzschild (CD, SCD)(Japan)

* Software list "pce" (NEC PC Engine HuCards) matches: 
pcdenj            PC Denjin - Punkic Cyborgs
pcdenja           PC Denjin - Punkic Cyborgs (alt)
pcgenj            PC Genjin - Pithecanthropus Computerurus
pacland           Pac-land
pcgenja           PC Genjin - Pithecanthropus Computerurus (alt)
pcgenj2           PC Genjin 2 - Pithecanthropus Computerurus
pcgenj3           PC Genjin 3 - Pithecanthropus Computerurus
pcpachi           PC Pachi-slot
gecd              Games Express CD Card
circusld          Circus Lido
cyberdod          Cyber Dodge
pcgenj3t          PC Genjin 3 - Pithecanthropus Computerurus (Taikenban)
spaceinv          Space Invaders - Fukkatsu no Hi
makaipri          Makai Prince Dorabocchan
cybrcore          Cyber Core
jchan             Jackie Chan

[Folly]

@DTEAM

Just found something about pcecd I read that it's an addon.

Will have a look if I can find the files and how to load it.

This command gives information that -cdrm (.chd) file can be loaded with just using pce.

pi@pi-2204:~$ /opt/retropie/emulators/mame/mame -listmedia pce
SYSTEM           MEDIA NAME       (brief)    IMAGE FILE EXTENSIONS SUPPORTED
---------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------
pce              cdrom            (cdrm)     .chd  .cue  .toc  .nrg  .gdi  .iso  .cdr  
pce              cartridge        (cart)     .pce  .bin

So, again, I think you have typo in the runcommand :
pce pcecd

Just use :
pce

Edit :
Above did not work.
It will ask for a cartridge.
Tried gecd boots but Loom.chd did not work.
(Haven't got your game yet.)
Will try some more.

[DTEAM]

@Folly
Same problem on my side. It ask for a cartridge. I'll take a look on the notes in the pce_cd.cpp file

http://adb.arcadeitalia.net/download_file.php?tipo=sourcefile&codice=pcecd&emulator=964&oper=view

[Folly]

@DTEAM

Everything is down now so I can't get any files.
Will try to get bbros tomorrow so I can test with softlist loading and eventually without.

[Folly]

@DTEAM

Edit : A solution is in the next post. This post seems irrelevant.

---

I think they need to add HuCard slots in pce_cd.cpp.
(// TODO: correct name, split into incremental HuCard slot devices)

Listslots will give :

pi@pi-2204:~/RetroPie/roms/pcengine/cylums-turbo-grafx-cd-rom-collection$ /opt/retropie/emulators/mame/mame -listslots pce
SYSTEM           SLOT NAME        SLOT OPTIONS     SLOT DEVICE NAME
---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------------------
pce              ctrl             arcade_pad_6     NEC Arcade Pad 6
                                  avenue_pad_6     NEC Avenue Pad 6
                                  joypad2          NEC PC Engine Pad
                                  joypad2_turbo    NEC PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 2 Button Joypad
                                  mouse            NEC PC Engine Mouse
                                  multitap         NEC PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 Multi Tap
                                  pachinko         Coconuts Japan Pachinko Controller CJPC-101
                                  pcjoy            Micom Soft XHE-3 PC Joystick Adapter for PC Engine

                 cartslot         [none]           No options available

You see that there are no cartslots available.

Don't know if it is correct but it seems it's only possible to softload pcecd files.

[Folly]

@DTEAM

I have Loom.chd booting now ;-)

I had a look at the PC-Engine docs and found that lr-beetle-XXXXX needs syscard or equivalent to boot cd's.
So I had a search in the the software for pce.

/opt/retropie/emulators/mame/mame -listsoftware pce|grep cdsys

The cdsys.zip file contains all version of syscard (cdsys,cdsysa and cdsysb)
I tried them all on my Loom.chd and It booted in the CD boot screen.
After pressing "1" it will mention that Loom requires the Super CD-ROM System.

After a good search the rom for mame is scdsys, obviously.
So I did a test with that rom with this test cmd :

pi@pi-2204:~/RetroPie/roms/pcengine/cylums-turbo-grafx-cd-rom-collection$ /opt/retropie/emulators/mame/mame -rompath . pce scdsys -cdrm Loom.chd

Putting the scdsys.zip in the same directory as the game.
Now after pressing "1" the game boots !

So I don't have the bbuster.chd yet, as everything is still down.
But this is something you can try.
Just add these cdsys and scdsys files in BIOS/mame and add one of them instead of ~~pcecd~~.

Let me know if it works.

ps. scdsys is probably the best way to go as it looks like it is the latest version and will probably cover most games.

[DTEAM]

@Folly

Wow, nice work! You are now a MAME expert!
Glad to see you solved this puzzle!

NEW EDIT: I can't find cdsys and scdsys. I'll continue to search them on google

[Folly]

@DTEAM
Added to the normal versions (now 253.08) (commit has wrong version (mistake)) :
https://github.com/FollyMaddy/RetroPie-Share/commit/e6b9900cc28e4d6b673a28e4e19c71066db05e0f

Can you test !

Help has been added, look at that too.
BIOS can be in BIOS/mame/pce

[Folly]

@DTEAM said in Development of module-script generator for lr-mess, lr-mame and mame standalone:

NEW EDIT: I can't find cdsys and scdsys. I'll continue to search them on google

Read my help in the install line.

[Folly]

@Ashpool

I am probably moving back to my Debian 11 VM.
Ubuntu 22.04 already gives multiple things that need fixing.
If you are familiar with these problems we can add a separate thread for this and discuss it over there.
The issues are :

• emulationstation and emulators not centered in desktop display
  • solution is to enable auto-removing the top-panel/top-bar so emulationstation will use the whole screen. (install the extension manager from ubuntu software and enable hide top-bar)
  • https://fostips.com/auto-hide-top-panel-debian-ubuntu-fedora/
• OSX shortcut key combinations interfere with the Ubuntu VM
  • solution is to change some shortcut key-combinations in OSX so they don't interfere with ctrl in combination with the cursor keys in the Ubuntu VM (^->,^<-, etc)
• apple keyboard keys aren't all correct and can't find a solution
• apple keyboard FN key not working for using F1 - F12 (solution was to set keyboard & mouse, in the VMware, on on mac profile)
• selecting multiple files with the ctrl-key in nautilus doesn't work, also no solution found
  • tried caja and it doesn't work in caja either so the issue seems not file-explorer related
• Ubuntu key combo's (ctrl+alt) activate unwanted conflicts when playing games
• moving files from the host to the VM doesn't work
  (VMware tools is noted as installed and copy/past of text works)
  • reinstalling open-vm-tools + open-vm-tools-desktop did not work
  • using caja instead of nautilus works but a drag file icon is displayed which cannot be removed without restart or logging out and logging in
  • logging out and logging in and selecting the settings icon to open Ubuntu on xorg seemed to be a solution however the VM will freeze/lock (and is troublesome to shutdown or restart)
• It's a bit slower than Debian

I had hoped it was better but I expect much more issues.

[Folly]

@DTEAM

Tested already many files from the chd_pcecd romset.
And Buster Bros. (USA) from the redump.pce.revival works too.
Up til now many work ;-)

I hope the speed is ok on the pi4, can't test right now.

[Ashpool]

@Folly

@Folly said in Development of module-script generator for lr-mess, lr-mame and mame standalone:

moving back to my Debian 11 VM.

Sounds like a good idea (though I never used pure debain so far), i also encountered some trouble whence using shared folders now: seem to be working right after enabling 'em, but not anymore after a reboot/restart (need to be deactivated, all FS traces removed from the guest (media target folders) and then can be enabled again). Guess the OpenVMware-Tools need some overhaul in regards to nowadays Ubuntu. But for me setting up a new vm has has to wait 'till next week, as i am currently abroad.

[Folly]

@Ashpool

We can make threads of both in general discussion and discuss installation and issues we face.
Let's see next week or so.

[Folly]

@DTEAM

Any news ?

[DTEAM]

@Folly

It doesn't work with No-Intro Roms, i'll try with MAME roms
I got the good BIOS