[New Theme] Magazine Madness (Released)

[fastlowrex]

I've been slowly working on a new theme that I'm calling "Magazine Madness".

Artwork is about 90% complete, just a few more collections and it is done. There will be artwork for 25 collections in this theme.

The theme will have a horizontal menu selection wheel using large front magazine art for each system and collection. It will also support video snaps and marquees. Each system has an open magazine image giving the illusion you are reading a magazine, and the snap and marquee change per rom selection.

https://github.com/RetroHursty69/es-theme-magazinemadness

Dwayne Hurst

[HurricaneFan]

Very Well done! Can't wait to test it out.

[TMNTturtlguy]

Very sharp! I lile this a lot.....I actually started a theme just like your system view, but instead of magazine covers I have movie posters and movie marquee light bulbs.....since yours is so great I am going to shelve mine for now and work on a different idea I have. Great work, can't wait to see more!

[HurricaneFan]

@tmntturtlguy Do you have a screenshot. I'd love to see that!

[TMNTturtlguy]

@hurricanefan not really, I have been busy so I just have basic layout boxes right now, I spent most my time playing with the carousel settings and not the art yet, that is why I am going to move to my other idea!

[alphatoanant]

Awesome concept @fastlowrex! Your attention to detail on the magazines is spot on. Looking forward to more of your work on this.

[jozzy1]

@fastlowrex looks absolutely fantastic. can't wait to try this. Love it...

[pjft]

@fastlowrex Oh, well done. Some great themes popping up recently!

I'm downloading it to try it out.

My main comment before trying it out - more functional than design-wise - is that having a list with only 5 items in it might not be especially functional given that when you press R1/L1 it moves 7-8 at a time, so you may risk not seeing some games when doing that.

Needs to be checked - I'm not fully sure how it'll behave with such a small list, maybe it works well - but other than that this looks very nifty!

[pjft]

@fastlowrex so I just installed it and it looks glorious. Everything looks spot on!

I do need to create a script to randomize themes :p

That being said, a few comments and maybe a small request from my experience with it:

• the video z-index in the collections menu is off, it shows on top of the TV.
• the unselected folders text default color is white, which makes it hard to read on the white background:) maybe make it grey, as the normal text is black?
• effectively, having only 5 items in the list makes the R1/L1 navigation impractical as there'll be items that will never be visible. I recommend having at least 8 items in the list, which would likely mean increasing the list size:/ it's not a big issue, though, but it is worth noting.
• I suppose my request is related to the videos, and I know that this is as much a design decision as it is personal preference, so make much of it :) in this case, as you use the z-index for videos, this is built for people who mostly use VLC as the video player. When you use OMX player, as expected, the layout experience is hit and miss. Some current layouts work well, but others don't really look well on OMX player. If you'd consider tweaking some of the TV layouts to accommodate that, I'm happy to give more details on which work well and which don't (or you can also just turn on OMX player and see) :). Anyway, I don't expect this to be picked up, but thought I'd bring it up in case you'd be open to it - be it in this version or a separate theme version.

Anyway, looks great. Congratulations on the release!

[alan.partridge]

Breathtaking, absolutely spot on.

[fastlowrex]

@pjft , Hi. I have made some changes to the theme using some of your suggestions. Thanks for the feedback.

[cyperghost]

@fastlowrex Fantastic theme! You were a bit inspired by the WDTV background?

[pjft]

@fastlowrex thank you! I see you made the font smaller at least, which does help:)

I must have misremembered the code - or someone might have changed it in the meantime - because it still seems to not show all entries when doing L1/R1, but it's minor. I certainly wouldn't make the font any smaller - I would only consider increasing the text box but that is likely a pain across all the systems.

I love all the tiny details and text in the magazine covers and when open! Well done.

I wonder if you wouldn't consider adding a small metadata box similar to a "Review score" box.

But it's just a thought, really. I'm using it as is right now.

Thank you very much for putting it together!

[fastlowrex]

So that the snap layer plays behind the TV bezel and not on top, you need to turn off USE OMX PLAYER (HW ACCELERATED) in your options.

[pjft]

@fastlowrex thanks. Are you referring to any comment of mine in particular, though?

Best.

[stephan311280]

wow nice theme
but maybe the boxart a little bigger?

[AkiAfroo]

amazing! can we have .psd files for to make customs systems?

[NatoPotato13]

@fastlowrex Any chance of getting a Wii Theme added? This is my favorite theme at the time!! Great Work

[hargon]

This theme is great! One of my favorite, it is in your planes to make a ZX Spectrum theme?

That would be awesome!

Thanks
Hugo

[AkiAfroo]

@hargon zx spectrum is already in.