MaLa Development News

[loadman]

Hi,

Just a quick note.

I am still working on MaLa.   Not as much as I would like. A few hours on the weekend's at the  moment.

I am nearly finished enhancing the way MaLa deals with hardware natively. I know most don't use it but I do so HA!    he this includes IOW40, 20 (LCD and LED) and the Ultimarc Pacdrive (LED).

After that I have to finish the enabling the new MaLa video/audio engine. Right now the latest beta (unreleased) has no BG music or jukebox. Basically all the screens and options are there but the code to run them is missing. That job is straight forward .

I also have sought the odd bit of coding advice from the 'community' and shared tiny potions of MaLa source code with a couple of developers in order for them to develop there own utilities...

mm anyway . Have Fun

[mh12]

thanks for the update!

[zophar707]

Great update news.  Have tried the new Hyperspin but prefer Mala much more.  Role on the next update.

[ivwshane]

I can't wait!!

[lcddream]

cool! Any updates on the ipac player 2 scrolling issue? I beleive you said something about hardcoding it?

[loadman]

cool! Any updates on the ipac player 2 scrolling issue? I beleive you said something about hardcoding it?

Yes, that is the plan, probably not this beta though

. It would be nice as my cab has the same issue on the player 2 side :_

[drventure]

Great news!

And tell me about the time. My Plugin has stalled out completely right now. I got everything going except rotating video. If only Mala exposed it's video window to plugins 

 

Seriously though, good to hear it's creeping forward!

[isucamper]

Can't wait for the new beta!

[loadman]

If only Mala exposed it's video window to plugins 

What specific info would you want 'Exposed'?

[TheShanMan]

Good to hear things are progressing! I don't recall if you've mentioned this in the past: Will there be support for shifting an analog joystick action (i.e. holding a key down while pushing a u360 joystick in a direction)? Since I have lots of dedicated cabinets now, I really want to idiot-proof my mame cabinet so it's simple for people at a party to walk up and use it. But at the same time I want the power of being able to do as much as possible without opening the coin door and pulling out the keyboard. In particular, I don't want them inadvertently changing game lists or emulators but of course I want the power to do that myself.

[loadman]

Good to hear things are progressing! I don't recall if you've mentioned this in the past: Will there be support for shifting an analog joystick action (i.e. holding a key down while pushing a u360 joystick in a direction)?

Sounds like a great Plug-in idea to me ;-)

[TheShanMan]

A plugin can intercept user input and alter what is done as a result? I still think that should be built in, but it may be something to consider.

[loadman]

A plugin can intercept user input and alter what is done as a result? I still think that should be built in, but it may be something to consider.

Have a look at the Api doc.. Mala messages

In any case can't mala do what you ask already?

[drventure]

If only Mala exposed it's video window to plugins
What specific info would you want 'Exposed'?

well, really, just a straightforward way to get at the window handle, so I could move it, resize it, possibly capture it in relocate it into my own window, that sort of thing.

I can always just enum the window handles and grab it that way, I suppose.

The main issue is I intend on masking it such that only parts show through, and in some cases hide it completely.

No big deal really. If I can get hold of an hwnd, I should be able to do everything I need from that, unless there's other funkiness about 

[TheShanMan]

A plugin can intercept user input and alter what is done as a result? I still think that should be built in, but it may be something to consider.

Have a look at the Api doc.. Mala messages

In any case can't mala do what you ask already?

I'll have to go back and check, but last I remember, you couldn't shift an analog joystick's input.

[TheShanMan]

I checked, and mala does not allow shifting joystick inputs. Mouse gets a shifting option. Why not joysticks? Many people have U360's (if not other analog sticks). It seems like a joystick isn't a first class input device.

I could investigate doing a plugin (though I'm still dubious that I'd be able to get that to work right), but that seems like the absolute wrong way to do it to me since there would be no integration with the built in joystick input dialog box.

[loadman]

I checked, and mala does not allow shifting joystick inputs. Mouse gets a shifting option. Why not joysticks? Many people have U360's (if not other analog sticks). It seems like a joystick isn't a first class input device.

I could investigate doing a plugin (though I'm still dubious that I'd be able to get that to work right), but that seems like the absolute wrong way to do it to me since there would be no integration with the built in joystick input dialog box.

Fine... OK I'll do it  

Did you want the 'keyboard' shift key to work with a Joystick?

[isucamper]

Personally, I need to be able to tie the "shift" functionality to a joystick button.

I've got U360s and a GP-Wiz40, so I don't have any keyboard inputs on my entire control panel and can't get shift functionality.

But that's just me.  Not sure what Shan wanted.

[loadman]

Personally, I need to be able to tie the "shift" functionality to a joystick button.

I've got U360s and a GP-Wiz40, so I don't have any keyboard inputs on my entire control panel and can't get shift functionality.

But that's just me.  Not sure what Shan wanted.

Out of interest

How many Buttons do you use on U360s?

How many Buttons do you use on GP-Wiz40?

[isucamper]

Not many on either. 

On the U360 I'm using Up/Down/Left/Right to navigate the list, 1 button for game select although as soon as the new beta comes out I'll be using a mouse button to select games (you added this for me a few months back), and 2 buttons for paging up and down through the list, but this is only because I couldn't get shift functionality to speed up the scrolling with the joystick.

With the GP-Wiz, I don't think I'm using any buttons.

So really, I'll only be using one joystick button when the new beta comes out and it will be to shift (if you add the ability to do so).

Thanks again for listening to us! 

 

[loadman]

OK.

I will ponder

[cabecita]

Loadman, I've found a bug when I run Mame Emulator with MaLa. The characters at the LCD display don't work properly. I have a Codemercs's Kit. When I try to scroll the time at miliseconds box, the speed is always the same...  This only happens with Mame. In main menu MaLa it's OK

Is it a bug?

thanks

[loadman]

Loadman, I've found a bug when I run Mame Emulator with MaLa. The characters at the LCD display don't work properly. I have a Codemercs's Kit. When I try to scroll the time at miliseconds box, the speed is always the same...  This only happens with Mame. In main menu MaLa it's OK

Is it a bug?

thanks

The same thing happens to me during gameplay.

It never bothered me too much so I have never looked into it.

Maybe I will one day

[TheShanMan]

I checked, and mala does not allow shifting joystick inputs. Mouse gets a shifting option. Why not joysticks? Many people have U360's (if not other analog sticks). It seems like a joystick isn't a first class input device.

I could investigate doing a plugin (though I'm still dubious that I'd be able to get that to work right), but that seems like the absolute wrong way to do it to me since there would be no integration with the built in joystick input dialog box.

Fine... OK I'll do it  

Did you want the 'keyboard' shift key to work with a Joystick?

Sorry for the late reply... Haven't been here in a week or two.

I use regular keyboard based buttons, not buttons built into the joystick. So I am really just hoping to see the existing shifting functionality applied to analog joysticks.

[loadman]

hmmm.

It seems we have two requests now?

TheShanMan : Wants keyboard shift to apply to joystick
isucamper : wants joystick button to act as joystick shift

Is that right?

[isucamper]

sounds right to me

thanks loadman

[TheShanMan]

We have faith in you, loadman!!!

[loadman]

Hi,
Just a quick note.
I am still working on MaLa.   Not as much as I would like. A few hours on the weekend's at the  moment.
I am nearly finished enhancing the way MaLa deals with hardware natively. I know most don't use it but I do so HA!    he this includes IOW40, 20 (LCD and LED) and the Ultimarc Pacdrive (LED).

DONE

After that I have to finish the enabling the new MaLa video/audio engine. Right now the latest beta (unreleased) has no BG music or jukebox. Basically all the screens and options are there but the code to run them is missing. That job is straight forward .

DONE

TheShanMan : Wants keyboard shift to apply to joystick
isucamper : wants joystick button to act as joystick shift

Working on this now

[drventure]

Great news about the video audio engine!

The button/joystick shift stuff is cool to. I'm guessing that's so that, say, buttons connected to a u360 can act in the same way as keyboard buttons can act in mala now? I wouldn't use that but I can see how it'd be nice if I were really using my U360's properly.

[loadman]

Hmmm

TheShanMan : Wants keyboard shift to apply to joystick
isucamper : wants joystick button to act as joystick shift

hmmm looking at it now, Keyboard shift for joystick is going to be much easier than joystick shift for joystick as most of the code is in place. I will keep looking

[TheShanMan]

Hmmm

TheShanMan : Wants keyboard shift to apply to joystick
isucamper : wants joystick button to act as joystick shift

hmmm looking at it now, Keyboard shift for joystick is going to be much easier as most of the code is in place. I will keep looking

Yeah baby! Glad to hear it!

[loadman]

TheShanMan : Wants keyboard shift to apply to joystick

DONE!  

isucamper : wants joystick button to act as joystick shift

DONE!     I don't think it is quite as responsive as the keyboard shift, but defiantly usable    

[TheShanMan]

Thanks!!! And the obvious follow up question: when can I get my hands on a new build?

[loadman]

Thanks!!! And the obvious follow up question: when can I get my hands on a new build?

Before Duke Nukem Forever  

ummm I am two minds about a beta release now.

Ideally I wanted to also add:
- Auto Keyrepeat for older iPacs (but that can wait I guess)
- Have a better conversion of older version 'Other Emu' config.
At the moment due to me adding new fields , you have to manually reconstruct all you old emu configs. (Not mame)

[mh12]

Thanks!!! And the obvious follow up question: when can I get my hands on a new build?

Before Duke Nukem Forever  

ummm I am two minds about a beta release now.

Ideally I wanted to also add:
- Auto Keyrepeat for older iPacs (but that can wait I guess)
- Have a better conversion of older version 'Other Emu' config.
At the moment due to me adding new fields , you have to manually reconstruct all you old emu configs. (Not mame)

sounds alright! won't be overwriting the old install

[lcddream]

Ideally I wanted to also add:
- Auto Keyrepeat for older iPacs (but that can wait I guess)

No it can't!!

[loadman]

Ideally I wanted to also add:
- Auto Keyrepeat for older iPacs (but that can wait I guess)

No it can't!!

OK then I will have a look 

[lcddream]

 

[loadman]

Ideally I wanted to also add:
- Auto Keyrepeat for older iPacs (but that can wait I guess)

No it can't!!

Done..
Well nearly.  Have not got it working with shifted keys yet , just auto repeat on 1 up and 1 down. But better than nuthin' yeah?

[lcddream]

For player 2?

[loadman]

For player 2?

Yeah, Only 1 person can control it  a time (as usual) but the auto key works on 1 UP and 1 DOWN no matter which control set is used

[lcddream]

Sounds awesome! 

[loadman]

...new beta released

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=103178.0