Are you ready true believers....

[Howard_Casto]

Almost, not quite, but just about time to get this show started.    

Go entertain yourselves in the meantime with a continuation of our story.  

www.oscarcontrols.com/lazarus/  

[rampy]

Shift-Refresh.... damn!
Shift-Refresh.... damn!
Shift-Refresh.... damn!
Shift-Refresh.... damn!
Shift-Refresh.... damn!
Shift-Refresh.... damn!
Shift-Refresh.... damn!
Shift-Refresh.... damn!
Shift-Refresh.... damn!
Shift-Refresh.... damn!


enough with the dramatics HC!

Rampy

[Brentley_11]

Its up everyone. Just thought I'd let you know.

[mastercave]

some funny stuff in the faq as well...hehe

btw: did you get "are you ready true believers" from marvel super heroes vs sf? i noticed it a while back and thought it was so lame!!

[mastercave]

heres my comments on it so far so if you want feedback read on! if not, STOP!!








i just tried it out and it actually worked this time on my computer since setting up was a lot easier than before! i couldnt find the options to turn off disclaimers and to turn on joystick. would also be nice to use joystick in menu and its kinda hard to navigate since i couldnt figure out the games are categorized. hope the documentations would address these? thanks for adding another FE to the pool!!

[Howard_Casto]

"are you ready true believers"

Actually the line is much older than that.  It comes directly from Stan the man Lee.  Back in the old marvel comics he would often write a small commentary and the end of each book.  He called his fans true believers, because for some time DC dominated the market, until Marvel's eventual take over of the comic book world.  That's why I use it a lot.    

[Homebrew]

Well i guess i'll be the first so far.  I can't get it to run completely.  I've tried it on 2 different systems, both running directx 9.  One windows XP and one windows 2000.  It seems to load but  i get no background.  I see the intro vid and i can get to the options(change font, change buttons, etc) but the screen is just black.  i've tried using the skinner to make another background, but to no avail.  Neither that skin nor the default load.  The windows xp computer is running a tnt2 video card and the 2000 computer is running a geforce 2 mx 400.  Both have plenty fast CPU'swith more than enough ram.  Any thoughts?

-Kevin

[Howard_Casto]

It's a rendering problem.... you video card doesn't support background points....

Change the rendering mode in frontend.ini until it works.  

[CM]

Just thought I would throw my 15 minute trial run in:  on XP worked fine with default skin (although the blinking snap/title made my head hurt) ... fired up the skinner app and resaved an old Laz4.5 skin as new format and ran it in DragonKing just fine as well.

I will play with animating a background and new skin using some of the overlay stuff tomorrow.  Looking good so far!

Thanks Howard.

[Homebrew]

Fixed.  Thanx Howard.  I knew it was gonna be something stupid  i coulda fixed easily.  I really need to invest in some more recent video cards.  Thanx again Howard for the quick reply.

-Kevin

[Howard_Casto]

No problem, but remember these first few ones are free and painless.... After I write up the docs I'll start being hard on you guys again.  


Btw in case anyone was wondering I have successfully had this program beta tested on several brands of geforce 3 cards, and both retail and generic radeon cards of just about every model from the 7000 to the 9700.  Those cards all work in intelligent mode.  Our tests showed that the geforce 2 could only handle software mode.  With anything else it's a complete mystery.  

Tomorrow I will ask saint to set me up a sticky thread so we can keep track of what cards people have gotten it to work on and which ones are causing problems.  

[)p(]

Great work Howard  


I had a lot off fun testing it the last couple of months and you know that I never liked the name Lazarus anyway...so I am happy to see it come alive as a dragon...again...so long life the new dragon king!

 hail hail

peter

[Dariusz]

Hi Howard,

Probably a silly question mistake I

[)p(]

Hi Howard,

Probably a silly question mistake I

[GSXRMovistar]

Also having a little difficulty here, been playing around with it for a while now and still no joy. I've made all the relevant updates to the cfg/inis but when it comes to compiling my game lists the parser crashes out with the following error

[Dariusz]

Hi Howard,

Probably a silly question mistake I

[)p(]

mmm you say:
Primary Artwork Dir=e:\mame\


this might be obvious and a lingshot but maybe you overlooked it as we all do sometimes...howard had the default dirs.inie using the e:\ path  are you sure you also have it there...and not in c:\mame\ or d:\mame\


peter

[Zinfari]

I have an ArcadeVGA and a D9200 (on Windows XP) and had to set the rendering to software to get it to display.  

I have a small black box in the middle of the DK screen.  It's like a hole in the front end.  Not sure what to do about that.  Not causing functionality issues, but annoying.

The last thing is that I have genereated my list and it only contains a couple of games.  I see 0.lst (4k) and 1.lst (532k) in the lists directory structure.  0.lst has just the couple of games is what I'm seeing in Dk I think.  1.lst is all of the available games, but I'm not sure how to change to that list.

Update:Figured out the list thing... at least how to switch it.  Just not sure why 2 lists are being generated.

-Zinfari

[Frostillicus]

Well, I have yet to be able to make a masterlist.  I know I have it configured right - I've followed directions and the given example.  But when the final box asks me to press OK to start the generation it always crashes and I get a error '76' Path Not Found.  Here is my dirs.ini:
[Dirs]
***Enter all your rom paths... Just like you do in a mame.ini

roms=c:\mame\roms\


***Put These in as a base folder.  I.E. If your snaps are in e:\mame\snap\ then the entry should be:
***e:\mame\

Primary Artwork Dir=c:\mame\
Additional AW Dirs=c:\mame\

***The alternate elements allow you to have two more artwork elements besides the usual.
***Simply put the name of the sub folder (like "\controls\").
***Note:  Skins must have an alt-element slot defined for this to work.  

AltElement1=
AltElement2=

[startvd]
[path]
logo=Mame.png
caption=Mame Games
useclones=1
searchstrings:5=MAME
filters:
[/path]
[/startvd]


Occasionally when I start it up I get a run-time error '91', too.  I am using XP pro.  Thanks for any tips  

[)p(]

I have an ArcadeVGA and a D9200 (on Windows XP) and had to set the rendering to software to get it to display.  

I have a small black box in the middle of the DK screen.  It's like a hole in the front end.  Not sure what to do about that.  Not causing functionality issues, but annoying.

The last thing is that I have genereated my list and it only contains a couple of games.  I see 0.lst (4k) and 1.lst (532k) in the lists directory structure.  0.lst has just the couple of games is what I'm seeing in Dk I think.  1.lst is all of the available games, but I'm not sure how to change to that list.

Update:Figured out the list thing... at least how to switch it.  Just not sure why 2 lists are being generated.

-Zinfari

look at your dirs.ini:
[startvd]
[path]
logo=new\
caption=Newest Mame Games
useclones=1
searchstrings:7=.67;7=.68;7=.69
filters:
[/path]
[path]
logo=Mame.png
caption=Mame
useclones=0
searchstrings:5=MAME;0=pacman
filters:6=*mature*
[/path]
[/startvd]

see the first path entry searchstrings...it will only add games from mame .67,.68 and .60
just delete the first path and regenerate your lists then you will have only the list with all available mame games.

so:
[startvd]
[path]
logo=Mame.png
caption=Mame
useclones=0
searchstrings:5=MAME;0=pacman
filters:6=*mature*
[/path]
[/startvd]

[)p(]

Well, I have yet to be able to make a masterlist.  I know I have it configured right - I've followed directions and the given example.  But when the final box asks me to press OK to start the generation it always crashes and I get a error '76' Path Not Found.  Here is my dirs.ini:

...

Occasionally when I start it up I get a run-time error '91', too.  I am using XP pro.  Thanks for any tips  

you might try to doublecheck your mamepath and mame exe name in cfgs\mame.cfg ... (I know I missed the exe name this morning when I ran it the first time even after doublechecking..hehe   )

[Frostillicus]

Well, I have yet to be able to make a masterlist.  I know I have it configured right - I've followed directions and the given example.  But when the final box asks me to press OK to start the generation it always crashes and I get a error '76' Path Not Found.  Here is my dirs.ini:

...

Occasionally when I start it up I get a run-time error '91', too.  I am using XP pro.  Thanks for any tips  

you might try to doublecheck your mamepath and mame exe name in cfgs\mame.cfg ... (I know I missed the exe name this morning when I ran it the first time even after doublechecking..hehe   )

Thanks for the help so far, Peter, here's my mame.cfg file:
extension=.zip
path=c:\mame\
exe=mame.exe
send rom path=1
send exit keys=0
command line options;

The path is right - and mame is mame.exe .   Does this look right?

[)p(]

Well, I have yet to be able to make a masterlist.  I know I have it configured right - I've followed directions and the given example.  But when the final box asks me to press OK to start the generation it always crashes and I get a error '76' Path Not Found.  Here is my dirs.ini:

...

Occasionally when I start it up I get a run-time error '91', too.  I am using XP pro.  Thanks for any tips  

you might try to doublecheck your mamepath and mame exe name in cfgs\mame.cfg ... (I know I missed the exe name this morning when I ran it the first time even after doublechecking..hehe   )

Thanks for the help so far, Peter, here's my mame.cfg file:
extension=.zip
path=c:\mame\
exe=mame.exe
send rom path=1
send exit keys=0
command line options;

The path is right - and mame is mame.exe .   Does this look right?

yeah that looks ok to me as does your dirs.ini if your roms are in c:\mame\roms...you could try running the listgen.exe directly...if that does not work i am sure hc will be online soon to get it going...


peter

[GSXRMovistar]

Hmmmm now tired it on my second machine which is Win2K, (main box is xp) and i still get the same error 'subscript out of range'.  Shame as this FE look very promising.  

[Howard_Casto]

Check the properties of the folders as well.  Read only or archived folders won't be detected in xp.  

Do NOT copy over an old install of lazarus.  Enough things have changed so that this can cause serious issues. A subscript out of range error is a tale-tale sign of this.  

For the guy that has the "hole".  That is the quick setup msgbox trying to display itself. I turn off rendering during the quick setup and thus the background doesn't get refreshed.  If you want me to diagnose it you'll have to send a pic.  


For those of you that are recieving errors during startup occasionally.... I made the intro video using a mepg4 codec.  Make sure your system supports mpeg4.  This shouldn't cause any trouble at all the way I coded it, but hey, anything can happen.  

For the arcade vga guy.....  You have to use software because the arcadevga doesn't  support the default 32 bit layering mode.  You can mess with the texture format, but do so at your own risk as it's undocumented.  To be honest on a 7000 based chipset hardware acceleration isn't going to make that much difference anyway.  

Subscript out of range guy....  not sure let me get back to you on that.  

[GSXRMovistar]

Subscript out of range guy....  not sure let me get back to you on that.  

Ooo thats me  

Cheers for the support howard, I must get away from using mame32, so hopefully this is the answer!

[Howard_Casto]

Subscript out of range guy... what version of mame are you using?  Are you putting in additional dats?  Just concentrate on mame right now.  For mame you don't need to add any dat files or ect.... it will do that for you.  


Snapshot guy.....  

The most common reasons for snaps not being displayed:  

Reason #1  Your "snap" folder is actually called "snaps"
Reason #2  Your snap files are zipped up or in sub folders within the snap folder.


For everyone.... calm down  This is called .5 because it's the first release to the general public.  I only beta tested with other programmers (mainly because I can rule out human error 90% of the time) and thus some things might not be very user friendly.  

Posting here won't help, you need to email me and "get in line"  Be patient, I'll get to you asap.    

[GSXRMovistar]

Subscript out of range guy... what version of mame are you using?  Are you putting in additional dats?  Just concentrate on mame right now.  For mame you don't need to add any dat files or ect.... it will do that for you.  

Howard,
I'm using mame .69a, only extra dats are the current mameinfo/history (updated today) copied to the \d..k0.5\mamedats directory.

Thx GSXR.

[Magnet_Eye]

First off, I can't see anything but the background image.   I configured it all well. I am running XP, and geforce 2  64mb card.

Next, when i hit ESC to exit the FE, it crashes EVERY time. I requested to see details, this is all it said:

AppName: the dragon king.exe    AppVer: 1.0.0.0    ModName: oleaut32.dll
ModVer: 3.50.5016.0    Offset: 00001767

anyone?

[Dariusz]

Subscript out of range guy... what version of mame are you using?  Are you putting in additional dats?  Just concentrate on mame right now.  For mame you don't need to add any dat files or ect.... it will do that for you.  

Howard,
I'm using mame .69a, only extra dats are the current mameinfo/history (updated today) copied to the \d..k0.5\mamedats directory.

Thx GSXR.

Hi Howard,

I had a typo error above. I do have Snaps located in e:\mame\snaps, and mame is located on the e: drive. I checked the mame cfg file, and that has the snaps dir as well.

What's strange is that Lazarus 2.3 works fine in all respects, but when using Dragon King, I just cannot work out why I cannot get snaps to be displayed.

I'm running XP professional, and using mame 065 on a Gforce3 500Ti Card AMD 2000XP processor.

I can run games from Dragon King fine, but just snaps are not displayed.

Thanks Again,

Dariusz

[Howard_Casto]

Read what I siad above man....

It needs to be called snap  NOT snaps.  

[Pyronious]

Anyone want to post some screenshots of this thing in action?

[Magnet_Eye]

no one knows whats with the crashing?

check this:

[Dariusz]

Read what I siad above man....

It needs to be called snap  NOT snaps.  

Howard,

I wrote the last post from work, and misread you earlier post on the naming of the dir, which led me to name it incorrectly when writing the last post. The directory is named as 'SNAP'. Also to verify that it's named to 'SNAP':
 Lazarus 2.3 works fine in all respects, but when using Dragon King, I just cannot work out why I cannot get snaps to be displayed - they both use the same e:\mame directories configurations.
 Mame when extracted I assume uses the default dir as 'SNAP'.
 Mame's config file has the naming standard 'SNAP'
 I've confirmed it to be named 'SNAP'
 And there is no other file/variable in Dragon King that points directly to the dir e:\mame\snap, except indirectly by the command's (" " extract of the config file from my system):

"The Dragon King dir file looks like:

[Dirs]
***Enter all your rom paths... Just like you do in a mame.ini

roms=e:\mame\roms\


***Put These in as a base folder. I.E. If your snaps are in e:\mame\snap\ then the entry should be:
***e:\mame\

Primary Artwork Dir=e:\mame\
Additional AW Dirs=e:\mame\

***The alternate elements allow you to have two more artwork elements besides the usual.
***Simply put the name of the sub folder (like "\controls\").
***Note: Skins must have an alt-element slot defined for this to work.

AltElement1=
AltElement2="

I'm using my own skin that I have re-saved to the current format. But the snaps do not also get displayed when using the 'Dragon King' skin……. Strange. My snap dir has all the snaps unzipped in the one location (ie. e:\mam\snap).

Anyone else having the same problem as me….?

Kind Regards

Dariusz

[Howard_Casto]

Is it just snaps or all artwork elements? (flyers, marquees ect)

If it's just snaps then it's your snaps folder or the properties on it (ie it's compressed or set to read only or something odd).  If it's every element then something else is wrong.


Magnet.... m$ error reports tell me nothing.    Also you are the first person to completely crash it so I'm unsure what you are referring to.  Again just a snapshot with no description of what is going on doesn't help me at all.  Please submit your complaint to the sticky thread.  (minus the pic  )

Also from now on anyone with complaints need to email me.  I can't keep track of this thread anymore.

[SirPoonga]

Is it just snaps or all artwork elements? (flyers, marquees ect)

If it's just snaps then it's your snaps folder or the properties on it (ie it's compressed or set to read only or something odd).  If it's every element then something else is wrong.


Magnet.... m$ error reports tell me nothing.    Also you are the first person to completely crash it so I'm unsure what you are referring to.  Again just a snapshot with no description of what is going on doesn't help me at all.  Please submit your complaint to the sticky thread.  (minus the pic  )

Also from now on anyone with complaints need to email me.  I can't keep track of this thread anymore.

What's the dll that crashed?  that oleaut32.dll?

[Howard_Casto]

I didn't see that hidden up in the corner....

Oleaut32 is a core vb6 runtime file.  As a matter of fact it pretty much is vb6 in terms of loading other dlls for vb6 to use.  

This is taken from a generic site with a  similar error message.  It should explain.  

http://wd5gnr.virtualave.net/oleaut32.htm