an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance

[esaelectrionics]

i know this is probably not really likely to happen,
but how difficult would it be to make an older version
of mame with switch res, and the groovymame functions.

i love the way it works but use an older system that doesent run
the newer versions of mame that well without lag on certain games.

I was wondering how difficult would it be to make a hybrid version,
using say mame .106, .99 or earlier,
In the same way that Shmupmame did a while back.

just an idea,i do love the way it works as it is,
and know that searching for perfection is a mistake;)


 

[Calamity]

Hi esaelectrionics,

You can use the stand-alone SwitchRes app as a wrapper for any MAME version, you can download the most recent Windows build here:

http://mario.groovy.org/GroovyArcade/

This basically works much the same as GroovyMAME for automatic modeline generation. It may lack some of the other additions like improved synchronization options, but if you go for something like v0.106 then that's not going to be a problem as MAME was smooth back in those days.

What you'd like to do is certainly possible, but would require a lot of work (much C vs C++ issues I'm guessing). The code is there for anyone who wants to try.

[Gray_Area]

I don't know why you would want to, given AdvanceMAME runs up to .106 .

[androtaz08]

How would you use the wrapper. I love groovy mame but would love you use it with misfitmame.

[Calamity]

From Switchres readme:

See output of "switchres -h" for best information on command line settings.

Basic config file example is in examples/switchres.conf

==========================
Simple Modeline generation:
==========================

switchres --calc pacman
switchres 384 288 60.61 --monitor d9800


=====================
Running games in MAME:
=====================

switchres pacman --monitor cga
switchres frogger --ff --redraw --nodoublescan --monitor d9200

# ArcadeVGA files in Windows
switchres tron --resfile extra/ArcadeVGA.txt --resfile ~/modes.txt

# Soft15Khz in Windows reading registry modelines
switchres tron --soft15khz

=================================
Running games for other emulators:
=================================

switchres a2600 --emulator mess --rom /path/to/ROM\ File.bin --args -verbose -sdlvideofps

Anything after --args is passed to the emulator, in this case 'mess'.

The game rom becomes the game system, even for other emulators, mess is still used to get the games
correct resolution.

[androtaz08]

What about running switchres in Maximus arcade?

[Calamity]

What about running switchres in Maximus arcade?

You just set it up to use switchres.exe as the MAME's executable instead of mame.exe. Parameters are the same you'd use in MAME. Switchres.exe and all is related files must be unzipped in the same folder where MAME is.

[androtaz08]

Tried this and the dos box comes up but the game does not launch within Maximus.

[androtaz08]

Ok got the games to launch but not n the proper resolution what am I missing?

[Calamity]

Make sure you delete all your previous inis, in case you had.

Also, you need to create a suitable modetable using VMMaker, so Switchres can pick the right ones.

[androtaz08]

i didn't know i needed to run vmmaker again as i already did it for groovy mame. Will mess around more tonight. 

[Calamity]

Ah ok, if you had already run vmmaker there's no need to run it again, unless you were using magic resolutions (these ones won't work with Switchres).

[androtaz08]

yes i ran it when i installed cry driver and groovymame and everything runs perfect. but now I'm trying to use switch res as a wrapper for misfit mame to get the same great functionality that i get with groovymame but with hacked roms.

[Calamity]

yes i ran it when i installed cry driver and groovymame and everything runs perfect. but now I'm trying to use switch res as a wrapper for misfit mame to get the same great functionality that i get with groovymame but with hacked roms.

Alright, it's been long since I tested Switchres.

You need to place it in the same folder where mame.exe is. Then, you invoke it like this (example):

switchres romname --monitor d9800 --soft15khz

For the --monitor param, use the same monitor definition you used in vmmaker.ini
The --soft15khz param is necessary to tell Switchres to modify the current modelines as required.

Let me know if it works.

BTW which version of MAME are you running??

[androtaz08]

Misfit mame 128b

[androtaz08]

Ok I set that up in Maximus and now the dos screen. COmes up and displays the games name and resolution settings but the game does not switch to it.

[androtaz08]

Never mind I got it to work by tweaking some options in mame itself. Thanks so much

[Calamity]

You probably needed to enable the -switchres option in mame.ini was it?

[androtaz08]

Yup   now I just have to figure out how to get every game to come up on the list In Maximus under the raine settings

[kbuzz]

I've found some games to run sluggishly on my hardware with groovymame, so I've looked to shmupmame as a way to play them at fullspeed.

Is there any difference to enabling switchres in shmupmame's ini and using switchres.exe as a wrapper?

Seems like I'm attaining the proper resolutions.

setup:

P4 HT 3.0GHZ
1GB DDR1
ATI 9250 PCI
CRT Emudrivers
MicroXP 32bit
Groovymame 0.146 32bit
Nanao MS9

[Calamity]

Is there any difference to enabling switchres in shmupmame's ini and using switchres.exe as a wrapper?

If you don't use the Switchres wrapper then whatever MAME build (but GroovyMAME) will pick the default modelines installed in the system without recalculating them. This can be enough for some games, depending on the mode list you created. For best results, try creating ini files using vmmaker, this is the only way to make sure that regular MAME will pick the best modeline.

But if the problem is only with a few games, then you'd better make the required ini files manually and leave vmmaker alone.

[kbuzz]

Thank you for the quick reply. I've tried using switchres as a wrapper for shmupmame 3.0b, and am getting this result. I've already run vmmaker

Code: [Select]

switchres.exe gokuparo --soft15khz

Code: [Select]

mess exited or failed running with PATH=.
Unknown ROM for mame and mess gokuparo
Could not find height width or refresh rate to use.
[] "gokuparo" horizontal 0x0@60.000 (1.000) --> 640x480@60.000 (1.000)

[Calamity]

Thank you for the quick reply. I've tried using switchres as a wrapper for shmupmame 3.0b, and am getting this result. I've already run vmmaker

How are you exactly running this? Is switchres.exe and the other files in the same folder where the MAME executable is? What's the name of the MAME executable (should be mame.exe)? Is that what you get for all games or just for that one?

[kbuzz]

I'm running from command line right now. It's all in the same folder. The MAME executable is renamed to mame.exe (from mame32p.exe), and this is the result for all games.