help with: MAMEWah vertical layout, ArcadeVGA display rotation

[LePic]

All right.  What is it that I don't understand?  I want to use a vertical arcade monitor with MAMEWah, Mr Salty vertical classic skin and hardware rotation (ArcadeVGA and ATI CATALYST)

First, you must know that the actual orientation of the monitor is horizontal.  It will be rotated when I get help from a friend.  When oriented horizontally (like now) it displays upside down so I need to use the ArcadeVGA rotation feature and rotate it 180 degrees.  This is only for the monitor to display properly when the monitor is oriented horizontally.  MAMEWah works fine and I run my test game (mspacman) with this ini file:

hwstretch 0
artwork 0
resolution 244x288
rol -1

It displays on the side but I only use this to make sure the game will display fine when I rotate the monitor.


Now here is where I get into some trouble:

By using ATI Catalyst that came with the ArcadeVGA card, I change the rotation of the screen from 180 to 90.  Windows is now display on the side, it fills the screen and nothing is lost. 

PROBLEM 1) Running MAMEWah.  I can't get 'Mr Salty vertical classic' layout to work.  Even without the layout applied, I have MAMEWah running on the side.  Not everything is displayed, but once I get to apply the payout, it should be ok.  Help on this would be appreciated.

PROBLEM 2) When trying to run my test game (mspacman), I just get a quick black-scren-flash and then it's back to MAMEWah.  I am pretty sure it has something to do with the game ini file, but I can't. figure out what it should be.

Is what I am trying to do here feasible?  If yes, any pointer would be appreciated.

LePic

[LePic]

OK... I should have sleep on this before I ask too many questions.

I figured out how to apply vertical layout on MAMEWah.

I still get that black-screen-flassh-then-back to MAMEWah problem.  When I select a game, it won'T start.  any idea?

[Minwah]

I still get that black-screen-flassh-then-back to MAMEWah problem.  When I select a game, it won'T start.  any idea?

Try running a game from a commandline, eg:

mame mspacman

This way you should be able to see any error messages MAME is returning.

[dougman]

I cannot figure out how to get mamewah into vertical mode.

When i tried using the Arcadevga ATI rotate option in the display settings, It just errors out says, it does not support this. and then i keep clicking on it, then the screen goes into a undisplayable mode on my arcade monitor.

Looking at mamewah layout designer, you cannot create layouts that are sideways, so I don't understand how you can have a vertical cabinet. :O

[Minwah]

First make sure you can rotate your desktop...hardware rotation is preferred.

Then make or obtain a layout with vertical orientation (basically the resolution x & y figures  are reversered...eg 480x640).  Ensure your video card supports the mode you are trying to use.

Rotate your desktop and run Mamewah with the desired layout and it should work...

[dougman]

The thing is, I cannot rotate the desktop. The arcadevga drivers just errors out, and the screen goes crazy.

if only i can make a sideways list, and have a sideways character set, and do a mass rotate 90 on all the pics.
...

[Minwah]

The thing is, I cannot rotate the desktop. The arcadevga drivers just errors out, and the screen goes crazy.

if only i can make a sideways list, and have a sideways character set, and do a mass rotate 90 on all the pics.

To rotate Mamewah, you *have to* rotate your desktop - Mamewah doesn't have native rotation.

I suggest you try to sort out your driver problem, or failing that you could use software rotation (eg Pivot Pro).

[alank2]

Hi,

Minwah is right (he should know!).  I have always used Mamewah with a vertical cabinet.  I have used both Intel integrated video (a couple different versions) and a ATI Radeon as well.  Both video interfaces have drivers that allow you to rotate the video using the video card driver.  This is what you will need to make it work.

My recommendation is that you email Andy @ Ultimarc to see if he knows if you can rotate the desktop or not.  Andy knows his products well and should be able to tell you and/or help.

Good Luck,

Alan