CoinDrop v1.3 Released - Now you can insert coins from your front-end!

[headkaze]

Actually, you can still get a copy, you just have to message me in this forum with a link to your project page and I will give you a password and url to download.

[SOAPboy]

Actually, you can still get a copy, you just have to message me in this forum with a link to your project page and I will give you a password and url to download.

And i thank you alot for that, and still trying to give to the community by doing so..

Its just a shame you have to do that

Ill PM you when i get around to getting my cade running again, currently the PC is being used by my GF and is now loaded with tons of spyware.. thanks gf.. :-|

[iwillfearnoevil]

i still find it ironic how some people get so upset at this idea yet are playing with roms when they don't own the pcb. i just don't get how what they do is okay but try to come down on other people.

[Spartan]

I'm also experiencing the problem where the program causes the coin insert sound to play when I press 5 but nothing happens in mame (I tried it in robotron) when I hit 1, unless I hit 5 while I am in mame.

Perhaps CoinDrop is not finding Mame... it searches for the "MAME:" part of a window when Mame launches. I have no experience with fastmame, perhaps it uses a different way to name it's window. As I have only tested this with Mame32 and Mame32fx (I'm assuming it works with standard Mame if that uses DirectInput too). Can anyone confirm that it is actually working for them? I havn't had any feedback saying it's actually working. Until I get a bit more of a feel for what may be happening or going wrong, I don't know how to go about debugging this. The actual coin insert part of the program works separately (the part where it detects a coin drop key press and makes a sound), so it seems the problem may lie in the DirectInput injection code. You could also test to see if it can auto-skip the disclaimer screens. But if it can't find a window named "MAME:*" then it won't find Mame. If you can run your version of Mame, then Alt-TAB out to the desktop, check if the name of the process on the taskbar is called "MAME: *name_of_rom*", and get back to me.

I am having the exact same problem.  My window says:

MAME: Ms. Pac-Man [mspacman]

[headkaze]

Ok, please tell me the version of DirectX you have (Start->Run->"dxdiag"). I'm thinking about releasing a "debug" version of CoinDrop that will output dialog boxes of what is going on to help me figure out what is happening. Also, please tell me the the version of Mame you are using and Operating System. There is also an issue if you are running a unicode version of Mame which means the actual language settings could effect things. On a final note, I did notice that Mame had a backup input system if DirectInput fails. This means CoinDrop will not work, as it intercepts DirectInput traffic only and injects keystrokes to DirectInput. I will release the debug version soon, stay tuned.

[D5A1AC]

I have DX 9.0c. I also have english (United states), (Australia) as well as the Japanese language packs installed on my computer. Thanks for trying to sort this out.

[headkaze]

Make sure there is only one instance of CoinDrop.exe running. Press CTRL-ALT-DEL, run task manager, then sort the process list alphabetically (click the area above the list). Make sure you only have one CoinDrop.exe running at one time.

1. Run Mame32 GUI from explorer rather than from a front-end (perhaps it dosn't work with MameWah, I don't know I only tested with GameEx).

2. Press '5' a few times to hear a chime meaning CoinDrop is counting credits.

3. Launch a mame game (something simple like 1942)

4. Once it's loaded press '1' to start (it should drop a coin and start).

No go? Ok, wait for the debug version

[loadman]

Hi I just followed your instructions and it worked fine playing 1942 through mame32.

However it didn't work using MaLa Fe

:-(

[youki]

I suppose it is because Mala already uses Hooks for something , and does not manage well the hook queue. Or it is the coin drop tool.

[swindus]

Hi I just followed your instructions and it worked fine playing 1942 through mame32.

However it didn't work using MaLa Fe

:-(

just rename the file malakeyhook.dll from the mala dir to malakeyhook.dl_, restart mala and try again. mala don't uses any hooks then. the hook is only needed on win98 systems to quit fullscreen directx apps.

[Spartan]

Ok, please tell me the version of DirectX you have (Start->Run->"dxdiag"). I'm thinking about releasing a "debug" version of CoinDrop that will output dialog boxes of what is going on to help me figure out what is happening. Also, please tell me the the version of Mame you are using and Operating System. There is also an issue if you are running a unicode version of Mame which means the actual language settings could effect things. On a final note, I did notice that Mame had a backup input system if DirectInput fails. This means CoinDrop will not work, as it intercepts DirectInput traffic only and injects keystrokes to DirectInput. I will release the debug version soon, stay tuned.

OS: XP Pro
DirectX: 9.0c
MAME: .101 (custom built winmame so that all dip switches default to cocktail)
Frontend: MaLa

Edit -- I just saw the post about the MaLa keyhook.  I'll rename that dll and try it again.  This app won't work over VNC, will it? 

[neomause2003]

CoinDrop v1.1 By Headkaze
=========================

-= DESCRIPTION =-

This program will allow you to send coin drops to Mame from within your front-end. It runs in the background using a very small amount of CPU. When it detects a coin drop it will play a sound effect and store the amount of coins in memory. When you start Mame you can press the start keys and a credit is automatically registerd and starts the game. Dropping coins outside of Mame means you can carry over credits to multiple games.

-= FAQ =-

1. How do I set this thing up on my cab?

Just extract the folder to somewhere on your machine and create a link to CoinDrop.exe on bootup.

2. Where can I change the key settings?

Just open CoinDrop.ini in notepad and follow the instructions.

-= VERSION HISTORY =-

Version 1.1 (25-12-2005) : You now press the Start keys to drop coins and can now carry on credits to multiple games.
Version 1.0 (24-12-2005) : First Release

-----------------------------------------------

TERMS OF USE: This program is illegal to use in a commercial setting. If this program is found on a machine in a commericial environment you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Download

** Please post links to your favourite coin drop wav sounds. **

How to download the program??
the link no found

[headkaze]

So is the problem only related to MaLa? Or should I still bother with a debug version?

[Spartan]

So is the problem only related to MaLa? Or should I still bother with a debug version?

I haven't had a chance to look into it -- my parents are in town this weekend.

[Grasshopper]

So is the problem only related to MaLa? Or should I still bother with a debug version?

No, I can't get it to work and I don't use MaLa.

[Spartan]

So is the problem only related to MaLa? Or should I still bother with a debug version?

I haven't had a chance to look into it -- my parents are in town this weekend.

Ok, had a chance to look at it and no luck.

[cbcellman33]

I agree totally with grasshopper...he said it all and very well..this is a good idea and i think its stupid for people to disagree when they are using ILLEGAL roms. I guess all the pople that think its bad buy 1500 roms lol

[SirPoonga]

I agree totally with grasshopper...he said it all and very well..this is a good idea and i think its stupid for people to disagree when they are using ILLEGAL roms. I guess all the pople that think its bad buy 1500 roms lol

Will you guys give this a rest.  You assume everyone uses illegal roms.

[headkaze]

I think i may have found the bug in the code causing it to not find the Mame window on some machines. Please IM if you can't get it to work and I will give you the new one to test. Thanks.

[headkaze]

New version 1.2.

I have added "WhiteList" and "BlackList" options to the ini file. The WhiteList is used to specify executables of that must be running to process a coin drop. The BlackList is used to specify executables that must not be running to process a coin drop.

Eg.
WhiteList=GameEx.exe
BlackList=VisualBoyAdvance.exe;ePSXe.exe

[headkaze]

Some people are misinterpreting how CoinDrop works, since version 1.1 it has changed.

This is a message I got from someone, as you will note you have to press start to drop a coin. Also, it will not carry over credits once you have inserted them within a game. Perhaps I could add the feature that if you quit a game before using all your credits I could add this to the CoinDrop credit total - but for now, just don't drop in credits in a game unless you want to use them.

How I thought it worked:
-> enter a coin from frontend
-> start game
-> game would come up with 1 credit showing

How it does works:
-> enter coin from frontend
-> start game
-> game shows 0 credits
-> pressing 1 or 2 player start enters coins and starts game

[headkaze]

Version 1.3. Okay, now you can carry over credits you insert in Mame but do not play.

Eg. If your in a game, you insert a coin, you can exit, select another game, and use the coin in that game instead.

[loadman]

Actually, you can still get a copy, you just have to message me in this forum with a link to your project page and I will give you a password and url to download.

Thanks I got it. With MAME 32 it worked perfectly.

With MaLa it didn't work at all until I applied the tip from SWINDUS of renaming a .dll file. After that within the MaLa FE I could add credits (by the sound). But when I launch 1942 it didn't work and to make things worse game controls were very sluggish.

As instructed I used the test version as well. It had the same results:
As requested below is a list of windows that came up:
-'Dihook checking process x 2 windows (when 1st launched coindrop)
-'Dihook checking process x 1 window

[headkaze]

Ok, I don't know what exactly is happening here, but you are not getting the critical messages. The following should occur...

The messages I am looking for are:

- "DIHook Checking Process" (should appear a few times)
- "MAME Found"

Now you launch 1942 from Mame32

- "DirectInputCreateA Trapped" (if you don't get this message it's not using DirectInput)
- "MAME: 1942 (set 1) [1942]"
- "Ready Status OK"

If you don't get the "DirectInputCreateA Trapped" message then it's not finding DirectInput. This is the method I use to intercept and inject keys into Mame. Ok, I've just updated CoinDrop again, this time it also intercepts the Unicode version of DI called DirectInputCreateW. Try this out and if you still don't get the message that DirectInputCreate is being trapped then DI is not being used on your system. I breifly looked at the Mame source and it looks like it has a backup method of reading input using GetAsyncKeyState. Perhaps this is what is happening here. Anyway try the new version and get back to me. Appreciate your help, thanks.

[loadman]

Hello again,

[MikesMame]

Headkase, I don't have a project page yet. Can I still get a copy of your CoinDrop? Thanks, MIKE

[whatzcrackn]

How can I get the link?

[headkaze]

To all the people asking for CoinDrop without a project page... no I will not send you CoinDrop. Your missing the whole point of why I'm not making it freely available. Only if you can prove to me you are a homebrewer by providing a link to a project page will I send you a copy. Sorry, but the debate about this is over and it's my final decision.

[SirPoonga]

You know I am not fond of the program but if you are going to be working on it you might as well release it.  What says that the link they send you isn't a random one pulled off the project announcements forum?

[whatzcrackn]

To all the people asking for CoinDrop without a project page... no I will not send you CoinDrop. Your missing the whole point of why I'm not making it freely available. Only if you can prove to me you are a homebrewer by providing a link to a project page will I send you a copy. Sorry, but the debate about this is over and it's my final decision.

Boo.....Boo.......

[headkaze]

Hey look, it's the right thing to do when you look at it. I'm trying to respect the views presented by some of the BYOAC crew. I'd like to see them post now and back me up on how I'm dealing with this, or should I just make it public again? Comon it's easy to tear an idea down, how about supporting me in my decision to limit it's distribution?

You know I am not fond of the program but if you are going to be working on it you might as well release it.  What says that the link they send you isn't a random one pulled off the project announcements forum?

Your not fond of it, but think I should release it? I don't get that statement, kinda like a contradiction. Ok, people might give me a bogus link, so what, I can't possibly traffic cop every request I get properly right? At least I'm doing something to ease the mind of people who bag the program. Look, I'm only trying to make everyone happy here.. the Mame developers, the BYOAC people against it, and all that. This is my attempt at making CoinDrop available without pissing everyone off. It's the best I can do sorry..

[JoyMonkey]

I think you should leave it as it is, since CoinDrop is only morally useful if used in a home environment. I think you're doing an excellent job of keeping CoinDrop legit, so many other people would have just posted it on an anonymous website.
It shouldn't be a big deal for anyone here to have to post a link to a project, it's not really a lot to ask from any of us.

[Farmboy90]

Honestly bro, I would just post it.  If people on this board get bent out of shape they are being silly in my opinion.  A bit hipocritical at least. 

They don't need to download it if they don't want it.  You aren't doing anything remotely against the forum rules.  So I say post it.

This is a religious debate and you can't make head way with the issue either way, so just do what you feel is best for you and your contribution to this great community.


Abruptly switching gears....

What does your software do in this case:
- I load up a bunch of credits while in the game.  I only use one or two of them and then exit back to the front end.  I select another game and play that.

Will the unused credits (entered in another game - not via the FE), be available in the new game?

[DrewKaree]

Comon it's easy to tear an idea down, how about supporting me in my decision to limit it's distribution?

The common theme behind people AGAINST it is that it shouldn't be done, period.  Why would someone who thinks in such a way wish to support you limiting its distribution? 

That's like saying "I know you don't want me to sell ANY crack, but if I just sell it on this one corner instead of all over the city like I wanted to, then you should support that"

And what SirP is saying is that CLEARLY, you aren't going to stop working on it, so go all out with it.  Don't "pretend" you're being some "traffic cop", since you yourself acknowledge it's a futile effort. 

Let EVERYONE speed if you aren't going to stop EVERYONE. 

You're being pedantic by putting up "rules" you admit you can't enforce.

[MikesMame]

To all the people asking for CoinDrop without a project page... no I will not send you CoinDrop. Your missing the whole point of why I'm not making it freely available. Only if you can prove to me you are a homebrewer by providing a link to a project page will I send you a copy. Sorry, but the debate about this is over and it's my final decision.

Fair enough. I will conply with your request.

MIKE

[headkaze]

Abruptly switching gears....

What does your software do in this case:
- I load up a bunch of credits while in the game.  I only use one or two of them and then exit back to the front end.  I select another game and play that.

Will the unused credits (entered in another game - not via the FE), be available in the new game?

Yes, thats the new feature of CoinDrop v1.3

[headkaze]

Comon it's easy to tear an idea down, how about supporting me in my decision to limit it's distribution?

The common theme behind people AGAINST it is that it shouldn't be done, period.  Why would someone who thinks in such a way wish to support you limiting its distribution? 

That's like saying "I know you don't want me to sell ANY crack, but if I just sell it on this one corner instead of all over the city like I wanted to, then you should support that"

And what SirP is saying is that CLEARLY, you aren't going to stop working on it, so go all out with it.  Don't "pretend" you're being some "traffic cop", since you yourself acknowledge it's a futile effort. 

Let EVERYONE speed if you aren't going to stop EVERYONE. 

You're being pedantic by putting up "rules" you admit you can't enforce.

So what your saying is that it's "all or nothing". So the legit portion of people who will use this on their own home machines to teach kids how to value credits without confusing them, or so friends who drop coins in at the wrong time make your cab look mediocure should suffer as well. Because there is a chance that someone will abuse it for commercial gain. Well, such a program will never work flawlessly so I don't believe it could be used in a commercial setting anyway. There is a moment between the game start and when it actually accepts coins. If you drop coins in at this time you will lose them. What does this mean? Well it means people won't tollerate a system that dosn't work 100%. Like if you have instructions on your "commercial Mame machine" saying "only insert coins after a game starts". It dosn't work (apparently), so I believe it's not viable anyway. You can't commercialise a system that only works some of the time. For the kids or friends that this is designed for, a few credits lost is just tough luck.

[SirPoonga]

So the legit portion of people who will use this on their own home machines to teach kids how to value credits without confusing them, or so friends who drop coins in at the wrong time make your cab look mediocure should suffer as well.

I like comments like this.  Without this program people will have to learn to pay attention   especially since the credits don't cost them anything.  Either way people learn something.

Your not fond of it, but think I should release it? I don't get that statement, kinda like a contradiction.

Right, I am not fond of it but I didn't say you shouldn't release it.  That's up to you.  You can see my first couple of replies on this thread on why I think a program like this doesn't add anything to the cabinet.  Especially since the credits are free.  You loose them just add more.

My point was if you are going to do security make it something worthwhile.  It's like those stupid DRM copy protection programs on CDs.  Just disable autorun and you can now copy the CD.  Basically there is no security.  And that's what I am saying about your post a project link idea.  That really isn't security, so either not make it available or make it available. 

[SirPoonga]

So the legit portion of people who will use this on their own home machines to teach kids how to value credits without confusing them, or so friends who drop coins in at the wrong time make your cab look mediocure should suffer as well.

I like comments like this.  Without this program people will have to learn to pay attention   especially since the credits don't cost them anything.  Either way people learn something.  Actually, in a reward system I'd find that having the ability to loose credits would teach the kids about spending wisely.

Your not fond of it, but think I should release it? I don't get that statement, kinda like a contradiction.

Right, I am not fond of it but I didn't say you shouldn't release it.  That's up to you.  You can see my first couple of replies on this thread on why I think a program like this doesn't add anything to the cabinet.  Especially since the credits are free.  You loose them just add more.

My point was if you are going to do security make it something worthwhile.  It's like those stupid DRM copy protection programs on CDs.  Just disable autorun and you can now copy the CD.  Basically there is no security.  And that's what I am saying about your post a project link idea.  That really isn't security, so either not make it available or make it available. 

[mahuti]

I agree with SirPoonga

...make it available

He demands it... I think the rest of us should back him on this.

How's that for taking something out of context.