Implementing a Full kiosk mode in ES, completely hiding the start and select menus

[Serj Targarien]

It would be great, now that kid and kiosk mode are implemented, to have a "full kiosk" mode so no EmulationStation settings or search menu can be accessed whatsoever. This would be specifically useful for people who have modified their Pi with a soft-shutdown button and can turn off the system that way. That way EmulationStation only acts as a way to select the games, as you can go back to it or turn of the system by pressing physical buttons in the case, and you get a perfect system for kids and non-techy adults alike. Also, now that we have a way to start EmulationStation directly in one system this would be a great way to create really easy to use per system miniconsoles.

Would it be too difficult to implement? Too niche of an audience to do it? Not worth it for the current EmulationStation Retropie branch developers? Let me know what you think about it. I for once would love to see it implemented to be able to make really easy to use and straightforward Retropie systems.

[Zigurana]

I've always made the distinction between setttings (items that affect the configuration of the system and persist across settie) and other functions that happen to be accessed via a menu.
You want to hide the former when implementing a kiosk mode, in order to prevent 'naive' users from inadvertently breaking the system. However, I am not sure it is worthwhile to hide all functions whatsoever.

Why would you not want to be able to jump to a certain letter when you are only a casual user? Would you not like to be able to shutdown the system? Choosing another sorting type will not break the system, etc.

Now, there are of course many different users and many ways to set up the system. Some people never turn off their system, so don't need a shutdown menu at all. Others only have a single system, etc. At some point decisions needed to be made, and I chose to split as described above.

If you have a strong argument or clear use case, then we can always reconsider, but keep in mind that we are aiming to cater to the majority of users.

[pjft]

I suppose, on the other side of the argument or questions, how are the current menus preventing those users from using this in the way you intend?

They can still turn off and reboot via the button, does having the extra option hurt the experience in any way?

Just trying to understand the use cases.

[lostless]

@serj-targarien you already can hide the retropie menu. Press select on each of the menu buttons and edit the “rom”. The choose hidden on each item. Kiosk mode hides any rom that’s set to hidden. But shows them in full mode

[Serj Targarien]

@pjft it's because of my not widely admitted OCD. I use the Nes Classic theme in my build and the start and select menus are not themeable in ES. As I doubt they will be in the future, the only way to have a graphically cohesive (and as an added bonus simpler system) is hiding the start and select menus.

I apologize for not being clear about this in the beginning, I'm not that comfortable admitting the lack of theme related cohesion bugged me so much, so I looked for a secondary cause to justify the feature. :(

[pjft]

@serj-targarien Not at all, thanks for clarifying.

I can see how those menus break the immersion, point taken.

I suppose it's a separate request, though, but still something to consider. At some point in time I believe someone was investigating the possibility of theming those menus, even if it'd be minimal. @Zigurana am I misremembering things, or was that a thing?

[lilbud]

@pjft said in Implementing a Full kiosk mode in ES, completely hiding the start and select menus:

At some point in time I believe someone was investigating the possibility of theming those menus

@jacobfk20 Was doing some work in themeable ES Menus, but, we know what happened there.

[pjft]

@lilbud The curse of ES?

[Zigurana]

@pjft "Sssh! Hush! Don't mention the curse!"

[lilbud]

@pjft Yeah, almost every single person who worked on ES disappeared after starting anything big.

Aloshi - Created ES, life got in the way and gave him no time to work on ES

Jacobfk20 - Started Grid view addon - Unknown Origins

Koerty - Worked on gridview - Real life got in the way

I got a theory puts on tin foil hat They start changing ES and then life stops them. Or it it something else?

[pjft]

@lilbud I mean, there's also black robes, a blood oath, and sworn secrecy involved, but we usually don't discuss those in public.

It's probably best if you believe that "real life gets in the way", and leave it at that.

(By the way, I miss our @mediamogul - does anyone know anything about him?)

[lilbud]

@pjft said in Implementing a Full kiosk mode in ES, completely hiding the start and select menus:

(By the way, I miss our @mediamogul - does anyone know anything about him?)

Yeah, what happened to him? Hasn't posted in 3 months (which is alot in Retropie time.)

The only people who have successfully completed an ES addon or addition is You, Zigurana, and maybe Tomaz on the github*.

*He has been adding many lesser wanted features like CEC support to ES.

[pjft]

@lilbud yeah, thankfully there has been a steady stream of people willing to contribute to ES - jrassa and Hex also come to mind, and Tomas has been pretty much on fire these past several weeks, doing a lot of backstage improvements.

[mediamogul]

@pjft, @lilbud

Hello fellas. I had more on my plate IRL than I could handle a few months back and had to put all extracurriculars aside for a bit. Tied in with all the chaos was the sudden go-ahead to develop a comedy/horror show that I've been trying to get off the ground for a few years.

Like a certain time-traveling Doctor, I'm beginning to regenerate, albeit without the added complications of gender reassignment. The lack of equal pay and an under-representation in government are total deal-breakers. However, as I start to find some time freeing up, I'm looking forward to getting back into retro-gaming and helping out around here again.

[lilbud]

@mediamogul said in Implementing a Full kiosk mode in ES, completely hiding the start and select menus:

Like a certain time-traveling Doctor, I'm beginning to regenerate, albeit without the added complications of gender reassignment.

Are you saying what I think you are saying? Or are you making a stupid Who joke?

[mediamogul]

@lilbud

Can't it be both?

[lilbud]

@mediamogul yeah it can, just thought you were making a joke for a Doctor Who reference about the new doctor.

[pjft]

@mediamogul good to hear! Glad to have you back, I was worried for a bit. Best of luck with real life stuff, and do so by every now and then :)

[mediamogul]

@pjft

Thank you kindly, sir. The warm welcome means a lot, but there's no need to worry. I'm still somewhat swamped until after the holidays, but I do plan on keeping a tab open here to help out with the most recent round of spammers. Those guys are relentless.