AtomicFE 0.15 Online!! NOW PLUG'N PLAY!

[youki]

Hi All,

The new version of AtomicFE is online.

Main news on this version :

- Scripted Layout !! (now you have no limit for your layout, you can do all what you want)
This features is still a early version , and not really documented yet. But if you want see what you can do with that. Download the Atomic Demo from my website. (Scripted layout in the Demo requires a good computer (at least 1.5ghz) ).

- Plug'n Play!!!   Now, you install Atomic (no configuration) , you download Plug'n Play modules from my website , you copy your roms in the Adhoc folder. And that's all!!!
For now only few modules are available but more are coming very soon.

- Possibility to set the space between marquee in larquee lists

- Support for Mirror type screen.

- Autorotate the Front End in function of the Game launched

- Bug corrections ( mainly on the multi-extension support)

- Few other things , not really visible

- The WEB SITE has been totally relooked. (very better than the awfull previous one...)

- A English/US support Forums has been opened for Atomic FE on : http://www.ArcadeFever.net
(so please ,if you can, post your tehcnical questions here , it will centralize the information)

If you have never tried Atomic before it is the moment to try it!  If you tried a old version and didn't like it, try this one!   

Thanks to all Atomic User for their support on this version.

Youki

http://www.Atomicfe.com

[JoyMonkey]

I downloaded the demo to try out, but it locks up my machine. After the initial 'Press PLayer 1 Start' screens I get a black screen and the computer freezes.

[youki]

What is your OS ?  and you machine cpu , memory?

Did you try to download the normal version? Do you have the same problem? (just download, install and click on Atomic.Exe , no configuration needed to test).

[JoyMonkey]

This computer is a 2.66ghz P4 with 1gig of memory running XP Pro SP2. I didn't try the normal version, but I'm at work and I really can't afford to have this machine lock up again today. I'll give it a try when I get home tonight.

[youki]

Humm..strange you should have any problem on that configuration.  Let me know if you have the chance to try tonight.

Thanks

[screaming]

animated backgrounds (i.e. nimated gifs or movies, not your script stuff)? The plug and play thing is exactly the type of interface i tried to build in mamewah config..  good job on that one!

[youki]

animated backgrounds (i.e. nimated gifs or movies, not your script stuff)?

No, it is not the same thing.  First my Animated stuff don't use movie or animated gifs. (it is just normal picture you can choose to make scroll to left, right, up, down and combination at different speed on different layers).  You can put .AVI file as background , if you want but for now , i don't have any layout using this feature. (humm.. may it is because it is not documented... ) .

The scripted layout are lot of more powerfull , you can program your layout using VBScript a doing all what you want.  If you see the AtomicDemo , there is a layout called "Invaders" for instance , where you can see some Invaders carrying the screenshots attacking you , and you have to shot it in order to run the game!!!!  Ok..not very usable in the real life, but i did that just for fun as demo!!! 

Here a screen shot.. but  imagine that all animated with music etc... 



This layout is "extreme"  , but you can use script to do more simple things, like display an arrow on the top of a list when there is still game coming in the list and remove it if there is no more game.

In the Demo , you can try the Matrix Layout . Here it is a demo of smooth scrolling on list, with transition sequenece for each screen shot.

Both are "heavy" scripted and require a good machine. But you can do very simple layout using script.
But in the other hand , it is not accessible for newbie yet. And not yet documented... i would need help on documentation.

The plug and play thing is exactly the type of interface i tried to build in mamewah config.. 

If you want make some module for Atomic , you are welcome. 

good job on that one!

Thanks

[Hoopz]

Cant wait to get home and upgrade my existing install.  Thanks Youki!

[screaming]

The scripted layout are lot of more powerfull , you can program your layout using VBScript a doing all what you want.  If you see the AtomicDemo , there is a layout called "Invaders" for instance , where you can see some Invaders carrying the screenshots attacking you , and you have to shot it in order to run the game!!!!  Ok..not very usable in the real life, but i did that just for fun as demo!!! 

  Holy teets! I'll be checking this out, and you can take that to the bank.

 

[screaming]

http://www.Atomicfe.com

  This website doesn't work for me.  I get a DNS error.

steveb@freda ~ $ host www.atomicfe.com
Host www.atomicfe.com not found: 2(SERVFAIL)
steveb@freda ~ $

[gonzobrian]

Works good for me.

[youki]

This website doesn't work for me.  I get a DNS error.

I know my provider had to reboot the server yesterday. May be you tried just during the 2 minutes it was rebooting!!!
 

[youki]

I have just updated the MAME plug'n play module .  If you tried it and got an Error about the "FullList.txt" , you can take the new one. If you didn't have error you don't need.

[screaming]

Youki:  Does AtomicFE have the ability to be controlled by another application?  Maybe with the integration of VBScript?

Here are 2 examples:

1) This came up a while ago as a hack for MAMEWAH.  The user wanted to highlight a game, press a button, then have a new gamelist re-filer on the fly based on the selected games category/control/screen/whatever.   He made a batch file that he configured MAMEWAH to run with a certain keypress, and that batch file created the MAMEWAH LST file and named it appropriately for a "hidden" list. The problem was he couldn't make MAMEWAH jump to that list automatically - it required another keypress from the user.

2) I have an external touchpanel LCD (an entire computer, actually) that I will use in my cab. I have a program that will watch for instructions from the network using a protocol I designed.  This program, on the main computer, will then carry out the specified action. So, for example, if I displayed a virtual keyboard on the TP and had it send the pressed letter to the main computer, I'd then like to jump to that letter in my game list.  Assuming SendKey will work (will it work with AtomicFE?) it will still be delayed.  I was hoping for a more solid implementation, you know, like an API (using COM maybe?).

What do you think?

[youki]

Does AtomicFE have the ability to be controlled by another application?

For now, not really , but it is doable for a future version.

But for your point 1 :  I think what you want to do it already perfectly doable thanks to my scripting engine (And without the need to use a .Bat file!!).  But could explain why the user need to do that?

For the point 2 : not possible yet. In that case, effectly Atomic would need to have the abitility to be controlled by another application.  I don't think the sendkey works with Atomic. (in early version of Atomic , surely, but not since few versions).   An Api would be Idea. I have already create an API for the script engine. But in your case, i think it would be better to consider Atomic as a Windows Services. It could listen a the http port (or another port) and react to external command.

But writing that, i just think to something, i think you could do what you want with the current version and the scriptEngine.  In fact you could communicate with Atomic using simple file.

-Your Application write a file with the command to execute
-A script in Atomic read that file, and perform the Adhoc action!!

I think it is doable. 

[screaming]

But for your point 1 :  I think what you want to do it already perfectly doable thanks to my scripting engine (And without the need to use a .Bat file!!).  But could explain why the user need to do that?

  Personally I think it makes the FE a little too complicated, but I can see the value in that. Instead of having a trillion lists all sorted every which way, I could sort on the fly.  There are many times when I am in the mood for a fast action shooter, and then others where I just want to play witht he trackball.

  ...But I'm already planning on having 2 modes in my configuration. "Advanced" mode and "Simple" mode. I haven't quite figured out how that's going to work yet though.  Any ideas on that one?

Services. It could listen a the http port (or another port) and react to external command.

  Personally I don't think that's the best option because you end up complicating things.. that means that every time someone wanted to communicate with AtomicFE they would need to build an HTTP object? shrug.. I suppose it's "6 of one and an half dozen of the other". VBScript makes it braindead simple to do that stuff.

-Your Application write a file with the command to execute
-A script in Atomic read that file, and perform the Adhoc action!!

  I can say make AtomicFE jump to any layout by scripting it?





[/quote]

[youki]

...But I'm already planning on having 2 modes in my configuration. "Advanced" mode and "Simple" mode. I haven't quite figured out how that's going to work yet though.  Any ideas on that one?

I don't understand what you are trying to do?  You speak about Atomic here?
In Atomic you can all configurations you want.  Each configurations having his own configuration file. And all can be linked together and accessible through the Front end , the way you want.

that means that every time someone wanted to communicate with AtomicFE they would need to build an HTTP object?

No , just send a request to the http port. Using one windows APi function.

I can say make AtomicFE jump to any layout by scripting it?

Yes, you can.  In fact with the scripting engine i integreted in Atomic , you can really do all what you want .  It just require more or less coding.
I integrated the VBScript engine in Atomic and enhanced with a special API for pure Atomic Stuff.  So it means you can do absoltly all you can do in VBScript , plus some thing specific to Atomic. (all the graphics things mainly , and user controls).

But the "scripting" required programing knowledge and a good understanting of Atomic.  It is not so easy. But did you have a look to the DEMO?  Look in layouts folder for the Invaders one and the Matrix , there a .VBS file. If you want have an idea of how looks the script.

[screaming]

I integrated the VBScript engine in Atomic and enhanced with a special API for pure Atomic Stuff.  So it means you can do absoltly all you can do in VBScript , plus some thing specific to Atomic. (all the graphics things mainly , and user controls).

  rock-n-freakin-roll man.. This is the ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- I've been trying to get into MAMEWAH for years.

  I'm pumped!  I can't wait to check it out.

[youki]

As i said.  The scripting is still "young".  It works well , but if you play with it don't be surprise if sometime you make crash Atomic. I didn't check all error yet.  And it is not documented. There only a file that list all api function but that's all.   It is still experimental.

But if you call function correctly it doesn't crash!    But said that the Crash is a kind of "Syntax Error" for now.

So if you try, and need help don't hesitate.  But please for tehcnical question can you post on the arcadefever forum.  I would like to centralize all technical answers here on the Atomic Dedicated forum.

[screaming]

yeah, it needs to be optimized to be really useful. only with the most basic scripts coupled with the most powerful computers will that feature be useable... It's pretty much unuseable (though functional) on my Centrino 1.8Ghz/1GB RAM/64MB Video.

Really great start though.  Keep up the good work.

[youki]

In fact Demo script i did (Invaders and Atomic) are not a good exemple because they are very big.  In real case, you don't need to script so much. 

You know, i'm developping Atomic on a Old Celeron 533Mhz with 256 mega of ram.  And i made  few script very usable.    In the Demo ones , all Atomic default behavior are overridded and managed by a script.  In most of case you don't need to do that.  If you need a script let me know what you want do, i will write you one for you , just to show you it can be usable on your machine. (Your machine is a very good configuration for Atomic).   

We managed to make run Atomic on a Pentium 166 Mhz with 64 mega of ram, so on yours!!! 

[edge]

- Autorotate the Front End in function of the Game launched

Awesome, Youki!  You added the auto-rotate function.   I will try that out this weekend.
Thanks.

[youki]

Hi All,

I updated Atomic 0.15 to correct a little bug in the Multi-extension feature.

(when you specified multi-extension, if there was no file for one of the extension specified the game list stayed empty in some case)

Now, it is fixed.

you can take the full install again. Or if you already installed it , just replace the .exe by this one :

http://www.AtomicFe.com/Downloads/AtoMic.exe

Thanks

[Wade]

Youki,

   I am using version 0.14, and there are a couple of bugs.  Please let me know if they have been fixed.

   1. Sometimes the coin up doesn't work in a game the first time or two I press it.

   2. Sometimes the Exit button doesn't work the first time or two I press it.

   3. Sometimes when someone starts playing a game... after about a minute, it quits and goes back to the FrontEnd (thinks it is in screensaver mode apparently!)

Please let me know, as I'd love to fix these issues.  I really like Atomic other than these minor annoyances.

TTYL!
Wade

[edge]

Hi Youki,
I just downloaded and tried Atomic. Unfortunately, I ran into a few issues.

(1) When I tried out your mame plug-and-play module, I noticed that there are a few CFG files hardcoded with C:\ATOMICFE or C:\ATOMICFE_V015. 

Examples from atomic.cfg:
MARQUEEDIR=C:\ATOMICFE\MARQUEE
CUSTOMDIR1=C:\ATOMICFE\MARQUEE
CUSTOMDIR2=C:\ATOMICFE\MARQUEE
CREDITSDIR=C:\ATOMICFE\CREDITS

Examples from mame_nuss.cfg:
MARQUEEDIR=C:\ATOMICFE\MARQUEE
CUSTOMDIR2=C:\ATOMICFE\MARQUEE
CREDITSDIR=C:\ATOMICFE\CREDITS

(2) When I select the MAME plug-in, it is unable to find any roms.  I see:
No ROMS Found.
Extension: .CFG

The demo looks cool.  Nice work.
Edge

[youki]

Wade:

I think problem you have is due to the Repeat Key Delay.  Try to reduce the number on the Advanced Tab.
Because i checked an nothing in the code could cause that.

Another test, to be sure, to change the delay but just keep your finger on the button longer!

Edge :

The hardcoded paths  are not a problem because they are not used by the layout i use.
And in the plug'n play mode , the Atomic.Cfg is ignored.

But, i saw some problems in my MAME plug'n play module . I need to fix it. (i made it a little bit too fast...  )

Just to be sure, you didn't use a plug'nplay module on the Demo version?  It does work. The Atomic.exe in the Demo is a old one.

Where did you install AtomicFE ? (what folder, the default one?)

When did you get the module? (i did one change last friday i think, but i still have something to do)

[Wade]

Wade:

I think problem you have is due to the Repeat Key Delay.  Try to reduce the number on the Advanced Tab.
Because i checked an nothing in the code could cause that.

Another test, to be sure, to change the delay but just keep your finger on the button longer!

So the Repeat Key Delay makes a difference while inside MAME?  I would think that you wouldn't want it to, as when a person inserts a coin, hits start, or hits exit, he wants it to necessarily happen, he doesn't want to have to do it several times...  Also, I have it set to what seemed to make scrolling through the game list the most manageable, so I don't really want to change it.  People don't want to have to hold the button down to exit the current game, they just want to tap it.

Also, what about when someone is playing a game, and then MAME quits?  I am sure this is because the screensaver function doesn't realize someone decided to PLAY.

Wade

[youki]

Yes, you are right sorry.

For now i did nothing about your problem. Because i didn't manage to reproduce it on my computers.
I should have a better machines soon for Atomic development. I should be more confortable to debug this kind a thing.

[edge]

Edge :

The hardcoded paths  are not a problem because they are not used by the layout i use.
And in the plug'n play mode , the Atomic.Cfg is ignored.

But, i saw some problems in my MAME plug'n play module . I need to fix it. (i made it a little bit too fast...  )

Just to be sure, you didn't use a plug'nplay module on the Demo version?  It does work. The Atomic.exe in the Demo is a old one.

Where did you install AtomicFE ? (what folder, the default one?)

When did you get the module? (i did one change last friday i think, but i still have something to do)

- I used the AtomicFE full version (not demo).
- I installed to D:\Arcade\FrontEnd\AtomicFE.
- I downloaded the mame module from your download page (www.atomicfe.com).

[youki]

I 'm working on that module. I will post here as soon as  i will have corrected it.

[youki]

New Patch for Atomic 0.15 on line!
-----------------------------------------

-Fix a bug on launching .BAT
-Fix a bug on multi-extension when used in Plug'n play module

[youki]

ATOMIC 0.15-4 on line!  (Full version updated and Patch Available too)
---------------------------

-Fix on bug on video snap
-32 bit/pixel video mode support added