Front end question

[Rulkiewicz]

I have a question about front ends, emulators and the X-arcade tank stick.

I saw a video last night for the FE Hyper-Spin, and from the looks of it, it seemed very easy to setup.  My question is this:

If I have my roms in their console folder, and I place the proper emulator in those folders as well, and have the emulators pre-configured to support the X-arcade stick, so then Hyper-Spin will simply load roms/emulators and allow me to navigate from one to another?

[kronic24601]

Nothing quite that simple. 

There is a bit of learning curve for hyperspin to get it all working, but I think it works great (that's what I use).

I'd start here: http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=55

Go through the setup docs/videos as they are very helpful

But to wrap up your question. No, that will not automatically make things work. You will need to

1) Setup Hyperspin using the included Hyper HQ software to include your emulators, point to ROM directories, and depending on your emulator, make other misc changes (see the forums for this)

2) You will need to update/generate the DATABASE (basically for each emulator there is a list of games), you need one specific and unique to only your games.

3) Artwork - Themes, Wheels, Videos: You will need FTP access to download all the wheels and Themes currently available. Then if you want video previews you need an account with Circo at EmuMovies.

4) Other stuff I'm not thinking of... see the docs and the forums for help

[Rulkiewicz]

Nothing quite that simple. 

There is a bit of learning curve for hyperspin to get it all working, but I think it works great (that's what I use).

I'd start here: http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=55

Go through the setup docs/videos as they are very helpful

But to wrap up your question. No, that will not automatically make things work. You will need to

1) Setup Hyperspin using the included Hyper HQ software to include your emulators, point to ROM directories, and depending on your emulator, make other misc changes (see the forums for this)

2) You will need to update/generate the DATABASE (basically for each emulator there is a list of games), you need one specific and unique to only your games.

3) Artwork - Themes, Wheels, Videos: You will need FTP access to download all the wheels and Themes currently available. Then if you want video previews you need an account with Circo at EmuMovies.

4) Other stuff I'm not thinking of... see the docs and the forums for help

Seems like some basic configuration.

Is the function of updating/generating the Database a built in function of HS?

[kronic24601]

not really no. They have Hyperlist, but I've found RomLister to work a little better.

They have a tut on it here though

[Rulkiewicz]

Nothing quite that simple. 

There is a bit of learning curve for hyperspin to get it all working, but I think it works great (that's what I use).

I'd start here: http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=55

Go through the setup docs/videos as they are very helpful

But to wrap up your question. No, that will not automatically make things work. You will need to

1) Setup Hyperspin using the included Hyper HQ software to include your emulators, point to ROM directories, and depending on your emulator, make other misc changes (see the forums for this)

2) You will need to update/generate the DATABASE (basically for each emulator there is a list of games), you need one specific and unique to only your games.

3) Artwork - Themes, Wheels, Videos: You will need FTP access to download all the wheels and Themes currently available. Then if you want video previews you need an account with Circo at EmuMovies.

4) Other stuff I'm not thinking of... see the docs and the forums for help

Regarding artwork and screen shoots for the roms I have, do I have to manually download cabinet photos and screen shots for every game I have?  Also, can I set up screen shots for various roms on NES, SNES, and so on?  Or only for Arcade roms?

[Dazz]

Rulkiewicz - It sounds like you are really new to the emulation scene.  Before working on any front end I highly suggest learning what a windows file path is and how to run a game from a command line.  Familiarize your self with how games are launched using the command line.  Knowing this will help out no-matter what front end you use.

Next, learn how to use ClrMAMEPro to audit, re-name and re-build your rom sets.  Knowing how to use ClrMAMEPro will save you many headaches down the road.  ClrMAMEPro, is not only for MAME, but it can be used for almost all of your console system roms as well. It is very handy to know how to use CMP no-matter what front end you choose to run.

HyperSpin has a big learning curve.  You really need to know the first two points before getting further into the front end.   

HyperSpin is really specific about the rom sets that are used.  To use the HyperSpin database files your roms must be using the No-Intro.org naming convention.  If you don't know what No-Intro is then it's best to start researching now before you go out randomly downloading roms from various sites. Basically "No-Intro" lists only the best available ROM; it must be a full dump with no faults and no changes to the file, basically just the ROMS that are the closest as possible to the original licensed cartridges.

For MAME, we use the standard MAME naming for MAME roms and the database files are normally kept up to date.  The current version of our database is based off of MAME .138.  One thing to know about MAME is that your roms must match that of your MAME version.  So if you download a rom for .98 it may not work in MAME .138.  This is where knowing how to use ClrMAMEPro comes in handy.

As far as your question about artwork; yes you can have screen shots, or even videos, for any system not only arcade roms.

[Rulkiewicz]

Rulkiewicz - It sounds like you are really new to the emulation scene.  Before working on any front end I highly suggest learning what a windows file path is and how to run a game from a command line.  Familiarize your self with how games are launched using the command line.  Knowing this will help out no-matter what front end you use.

Next, learn how to use ClrMAMEPro to audit, re-name and re-build your rom sets.  Knowing how to use ClrMAMEPro will save you many headaches down the road.  ClrMAMEPro, is not only for MAME, but it can be used for almost all of your console system roms as well. It is very handy to know how to use CMP no-matter what front end you choose to run.

HyperSpin has a big learning curve.  You really need to know the first two points before getting further into the front end.   

HyperSpin is really specific about the rom sets that are used.  To use the HyperSpin database files your roms must be using the No-Intro.org naming convention.  If you don't know what No-Intro is then it's best to start researching now before you go out randomly downloading roms from various sites. Basically "No-Intro" lists only the best available ROM; it must be a full dump with no faults and no changes to the file, basically just the ROMS that are the closest as possible to the original licensed cartridges.

For MAME, we use the standard MAME naming for MAME roms and the database files are normally kept up to date.  The current version of our database is based off of MAME .138.  One thing to know about MAME is that your roms must match that of your MAME version.  So if you download a rom for .98 it may not work in MAME .138.  This is where knowing how to use ClrMAMEPro comes in handy.

As far as your question about artwork; yes you can have screen shots, or even videos, for any system not only arcade roms.

Thanks for the information.  I have a question, I have a MK3 and MK4 rom.  I saved them in my MAME32 rom folder but when I audit it doesn't find the game, so I must be missing files.  I go to MAWS and type the games in to look for the drivers for those games and I save those in my ROMs folder also, run Audit All Games but it still doesn't find them, so I guess I'm still missing the proper files, or maybe the ROMs and MAME are incompatible?  Would CMP help with this some how, or do I need all MK3/4 rom files... all the different versions and so on?

[Dazz]

I have no idea what "drivers" you would be downloading from MAWS.  The only driver I see is the driver source code for programming.  The source code is meant to be compiled into MAME versions.

I'm not familiar with MAME32... What version of MAME32 are you running?

[Rulkiewicz]

I have no idea what "drivers" you would be downloading from MAWS.  The only driver I see is the driver source code for programming.  The source code is meant to be compiled into MAME versions.

I'm not familiar with MAME32... What version of MAME32 are you running?

Drivers like this: http://maws.mameworld.info/maws/driverinfo/cps2.c

Or are those BIOS files?

So I don't need those in order to play certain games?  I thought that's why some games weren't showing up in my "available" list.  I figured it was because certain games need bios file(s) to play, and when I plug the game in to MAWS, it points to a certain .c file.  I assumed that's the bois I needed in order to play the game.

So maybe my games are loading because "1) You are using outdated roms only valid for older (or newer) Mame/MameUI versions than the version you are trying to run it on."

or "2) You are using 'clone' roms without their 'parents' being present in the rom folder as well."

[Rulkiewicz]

My version is MAMEUI32 0.138u3