Development of module-script generator for lr-mess, lr-mame and mame standalone

jamrom2

@Folly said in Development of module-script generator for lr-mess and mame standalone:

@DTEAM

Thanks ;-)

Have you also been thinking of adding the bezels from here :
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/32310/bezels-for-coleco-tabletop-arcade-games
Into the mame artwork ?

If you haven't done so already, definately try them. They're great. Really adds to the game.

I have bezel's from all over, and many I made combining artwork from other artists working on MAME. Makes a world of difference to the look of the game!

Folly

@jamrom2

Yes, I have tried them.

Would be nice when it's possible to integrate them into the Standalone Mame Artwork (from our downloads in the script) and the possibility to then extract the bezels for lr-mess and build them up with the correct .cfg files, just like we do with the backgrounds of many handhelds.

Then we only have to download the artwork in the script and generate the bezels for lr-mess without having to download the bezels and create all these .cfg files separately .

DTEAM

@Folly said in Development of module-script generator for lr-mess and mame standalone:

@DTEAM
Thanks ;-)
Have you also been thinking of adding the bezels from here :
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/32310/bezels-for-coleco-tabletop-arcade-games
Into the mame artwork ?

I use them with instructions from @jamrom2 (thanks by the way!). However, the Pengo-specific instructions don't work for me. I don't know if it's because I have a 5" screen. If I have some time, I could convert some to MAME artworks. In some cases, they already existed in MAME artwork format.

Folly

@DTEAM

So when some of them already exist then we could use these.
Only the bezel has to be always the same name in the specific <artwork>.zip (for example bezel.png).
Then we can extract them just like we do with background.png and create overlay configs specific to the bezels.

What do you think, can we make that happen ;-)

We can just start with only 1 and see how it goes.

Btw.
You should read this about MSX and loading with basename (issue) :
https://forums.bannister.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=120612#Post120612

DTEAM

@Folly said in Development of module-script generator for lr-mess and mame standalone:

@DTEAM
So when some of them already exist then we could use these.
Only the bezel has to be always the same name in the specific <artwork>.zip (for example bezel.png).
Then we can extract them just like we do with background.png and create overlay configs specific to the bezels.
What do you think, can we make that happen ;-)

I prefer the "Mame Artwork" option to the "Overlay in Retroarch" option. When you create a MAME artwork, it is not affected by the shape or size of the screen compared to "Overlays in Retroarch"

Folly

@DTEAM

I haven't tried Pengo, indeed it's a different config layout.
We should do the other regular ones first.
Then we can always do Pengo later, If we want.

Rectification :
We should use the filename Bezel.png in an artwork file and make sure there is no Background.png in the same file.

Folly

@DTEAM

When you create a MAME artwork, it is not affected by the shape or size of the screen compared to "Overlays in Retroarch"

Indeed you are correct about that.
The overlays do not always align in different resolutions.
But I think it's a nice feature and perhaps the Bezels can be adjusted so the will work on different resolutions.

Anyhow I added it in the script.
I have still 2 separate lines for Background overlays and Bezel overlays.
So nobody is forced to create the bezels if they don't want to.

I think you can already add just a zip file with a bezel inside to test.
I renamed cgalaxn.png to Bezel.png and zipped that as cgalaxn.zip.
The file had no effect on mame.
So we can just test for lr-mess only at first and then create it later for mame, If you know what I mean.

My configs will also have this (because the Background overlays have that too) :
input_overlay_scale = 1.000000

Edit :
It should be possible for different resolutions we can also create bezels for specific resolutions and call it for example Bezel-1600x900.png and make the options available for these different resolutions

https://github.com/FollyMaddy/RetroPie-Share/commit/a05e12ce7b8014cba7cbd5716b2a77e34ba29b8a

Folly

@DTEAM

@Folly said in Development of module-script generator for lr-mess and mame standalone:

The overlays do not always align in different resolutions.

I found that this is basically a 16:9 / 4:3 problem.
The bezels from Jimmy are 16:9 and will work on different resolutions which are 16:9.

So for lr-mess we probably just need 2 different bezels, one for 16:9 and one for 4:3.

What resolution or screen-ratio do you think you use ?

I use 800x600 (4:3) very often and then I have the same problem when using a 16:9 picture.
You will notice with cgalaxy :

Can you check this one for me (cut off borders to match 4:3) :

The script is accommodated to handle both now :
https://github.com/FollyMaddy/RetroPie-Share/commit/f17089a730147facd41d79306410316ddabbd69b

DTEAM

@Folly said in Development of module-script generator for lr-mess and mame standalone:

What resolution or screen-ratio do you think you use ?

I'm using a 5" touchscreen (800x480) . This is non-standard for large screens, but standard for small screens. This is why I prefer to use "MAME artworks"

With your script, are you able to run Alien Chase? I can't run 25% of MAME/lr-mess games in classich. I will check if the problem is on my side.

Folly

@DTEAM

I will test that game when I am on my Pi, now on a boot traveling for my work.
On my macbook here it works. (not really know how to play though)

Are you at least willing to combine the lr-mess bezels into the mame artwork files and place them on the google-drive ?
Others will enjoy that for sure, including me ;-)

This is the first one :
https://ufile.io/ph2miz4n
(be sure you don't overwrite existing files if they are already there)

Folly

@DTEAM said in Development of module-script generator for lr-mess and mame standalone:

With your script, are you able to run Alien Chase?

Yes it does work, at least I think it does.
It's a tricky game though.
I had to find the manual and read that a bit on how to play.
Didn't play long but it seems it works ok.

Found a bunch of manuals here :
https://www.handheldmuseum.com
https://www.handheldmuseum.com/Manuals/index.html

Btw.
If it doesn't work then it's probably not due to my script.
You can post your loader-line from the first lines of the runcommand.log so I can compare and test.
I think you have the same file as I have but check if you have the same file as I have :

pi@raspberrypi:~/RetroPie/roms/classich $ sha1sum alnchase.7z
0f6a2b9d157b96bf41c134675e9841d459b4cd3b  alnchase.7z

From mame-0.231-merged

Folly

@DTEAM @jamrom2

If you both are interested, I added some interesting stuff in the script :

ability to install lr-mame
ability to detect systems between arcade or non-arcade
use arcade/non-arcade detection to use appropriate libretto core in generated module-script
add ability to install arcade categories
ability to push a rom index file to the appropriate roms directory (for the handheld/p&p/categories) the file will contain the rom-names associated with that category.
detecting all Atari ST/STE/MEGA STE types as retro pie name “atarist”
( for the future, the systems don't work very good )
categories are also added in the restricted part

I updated the animated gif in the first post with the latest version.
I found a nice way to speed up the process of making an animated gif quickly.

DTEAM

@Folly said in Development of module-script generator for lr-mess and mame standalone:

@DTEAM

I have no problem with classich, everything seems ok.
I think it's a problem on your side.
Can you check the runcommand.log ?

A week ago I had a problem with classich.
The rom files I had were 0kb, that was my problem back then.

My files seems to be good. Here's my runcommand:

Parameters: 
Executing: /opt/retropie/emulators/mame/mame -rompath /home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/mame\;/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/classich -v -c -ui_active -statename classich/"ginv2000" -autoframeskip  "ginv2000"
Attempting load of mame.ini
Parsing mame.ini
Attempting load of mame.ini
Parsing mame.ini
Attempting load of horizont.ini
Attempting load of console.ini
Attempting load of source/hh_tms1k.ini
Attempting load of ginv2000.ini
Starting plugin hiscore...
Starting plugin data...
Attempting load of mame.ini
Parsing mame.ini
Attempting load of mame.ini
Parsing mame.ini
Attempting load of horizont.ini
Attempting load of console.ini
Attempting load of source/hh_tms1k.ini
Attempting load of ginv2000.ini
Available videodrivers: x11 KMSDRM RPI dummy 
Current Videodriver: KMSDRM
	Display #0
		Renderdrivers:
			    opengl (0x0)
			 opengles2 (0x0)
			  opengles (0x0)
			  software (0x0)
Available audio drivers: 
	pulseaudio          
	alsa                
	sndio               
	dsp                 
	disk                
	dummy               
Build version:      0.242 (mame0242)
Build architecure:  
Build defines 1:    SDLMAME_UNIX=1 SDLMAME_X11=1 SDLMAME_LINUX=1 
Build defines 1:    LSB_FIRST=1 
SDL/OpenGL defines: SDL_COMPILEDVERSION=2010 USE_OPENGL=1 
Compiler defines A: __GNUC__=8 __GNUC_MINOR__=3 __GNUC_PATCHLEVEL__=0 __VERSION__="8.3.0" 
Compiler defines B: __unix__=1 
Compiler defines C: __USE_FORTIFY_LEVEL=0 
Enter init_monitors
Adding monitor screen0 (800 x 480)
Leave init_monitors
Enter sdlwindow_init
Using SDL native texturing driver (SDL 2.0+)
Loaded opengl shared library: <default>

Hints:
	SDL_FRAMEBUFFER_ACCELERATION             (NULL)
	SDL_RENDER_DRIVER                        (NULL)
	SDL_RENDER_OPENGL_SHADERS                (NULL)
	SDL_RENDER_SCALE_QUALITY                 (NULL)
	SDL_RENDER_VSYNC                         (NULL)
	SDL_VIDEO_X11_XVIDMODE                   (NULL)
	SDL_VIDEO_X11_XINERAMA                   (NULL)
	SDL_VIDEO_X11_XRANDR                     (NULL)
	SDL_GRAB_KEYBOARD                        (NULL)
	SDL_VIDEO_MINIMIZE_ON_FOCUS_LOSS         (NULL)
	SDL_IOS_IDLE_TIMER_DISABLED              (NULL)
	SDL_IOS_ORIENTATIONS                     (NULL)
	SDL_XINPUT_ENABLED                       (NULL)
	SDL_GAMECONTROLLERCONFIG                 (NULL)
	SDL_JOYSTICK_ALLOW_BACKGROUND_EVENTS     (NULL)
	SDL_ALLOW_TOPMOST                        (NULL)
	SDL_TIMER_RESOLUTION                     (NULL)
	SDL_RENDER_DIRECT3D_THREADSAFE           (NULL)
	SDL_VIDEO_ALLOW_SCREENSAVER              (NULL)
	SDL_ACCELEROMETER_AS_JOYSTICK            (NULL)
	SDL_MAC_CTRL_CLICK_EMULATE_RIGHT_CLICK   (NULL)
	SDL_VIDEO_WIN_D3DCOMPILER                (NULL)
	SDL_VIDEO_WINDOW_SHARE_PIXEL_FORMAT      (NULL)
	SDL_VIDEO_MAC_FULLSCREEN_SPACES          (NULL)
	SDL_MOUSE_RELATIVE_MODE_WARP             (NULL)
	SDL_RENDER_DIRECT3D11_DEBUG              (NULL)
	SDL_VIDEO_HIGHDPI_DISABLED               (NULL)
	SDL_WINRT_PRIVACY_POLICY_URL             (NULL)
	SDL_WINRT_PRIVACY_POLICY_LABEL           (NULL)
	SDL_WINRT_HANDLE_BACK_BUTTON             (NULL)
Leave sdlwindow_init
Enter sdl_info::create
Leave renderer_sdl2::create
window: using renderer opengl
renderer: flag SDL_RENDERER_ACCELERATED
renderer: flag SDL_RENDERER_TARGETTEXTURE
Audio: Start initialization
Audio: Driver is alsa
Audio: frequency: 44100, channels: 2, samples: 512
sdl_create_buffers: creating stream buffer of 22528 bytes
Audio: End initialization
Keyboard: Start initialization
Input: Adding keyboard #0: System keyboard (device id: System keyboard)
Keyboard: Registered System keyboard
Keyboard: End initialization
Mouse: Start initialization
Input: Adding mouse #0: System mouse (device id: System mouse)
Mouse: Registered System mouse
Mouse: End initialization
Joystick: Start initialization
Input: Adding joystick #0: TeensyduinoKeyboard/Mouse/Joystick (device id: 03000000c01600008204000011010000)
Joystick: Teensyduino Keyboard/Mouse/Joystick [GUID 03000000c01600008204000011010000]
Joystick:   ...  5 axes, 32 buttons 1 hats 0 balls
Joystick:   ...  Physical id 0 mapped to logical id 1
Joystick:   ...  Does not have haptic capability
Input: Adding joystick #1: TeensyduinoKeyboard/Mouse/Joystick (device id: 03000000c01600008204000011010000)
Joystick: Teensyduino Keyboard/Mouse/Joystick [GUID 03000000c01600008204000011010000]
Joystick:   ...  10 axes, 148 buttons 1 hats 0 balls
Joystick:   ...  Physical id 1 mapped to logical id 2
Joystick:   ...  Does not have haptic capability
Joystick:   ...  Has 148 buttons which exceeds supported 32 buttons
Joystick: End initialization
Searching font Liberation Sans in -. path/s
font Liberation Sans|Regular is not TrueType or BDF, using MAME default
unzip: opened archive file /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/classich/ginv2000.zip
unzip: /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/classich/ginv2000.zip couldn't find ECD
unzip: opened archive file /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/classich/ginv2000.zip
unzip: /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/classich/ginv2000.zip couldn't find ECD
unzip: opened archive file /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/classich/ginv2000.zip
unzip: /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/classich/ginv2000.zip couldn't find ECD
unzip: opened archive file /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/classich/ginv2000.zip
unzip: /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/classich/ginv2000.zip couldn't find ECD
mp1604 NOT FOUND (tried in ginv2000)
tms1100_common2_micro.pla NOT FOUND (tried in ginv2000)
tms1100_ginv2000_output.pla NOT FOUND (tried in ginv2000)
ginv2000.svg NOT FOUND (tried in ginv2000)
Fatal error: Required files are missing, the machine cannot be run.
sdl_kill: closing audio
Enter sdlwindow_exit
Leave sdlwindow_exit

Do you see something

Folly

@DTEAM said in Development of module-script generator for lr-mess and mame standalone:

mp1604 NOT FOUND (tried in ginv2000)
tms1100_common2_micro.pla NOT FOUND (tried in ginv2000)
tms1100_ginv2000_output.pla NOT FOUND (tried in ginv2000)
ginv2000.svg NOT FOUND (tried in ginv2000)

You need a good ginv2000.7z

Look here :
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/28345/old-computer-appreciation-thread/1336

You can select it in the first that saves in BIOS/mame or the second that saves in RetroPie/downloads.
And copy it later to classich.

Or do all from the categories that are written directly in classich.

Mine works ! (I used mame 0241)

Folly

@DTEAM said in Development of module-script generator for lr-mess and mame standalone:

Build version: 0.242 (mame0242)

You also have the newest mame.
This version might need a new romset for ginv2000

If thats the problem you have to look in the hash table and check the finenames and the checksuns and repack the file again.

EDIT:
Tested my version on 0242 and it worked.
The proper way to check the roms is (I think you can't find it in the hash) :

pi@raspberrypi:~ $ /opt/retropie/emulators/mame/mame -listroms ginv2000
ROMs required for driver "ginv2000".
Name                                   Size Checksum
mp1604                                 2048 CRC(f1646d0b) SHA1(65601931d81e3eef7bf22a08de5a146910ce8137)
tms1100_common2_micro.pla               867 CRC(7cc90264) SHA1(c6e1cf1ffb178061da9e31858514f7cd94e86990)
tms1100_ginv2000_output.pla             365 CRC(520bb003) SHA1(1640ae54f8dcc257e0ad0cbe0281b38fcbd8da35)
ginv2000.svg                         374443 CRC(a4ce1e6d) SHA1(57d9ff05d634a8d495b9d544a2a959790cd10b6b)

DTEAM

@Folly
The rom is fine. When I put this rom in the JAKKS folder, it works. I don't know what's going on with my classich folder. Roms with MAME artwork and retroarch overlays (at the same time) do not work. I'll see what I can do. The problem is 100% on my side, not related to the script.

Solved: It was my emulators.cfg file in /opt/retropie/configs/all . It seems it was corrupted. I deleted everything inside. Now it's fine and I'll start to do MAME artworks (MAME format) for classich with @JIMMYFROMTHEBAY bezels if he agrees.

Folly

@DTEAM

Glad you found the problem ;-)

Folly

@DTEAM

I am thinking of adding DEMO tutorials inside the script.
I found the program called asciinema.
I used it for creating the base for the new animated gif in the first post.

The nice thing about asciinema is that it creates a text based file which doesn't create huge files and asciinema can also be used to play the files.
I think ascii-art and ascii-art movies could also be possible this way.

You can have a look here :
https://asciinema.org

Here is a nice one :

Folly

@mitu

Is there a possibility to add asciinema .cast files as an attachment inside a post ?
I tried some things but they didn't work.
I now convert it from .cast to .gif to get a good result.

Here you will find the docs :
https://asciinema.org/docs/usage

Do you have an idea ?

DTEAM

@Folly said in Development of module-script generator for lr-mess and mame standalone:

You can have a look here :
https://asciinema.org/

I looked at the hyperlink with the animation videos. It looks very good. It doesn't look friendly user.. for me. A learning curve seems to be necessary.