Problems running PC games from GameLauncher

[Justin]

I've been using GL for quite a while now on my cab, running MAME.  Now I am in the process of adding other emulators, as well as PC games.  So far no problems with emus, but I am not being so lucky with PC games.

Part of the challenge here is to make GL work with standalone exe files (no roms associated).  So I figured a good idea would be to make a .bat file (and this would be the 'executable') and make the rom the actual game executable file itself.  This way I could make a list of pcgames and embed them in the pcgames.rom file, and be able to run all PC games from a single screen under GL menu.
So, my bat file 'startgame.bat' reads:
start %1

And GameLauncher would run this command: (verified via debug mode)
startgame.bat m:\games\PCgame\PCgame.exe

In theory this should work, because I tried running this command from a DOS prompt and all is fine.  However, GL doesn't like this. It launches the game but returns to the main menu immediately.  If I quit GL, the PC game is revealed running on the background, so clearly the game is being launched.

I also attempted a more direct (but ugly) approach, and managed to get GL to execute this directly, without relying on bat file:
m:\games\PCgame\PCgame.exe
Still, same problem.

The game I'm trying to get to work is called Mutant Storm  (an absolute gem!!!) and you can dl it here:
http://www.pompom.org.uk/

Any help appreciated.  I hate having to quit GL to play PC games  

[Todd H]

I use a program called Batchrun that lets me run programs or scripts in a particular order.  I have it set up so it first runs a batch file that closes Gamelauncher completely, then launches the PC game, then when the player exits the pc game it loads Gamelauncher again then closes batchrun.  Do a search on Google for batchrun.  I think the latest version is 4.1.

[Malachai]

When I ran into this problem I just added a pause command after the executible.  When you exit you PC program you just have to press any key to continue.  This will only work if you are using a keyboard interface though.  It's hard to press a keyboard key with a joypad.  

You might be able to use one of HowardC's wrappers.  It's worth a look.

[Justin]

I added the pause, and all I get now is a BLACK screen.  Game running behinf the black screen.

Could someone PLEASE PLEASE try MutantStorm demo and make it work with GL? Prove me wrong!    I've spent over 3 hours trying different things, and I never quite getting to run correctly from GL.   This game is SOOO worth the effort though.  Just getting frustrated, that's all.  

Download at:
http://www.pompom.org.uk/

[Katana Man]

I feel your pain. I have the same problem with GL and other emulators. It runs in the background. It pretty much makes GL useless because the focus is wrong. The only way to get around this that I know of is to turn debug = yes.  This makes the focus work properly, but slows things down because you have to keep answering a DOS window "press any key to continue". Obviously debug mode was designed for troubleshooting and not to be used daily.

I'm using win 98.

[Justin]

Katana:   Yes I noticed that too... turning debug ON makes it work, but defeats the purpose of having a frontend IMHO... I really don't want a DOS window showing in my cab!  grrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!

[Katana Man]

Agreed.  I hope the author of GameLauncher fixes this.