How Can We Make MAME ROW Better?

obsidianspider

I was just looking at the script itself and it makes me want to get back into writing some code to improve my skills. Very nicely done. Also, what's this comment about "Create secret Raspberry Pi network and take over the world" about? #kidding ;)

meleu

@obsidianspider said in How Can We Make MAME ROW Better?:

it may be a solution in search of a problem.

My primary motivation to start work on this was the question "Can I edit comma-separated values files with shell scripts?". I'm satisfied with the results and learned a lot while writing this tool:

how to get random numbers from random.org in a shell script.
finally learned how to use the dialog --form.
a bunch of grep and sed tricks.
etc...

obsidianspider

@meleu Kind of like that screen on a cartridge add-on for my Super Famicom. It was more of a "can I do this" type of thing than it as a practical feature. When I'm playing I really only glance at it, it if that. I love figuring crap like that out and learning new skills, but I don't know that I'll get to your level of coding prowess any time soon.

obsidianspider

When I tried to create MAME ROW #23 this week it didn't seem to have the data from MAME ROW 22 saved, so I'm going to head back to my manual post creation with the assistance of your initial lookup tool.

Thanks again for taking the time to make some scripts for the community.

meleu

@obsidianspider said in How Can We Make MAME ROW Better?:

it didn't seem to have the data from MAME ROW 22 saved

Did you update the gamelist with the MAME ROW 22 info and it wasn't saved?!

The path is "Manage MAME ROW gamelist" >> "Update gamelist with a new round information". Screenshots below:

0_1488311928200_Captura de tela de 2017-02-28 16:57:19.png

1_1488311928201_Captura de tela de 2017-02-28 16:57:45.png

obsidianspider

@meleu I'll test it again some time. I've been busy this week working on my Gameboy Advance project and I still have a bit of a cold. Thanks.

meleu

In 2 weeks MAME ROW completes one year of existence.

Do you guys have some suggestion for something special for MAME ROW #52?

One idea I had:

Go to the MAME ROW forum category.
On the top right of the page click on "Sort by" and choose "Most posts".
Ignore the sticky post and get the games of the top 5. Currently they are:
- Pac'n'Pal
- Phoenix
- Frenzy
- Joust
- Aliens
Make a strawpoll with the top 5.

What do you think?

tagging some MAME ROW players: @obsidianspider @UDb23 @GtBFilms @backstander @dankcushions @mediamogul @qix77 @lilbud @Fruitybit @Lyle_JP @pjft @mholsson @buddyscott @MrJordaaany @AndersHP @chubsta @itsnitro @Cole_48 @R1n0X @Brigane @edmaul69

lilbud

@meleu I was thinking about something along the lines of an actual bracketed tournament, possibly using those 5 games.

We set up a poll as you suggested, and the game with the most votes will be the 1 used for a single elimination tournament.

obsidianspider

@meleu Most posts isn't a good metric as quite a few of them have sidebar conversations that have nothing to do with top scores, but I'm up for whatever in terms of doing something special for the anniversary.

meleu

@obsidianspider said in How Can We Make MAME ROW Better?:

Most posts isn't a good metric

Fully agree. But at least it is a metric. :-)

Most views would be a little better, but I think there's no option to sort topics this way...

obsidianspider

@meleu measuring engagement either by total number of votes or number of on-topic posts would be a way, but it would be tedious to go back and document.

I think maybe a "submit your favorite from the past year" and then we pick from that list might be a good thing to do as well.

Fruitybit

Could be an option to use a 'top ten' from wiki or otherwise assuming the games would be compatible, e.g. highest grossing arcade games
Or Golden age of Arcade games

I get that it's not an 'internal' list thus may not be that pertinent but it's a special occasion no?!

MrJordaaany

@fruitybit I like this idea. Easier to gauge too.

meleu

@mrjordaaany @Fruitybit the conversation about the Anniversary Edition is hapenning here: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/12800/selecting-contenders-for-mame-row-anniversary/9

AndersHP

Thanks for the tag @meleu

In regards to making MAME ROW better, wouldn't it be cool to have a separate thread called "MAME ROW Hall of Fame" that's updated with points every week? A little friendly competition wouldn't harm, eh?

The points system could always be discussed, and it would definitely mean that some of you hardcore players will always be at the top, but fighting for places every week would mean that I would be eager to participate as much as possible :)

meleu

@andershp said in How Can We Make MAME ROW Better?:

wouldn't it be cool to have a separate thread called "MAME ROW Hall of Fame"

I agree. I can try to create such thread when I find some free time. :-)

AndersHP

@meleu Cool!
If you do it retrospectively, remember the Chopper I thread (as this is the only one I have won, and ever will win) :D :D :D

meleu

Hello friends.

I'm planning to create the "MAME ROW Champions" (pretty pompous, huh :) ) thread (as suggested by @AndersHP ).

My intention is to create two kinds of "champions": one who made the best score on the round's week (the one who get the trophy), and other for the "continuous going championship" (the one who holds the belt). :-)

What do you guys think?

AndersHP

@meleu This sounds super cool!

meleu

OK. I started the thread here: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/12960/mame-row-champions

~~The champions list isn't complete yet. It's a bit tedious to check all MAME ROWs threads looking for the champions. But I'll do it at some point.~~ (UPDATE: the list is complete now.) Now I need to practice Phoenix!! ;-)