Attract Mode with RetroPie - Alternative to EmulationStation

Floob

@zerojay The AM author has now updated the compiling Wiki for non-X details:
https://github.com/mickelson/attract/wiki/Compiling-on-the-Raspberry-Pi-(Raspbian-Jessie)

So that covers pretty much all that is needed to get it up and running, my other tweaks relate to boot process, shaders and themes etc.. all of which are personal preference.

This is useful though - the script I slightly modified from shakz to reboot from one FE to another - these can be seen here:
/home/pi/.attract/scripts - the reboot one is: http://pastebin.com/raw/h8Jc5WYw

The other way round
/home/pi/RetroPie/retropiemenu/Switch To Attract Mode.sh : http://pastebin.com/raw/KMz6k8GG

You could rip out the pre-written emulator configs here:
/home/pi/.attract/scripts/emulators

They are largely in the format of: http://pastebin.com/raw/CBnW7YLZ

Just let me know if there are any specifics you need.

zerojay

Thanks, not sure when I'll be able to get to it yet but hopefully soon.

Floob

@rdb I tend to just stick with the Retroarch hotkey to exit a game (Start + Select), and not use the AM option.
If the emulator is not Retroarch based, I just configure an exit key for that emulator as normal.

You can edit the retroarch files to specify your own exit keys/buttons.

Brigane

@Floob Is it at all possible to update Attract Mode from v.02 to v0.4 without having to reinstall a new image?

Floob

@Brigane You could recompile attract mode, as thats the main change.
Then you'd need to make some small manual changes.

You can see how to compile it here:
https://github.com/mickelson/attract/wiki/Compiling-on-the-Raspberry-Pi-(Raspbian-Jessie)

Brigane

@Floob Ok so I tried your advice and recompiled attract mode, but nothing has changed and it still says V0.2.

Finhead

@Brigane said in Attract Mode with RetroPie - Alternative to EmulationStation:

@Floob Ok so I tried your advice and recompiled attract mode, but nothing has changed and it still says V0.2.

Why would it change the version number? Your just recomiling to the latest build which no longer uses X.
Now at console you can run "attract" instead of "xinit attract" which runs attract without the need for X. This allows the frontend to use the runcommand to in the executable to open all your emulators as EmulationStation does.

Brigane

@Finhead

pi@retropie:~ $ attract
Starting Attract-Mode v2.0.0 (Linux)
Config: /home/pi/.attract/attract.cfg

*** Initializing display: 'scripts'

Loaded master romlist 'scripts' in 0 ms (6 entries kept, 0 discarded)
Constructed 2 filters in 0 ms (12 comparisons)
AL lib: (WW) alc_initconfig: Failed to initialize backend "pulse"
Failed to open X11 display; make sure the DISPLAY environment variable is set correctly
Aborted

But it gives me this error?
I'm pretty sure I when through all the listed commands

Finhead

@Brigane If it's giving you that error you didn't complie it correctly. The new build will run either X or non X, did you get any errors at all compiling?

zerojay

I've updated my script on the RetroPie-Extra repo to install Attract Mode without X. Don't have anything else with it through so I'll likely be adding default configs and so on soon.

Brigane

@Finhead No errors according to my knowledge. I tried compiling correctly again and it says this instead.

Initializing display: 'MAME (Advance)'

Loaded master romlist 'MAME (Advance)' in 5 ms (176 entries kept, 0 discarded)
Constructed 2 filters in 4 ms (352 comparisons)
AL lib: (WW) alc_initconfig: Failed to initialize backend "pulse"
glGetError 0x500
glGetError 0x500
glGetError 0x500
glGetError 0x500
glGetError 0x500
Loaded layout: /opt/retropie/configs/all/attract-mode/layouts/robospin-betanew/ (layout.nut)

Finhead

@Brigane said in Attract Mode with RetroPie - Alternative to EmulationStation:

@Finhead No errors according to my knowledge. I tried compiling correctly again and it says this instead.

Initializing display: 'MAME (Advance)'

Loaded master romlist 'MAME (Advance)' in 5 ms (176 entries kept, 0 discarded)

Constructed 2 filters in 4 ms (352 comparisons)
AL lib: (WW) alc_initconfig: Failed to initialize backend "pulse"
glGetError 0x500
glGetError 0x500
glGetError 0x500
glGetError 0x500
glGetError 0x500

Loaded layout: /opt/retropie/configs/all/attract-mode/layouts/robospin-betanew/ (layout.nut)

The glGetError 0x500 is normal and does not seem to effect anything, everyone that runs the non X version gets this error when opening roms.
What is the exe and arg path you are running? It should look like this since it's using the runcommand with Advance mame.

For some reason the spacing is ignored through the forum. Space it as you normally would.

executable /opt/retropie/supplementary/runcommand/runcommand.sh
args 0 SYS mame-advmame "[romfilename]"
rompath /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame
romext .zip
system Arcade
info_source thegamesdb.net
import_extras /home/pi/.attract/mame-config

robertybob

Can I request that a pre-populated 'Emulator' for Sega 32x be added to the next release?

Floob

@robertybob Sure, in the meantime just create a file in here:
/home/pi/.attract/emulators/{filename.cfg}

and add this to the file
http://pastebin.com/raw/wN1nBk1W

Brigane

@Finhead I should let you know that the above error occurs when I try to start attract mode. So the information you want me to write under mame advance is not possible for me to write.

Finhead

@Brigane I see, maybe you'll need to just use Floobs image and copy your roms and profiles back into the new image. I complied my own image and it went really easy with the new instructions no errors etc 15min and it was done.

robertybob

@Floob Thanks v much!!

Brigane

@Floob This is not to rush on you or anything. But can you say anything about when the next attract update will happen? I'm only asking because since I can't compile to the new version correctly, I might as well wait for the next image file.
Thanks for your amazing work putting this together for us. Also I always enjoy watching your youtube videos. They are much appreciated.

Floob

@Brigane I doubt the next version will be vastly different to v0.4 - I'd try that.

InsecureSpike

are there any plans to add an update feature? so as re-flashing isn't required.
also, are zipped files supported on most of the libretro emu's?