New Comic Book Theme!

modmaster

@dizmodawg Definitely! I am hoping the next release will have everything in the current build and all of your requests eventually every system will have its own background!

TMNTturtlguy

@modmaster @dizmodawg We are trying to get as many systems into the next release as possible. It takes a lot of time to update everything on github, and I don't want to keep having to make everyone download and install the system over and over again to get a few updates. My hope is for a big release for the 16:9 V2 possibly tonight, but for sure before the end of the weekend. We will then follow up with a few smaller updates to complete more of the backgrounds.

fatelvis1

This may be a stupid question but where do you have to put the video files to get them to load in the theme?

TMNTturtlguy

@fatelvis1 did you scrape for video? you need to have the video files in your gamelist.xml for each system. The gamelist tells the theme where to pull the video from. There are a few placed you can put these files including in a "downloads" folder within the roms folder, or in a "downloads" folder within the .emulationstiation folder. I don't have access to send a link right now, but i would search the forum or the documents, otherwise youtube also will show you how to accomplish this.

fatelvis1

@TMNTturtlguy I was not aware there was an option to scrape for videos. i will take another look.

felleg

@TMNTturtlguy We can scrape for video? I didn't know about that either. I did a quick google search: does this require the Universal XML Scraper? Does it work on the Pi or Windows only? If that's not the proper tool, what must we use, sselph's?

I don't mean to derail the thread, sorry in advance!

backstander

@fatelvis1
Easy way to add video and marquees tags in your gamelist for video support (in Windows 7/10)
A lot of users will put the videos in a "videos" subfolder in the rom system's folder.
Example: ~/RetroPie/roms/nes/videos/

pjft

Wow. So much progress these last few days!

Would it help if tomorrow I still at least get you raw/clean images and controllers for the ZX Spectrum, as it seems it's not been mentioned recently?

TMNTturtlguy

@pjft that would be great! The logo is done for that one already!

TMNTturtlguy

@nismo when using riot to compress the images, the dots stay clear but the colors get very muddy and the look is not good. I am thinking I can correct this by going with 720 instead of 1080 images but keeping some of the file sizes at 512. Only the newer systems would be 512. Most older systems with simple color schemes would be under 400kbs. I know you don't like 720 images at 512kbs, but do you see any issues? We will get clearer crisp images and better color this way. I think the 720 will still look ok on larger screens. I will test on my 4K for sure. Thanks for the input.

pjft

@TMNTturtlguy Great!

Here's the link. I got a few images - I started with comic/cartoons related only images, but soon noticed that the majority of them weren't especially colorful, so then went on to some more iconic ZX Spectrum games.

https://mega.nz/#!1ccRACbB!l1PmBrmyy04TKXiZnd-IOexmFjaMyNoJKm8t1Z-RBxo

Let me know if these work - several are original resolution, which means they'll need to be scaled on your end. Also, let me know if you have any preferences in regards to the games or images - i.e. do you want them more comic/cartoon related, more "best games of the system", more "most iconic games" of the system?

I believe you can get a mix from here, but let me know.

Thanks!

TMNTturtlguy

@pjft thanks, i am creating this background now and it will be included in our next release!

pjft

@TMNTturtlguy thanks! As I said, let me know what kind of images or games you'd want represented and I'm happy to find them. :)

TMNTturtlguy

@pjft here is what I came up with, the screen layout for the system is tough as it really uses the full 4:3 ratio and I just cant capture everything on the screen with my widescreen layouts. If you want a different game or an image moved, let me know.
0_1493406484674_zx spectrum.png

pjft

@TMNTturtlguy looks great! I'll let others comment on the game selection, but I think it's a good mix :)

Thank you!

TMNTturtlguy

@pjft If your good we are rolling with it! you get input since you helped provide the images... we have 42 backgrounds completed right now and there are millions of games, so if we start taking game requests we will never get anywhere!

pjft

@TMNTturtlguy thanks. Thinking back to the ones I sent, I wouldn't oppose swapping Mickey Mouse (a fairly unknown game, though comic book related) with Manic Miner, a much more iconic game for the system, if thematically you think it won't hurt. And, of course, if it doesn't take too much time and it's easy to fit.

TMNTturtlguy

MAJOR UPDATE!

Comic Book 16:9 has a major update posted here: Comic Book 16:9 Github

Special thanks to @modmaster for all his help with additional backgrounds as well as @pjft and @Nismo.

(Images at bottom of post!)
This major update includes upgrading all graphics to 720 resolution with crisp comic style backgrounds as well as the addition of the following completed systems as well as many more system logos. Other updates include "Hacks" systems, optimized md_image sizes, and carousel system info text in comic style for those with the most updated ES versions. The optimized theme should also run smoothly for most users at standard VRAM with updated systems (some may have to make adjustments) For a full list of changes see the readme file. Please let me know what you think! Look for another update in the next week or so as we try to complete the remaining system backgrounds.

Completed Systems in Theme:
Systems in Theme:
Aracde
Atari 2600
atari 5200
Atari 7800
atari lynx
daphne
Dreamcast
Famicom
GB
Game Boy Hacks
GBA
Game Boy Advance Hacks
GBC
game gear
Game Gear Hacks
Genesis
master system
mega drive
N64
NDS
neo geo
NES
ngp
ngpc
NES Hacks
pc engine
PSX
PSP
Retropie (menu)
Sega 32X
Sega CD
Sega Genesis Hacks
SG-1000
SNES
SNES Hacks
Super Famicom
Super Grafx
Turbo Grafix 16
Virtual Boy
ZX Spectrum

Additional System Logos with a General Style comic background (theme background, but not game console specific yet)
3DO
amstrac cpc
apple 2
atari st
c64
colecovision
game and watch
intellivision
kodi
macintosh
msx
odyssey2
pc (ms DOS)
turbo graphics CD
vectrex
wonderswan
wonderswan color

pjft

@TMNTturtlguy wow. These look fantastic! I can't wait to try them out - and love the look of the hack backgrounds with the ink splotches:)

illhurtya

This theme is amazing. The only thing I would change would be Turbo Graphics 16 to TurboGrafx16. Great job!