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

Ashpool

@Folly Well, after some meddling with the script and mess systems, I can only say: so far (as said, had just used it before for the handhelds) I was pleasantly surprised that it covered a lot of the hazards I feared so far whence using mess systems. But somewhat disappointing is that from all things I tried (appleII|appleIIc/bbcb/pc8801/lynx), only lynx was somewhat satisfying and the other ones had various issues, but as those are not related to the scriptmodules, i also have to say that neither i had found anything that I could report in this regards :]

Folly

@Ashpool

Thanks for testing ;-)
Did you already discover that you can update the test versions from within the script ?
I am planning to do some more work when I have the time.

Will try those systems you mentioned and see what results I get.
Indeed much is related to the source code of mame itself.
For bbcb I know it works but other emulators do a better job.
What was your issue with bbcb ?

Btw,
I am working and testing now on Ubuntu 22.04 ~~and all seems to work pretty good now.~~

I ~~only~~ had 2 issues so far :

auto removing the top-bar so emulationstation will use the whole screen. (installing extension manager and enable hide top-bar)
changing some shortcut key-combinations in OSX so they don't interfere with ctrl in combination with the cursor keys in the Ubuntu VM (^->,^<-, etc)

Edit :
Sadly, Ubuntu 22.04 has a lot more issues described over here ;-(

Ashpool

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

Did you already discover that you can update the test versions from within the script ?

Nope, good to hear ;) last think I remember is:

 Remember : the test versions (253.06) can't be updated right now because they are still in the 00-workdir-00. If update is selected it will downgrade to 253.05.

What was your issue with bbcb ?

gfx glitch in "elitea", the cobras "console"/interior ploted fine, but the "outside" view/grafic wasn't fitting the screen (only ~1/4 visible, as if zoomed into the topleft position of a virtual display).

I am working and testing now on Ubuntu 22.04 and all seems to work pretty good now.
I only had 2 issues so far :
auto removing the top-bar so emulationstation will use the whole screen. (installing extension manager and enable hide top-bar)

Mh, didn't know that hiding the top-bar was possible, I avoided it by "falling back" from wayland to xorg.

Folly

@Ashpool

I am adding update info in this post now :
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/29682/development-of-module-script-generator-for-lr-mess-lr-mame-and-mame-standalone/1364

You first have to update manually, after that updating is possible from within the script.

Folly

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

gfx glitch in "elitea", the cobras "console"/interior ploted fine, but the "outside" view/grafic wasn't fitting the screen (only ~1/4 visible, as if zoomed into the topleft position of a virtual display).

Indeed too bad, I have the same issue.
Also tested bbcm but that makes no difference.

DTEAM

@Folly

Hi Folly,

I tried to use th PCECD add-on with:

mame-system-pcecd-cdrm-autoframeskip = "/opt/retropie/emulators/mame/mame -v -c -autoframeskip -ui_active pce pcecd  -cdrm %ROM%"

I tried to use the "no intro romset" and it doesn't work.

If I don't use the "basename" command, normally I should be able to use a ROM no matter the name? Right?
I don't remember if it's different for .chd (cd ) games.

Here's my log. If I use the good MAME Rom, It should work, but I'm trying to use it without the hashfile.

Parameters: 
Executing: /opt/retropie/emulators/mame/mame -v -c -autoframeskip -ui_active pce pcecd  -cdrm "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/tg-cd/Buster Bros. (US).chd"

"pcecd" approximately matches the following
supported software items (best match first):

* Software list "pcecd" (NEC PC Engine / Turbografx-16 CD-ROMs) matches: 
fanspc1           PCEngine Fan Special CD-ROM Volume I (Japan)
hyprcata          PCEngine Hyper Catalog Duo-RX - Disc A (Japan)
hyprcatb          PCEngine Hyper Catalog Duo-RX - Disc B (Japan)
hypercap          PCEngine Hyper Catalog (CD-ROM Capsule) (Japan)
policeco          Police Connection (Japan)
prinmak2          Princess Maker 2 (ACD, SCD)(Japan)
spcfzone          Space Fantasy Zone (CD, SCD)(Japan, prototype)
psycdet3          Psychic Detective Series Vol. III - Aya (Japan)
psycdet4          Psychic Detective Series Vol. IV - Orgel (Japan)
psycdet3d         Psychic Detective Series Vol. III - Aya - Auto Demo (Japan)
hyperdyn          Hyper Dyne SideArms Special (Japan)
princesm          Princess Minerva (Japan)
priveyed          Private eye dol (ACD, SCD)(Japan)
psychics          Psychic Storm (Japan)
spaceinv          Space Invaders - The Original Game (Japan)
supersch          Super Schwartzschild (CD, SCD)(Japan)

* Software list "pce" (NEC PC Engine HuCards) matches: 
pcdenj            PC Denjin - Punkic Cyborgs
pcdenja           PC Denjin - Punkic Cyborgs (alt)
pcgenj            PC Genjin - Pithecanthropus Computerurus
pacland           Pac-land
pcgenja           PC Genjin - Pithecanthropus Computerurus (alt)
pcgenj2           PC Genjin 2 - Pithecanthropus Computerurus
pcgenj3           PC Genjin 3 - Pithecanthropus Computerurus
pcpachi           PC Pachi-slot
gecd              Games Express CD Card
circusld          Circus Lido
cyberdod          Cyber Dodge
pcgenj3t          PC Genjin 3 - Pithecanthropus Computerurus (Taikenban)
spaceinv          Space Invaders - Fukkatsu no Hi
makaipri          Makai Prince Dorabocchan
cybrcore          Cyber Core
jchan             Jackie Chan

Folly

@DTEAM

Just found something about pcecd I read that it's an addon.

Will have a look if I can find the files and how to load it.

This command gives information that -cdrm (.chd) file can be loaded with just using pce.

pi@pi-2204:~$ /opt/retropie/emulators/mame/mame -listmedia pce
SYSTEM           MEDIA NAME       (brief)    IMAGE FILE EXTENSIONS SUPPORTED
---------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------
pce              cdrom            (cdrm)     .chd  .cue  .toc  .nrg  .gdi  .iso  .cdr  
pce              cartridge        (cart)     .pce  .bin

So, again, I think you have typo in the runcommand :
pce pcecd

Just use :
pce

Edit :
Above did not work.
It will ask for a cartridge.
Tried gecd boots but Loom.chd did not work.
(Haven't got your game yet.)
Will try some more.

DTEAM

@Folly
Same problem on my side. It ask for a cartridge. I'll take a look on the notes in the pce_cd.cpp file

http://adb.arcadeitalia.net/download_file.php?tipo=sourcefile&codice=pcecd&emulator=964&oper=view

Folly

@DTEAM

Everything is down now so I can't get any files.
Will try to get bbros tomorrow so I can test with softlist loading and eventually without.

Folly

@DTEAM

Edit : A solution is in the next post. This post seems irrelevant.

I think they need to add HuCard slots in pce_cd.cpp.
(// TODO: correct name, split into incremental HuCard slot devices)

Listslots will give :

pi@pi-2204:~/RetroPie/roms/pcengine/cylums-turbo-grafx-cd-rom-collection$ /opt/retropie/emulators/mame/mame -listslots pce
SYSTEM           SLOT NAME        SLOT OPTIONS     SLOT DEVICE NAME
---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------------------
pce              ctrl             arcade_pad_6     NEC Arcade Pad 6
                                  avenue_pad_6     NEC Avenue Pad 6
                                  joypad2          NEC PC Engine Pad
                                  joypad2_turbo    NEC PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 2 Button Joypad
                                  mouse            NEC PC Engine Mouse
                                  multitap         NEC PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 Multi Tap
                                  pachinko         Coconuts Japan Pachinko Controller CJPC-101
                                  pcjoy            Micom Soft XHE-3 PC Joystick Adapter for PC Engine

                 cartslot         [none]           No options available

You see that there are no cartslots available.

Don't know if it is correct but it seems it's only possible to softload pcecd files.

Folly

@DTEAM

I have Loom.chd booting now ;-)

I had a look at the PC-Engine docs and found that lr-beetle-XXXXX needs syscard or equivalent to boot cd's.
So I had a search in the the software for pce.

/opt/retropie/emulators/mame/mame -listsoftware pce|grep cdsys

The cdsys.zip file contains all version of syscard (cdsys,cdsysa and cdsysb)
I tried them all on my Loom.chd and It booted in the CD boot screen.
After pressing "1" it will mention that Loom requires the Super CD-ROM System.

After a good search the rom for mame is scdsys, obviously.
So I did a test with that rom with this test cmd :

pi@pi-2204:~/RetroPie/roms/pcengine/cylums-turbo-grafx-cd-rom-collection$ /opt/retropie/emulators/mame/mame -rompath . pce scdsys -cdrm Loom.chd

Putting the scdsys.zip in the same directory as the game.
Now after pressing "1" the game boots !

So I don't have the bbuster.chd yet, as everything is still down.
But this is something you can try.
Just add these cdsys and scdsys files in BIOS/mame and add one of them instead of ~~pcecd~~.

Let me know if it works.

ps. scdsys is probably the best way to go as it looks like it is the latest version and will probably cover most games.

DTEAM

@Folly

Wow, nice work! You are now a MAME expert!
Glad to see you solved this puzzle!

NEW EDIT: I can't find cdsys and scdsys. I'll continue to search them on google

Folly

@DTEAM
Added to the normal versions (now 253.08) (commit has wrong version (mistake)) :
https://github.com/FollyMaddy/RetroPie-Share/commit/e6b9900cc28e4d6b673a28e4e19c71066db05e0f

Can you test !

Help has been added, look at that too.
BIOS can be in BIOS/mame/pce

Folly

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

NEW EDIT: I can't find cdsys and scdsys. I'll continue to search them on google

Read my help in the install line.

Folly

@Ashpool

I am probably moving back to my Debian 11 VM.
Ubuntu 22.04 already gives multiple things that need fixing.
If you are familiar with these problems we can add a separate thread for this and discuss it over there.
The issues are :

emulationstation and emulators not centered in desktop display
- solution is to enable auto-removing the top-panel/top-bar so emulationstation will use the whole screen. (install the extension manager from ubuntu software and enable hide top-bar)
- https://fostips.com/auto-hide-top-panel-debian-ubuntu-fedora/
OSX shortcut key combinations interfere with the Ubuntu VM
- solution is to change some shortcut key-combinations in OSX so they don't interfere with ctrl in combination with the cursor keys in the Ubuntu VM (^->,^<-, etc)
apple keyboard keys aren't all correct and can't find a solution
apple keyboard FN key not working for using F1 - F12 (solution was to set keyboard & mouse, in the VMware, on on mac profile)
selecting multiple files with the ctrl-key in nautilus doesn't work, also no solution found
- tried caja and it doesn't work in caja either so the issue seems not file-explorer related
Ubuntu key combo's (ctrl+alt) activate unwanted conflicts when playing games
moving files from the host to the VM doesn't work
(VMware tools is noted as installed and copy/past of text works)
- reinstalling open-vm-tools + open-vm-tools-desktop did not work
- using caja instead of nautilus works but a drag file icon is displayed which cannot be removed without restart or logging out and logging in
- logging out and logging in and selecting the settings icon to open Ubuntu on xorg seemed to be a solution however the VM will freeze/lock (and is troublesome to shutdown or restart)
It's a bit slower than Debian

I had hoped it was better but I expect much more issues.

Folly

@DTEAM

Tested already many files from the chd_pcecd romset.
And Buster Bros. (USA) from the redump.pce.revival works too.
Up til now many work ;-)

I hope the speed is ok on the pi4, can't test right now.

Ashpool

@Folly

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

moving back to my Debian 11 VM.

Sounds like a good idea (though I never used pure debain so far), i also encountered some trouble whence using shared folders now: seem to be working right after enabling 'em, but not anymore after a reboot/restart (need to be deactivated, all FS traces removed from the guest (media target folders) and then can be enabled again). Guess the OpenVMware-Tools need some overhaul in regards to nowadays Ubuntu. But for me setting up a new vm has has to wait 'till next week, as i am currently abroad.

Folly

@Ashpool

We can make threads of both in general discussion and discuss installation and issues we face.
Let's see next week or so.

Folly

@DTEAM

Any news ?

DTEAM

@Folly

It doesn't work with No-Intro Roms, i'll try with MAME roms
I got the good BIOS