What the heck's happened to AdvMESS?

[SpudsMcToole]

Oh, and another superweird thing: if I run the Adventurevision, the runcommand menu on ALL EMULATORS (not just AdvMESS ones) gets blown up double size and won't go back to normal unless I do a full system reboot.

[mediamogul]

@SpudsMcToole said in What the heck's happened to AdvMESS?:

...stopped the bit-depth crashes and let the emulation run, but incredibly slowly.

Your issue may be related to this. You can try adding display_artwork_magnify 1 to your .rc file to see.

[SpudsMcToole]

@mediamogul Nope, that made no difference, still slow as hell.

[SpudsMcToole]

@SpudsMcToole said in What the heck's happened to AdvMESS?:

Oh, and another superweird thing: if I run the Adventurevision, the runcommand menu on ALL EMULATORS (not just AdvMESS ones) gets blown up double size and won't go back to normal unless I do a full system reboot.

I've narrowed this problem down, at least - if I delete these lines from the ADVMESS.RC:

display_restore no
display_rgbeffect none
display_rol no
display_ror no
display_scanlines no
display_skipcolumns auto
display_skiplines auto
display_translucency no
display_vsync yes

...it stops happening, and the Adventurevision display is also a lot brighter, whereas with those lines in half of it is very dark and almost invisible. I have no idea WHY those lines cause either of those problems (I'm guessing display_restore might be something to do with runcommand being screwed for every emulator after running Adventurevision, but then again it's present in every other ADVMESS.RC I have and it doesn't do it with those), but dumping them fixes both, so yay.

[mediamogul]

@SpudsMcToole said in What the heck's happened to AdvMESS?:

(I'm guessing display_restore might be something to do with runcommand being screwed for every emulator after running Adventurevision, but then again it's present in every other ADVMESS.RC I have and it doesn't do it with those)

Very strange that this only affects Adventurevision. Nice to see that you got it sorted though.

[SpudsMcToole]

@mediamogul Doesn't get me anywhere with this awful slowdown bug, though. I've lost two of my favourite systems to it (BBC and VIC-20), and I've been going through the .RC systematically deleting lines that could possibly be the cause and nothing's helping :(

(I'm on AdvMESS 3.9 and the latest Retropie script, 4.4.4.)

[mediamogul]

@SpudsMcToole

Are all the MESS systems experiencing slowdown? If not, have you tried swapping out an .rc file from a system not experiencing the issue. If the problem disappears, you can compare the two for possible differences.

[SpudsMcToole]

@mediamogul Everything except the Adventurevision, yes. I've been trying switching various sections of code between the RC files, but nothing's fixed it yet and it doesn't help that so much of it is incomprehensible.

[SpudsMcToole]

Okay, further narrowing down has been achieved - it appears to be something in one of these lines that's mucking everything up:

device_video_cursor auto
device_video_doublescan yes
device_video_fastchange yes
device_video_interlace no
device_video_output overlay
device_video_overlaysize 0
device_video_singlescan no
device_video_clock 10 - 150 / 30.5 - 60 / 55 - 130

[SpudsMcToole]

Christ, this is mad. I've got the BBC Micro all working again, but the same solution didn't work for the Astrocade, which I've got working by deleting different lines, and I can't fix the Arcadia without totally b0rking all the game controls. I've no idea what's going on tbh.

[mediamogul]

@SpudsMcToole

Rather than deleting previous settings, there might actually be new ones not currently in your file that could help matters. You might consider starting with a fresh advancemess.rc file generated specifically from the newest version to see how it behaves.

[SpudsMcToole]

@mediamogul That's how I got Adventurevision working in the first place. But I can't do that with (say) the BBC, there are literally hours and hours of work in the existing config, setting up controls for each game and generic controls, boot sequences etc.

[A Former User]

@SpudsMcToole I was having the same issues last week. Somehow I ended up with an advmess.rc with lots of duplicate entries. I ended up regenerating it from scratch and then I no longer had errors or the bit depth early exit.

[mediamogul]

@SpudsMcToole

For the sake of comparison, I'll post my .rc files for the Bally Astrocade and Fairchild Channel F. I just tested both under 3.9 and neither needed any modification.

Bally Astrocade

debug_crash no
debug_rawsound no
debug_speedmark no
device_alsa_device default
device_alsa_mixer channel
device_color_bgr15 yes
device_color_bgr16 yes
device_color_bgr24 yes
device_color_bgr32 yes
device_color_bgr8 yes
device_color_palette8 yes
device_color_yuy2 yes
device_dpi_pclock_low 31250000
device_hdmi_pclock_low 0
device_joystick auto
device_keyboard raw
device_mouse auto
device_raw_firstkeyhack no
device_raw_mousedev[0] auto
device_raw_mousedev[1] auto
device_raw_mousedev[2] auto
device_raw_mousedev[3] auto
device_raw_mousetype[0] pnp
device_raw_mousetype[1] pnp
device_raw_mousetype[2] pnp
device_raw_mousetype[3] pnp
device_sdl_samples 512
device_sound auto
device_video auto
device_video_cursor auto
device_video_doublescan yes
device_video_fastchange no
device_video_interlace yes
device_video_output auto
device_video_overlaysize auto
device_video_singlescan yes
dir_artwork /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/artwork
dir_crc /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/crc
dir_diff /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/diff
dir_hi /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/hi
dir_image /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/image
dir_inp /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/inp
dir_memcard /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/memcard
dir_nvram /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/nvram
dir_rom /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/rom
dir_sample /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/sample
dir_snap /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/snap
dir_sta /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/sta
display_adjust none
display_antialias yes
display_artwork_backdrop yes
display_artwork_bezel no
display_artwork_crop yes
display_artwork_overlay yes
display_aspect auto
display_beam 1
display_brightness 1
display_buffer no
display_color auto
display_expand 1.0
display_flicker 0
display_flipx no
display_flipy no
display_frameskip auto
display_gamma 1
display_intensity 1.5
display_interlaceeffect none
display_magnify auto
display_magnifysize 640
display_mode auto
display_pausebrightness 1
display_resize integer
display_resizeeffect none
display_restore yes
display_rgbeffect none
display_rol no
display_ror no
display_scanlines no
display_skipcolumns auto
display_skiplines auto
display_translucency yes
display_vsync yes
include 
input_hotkey yes
input_idleexit 0
input_map[event10] auto
input_map[event11] auto
input_map[event12] auto
input_map[event13] auto
input_map[event14] auto
input_map[event1] auto
input_map[event2] auto
input_map[event3] auto
input_map[event4] auto
input_map[event5] auto
input_map[event6] auto
input_map[event7] auto
input_map[event8] auto
input_map[event9] auto
input_map[key_0] auto
input_map[key_1] auto
input_map[key_2] auto
input_map[key_3] auto
input_map[key_4] auto
input_map[key_5] auto
input_map[key_6] auto
input_map[key_7] auto
input_map[key_8] auto
input_map[key_9] auto
input_map[key_a] auto
input_map[key_again] auto
input_map[key_alt] auto
input_map[key_asterisk] auto
input_map[key_b] auto
input_map[key_back] auto
input_map[key_backquote] auto
input_map[key_backslash] auto
input_map[key_backspace] auto
input_map[key_break] auto
input_map[key_c] auto
input_map[key_capslock] auto
input_map[key_closebrace] auto
input_map[key_colon] auto
input_map[key_comma] auto
input_map[key_copy] auto
input_map[key_ctrl] auto
input_map[key_cut] auto
input_map[key_d] auto
input_map[key_del] auto
input_map[key_diesis] auto
input_map[key_doublequote] auto
input_map[key_down] auto
input_map[key_e] auto
input_map[key_edit] auto
input_map[key_end] auto
input_map[key_enter] auto
input_map[key_equals] auto
input_map[key_esc] auto
input_map[key_f10] auto
input_map[key_f11] auto
input_map[key_f12] auto
input_map[key_f13] auto
input_map[key_f14] auto
input_map[key_f15] auto
input_map[key_f16] auto
input_map[key_f17] auto
input_map[key_f18] auto
input_map[key_f19] auto
input_map[key_f1] auto
input_map[key_f20] auto
input_map[key_f21] auto
input_map[key_f22] auto
input_map[key_f23] auto
input_map[key_f24] auto
input_map[key_f2] auto
input_map[key_f3] auto
input_map[key_f4] auto
input_map[key_f5] auto
input_map[key_f6] auto
input_map[key_f7] auto
input_map[key_f8] auto
input_map[key_f9] auto
input_map[key_f] auto
input_map[key_fctn] auto
input_map[key_find] auto
input_map[key_forward] auto
input_map[key_g] auto
input_map[key_graph] auto
input_map[key_h] auto
input_map[key_help] auto
input_map[key_hold] auto
input_map[key_home] auto
input_map[key_i] auto
input_map[key_ins] auto
input_map[key_j] auto
input_map[key_k] auto
input_map[key_l] auto
input_map[key_lalt] auto
input_map[key_lctrl] auto
input_map[key_left] auto
input_map[key_less] auto
input_map[key_lshift] auto
input_map[key_m] auto
input_map[key_menu] auto
input_map[key_minus] auto
input_map[key_move] auto
input_map[key_n] auto
input_map[key_numlock] auto
input_map[key_o] auto
input_map[key_open] auto
input_map[key_openbrace] auto
input_map[key_p] auto
input_map[key_pad_0] auto
input_map[key_pad_1] auto
input_map[key_pad_2] auto
input_map[key_pad_3] auto
input_map[key_pad_4] auto
input_map[key_pad_5] auto
input_map[key_pad_6] auto
input_map[key_pad_7] auto
input_map[key_pad_8] auto
input_map[key_pad_9] auto
input_map[key_pad_asterisk] auto
input_map[key_pad_colon] auto
input_map[key_pad_diesis] auto
input_map[key_pad_enter] auto
input_map[key_pad_minus] auto
input_map[key_pad_plus] auto
input_map[key_pad_slash] auto
input_map[key_paste] auto
input_map[key_pause] auto
input_map[key_period] auto
input_map[key_pgdn] auto
input_map[key_pgup] auto
input_map[key_play] auto
input_map[key_plus] auto
input_map[key_pound] auto
input_map[key_print] auto
input_map[key_q] auto
input_map[key_quickload] auto
input_map[key_quote] auto
input_map[key_r] auto
input_map[key_ralt] auto
input_map[key_rctrl] auto
input_map[key_record] auto
input_map[key_restore] auto
input_map[key_rew] auto
input_map[key_right] auto
input_map[key_rshift] auto
input_map[key_s] auto
input_map[key_scrlock] auto
input_map[key_semicolon] auto
input_map[key_shift] auto
input_map[key_slash] auto
input_map[key_space] auto
input_map[key_stop] auto
input_map[key_store] auto
input_map[key_t] auto
input_map[key_tab] auto
input_map[key_u] auto
input_map[key_undo] auto
input_map[key_up] auto
input_map[key_v] auto
input_map[key_w] auto
input_map[key_x] auto
input_map[key_y] auto
input_map[key_z] auto
input_map[p1_dialx] auto
input_map[p1_dialy] auto
input_map[p1_lightgunx] auto
input_map[p1_lightguny] auto
input_map[p1_mousex] auto
input_map[p1_mousey] auto
input_map[p1_paddlex] mouse[0,x] mouse[1,x] mouse[2,x]
input_map[p1_paddley] mouse[0,x] mouse[1,x] mouse[2,x]
input_map[p1_pedalbrake] auto
input_map[p1_pedalgas] auto
input_map[p1_pedalother] auto
input_map[p1_stickx] auto
input_map[p1_sticky] auto
input_map[p1_stickz] auto
input_map[p1_trackballx] auto
input_map[p1_trackbally] auto
input_map[p2_dialx] auto
input_map[p2_dialy] auto
input_map[p2_lightgunx] auto
input_map[p2_lightguny] auto
input_map[p2_mousex] auto
input_map[p2_mousey] auto
input_map[p2_paddlex] mouse[0,y] mouse[1,y] mouse[2,y]
input_map[p2_paddley] mouse[0,y] mouse[1,y] mouse[2,y]
input_map[p2_pedalbrake] auto
input_map[p2_pedalgas] auto
input_map[p2_pedalother] auto
input_map[p2_stickx] auto
input_map[p2_sticky] auto
input_map[p2_stickz] auto
input_map[p2_trackballx] auto
input_map[p2_trackbally] auto
input_map[p3_dialx] auto
input_map[p3_dialy] auto
input_map[p3_lightgunx] auto
input_map[p3_lightguny] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_a] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_b] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_bet] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_c] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_chance] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_chi] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_d] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_double_up] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_e] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_f] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_flip_flop] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_g] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_h] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_i] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_j] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_k] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_kan] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_l] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_m] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_n] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_pon] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_reach] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_ron] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_score] auto
input_map[p3_mousex] auto
input_map[p3_mousey] auto
input_map[p3_paddlex] auto
input_map[p3_paddley] auto
input_map[p3_pedalbrake] auto
input_map[p3_pedalgas] auto
input_map[p3_pedalother] auto
input_map[p3_stickx] auto
input_map[p3_sticky] auto
input_map[p3_stickz] auto
input_map[p3_trackballx] auto
input_map[p3_trackbally] auto
input_map[p4_dialx] auto
input_map[p4_dialy] auto
input_map[p4_lightgunx] auto
input_map[p4_lightguny] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_a] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_b] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_bet] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_c] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_chance] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_chi] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_d] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_double_up] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_e] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_f] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_flip_flop] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_g] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_h] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_i] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_j] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_k] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_kan] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_l] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_m] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_n] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_pon] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_reach] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_ron] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_score] auto
input_map[p4_mousex] auto
input_map[p4_mousey] auto
input_map[p4_paddlex] auto
input_map[p4_paddley] auto
input_map[p4_pedalbrake] auto
input_map[p4_pedalgas] auto
input_map[p4_pedalother] auto
input_map[p4_stickx] auto
input_map[p4_sticky] auto
input_map[p4_stickz] auto
input_map[p4_trackballx] auto
input_map[p4_trackbally] auto
input_map[safequit] auto
input_map[service_coin5] auto
input_map[service_coin6] auto
input_map[service_coin7] auto
input_map[service_coin8] auto
input_steadykey no
lcd_server none
lcd_speed 4
lcd_timeout 500
misc_bios default
misc_cheat no
misc_cheatfile /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/misc/cheat.dat
misc_difficulty none
misc_eventdebug no
misc_eventfile /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/misc/event.dat
misc_freeplay no
misc_hiscorefile /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/misc/hiscore.dat
misc_lang none
misc_languagefile /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/misc/english.lng
misc_mutedemo no
misc_quiet yes
misc_ramsize auto
misc_safequit no
misc_smp yes
misc_timetorun 0
record_sound yes
record_sound_time 15
record_video yes
record_video_interleave 2
record_video_time 15
script_coin1 
script_coin2 
script_coin3 
script_coin4 
script_emulation 
script_event1 
script_event10 
script_event11 
script_event12 
script_event13 
script_event14 
script_event2 
script_event3 
script_event4 
script_event5 
script_event6 
script_event7 
script_event8 
script_event9 
script_knocker on(kdb, 0b100); wait(!event()); off(kdb, 0b100);
script_led1 on(kdb, 0b1); wait(!event()); off(kdb, 0b1);
script_led2 on(kdb, 0b10); wait(!event()); off(kdb, 0b10);
script_led3 
script_play 
script_safequit 
script_start1 
script_start2 
script_start3 
script_start4 
script_turbo while (event()) { toggle(kdb, 0b100); delay(100); } off(kdb, 0b100);
script_video wait(!event()); set(kdb, 0);
sound_adjust auto
sound_equalizer_highvolume 0
sound_equalizer_lowvolume 0
sound_equalizer_midvolume 0
sound_latency 0.05
sound_mode auto
sound_normalize yes
sound_samplerate 44100
sound_samples yes
sound_volume -3
sync_fps auto
sync_resample auto
sync_speed 1
sync_startuptime auto
sync_turbospeed 3
ui_color[help_other] 000000 808080
ui_color[help_p1] 000000 ffff00
ui_color[help_p2] 000000 00ff00
ui_color[help_p3] 000000 ff0000
ui_color[help_p4] 000000 00ffff
ui_color[interface] 000000 ffffff
ui_color[select] 000000 afffff
ui_color[tag] 247ef0 ffffff
ui_font auto
ui_fontsize auto
ui_helpimage auto
ui_translucency 0.8
input_map[ui_pause] keyboard[0,w] keyboard[0,a]
input_map[ui_reset_machine] keyboard[0,w] keyboard[0,b]
input_map[ui_snapshot] keyboard[0,w] keyboard[0,y]
input_map[ui_save_state] keyboard[0,w] keyboard[0,q]
input_map[ui_load_state] keyboard[0,w] keyboard[0,l]
input_map[ui_configure] keyboard[0,tab] or keyboard[0,w] keyboard[0,x]
input_map[ui_up] keyboard[0,up]
input_map[ui_down] keyboard[0,down]
input_map[ui_left] keyboard[0,left]
input_map[ui_right] keyboard[0,right]
input_map[ui_select] keyboard[0,enter] or keyboard[0,a]
input_map[ui_cancel] keyboard[0,esc] or keyboard[0,w] keyboard[0,t]
input_map[p1_up] keyboard[0,up]
input_map[p1_down] keyboard[0,down]
input_map[p1_left] keyboard[0,left]
input_map[p1_right] keyboard[0,right]
input_map[p1_doubleright_up] 
input_map[p1_doubleright_down] 
input_map[p1_doubleright_left] 
input_map[p1_doubleright_right] 
input_map[p1_doubleleft_up] 
input_map[p1_doubleleft_down] 
input_map[p1_doubleleft_left] 
input_map[p1_doubleleft_right] 
input_map[p1_button1] keyboard[0,b]
input_map[p1_button2] 
input_map[p1_button3] 
input_map[p1_button4] 
input_map[p1_button5] 
input_map[p1_button6] 
input_map[p1_button7] 
input_map[p1_button8] 
input_map[p1_button9] 
input_map[p1_button10] 
input_map[p1_start] 
input_map[p1_select] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_a] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_b] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_c] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_d] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_e] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_f] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_g] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_h] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_i] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_j] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_k] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_l] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_m] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_n] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_kan] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_pon] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_chi] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_reach] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_ron] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_bet] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_chance] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_score] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_double_up] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_flip_flop] 
input_map[p2_up] keyboard[0,3_pad]
input_map[p2_down] keyboard[0,4_pad]
input_map[p2_left] keyboard[0,1_pad]
input_map[p2_right] keyboard[0,2_pad]
input_map[p2_button1] keyboard[0,6_pad]
input_map[p2_button2] 
input_map[p2_button3] 
input_map[p2_button4] 
input_map[p2_button5] 
input_map[p2_button6] 
input_map[p2_button7] 
input_map[p2_button8] 
input_map[p2_button9] 
input_map[p2_button10] 
input_map[p2_start] 
input_map[p2_select] 
astrocde/input_setting[p1_paddlex] keydelta:20,centerdelta:20,sensitivity:20,reverse:1
astrocde/input_setting[p2_paddlex] keydelta:20,centerdelta:20,sensitivity:20,reverse:0
astrocde[home_pi_retropie_roms_astrocade_bally_pinball]/input_map[p1_button1] keyboard[0,l]
astrocde[home_pi_retropie_roms_astrocade_bally_pinball]/input_map[p2_button1] keyboard[0,q]
astrocde[home_pi_retropie_roms_astrocade_bally_pinball]/input_map[p2_down] keyboard[0,b]

Fairchild Channel F

debug_crash no
debug_rawsound no
debug_speedmark no
device_alsa_device default
device_alsa_mixer channel
device_color_bgr15 yes
device_color_bgr16 yes
device_color_bgr24 yes
device_color_bgr32 yes
device_color_bgr8 yes
device_color_palette8 yes
device_color_yuy2 yes
device_dpi_pclock_low 31250000
device_hdmi_pclock_low 0
device_joystick auto
device_keyboard raw
device_mouse auto
device_raw_firstkeyhack no
device_raw_mousedev[0] auto
device_raw_mousedev[1] auto
device_raw_mousedev[2] auto
device_raw_mousedev[3] auto
device_raw_mousetype[0] pnp
device_raw_mousetype[1] pnp
device_raw_mousetype[2] pnp
device_raw_mousetype[3] pnp
device_sdl_samples 512
device_sound auto
device_video auto
device_video_cursor auto
device_video_doublescan yes
device_video_fastchange no
device_video_interlace yes
device_video_output auto
device_video_overlaysize auto
device_video_singlescan yes
dir_artwork /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/artwork
dir_crc /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/crc
dir_diff /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/diff
dir_hi /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/hi
dir_image /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/image
dir_inp /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/inp
dir_memcard /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/memcard
dir_nvram /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/nvram
dir_rom /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/rom
dir_sample /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/sample
dir_snap /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/snap
dir_sta /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/sta
display_adjust none
display_antialias yes
display_artwork_backdrop yes
display_artwork_bezel no
display_artwork_crop yes
display_artwork_overlay yes
display_aspect auto
display_beam 1
display_brightness 1
display_buffer no
display_color auto
display_expand 1.0
display_flicker 0
display_flipx no
display_flipy no
display_frameskip auto
display_gamma 1
display_intensity 1.5
display_interlaceeffect none
display_magnify auto
display_magnifysize 640
display_mode auto
display_pausebrightness 1
display_resize integer
display_resizeeffect none
display_restore yes
display_rgbeffect none
display_rol no
display_ror no
display_scanlines no
display_skipcolumns auto
display_skiplines auto
display_translucency yes
display_vsync yes
include 
input_hotkey yes
input_idleexit 0
input_map[event10] auto
input_map[event11] auto
input_map[event12] auto
input_map[event13] auto
input_map[event14] auto
input_map[event1] auto
input_map[event2] auto
input_map[event3] auto
input_map[event4] auto
input_map[event5] auto
input_map[event6] auto
input_map[event7] auto
input_map[event8] auto
input_map[event9] auto
input_map[key_0] auto
input_map[key_1] auto
input_map[key_2] auto
input_map[key_3] auto
input_map[key_4] auto
input_map[key_5] auto
input_map[key_6] auto
input_map[key_7] auto
input_map[key_8] auto
input_map[key_9] auto
input_map[key_a] auto
input_map[key_again] auto
input_map[key_alt] auto
input_map[key_asterisk] auto
input_map[key_b] auto
input_map[key_back] auto
input_map[key_backquote] auto
input_map[key_backslash] auto
input_map[key_backspace] auto
input_map[key_break] auto
input_map[key_c] auto
input_map[key_capslock] auto
input_map[key_closebrace] auto
input_map[key_colon] auto
input_map[key_comma] auto
input_map[key_copy] auto
input_map[key_ctrl] auto
input_map[key_cut] auto
input_map[key_d] auto
input_map[key_del] auto
input_map[key_diesis] auto
input_map[key_doublequote] auto
input_map[key_down] auto
input_map[key_e] auto
input_map[key_edit] auto
input_map[key_end] auto
input_map[key_enter] auto
input_map[key_equals] auto
input_map[key_esc] auto
input_map[key_f10] auto
input_map[key_f11] auto
input_map[key_f12] auto
input_map[key_f13] auto
input_map[key_f14] auto
input_map[key_f15] auto
input_map[key_f16] auto
input_map[key_f17] auto
input_map[key_f18] auto
input_map[key_f19] auto
input_map[key_f1] auto
input_map[key_f20] auto
input_map[key_f21] auto
input_map[key_f22] auto
input_map[key_f23] auto
input_map[key_f24] auto
input_map[key_f2] auto
input_map[key_f3] auto
input_map[key_f4] auto
input_map[key_f5] auto
input_map[key_f6] auto
input_map[key_f7] auto
input_map[key_f8] auto
input_map[key_f9] auto
input_map[key_f] auto
input_map[key_fctn] auto
input_map[key_find] auto
input_map[key_forward] auto
input_map[key_g] auto
input_map[key_graph] auto
input_map[key_h] auto
input_map[key_help] auto
input_map[key_hold] auto
input_map[key_home] auto
input_map[key_i] auto
input_map[key_ins] auto
input_map[key_j] auto
input_map[key_k] auto
input_map[key_l] auto
input_map[key_lalt] auto
input_map[key_lctrl] auto
input_map[key_left] auto
input_map[key_less] auto
input_map[key_lshift] auto
input_map[key_m] auto
input_map[key_menu] auto
input_map[key_minus] auto
input_map[key_move] auto
input_map[key_n] auto
input_map[key_numlock] auto
input_map[key_o] auto
input_map[key_open] auto
input_map[key_openbrace] auto
input_map[key_p] auto
input_map[key_pad_0] auto
input_map[key_pad_1] auto
input_map[key_pad_2] auto
input_map[key_pad_3] auto
input_map[key_pad_4] auto
input_map[key_pad_5] auto
input_map[key_pad_6] auto
input_map[key_pad_7] auto
input_map[key_pad_8] auto
input_map[key_pad_9] auto
input_map[key_pad_asterisk] auto
input_map[key_pad_colon] auto
input_map[key_pad_diesis] auto
input_map[key_pad_enter] auto
input_map[key_pad_minus] auto
input_map[key_pad_plus] auto
input_map[key_pad_slash] auto
input_map[key_paste] auto
input_map[key_pause] auto
input_map[key_period] auto
input_map[key_pgdn] auto
input_map[key_pgup] auto
input_map[key_play] auto
input_map[key_plus] auto
input_map[key_pound] auto
input_map[key_print] auto
input_map[key_q] auto
input_map[key_quickload] auto
input_map[key_quote] auto
input_map[key_r] auto
input_map[key_ralt] auto
input_map[key_rctrl] auto
input_map[key_record] auto
input_map[key_restore] auto
input_map[key_rew] auto
input_map[key_right] auto
input_map[key_rshift] auto
input_map[key_s] auto
input_map[key_scrlock] auto
input_map[key_semicolon] auto
input_map[key_shift] auto
input_map[key_slash] auto
input_map[key_space] auto
input_map[key_stop] auto
input_map[key_store] auto
input_map[key_t] auto
input_map[key_tab] auto
input_map[key_u] auto
input_map[key_undo] auto
input_map[key_up] auto
input_map[key_v] auto
input_map[key_w] auto
input_map[key_x] auto
input_map[key_y] auto
input_map[key_z] auto
input_map[p1_dialx] auto
input_map[p1_dialy] auto
input_map[p1_lightgunx] auto
input_map[p1_lightguny] auto
input_map[p1_mousex] auto
input_map[p1_mousey] auto
input_map[p1_paddlex] auto
input_map[p1_paddley] auto
input_map[p1_pedalbrake] auto
input_map[p1_pedalgas] auto
input_map[p1_pedalother] auto
input_map[p1_stickx] auto
input_map[p1_sticky] auto
input_map[p1_stickz] auto
input_map[p1_trackballx] auto
input_map[p1_trackbally] auto
input_map[p2_dialx] auto
input_map[p2_dialy] auto
input_map[p2_lightgunx] auto
input_map[p2_lightguny] auto
input_map[p2_mousex] auto
input_map[p2_mousey] auto
input_map[p2_paddlex] auto
input_map[p2_paddley] auto
input_map[p2_pedalbrake] auto
input_map[p2_pedalgas] auto
input_map[p2_pedalother] auto
input_map[p2_stickx] auto
input_map[p2_sticky] auto
input_map[p2_stickz] auto
input_map[p2_trackballx] auto
input_map[p2_trackbally] auto
input_map[p3_dialx] auto
input_map[p3_dialy] auto
input_map[p3_lightgunx] auto
input_map[p3_lightguny] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_a] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_b] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_bet] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_c] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_chance] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_chi] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_d] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_double_up] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_e] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_f] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_flip_flop] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_g] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_h] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_i] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_j] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_k] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_kan] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_l] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_m] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_n] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_pon] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_reach] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_ron] auto
input_map[p3_mahjong_score] auto
input_map[p3_mousex] auto
input_map[p3_mousey] auto
input_map[p3_paddlex] auto
input_map[p3_paddley] auto
input_map[p3_pedalbrake] auto
input_map[p3_pedalgas] auto
input_map[p3_pedalother] auto
input_map[p3_stickx] auto
input_map[p3_sticky] auto
input_map[p3_stickz] auto
input_map[p3_trackballx] auto
input_map[p3_trackbally] auto
input_map[p4_dialx] auto
input_map[p4_dialy] auto
input_map[p4_lightgunx] auto
input_map[p4_lightguny] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_a] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_b] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_bet] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_c] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_chance] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_chi] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_d] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_double_up] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_e] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_f] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_flip_flop] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_g] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_h] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_i] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_j] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_k] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_kan] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_l] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_m] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_n] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_pon] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_reach] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_ron] auto
input_map[p4_mahjong_score] auto
input_map[p4_mousex] auto
input_map[p4_mousey] auto
input_map[p4_paddlex] auto
input_map[p4_paddley] auto
input_map[p4_pedalbrake] auto
input_map[p4_pedalgas] auto
input_map[p4_pedalother] auto
input_map[p4_stickx] auto
input_map[p4_sticky] auto
input_map[p4_stickz] auto
input_map[p4_trackballx] auto
input_map[p4_trackbally] auto
input_map[safequit] auto
input_map[service_coin5] auto
input_map[service_coin6] auto
input_map[service_coin7] auto
input_map[service_coin8] auto
input_steadykey no
lcd_server none
lcd_speed 4
lcd_timeout 500
misc_bios default
misc_cheat no
misc_cheatfile /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/misc/cheat.dat
misc_difficulty none
misc_eventdebug no
misc_eventfile /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/misc/event.dat
misc_freeplay no
misc_hiscorefile /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/misc/hiscore.dat
misc_lang none
misc_languagefile /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/advmess/misc/english.lng
misc_mutedemo no
misc_quiet yes
misc_ramsize auto
misc_safequit no
misc_smp yes
misc_timetorun 0
record_sound yes
record_sound_time 15
record_video yes
record_video_interleave 2
record_video_time 15
script_coin1 
script_coin2 
script_coin3 
script_coin4 
script_emulation 
script_event1 
script_event10 
script_event11 
script_event12 
script_event13 
script_event14 
script_event2 
script_event3 
script_event4 
script_event5 
script_event6 
script_event7 
script_event8 
script_event9 
script_knocker on(kdb, 0b100); wait(!event()); off(kdb, 0b100);
script_led1 on(kdb, 0b1); wait(!event()); off(kdb, 0b1);
script_led2 on(kdb, 0b10); wait(!event()); off(kdb, 0b10);
script_led3 
script_play 
script_safequit 
script_start1 
script_start2 
script_start3 
script_start4 
script_turbo while (event()) { toggle(kdb, 0b100); delay(100); } off(kdb, 0b100);
script_video wait(!event()); set(kdb, 0);
sound_adjust auto
sound_equalizer_highvolume 0
sound_equalizer_lowvolume 0
sound_equalizer_midvolume 0
sound_latency 0.05
sound_mode auto
sound_normalize yes
sound_samplerate 44100
sound_samples yes
sound_volume -3
sync_fps auto
sync_resample auto
sync_speed 1
sync_startuptime auto
sync_turbospeed 3
ui_color[help_other] 000000 808080
ui_color[help_p1] 000000 ffff00
ui_color[help_p2] 000000 00ff00
ui_color[help_p3] 000000 ff0000
ui_color[help_p4] 000000 00ffff
ui_color[interface] 000000 ffffff
ui_color[select] 000000 afffff
ui_color[tag] 247ef0 ffffff
ui_font auto
ui_fontsize auto
ui_helpimage auto
ui_translucency 0.8
input_map[ui_pause] keyboard[0,e] keyboard[0,a]
input_map[ui_reset_machine] keyboard[0,e] keyboard[0,b]
input_map[ui_snapshot] keyboard[0,e] keyboard[0,y]
input_map[ui_save_state] keyboard[0,e] keyboard[0,r]
input_map[ui_load_state] keyboard[0,e] keyboard[0,l]
input_map[ui_configure] keyboard[0,tab] or keyboard[0,e] keyboard[0,x]
input_map[ui_up] keyboard[0,up]
input_map[ui_down] keyboard[0,down]
input_map[ui_left] keyboard[0,left]
input_map[ui_right] keyboard[0,right]
input_map[ui_select] keyboard[0,enter] or keyboard[0,a]
input_map[ui_cancel] keyboard[0,esc] or keyboard[0,e] keyboard[0,t]
input_map[p1_up] keyboard[0,up]
input_map[p1_down] keyboard[0,down]
input_map[p1_left] keyboard[0,left]
input_map[p1_right] keyboard[0,right]
input_map[p1_doubleright_up] 
input_map[p1_doubleright_down] 
input_map[p1_doubleright_left] 
input_map[p1_doubleright_right] 
input_map[p1_doubleleft_up] 
input_map[p1_doubleleft_down] 
input_map[p1_doubleleft_left] 
input_map[p1_doubleleft_right] 
input_map[p1_button1] keyboard[0,b] or keyboard[0,4]
input_map[p1_button2] keyboard[0,x] or keyboard[0,3]
input_map[p1_button3] keyboard[0,a] or keyboard[0,2]
input_map[p1_button4] keyboard[0,y] or keyboard[0,1]
input_map[p1_button5] keyboard[0,r]
input_map[p1_button6] keyboard[0,d]
input_map[p1_button7] keyboard[0,f]
input_map[p1_button8] 
input_map[p1_button9] 
input_map[p1_button10] 
input_map[p1_start] keyboard[0,l]
input_map[p1_select] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_a] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_b] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_c] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_d] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_e] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_f] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_g] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_h] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_i] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_j] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_k] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_l] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_m] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_n] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_kan] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_pon] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_chi] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_reach] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_ron] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_bet] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_chance] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_score] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_double_up] 
input_map[p1_mahjong_flip_flop] 
input_map[p2_up] keyboard[0,i]
input_map[p2_down] keyboard[0,j]
input_map[p2_left] keyboard[0,g]
input_map[p2_right] keyboard[0,h]
input_map[p2_button1] keyboard[0,m] or keyboard[0,8]
input_map[p2_button2] keyboard[0,n] or keyboard[0,7]
input_map[p2_button3] keyboard[0,k] or keyboard[0,6]
input_map[p2_button4] keyboard[0,o] or keyboard[0,5]
input_map[p2_start] 
input_map[p2_select] 
channelf[home_pi_retropie_roms_channelf_alien_invasion]/input_map[p1_up] keyboard[0,i]
channelf[home_pi_retropie_roms_channelf_alien_invasion]/input_map[p1_down] keyboard[0,j]
channelf[home_pi_retropie_roms_channelf_alien_invasion]/input_map[p1_left] keyboard[0,g]
channelf[home_pi_retropie_roms_channelf_alien_invasion]/input_map[p1_right] keyboard[0,h]
channelf[home_pi_retropie_roms_channelf_alien_invasion]/input_map[p1_button1] keyboard[0,m]
channelf[home_pi_retropie_roms_channelf_alien_invasion]/input_map[p2_up] keyboard[0,up]
channelf[home_pi_retropie_roms_channelf_alien_invasion]/input_map[p2_down] keyboard[0,down]
channelf[home_pi_retropie_roms_channelf_alien_invasion]/input_map[p2_left] keyboard[0,left]
channelf[home_pi_retropie_roms_channelf_alien_invasion]/input_map[p2_right] keyboard[0,right]
channelf[home_pi_retropie_roms_channelf_alien_invasion]/input_map[p2_button1] keyboard[0,b]

[SpudsMcToole]

@mediamogul That sorted the Channel F (with a bit of tweaking), cheers.

The Astrocade I'd already fixed, and it works fine for every game I've tried EXCEPT Space Fortress (unfortunately the best game on the system), which used to run fine but now goes at about 1fps. I tried using your .RC file instead, but the exact same thing happened.

The really freaky one is the Arcadia, though. I can get it to run no problem, right up to the point where I start any game, at which point it plays them by itself. No matter how I set the controls, the player ship will just lurch around, moving and shooting (or whatever) all on its own, regardless of whether I touch the controls or not.

But here's the REALLY wacky part.

If I boot up Pleiades on the Arcadia, it plays through the first three stages by itself. It's pretty good - it clears them all. So I wondered if I'd (somehow) recorded and then played back a previous game. But THEN, and only then, it gives me back control for the last stage (the one where you steer onto an airstrip dodging the parked ships). Keyboard and joystick both control the ship perfectly.

Once I've steered to the target and completed the stage, the Pi takes over and plays by itself again.

If anyone can explain any of THAT, I'm all ears.