A better looking Vectrex emulator or settings for RetroPie?

neurocrash

I seem to recall that the Dos Vectrex Emulator (DVE) looked more like a vector system than Vecx does, since the lines are jaggy. Are there any shader settings that work on a pi, or any alternatives?

Adding the overlays helps, but some other processing is needed.

Also, does anyone know if DVE will run in Dosbox on the Pi at a decent speed?

Thanks

dankcushions

@neurocrash said in A better looking emulator or settings for RetroPie?:

I seem to recall that the Dos Vectrex Emulator (DVE) looked more like a vector system than Vecx does, since the lines are jaggy. Are there any shader settings that work on a pi, or any alternatives?

hmm, vector systems absolutely were not jaggy! here are good settings for vector games in mame: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/1035/how-to-make-vector-arcade-games-look-their-best

neurocrash

@dankcushions oops, I left the word Vectrex out of the title.

It is Vecx that I'm having issues with. Can Vectrex roms be used in Mame? I saw some mention of that but not necessarily in RetroPie. Thanks!

UDb23

Check this: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/2638/vectrex-overlay-artwork/61

neurocrash

@UDb23 Hi, thanks - I had seen that, and I am using the overlays, however I notice that the vectors are not smooth and do not have the glow or persistence that some of the other emulators have. I saw a thread discussing the use of a blur shader to help, but that wasn't listed in the available shaders on Retropie.

I am surprised that the overlay configuration and overlay scans aren't included, so it will be necessary to configure each game individually which most people may not do.

Thanks!

UDb23

Have you tried with Mame 2015 or 2016 ? Since 2014 Mame supports Vectrex too.
Not sure how that emulation will perform on a Pi

neurocrash

@UDb23 One thread says they are listed as compatible but unplayable. It may be that they are trying to run a more recent game so I may just have to test it. I'm also going to see if DVE will run in DOSbox.
Thanks!

rkoster

@neurocrash
As of VecX 1.2 at least there is a setting to adjust the resolution of the vectors. Go to the menu, then Options, then ResMultiplier. You will want to make sure you have set up the resolution of your screen right for the core, as well.

You will then need to readjust your screen size, overlay position, and all that.

You can also try some of the antialiasing shaders. The blur5fast and blur9fast may work, depending on your setup's speed. I don't know of a bloom shader for Pi.

davej

Cough, cough, cough ;)

rkoster

@davej Oh nice! Looking forward to this.

neurocrash

@rkoster oh, well it's likely I'm running out in a lower resolution than the monitor, so I'll definitely try that. Thanks!

neurocrash

@davej thanks very much for the link. It looks great so I'll follow the thread and cross my fingers.

neurocrash

@neurocrash Just in case anyone else gets the same idea, I was able to run Dos Vectrex Emulator in Retropie Dosbox, and while it looks great, it is far too slow on my Raspberry Pi 3. I think it runs at about 50% of the original speed.

Cheers