Author Topic: MAMEWAH v0.97 Released! (Read 3095 times)

Minwah · « **on:** May 15, 2004, 10:43:17 am »

There should be something for everyone in this release

As promised nothing too major (mouse/joystick/movie/mixed emulators support not yet done) but most of the other requests are in there:

MAMEWAH v0.97 (15/05/04)

Bugs Fixed:

First item in Games List/Options List may have been placed 'under' artwork image(s) if list overlapped image (fixed),
Aspect ratio 'fix' in vertical modes (eg 240x320) stretches image(s) incorrectly (fixed),
'Add Game to Custom List' option would appear even if no games were in the current list (fixed),
If artwork image was missing (Artwork #2-10) then 'no snap' image would not be used in Slide-Show screen-saver (fixed),
Music files placed in subfolders of subfolders etc. would not be used (fixed).

Improvements:

Entering 'PC' as Emulator Executable now makes the Emulator Title 'PC Games' by default,
Added 'Use Quotes around ROM Filenames' option,
Added 'Controls.dat Viewer Filename' option,
Added 'Controls.dat Viewer Default Options' option,
Added 'Launch Controls.dat Viewer before Game' option,
Moved 'Refresh Games List' option to bottom of menu to prevent accidental operation,
Removed 'Select Custom Lists to Cycle' option,
Added 'Cycle Main List' option,
Added 'Enable Event Sounds' option,
Added 'Default Exit Button Action' option,
Added 'MAMEWAH IPC Filename' option for default key-mappings,
Added 'Last IPC File Programmed' in MAMEWAH.CFG to avoid un-neccessary programming,
Increased no. Emulators to 50,
Increased no. Custom Lists to 50,
Improved Slide-Show to maximise images displayed in Artwork #2-10,
WMA sound/music files now supported,
Changed /? commandline switch to /e?, where ?=emulator no. 1-50,
Added /l? commandline switch, where ?=custom list no. 0-50,
Improved layout system to allow custom list specific layouts,
Replaced the 'Cycle Emulator' shortcut key with 'Next Emulator',
Added 'Previous Emulator' shortcut key,
Replaced the 'Cycle Game List' shortcut key with 'Next Game List',
Added 'Previous Game List' shortcut key,
Added 'Launch Controls.dat Viewer' shortcut key,
Improved 'Display Clone Info (in Custom Lists)' filtering to remove [square bracketed] info.

Grab it here: http://mamewah.mameworld.net

Please report any bugs in this thread or email me...

EndTwist · « **Reply #1 on:** May 15, 2004, 11:30:41 am »

Now all thats left it rotation

Maybe a little off topic but:
I'm wondering if you could pm/email me about how you retrieve the MAME rom info (horiz/vert, control type, etc...)

Also, how you manage your layout creator. I can't seem to make it well (mine sucks, truthfully).

Thanks!
-- EndTwist

JoeB · « **Reply #2 on:** May 15, 2004, 12:48:56 pm »

WOW!

Those are a lot of changes! Can't wait to test it on my Cab.

I do have a feature request.. A lot of people use MAMEWAH and try their best to hide the fact that it's a PC. Is there any way to have a config file that MAMEWAH reads which instructs it which menu options should be visible and which shouldn't?

E.g.:

- Ability to hide configurations (once it's configured)
- Ability to hide "Exit to windows" but still have a special key combo to exit to windows for maint. mode

etc.

Dave Butler · « **Reply #3 on:** May 15, 2004, 02:02:22 pm »

Quote from: Minwah on May 15, 2004, 10:43:17 am

There should be something for everyone in this release As promised nothing too major (mouse/joystick/movie/mixed emulators support not yet done) but most of the other requests are in there:

MAMEWAH v0.97 (15/05/04)

Bugs Fixed:

First item in Games List/Options List may have been placed 'under' artwork image(s) if list overlapped image (fixed),
Aspect ratio 'fix' in vertical modes (eg 240x320) stretches image(s) incorrectly (fixed),
'Add Game to Custom List' option would appear even if no games were in the current list (fixed),
If artwork image was missing (Artwork #2-10) then 'no snap' image would not be used in Slide-Show screen-saver (fixed),
Music files placed in subfolders of subfolders etc. would not be used (fixed).

Improvements:

Entering 'PC' as Emulator Executable now makes the Emulator Title 'PC Games' by default,
Added 'Use Quotes around ROM Filenames' option,
Added 'Controls.dat Viewer Filename' option,
Added 'Controls.dat Viewer Default Options' option,
Added 'Launch Controls.dat Viewer before Game' option,
Moved 'Refresh Games List' option to bottom of menu to prevent accidental operation,
Removed 'Select Custom Lists to Cycle' option,
Added 'Cycle Main List' option,
Added 'Enable Event Sounds' option,
Added 'Default Exit Button Action' option,
Added 'MAMEWAH IPC Filename' option for default key-mappings,
Added 'Last IPC File Programmed' in MAMEWAH.CFG to avoid un-neccessary programming,
Increased no. Emulators to 50,
Increased no. Custom Lists to 50,
Improved Slide-Show to maximise images displayed in Artwork #2-10,
WMA sound/music files now supported,
Changed /? commandline switch to /e?, where ?=emulator no. 1-50,
Added /l? commandline switch, where ?=custom list no. 0-50,
Improved layout system to allow custom list specific layouts,
Replaced the 'Cycle Emulator' shortcut key with 'Next Emulator',
Added 'Previous Emulator' shortcut key,
Replaced the 'Cycle Game List' shortcut key with 'Next Game List',
Added 'Previous Game List' shortcut key,
Added 'Launch Controls.dat Viewer' shortcut key,
Improved 'Display Clone Info (in Custom Lists)' filtering to remove [square bracketed] info.

Grab it here: http://mamewah.mameworld.net

Please report any bugs in this thread or email me...

This is going to take a while for me to update MAMEWAH Setup

Stormy151 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 15, 2004, 02:44:29 pm »

Ooooooo....

Thanks Minwah!

TalkingOctopus · « **Reply #5 on:** May 15, 2004, 03:52:15 pm »

YAY! I've always wanted previous emu and list buttons. Thanks minwah!

SpamMe · « **Reply #6 on:** May 15, 2004, 04:18:28 pm »

Awesome...Awesome to the max.

Thanks Minwah!

Minwah · « **Reply #7 on:** May 16, 2004, 09:30:20 am »

Quote from: JoeB on May 15, 2004, 12:48:56 pm

WOW!

Those are a lot of changes! Can't wait to test it on my Cab.

I do have a feature request.. A lot of people use MAMEWAH and try their best to hide the fact that it's a PC. Is there any way to have a config file that MAMEWAH reads which instructs it which menu options should be visible and which shouldn't?

E.g.:

- Ability to hide configurations (once it's configured)
- Ability to hide "Exit to windows" but still have a special key combo to exit to windows for maint. mode

etc.

I think the menu lock covers this really - hold '2' for a few seconds to lock out the options. The Exit Button still works, but you can't bring up the options menu itself...

Minwah · « **Reply #8 on:** May 16, 2004, 07:24:07 pm »

Thought I'd just 2nd in here about David Butlers latest MAMEWAH Setup: www.mamewah-setup.co.uk

Should save current MAMEWAH users a few setup-related headaches

mugwump · « **Reply #9 on:** May 17, 2004, 01:36:01 pm »

I upgraded to the latest edition of MAMEWAH and everything works fine except for the screensaver. I'm using Slide Show mode and now most slides list the game name but show only the default MAMEWAH placeholder graphic while a handful of games show screenshots from the wrong game. I've double-checked that my layout files didn't get mucked up and they appear to be fine. What's odd is that each game's correct screenshot shows up just fine on the main screen -- it's only the screensaver that can't seem to locate them.

Minwah · « **Reply #10 on:** May 17, 2004, 02:24:36 pm »

Quote from: mugwump on May 17, 2004, 01:36:01 pm

I upgraded to the latest edition of MAMEWAH and everything works fine except for the screensaver. I'm using Slide Show mode and now most slides list the game name but show only the default MAMEWAH placeholder graphic while a handful of games show screenshots from the wrong game. I've double-checked that my layout files didn't get mucked up and they appear to be fine. What's odd is that each game's correct screenshot shows up just fine on the main screen -- it's only the screensaver that can't seem to locate them.

I don't know what the problem is here, but I'm 99% sure it's a config issue since I haven't changed the screen-saver code, and it works fine for me.

Check all your Artwork #? Path's and check the Layout (Artwork #'s) of the screen-saver form for starters...

mugwump · « **Reply #11 on:** May 17, 2004, 07:35:59 pm »

I tried a clean install and the program still had issues so I've gone back to v9.63. No big deal. I suppose I should be happy that anything runs well on my old Win98 rig. Just not enough horsepower to make the jump to XP. Thanks for all your hard work on this FE -- it really is appreciated.

Minwah · « **Reply #12 on:** May 18, 2004, 04:29:58 am »

Quote from: mugwump on May 17, 2004, 07:35:59 pm

I tried a clean install and the program still had issues so I've gone back to v9.63. No big deal. I suppose I should be happy that anything runs well on my old Win98 rig. Just not enough horsepower to make the jump to XP. Thanks for all your hard work on this FE -- it really is appreciated.

Are you sure you haven't altered something (order of emulators?) that could make this problem happen? Seriously I can't think of anything I have changed that would affect how the slide-show works

Glad it works well on '98 btw, good to hear

mugwump · « **Reply #13 on:** May 18, 2004, 08:45:23 am »

Quote

Are you sure you haven't altered something (order of emulators?) that could make this problem happen? Seriously I can't think of anything I have changed that would affect how the slide-show works

Nope, I only use one emulator (MAME) and did a clean install and the problem still happened. I noticed some serious lag issues when using system sounds as well and the program started to hang whenever I tried to exit to Windows so I just gave up at that point.

The problem with the Slide Show seemed like it might be due to system speed. Almost as if MAMEWAH was rendering the slideshow screens faster than the system could keep up hence the missing or incorrect graphics popping up.

I think I'll officially lock-down this system and not attempt any upgrades until I move to an XP box later this year.

Minwah · « **Reply #14 on:** May 18, 2004, 12:03:45 pm »

Quote from: mugwump on May 18, 2004, 08:45:23 am

Nope, I only use one emulator (MAME) and did a clean install and the problem still happened. I noticed some serious lag issues when using system sounds as well and the program started to hang whenever I tried to exit to Windows so I just gave up at that point.

The problem with the Slide Show seemed like it might be due to system speed. Almost as if MAMEWAH was rendering the slideshow screens faster than the system could keep up hence the missing or incorrect graphics popping up.

I think I'll officially lock-down this system and not attempt any upgrades until I move to an XP box later this year.

Well sorry to hear you running into so many probs. The sound / 'hang' problem is a known issue under '98 (disabling sounds altogether is the only real fix).

I can't think what could be wrong with the screensaver, but I'll keep an eye on it and see if anyone else pipes up with the same issue. Unfortunately (for '98 users) it does just run better in XP. This isn't due to any XP bias or optimisations (there aren't any), but things just seem to work 'right' in XP, where '98 seems to have a few hiccups at times

mahuti · « **Reply #15 on:** June 26, 2004, 04:53:21 pm »

I am also having this problem with the screensaver. Some images show up like "armor attack" and some don't; "pac-man" for instance. I thought maybe it was a config issue, but since some pics show up and some don't it's obious that the path is right, but something else is wrong.

walls83 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 26, 2004, 08:03:55 pm »

If you using XP you dont need to run the mamewah slide show screen saver. You can just use XPs screen saver and point it to your screen shots folder in MAME. thats what I do and it works great. All screen shot rotate randomly.

mahuti · « **Reply #17 on:** June 27, 2004, 10:28:59 am »

I think I'll stick with 98. My 500 mhz junker wouldn't do well with XPs overhead.

Minwah · « **Reply #18 on:** June 27, 2004, 11:45:52 am »

Quote from: mahuti on June 26, 2004, 04:53:21 pm

I am also having this problem with the screensaver. Some images show up like "armor attack" and some don't; "pac-man" for instance. I thought maybe it was a config issue, but since some pics show up and some don't it's obious that the path is right, but something else is wrong.

Where did you get your screenshots? I noticed with CrashTest's title shots, some of the images are just plain black images, so it looks as if the image is not being displayed. Something to check at least...

mahuti · « **Reply #19 on:** June 27, 2004, 09:42:53 pm »

No, they worked on the last version, and they show up in the list view, just not in the screensaver. In the screensaver, NONE show up, except images that are heavily black, with only minor detail, like screens from vector games. Those are the only ones that show up in screensaver mode.

I can live with it, but as a programmer myself, I know I like for people to tell me when they have problems so I can get them sorted out.

Minwah · « **Reply #20 on:** June 28, 2004, 09:44:16 am »

Quote from: mahuti on June 27, 2004, 09:42:53 pm

No, they worked on the last version, and they show up in the list view, just not in the screensaver. In the screensaver, NONE show up, except images that are heavily black, with only minor detail, like screens from vector games. Those are the only ones that show up in screensaver mode.

I can live with it, but as a programmer myself, I know I like for people to tell me when they have problems so I can get them sorted out.

I did change one thing with the screensaver (for the better I thought)...

Could you email me your .CFG files and your .LAY file (not any bckground images) and I will try to see what's wrong. I know it works fine for me but I only use 1 type of artwork...

Aceldamor · « **Reply #21 on:** June 30, 2004, 12:39:18 pm »

And I was just getting everything working with the previous version.....

Thanks again for a sweet FE Minwah...one question though...

Will a future version be able to play an "Intro" movie or is that an option now?

I want to be able to play Dave D's movie when Mamewah starts

Minwah · « **Reply #22 on:** June 30, 2004, 01:11:25 pm »

Quote from: Aceldamor on June 30, 2004, 12:39:18 pm

Will a future version be able to play an "Intro" movie or is that an option now?

I want to be able to play Dave D's movie when Mamewah starts

You can't do it yet...I will add it once I get to do the movie screensaver and movie previews - I keep meaning to do that but I am keeping busy on other stuff atm...

Scoobie · « **Reply #23 on:** July 20, 2004, 11:55:33 pm »

Minwah,
Any idea when the next update (with trackball support) will be ready?

Minwah · « **Reply #24 on:** July 21, 2004, 01:31:27 pm »

Quote from: Scoobie on July 20, 2004, 11:55:33 pm

Minwah,
Any idea when the next update (with trackball support) will be ready?

Well I kindof got carried away and started things I didn't intend to...

The input stuff is ~90% done, but I have also re-written the config stuff (prob ~90% done also)...so I need to finish those bits off and then go through and fix anything that got broke in the process.

I kindof hinted at my site a while ago it would be ready this week...I think at this stage that is wishful thinking, but if it makes any odds I've been working on it all of my spare time - I want to get it onto my cab!

Scoobie · « **Reply #25 on:** July 21, 2004, 03:09:34 pm »

Looking forward to it!

Dave Butler · « **Reply #26 on:** July 21, 2004, 05:02:37 pm »

I'm Not

Minwah · « **Reply #27 on:** July 21, 2004, 06:17:24 pm »

Quote from: Dave Butler on July 21, 2004, 05:02:37 pm

I'm Not

Heh, if it's any consolation it is just about doing head in atm!

Seriously tho, I don't think *most* of it will be too difficult for you. My new controls/input system consists of a file system very similar to MAME's ctrlr ini files - I guess if you wanted to add detailed support for that into MW Setup, then that would be pretty challenging, but to be honest I don't think you'll need to, as most people will probably only need to edit 1 file once (the system is a little overkill really, but well prepared).

The ctrlr files I mention, along with my new config system will be backward compatible with new versions of MW...and the config files even auto-update themselves, so I suppose that will remove the need for MW Setup to update the CFG files

I'll get in touch a little nearer to when I'm ready (I'll try and give you some more warning this time)...atm MW is a bit of a mess, with things not working here and there, so I have a fair bit to go yet.

pointdablame · « **Reply #28 on:** July 21, 2004, 07:33:27 pm »

Take your time to get it right, but man I can't wait!!!

* pointdablame bounces with anticipation

FoX · « **Reply #29 on:** July 22, 2004, 02:03:43 pm »

Does this upcoming version contain mouse/trackball support?

Minwah · « **Reply #30 on:** July 22, 2004, 02:25:28 pm »

Quote from: FoX on July 22, 2004, 02:03:43 pm

Does this upcoming version contain mouse/trackball support?

Yep

kujina · « **Reply #31 on:** July 24, 2004, 05:32:16 pm »

Mixed emulators support will be great when you implement it.

BuMp


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