MAMEWAH v1.61

[Minwah]

Hardly worth a mention, just a few minor bugs fixed.  If you have a newish IPAC and want to use WinIPAC via MAMEWAH, then check it out:

MAMEWAH v1.61 (02/02/05)

Bugs Fixed:

New versions of WinIPAC would not work correctly with MAMEWAH (fixed),
'Auto-Exit' countdown would go 5-4-3-2-1-5 if another error occurred immediately after first error (fixed),
Error would occur when using movie screen-saver if movie_path missing or invalid (fixed),
{cursor} flags used in app_x_commandline_format's would not work correctly when used with the auto_launch_apps option (fixed),
Artwork objects #2-10 would appear in front of games list if used/overlapped (fixed).

Improvements:

MAMEWAH now programs IPAC (via WinIPAC) with mamewah_ipc_file on startup.

http://mamewah.mameworld.net

[Popcorrin]

I just upgraded to this version because I got an ipac not too long ago and didn't know if it would work with the old version.  I ran into some problems though.
I was wondering if there was a way to turn off the automatic programming of the ipac on startup.  If you don't currently have your ipac hooked up you will get an error. 

Most important problem I had though was that when I try to launch a game I lose focus and I have to ctrl-alt-delete.  I tried deleting the nosafelaunch parameter and I got the same result.  I tried this on 2 separate computers and it happened on both of them.  I tried reverting back to my previous version of mamewah and the focus issue  now happens with the older version.   

[clanggedin]

Mamewah loses focus on some games too. I have to hit alt / tab to regain focus. I didn't have this problem with earlier versions.

SF alpha 3 is one that would lose focus and rampage world tour. There are others too.

[mahuti]

It's nice to finally have a working screensaver back again in windows 98. Still can't control MameWah via VNC, but since most of the configuration options aren't inside the program anymore it's not important. Haven't extensively tested mamewah this go around, but on the surface it definitely looks good.

Now I just need to figure out some other win 98 problems with some of my other programs.

[Minwah]

I was wondering if there was a way to turn off the automatic programming of the ipac on startup.  If you don't currently have your ipac hooked up you will get an error. 

Not currently...there was a thread about it (WinIPAC) at the MW board but no-one suggested that!

Most important problem I had though was that when I try to launch a game I lose focus and I have to ctrl-alt-delete.  I tried deleting the nosafelaunch parameter and I got the same result.  I tried this on 2 separate computers and it happened on both of them.  I tried reverting back to my previous version of mamewah and the focus issue  now happens with the older version.   

That sounds like something else could be the problem.  A newer version of MAMEWAH wouldn't affect how an older version works, aside from altering the ini files - commandline_format (the key one) should remain the same though.  Also, the launch method has not changed for a while which makes me think something else is the matter.

Try {safelaunch} in your commandline_format though...

[Minwah]

Mamewah loses focus on some games too. I have to hit alt / tab to regain focus. I didn't have this problem with earlier versions.

SF alpha 3 is one that would lose focus and rampage world tour. There are others too.

I don't really understand how this would happen, particularly for only some games, but again, try the {safelaunch} flag in the commandline_format.

[elvis]

Mamewah loses focus on some games too. I have to hit alt / tab to regain focus. I didn't have this problem with earlier versions.

SF alpha 3 is one that would lose focus and rampage world tour. There are others too.

I don't really understand how this would happen, particularly for only some games, but again, try the {safelaunch} flag in the commandline_format.

The fact that he mentioned to button-mashing syle games gets my attention.

If you have an iPac or similar programmable interface, I suggest downloading the appropriate programming software and disabling the shifted keys.  I've found that when my partner or her daughter play my cab, they mash so many buttons simultaneously that they somehow hit a sequence of keys at the right time that switches back to the desktop, brings up the MAME config interface, or other weird things.  There are numerous other threads on the same topic, most of which seem to indicate the problem is only noticed when kids or partners are madly button bashing.

Also, within WindowsXP the system defaults to asking the user if they want CAPSLOCK turned on if they hit the SHIFT button 5 times in a row.  This can be a problem with 4/6 button games.  I believe this has somethnig to do with the Accessibility Options in Control Panel ("sticky keys" I think).

As MinWah said, I doubt highly this is MAMEWah's fault (or any other FE for that matter).

[Todd H]

Great frontend as always!  I've been playing around with it for a while and it works beautifully.  I have run into two problems however.

Sometimes after exiting a game, if I press esc to quit Mamewah it loads the game back up again.  I can avoid this by moving up or down the list and then pressing esc.

Also, the mouse cursor disappears when I load Madden 2004 (pc).  I've set show_cursor to 1 and it still does it. 

Keep up the great work!   

[clanggedin]

I have had my system running for about 6 months with Mamewah and have not had this problem before.

I believe it didn't start doing this until recently. Around the exact same time I upgraded to 1.60. On every game it loses focus.

I have fixed all of the buttons in Mame so we are not doing the alt/ tab, alt/enter thing to lose focus.

I also lost my shift function and for some reason it changed itself from player1  button to player1 left direction.

I just fixed those problems hoping it would also repair my losing focus in mamewah, but unfortunately it hasn't.

[clanggedin]

I just tried the safelaunch command and that seemed to fix it.

 

[ras2a]

Excellent, as always! - Nice one Steve.

[Minwah]

Sometimes after exiting a game, if I press esc to quit Mamewah it loads the game back up again.  I can avoid this by moving up or down the list and then pressing esc.

That's a wierd one, I'll see if I can duplicate it...

Also, the mouse cursor disappears when I load Madden 2004 (pc).  I've set show_cursor to 1 and it still does it. 

You need to specify to not hide the cursor for that emulator (by default the cursor is now hidden for all emulators, even with show_cursor 1).  Simply add {cursor} to the end of your commandline_format.

Actually...thinking about it, that might not work.  The PC game launch stuff works slightly differently, so I might have to look into that...

[Todd H]

You need to specify to not hide the cursor for that emulator (by default the cursor is now hidden for all emulators, even with show_cursor 1).  Simply add {cursor} to the end of your commandline_format.

That did it!  The cursor now shows up in Madden.

The other problem is a bit weird.  It doesn't happen all the time.  And when it does it usually happens if I try to exit Mamewah right after exiting an emulator.  I'll keep playing around with it and see if it's a particular behavior that makes it happen and let you know.

Keep up the excellent work!