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Software Support => GroovyMAME => Topic started by: esaelectrionics on March 19, 2012, 04:58:45 pm

Title: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: esaelectrionics on March 19, 2012, 04:58:45 pm
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;)


 
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: Calamity on March 19, 2012, 05:56:07 pm
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/ (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.
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: Gray_Area on March 22, 2012, 03:59:25 am
I don't know why you would want to, given AdvanceMAME runs up to .106 .
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: androtaz08 on March 25, 2012, 09:11:19 pm
How would you use the wrapper. I love groovy mame but would love you use it with misfitmame.
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: Calamity on March 26, 2012, 06:16:53 pm
From Switchres readme:

Quote
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.
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: androtaz08 on March 27, 2012, 06:42:44 am
What about running switchres in Maximus arcade?
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: Calamity on March 27, 2012, 07:28:41 am
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.
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: androtaz08 on March 28, 2012, 01:27:52 pm
Tried this and the dos box comes up but the game does not launch within Maximus.
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: androtaz08 on March 28, 2012, 01:33:23 pm
Ok got the games to launch but not n the proper resolution what am I missing?
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: Calamity on March 28, 2012, 04:53:38 pm
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.
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: androtaz08 on March 28, 2012, 05:36:13 pm
i didn't know i needed to run vmmaker again as i already did it for groovy mame. Will mess around more tonight. 
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: Calamity on March 28, 2012, 06:03:09 pm
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).
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: androtaz08 on March 28, 2012, 07:46:33 pm
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.
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: Calamity on March 29, 2012, 07:32:12 am
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??
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: androtaz08 on March 29, 2012, 09:22:25 am
Misfit mame 128b
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: androtaz08 on March 29, 2012, 12:00:41 pm
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.
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: androtaz08 on March 29, 2012, 12:03:40 pm
Never mind I got it to work by tweaking some options in mame itself. Thanks so much
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: Calamity on March 29, 2012, 12:14:28 pm
You probably needed to enable the -switchres option in mame.ini was it?
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: androtaz08 on March 29, 2012, 01:01:25 pm
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
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: kbuzz on September 24, 2012, 05:00:50 am
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
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: Calamity on September 24, 2012, 10:00:59 am
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.
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: kbuzz on September 24, 2012, 04:17:11 pm
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)
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: Calamity on September 25, 2012, 08:01:54 am
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?
Title: Re: an alternative version of groovymame for older computers or faster performance
Post by: kbuzz on September 25, 2012, 02:00:52 pm
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.