Kymaera with categories and subcategories

[Katana Man]

PacManFan, in another post, you mentioned you will be working on adding a multiple level structure to Kymaera.

[PacManFan]

A heirchical list? I assume in this list you want to be able to have sub-lists for each emualtor or category type?

I'll take a look at the code and give you an estimate in the morning. My inital guess is around 4-5 solid hours of coding and testing. I would need to alter my list format, or examine certain elements in a game list that would correspond to another list.

-PMF

[Katana Man]

Yeah, that would rock, thanks!  Then the only major thing that Kymaera could use is more mouse scrolling speed    Keep up the good work!

[PacManFan]

I'll fix the mouse scrolling speed too. It's fixed at a 1 game scroll per 3 pixels / per input res (1/8 second)

I can make it accumulate multiple game scrolls per input res.

After taking a look at the code for the hierchachal lists, I think it shouldn't be too hard to do. I just want to make sure that I do it right the first time.

I'll allow Kymaera to operate in "immediate" mode like it does now, or in "retained menu" mode like you're suggesting, and make that configurable.

BTW, did you know Kymaera supports mixing games from multiple emualtors into 1 list currently? Maybe that could solve some of your issues.

-PMF

[Katana Man]

Oooh, mixing games, I like that!

[Fandenivoldsk]

PacManFan, any news on how the work with the categories and subcategories in Kymaera are coming along? Maybe you could mail me an beta to try out?

[PacManFan]

There should be a version available in about a week. I've been busy hacking my Dreamcast lately, but I'm back on Kymaera now.
The preliminary version is about done, Kymaera can support sub-lists now through a forward(select) and back button.

I'll make a post when it's available.

-PMF

[Katana Man]

Oh man, I can't wait.  Thanks so much!

[FunkyBoss]

... I've been busy hacking my Dreamcast lately...

Really, what have you been doing?

[PacManFan]

I'm not exactly incorporating the dreamcast into my cab, I'm making a portable handheld Dreamcast with some various Emu's loaded into it. I think I'll be working on a port of Kymaera into the DreamCast soon.

-PMF

[Jakobud]

PacManFan, take a look at the Mame FE called Lemon Launcher:

http://lemonlauncher.sourceforge.net/

It's a very basic FE, loosely based on Game Launcher (only looks and operation at least).

It's basic and works well, but the biggest advantage to it is the support for unlimited number sub menus in the heirarchy.  This FE is pretty much dead and hasn't been updated forever and is very very unknown to most, but for me, this unlimited sub menu's thing (which is totally customizable) gives it a huge advantage.

Take a look at it.  Hopefully you can develop a sub menu /heirarchy system that is as flexible as it is.

[Katana Man]

Yes, Jakobud, read this thread a little more closely. That's what he's working on for us

[PacManFan]

The menu /submenu functionality is in my new version of Kymaera now. It allows you to use lists that have "sub-lists" as well. I have changed the functionality of the "Select" key to support this. Previously, "Select" would launch the highlighted game, now, "Select" will either

a) launch a game (if the current item in the list is a game)
b) enter into a new list (if the current list item is a sub-list)

I have also added a "Back" button, which will take you out of the sub list back to the previous list.

You can have as many sub-lists and levels of sub-lists as you like, and you can mix sub-lists in a list with games.

Now that I have that all working, I'm adding in the capabilities to the skins to have a Emulator Select screen, so you can select the Emulator, select a list , sublist, and then game.

I've checked out the source code for Lemon Launcher and Game launcher, They are both very well written, and gave me some insight.

Look for a release in the next few days (a week tops).

-PMF

[Buddabing]

The menu /submenu functionality is in my new version of Kymaera now. It allows you to use lists that have "sub-lists" as well. I have changed the functionality of the "Select" key to support this. Previously, "Select" would launch the highlighted game, now, "Select" will either

a) launch a game (if the current item in the list is a game)
b) enter into a new list (if the current list item is a sub-list)

I have also added a "Back" button, which will take you out of the sub list back to the previous list.

You can have as many sub-lists and levels of sub-lists as you like, and you can mix sub-lists in a list with games.

Now that I have that all working, I'm adding in the capabilities to the skins to have a Emulator Select screen, so you can select the Emulator, select a list , sublist, and then game.

I've checked out the source code for Lemon Launcher and Game launcher, They are both very well written, and gave me some insight.

Look for a release in the next few days (a week tops).

-PMF

If you haven't already, please change the spelling of "catagory" to "category". It's in a lot of places.

[Katana Man]

PacManFan,
  Thanks for the categories and subcategories!  Sounds like you designed it perfectly. I can't wait to see it in action. Keep up the good work!

[Katana Man]

PacManFan,
  It's been a couple of months. Are you still going to continue to develop Kymaera, or are you dropping the project?

[SirPeale]

I've been wondering the same thing.  It's an awesome project.  Now if I could get arcade modes working...

[Katana Man]

Well, he logged on yesterday, but no replies from him for a while.  PacManFan, are you alive? 

[PacManFan]

Yes, I'm alive,
 I've been lurking on the boards occasionally. I've been very busy with school lately. As far as Kymaera goes, I'll have a "final" release for it sometime soon. I can't gaurentee a date though. I haven't been working on it too much lately. It seems everybody nowadays is using MameWah, so I figured, "Why bother to compete?".

Kymaera does everything that I want it to do right now, but I'll still make a few more changes/fixes for the rest of you when I can.

-PMF

[SirPeale]

It seems everybody nowadays is using MameWah, so I figured, "Why bother to compete?".

Arcade monitor support?  DOS version that MameWAH doesn't have?

Kymaera does everything that I want it to do right now, but I'll still make a few more changes/fixes for the rest of you when I can.

Looking forward to it!  I really like this FE.

[Katana Man]

Kymaera does things that MameWah can't do. Just off the top of my head, it's easier to set configure, it can mix and match games from different emulators types, and if you get the categories and subcategories working, then it will definately much more flexiable than MameWah.  Not to mention the creator of MameWah said he's stopping/slowing down his development of it.

IMO, the only thing that Kymaera needs is faster scrolling and this cat/subcategory feature.

[Buddabing]

Yes, I'm alive,
 I've been lurking on the boards occasionally. I've been very busy with school lately. As far as Kymaera goes, I'll have a "final" release for it sometime soon. I can't gaurentee a date though. I haven't been working on it too much lately. It seems everybody nowadays is using MameWah, so I figured, "Why bother to compete?".

Kymaera does everything that I want it to do right now, but I'll still make a few more changes/fixes for the rest of you when I can.

-PMF

Please continue development on Kymaera. I think it's the best FE available because it has a robust feature set, is open source and cross-platform compatible, it is fast, and is not crippled by being written in a toy programming language like Visual Basic.

I find skinning difficult. If you would provide several example skins, that would be a nice additon to the package. I would like a skin with a background image, a game list, and a movie preview.