Video Preview in EmulationStation

Nismo

@filiphdan I'm working on it.

HurricaneFan

@fieldofcows Could you share your theme you used in the video at the top of this post? I'd love to have my mame roms show up like that.

mattrixk

This question is mainly aimed at @fieldofcows, as the video previews are his baby, but anyone who knows the answer can answer it:

Would it be possible to show a video on the System View? Imagine what we could do if we could set a specific (or random) video to display on the system view, the same way we set a logo! Especially with @Zigurana's awesome new carousel mod.

Now, I realise that we don't want to be adding videos directly to the themes, but I'd imagine there's a way to point the video <path> to the folder where the videos are kept

Just a thought.

**Scannigan**

@mattrixk How's the carousel mod implemented?

mattrixk

@__Scannigan__

<feature supported="carousel">
  <carousel name="systemcarousel">
    <type>vertical</type>
    <pos>0.010 0.020</pos>
    <size>0.300 0.890</size>
    <color>FFFFFF00</color>
    <logoScale>1.8</logoScale>
    <logoSize>0.125 0.160</logoSize>
    <maxLogoCount>5</maxLogoCount>
  </carousel>

  <text name="systemInfo">
    <pos>0.010 0.930</pos>
    <size>0.980 0.050</size>
    <backgroundColor>FFFFFF00</backgroundColor>
    <color>FFFFFF</color>
    <fontPath>./_inc/font/Roboto-Light.ttf</fontPath>
    <fontSize>0.025</fontSize>
  </text>
</feature>

That's how you do the systemCarousel and systemInfo. I'm unsure about the <feature> tag though, as I haven't tested it.

jdrassa

@mattrixk @Scannigan

When using the <feature> tag, you still need to have a <view>. See revised example below.

<feature supported="carousel">
  <view name="system">
    <carousel name="systemcarousel">
      <type>vertical</type>
      <pos>0.010 0.020</pos>
      <size>0.300 0.890</size>
      <color>FFFFFF00</color>
      <logoScale>1.8</logoScale>
      <logoSize>0.125 0.160</logoSize>
      <maxLogoCount>5</maxLogoCount>
    </carousel>

    <text name="systemInfo">
      <pos>0.010 0.930</pos>
      <size>0.980 0.050</size>
      <backgroundColor>FFFFFF00</backgroundColor>
      <color>FFFFFF</color>
      <fontPath>./_inc/font/Roboto-Light.ttf</fontPath>
      <fontSize>0.025</fontSize>
    </text>
  </view>
</feature>

That's how you do the systemCarousel and systemInfo. I'm unsure about the <feature> tag though, as I haven't tested it.

mattrixk

@jdrassa Ahh, I missed that part. Cheers. I'll be doing some testing of it today to make sure my theme does it correctly.

Nismo

@jdrassa For some reason, feature tag breaks my theme, all metadata stuff, gamelist parameters and sounds inside video view, are ignored, any tips?

FlyingTomahawk

@jdrassa

Thanks for the sample code.
I guess similar needs to be done with the video code right?

Oh and btw. the maxSize tag for video worked like a charm. Now vertical shooter videos are having the right aspect ratio.

jdrassa

@Nismo
Are you using the latest build? The feature tag is a newer addition that allows for backward compatibility for themes. If the version of EmulationStation you are running doesn't support it, then it will be ignored.

jdrassa

@FlyingTomahawk it is not required, just recommended. Without it, your theme may break for users who haven't updated.

Nismo

@jdrassa Yes it's the old fieldofcows windows build, I didn't update yet. Thanks for the advice.

Nismo

@jdrassa I have another question for backwards compatibility.

I have video views in main.xml file but also in each theme.xml for each system, so I suppose that I need to use the feature tag on both?

FlyingTomahawk

I don't know how many ES forks are out there, Windows and RetroPie versions, but would it be possible that @jdrassa , @Nismo , @Zigurana put a link to your current up to date version inside your signature? Then people might find it quicker and you guys could just point to your sig if anyone asks.
I have the latest version for Windows, I think, 2.1.5 RP that supports all the new stuff like carousel and video maxSize but I cannot remember where I downloaded it.

Nismo

@FlyingTomahawk I have downloaded the latest windows version, but I didn't update yet just because my build it's in my native language, and if I update I'll loose all my translation.

I'm waiting for @jdrassa to post a little guide to how to configure the automated builds. Then I can update and translate my ES more easily.

FlyingTomahawk

Found it! Added the link into my sig so that I and others can find it.

jdrassa

@Nismo only the <video> element has to be wrapped in the feature tag to maintain backwards compatibility. If you want to support non-video ES users, then you would need to use the <feature> anywhere you are using <video>.

mattrixk

@jdrassa Does <feature> work on the <carousel> tag?

Nismo

@jdrassa I supose that... I need to edit all my xml files.... :(

@mattrixk Yes it works.

mattrixk

Thanks @Nismo. Turns out I was using an older build* that didn't include the carousel stuff.

* It was 6 days old. Positively ancient!