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

Folly

@dteam

Yes indeed, that is what we did, and we should keep it that way.

I think you don't understand me.

./media/
has to be
./media/emulationstation/
in the gamelist.xml

Agreed ?

Just fixed it in my gamelist and it's looking great in ES !

DTEAM

@folly

I'll fix that on google drive

DTEAM

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

@folly
I'll fix that on google drive

done. Sorry for that mistake. All other files are ok.

NEW EDIT
I found two errors. name error for UFO in the list has been changed and for catenaa. I recommend another download. fixed on Google drive

Folly

@dteam

I just added apfimag_cass to the special systems with slotdevices.

To load a cassette file :
Just press "enter" to go into basic.
Then "CLOAD"
Use key "]" for enter (goto tape menu and press play)
Then "RUN" and use key "]" for enter.

https://github.com/FollyMaddy/RetroPie-Share/commit/f8f2debe9388f9896a86a5d5ad6999629bc9d609

Folly

@dteam

Btw. we could add a dummy file on google-drive for loading the bios only of apfm1000 so it will run Rocket Patrol.

We could name it "rocketp.bin" for example and add it into the gamelist.xml.

What do you think, good idea ?

isidoro80

@jamrom2 I had a bios.7 version mame merged 0.236 in which some files were missing. now i have downloaded the bios.zip files and they are complete. now everything works. thanks a lot

DTEAM

@folly
done! the dummy file is "rocketp.zip"

isidoro80

does anyone know if it is possible to play with mess with the arcade games sega model 1 and sega model 2? in older versions of mame they did not work correctly

DTEAM

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

Btw. did you test all those games ?
I have trouble with finding the right keys on how to play them.
The one you posted worked though, just shooting with "enter".

I can only run "Rocket Patrol". For the controller, it works for me with controller # 2 (left controller) and an analog stick. I have some trouble to shoot with the fire button.

I can't get the cartridges to work ... any idea?

jamrom2

@folly there might be a simpler way around this using the es_systems.cfg file.

If the BIOS gets read as a .zip or .7z file, then just omit that extention from the list of displayed files... and have the rom files listed as .bin files. MESS/MAME and other emulators don't care if files are zipped or not because ES unpacks them in zipped form anyway prior to feeding them to the selected emulator.

I know GameEx (if you are familar with that Arcade/MAME front end) does it that way and it works. All of the BIOS files have to be listed with the game roms but do not show in the game lists.

It's worth a try. I want to get this system up and running on my set today, so I can certainly help.

Are the roms and bios listed in a particular MAME rom dump? I would imagine it's like .236 or so.

jamrom2

@folly I don't know if this is possible, but it would be great to do this as a .sh file much like how DosBox used to be done...

Or even how it's done now where it has a config file that you point to the game rom with the "autoexec" list giving the proper commands to DosBox instead of having to manual type.

Folly

@jamrom2 said in Development of module-script generator for lr-mess and mame standalone:

@folly there might be a simpler way around this using the es_systems.cfg file.

If the BIOS gets read as a .zip or .7z file, then just omit that extention from the list of displayed files... and have the rom files listed as .bin files. MESS/MAME and other emulators don't care if files are zipped or not because ES unpacks them in zipped form anyway prior to feeding them to the selected emulator.

I know GameEx (if you are familar with that Arcade/MAME front end) does it that way and it works. All of the BIOS files have to be listed with the game roms but do not show in the game lists.

It's worth a try. I want to get this system up and running on my set today, so I can certainly help.

Are the roms and bios listed in a particular MAME rom dump? I would imagine it's like .236 or so.

I think you referring to the mame-cmd test I was telling you about.(Perhaps it's better to quote my post ;-) )
Yes, that is a way to go.

Personally, I would rather have a solution so es_systems.cfg doesn't have to be edited.

I had another idea but I don't know if it works so I have to test it.
Perhaps we can link both, BIOS and GAME-rom directory, in a new directory and add use that new directory as rompath and perhaps using wildcards to find these linked directories.

Folly

@jamrom2 said in Development of module-script generator for lr-mess and mame standalone:

@folly I don't know if this is possible, but it would be great to do this as a .sh file much like how DosBox used to be done...

Or even how it's done now where it has a config file that you point to the game rom with the "autoexec" list giving the proper commands to DosBox instead of having to manual type.

You mean loading the cassette files in apfimag_cass without typing in the commands.
Yes, that is an option but this could be quite difficult to implement.

There are multiple ways of doing that.
It's possible to add it in mame and lr-mess command-line.
Or add it perhaps in the run_mess script.
Or using the xdotools, one way or another.

Trouble with apfimag_cass is that, i think, pressing play, can't be automated.

jamrom2

@folly that could work as well. It's just a matter of hiding the file extensions from ES so it doesn't see them.

Folly

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

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

Btw. did you test all those games ?
I have trouble with finding the right keys on how to play them.
The one you posted worked though, just shooting with "enter".

I can only run "Rocket Patrol". For the controller, it works for me with controller # 2 (left controller) and an analog stick. I have some trouble to shoot with the fire button.

I can't get the cartridges to work ... any idea?

You are able to boot them but you struggle too with the keys or joystick buttons ?

spacedst.zip doesn't load for me though.
All the others work.

I will have a look at it too.
I have played some with some strange keys.
I will let you know.

jamrom2

@folly That would be fine as well... limiting the amount of input helps users that want the experience, but can't remember what to type, or even worse is that they have never seen the system, so don't know what to do.

I personally add in the commands to my game description in gamelist so that I see it when I want to play the game. I did this with the Dragon 32 system and it works good for me.

But again.. you and I are above the average user, so we kinda know our way around the file system. Having a user just type in "PLAY" is a lot simpler for them.

Folly

@jamrom2

Yes I agree.

We can do some tests with some commands manually before adding it to the script, agreed ?
The we can see if we can come up with a nice solution.

This link is in my first post :
https://forums.launchbox-app.com/topic/54987-autoboot-command-script-for-mame-swl-computer-systems/

For some systems we can try it.

Could be as simple as adding something like this -autoboot_delay 4 -autoboot_command cload\n

Edit :
emulating key presses seems not implemented so when I press Return first it will type CLOAD. The /n option doesn't work for this system.

It seems the best way of making everything work is to make a mame autoboot.lua script that is loaded on boot. That whay we also should be able to press the tape on play automatically.
(well we have to dig deeper to understand that)

DTEAM

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

You are able to boot them but you struggle too with the keys or joystick buttons ?

They don't start either. Which line do you use when you select your emulator line from the blue menu? I am always on "Rocket Patrol" no matter what the game is.

Folly

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

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

You are able to boot them but you struggle too with the keys or joystick buttons ?

They don't start either. Which line do you use when you select your emulator line from the blue menu? I am always on "Rocket Patrol" no matter what the game is.

We talk about apfm1000, right.
I use this :
default = "mame-system-apfm1000-cart"

DTEAM

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

We talk about apfm1000, right.

Yes, I'll do more test today