The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls

Main => Software Forum => Topic started by: Wags on September 02, 2015, 05:23:53 pm

Title: How can I shift the the game image in MAME per game?
Post by: Wags on September 02, 2015, 05:23:53 pm
I have a two player control panel, with a trackball and spinner in the middle, and when playing one player games I am off to the side a ways and for the vertical games like Galaga, I would like to shift the game to the left side of the screen so it is more in front of me.  Is their a way to do that with the MAME software?  I am using MALA front end, and I don't see an option there either.

For games like PacMan that don't use buttons, I use the player two joystick, and play with my right hand, so I am centered.  But games like Galaga, I use the player one joystick, and am not happy with the game not being in front of the joystick.

I did search, but maybe I used the wrong terms, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark
Title: Re: How can I shift the the game image in MAME per game?
Post by: vwalbridge on September 02, 2015, 05:29:47 pm
If you are familiar with Retroarch, you can achieve what you are looking for. You can position the game screen anywhere on the screen.

Here is a quick setup guide:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHXyGK9DNX4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHXyGK9DNX4)
Title: Re: How can I shift the the game image in MAME per game?
Post by: Wags on September 02, 2015, 05:40:27 pm
Thanks, I'll have to check it out.  I am amazed how many pieces of software I am loading to get this cabinet to work the way I want. 
Title: Re: How can I shift the the game image in MAME per game?
Post by: vwalbridge on September 02, 2015, 05:45:59 pm
Check out my coleco video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHXyGK9DNX4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHXyGK9DNX4)

Fast forward to about 10:50 of the video and you will see where I show you how I slid the super mario bros game screen down to the bottom. A little better for a horizontal game on a vertical screen.

Not exactly what you are trying to do but the concept is exactly the same. Retroarch is very flexible with screen ratios and placement.
Title: Re: How can I shift the the game image in MAME per game?
Post by: Wags on September 03, 2015, 01:36:21 am
Cool, I am assuming that it will work fine using a low resolution CRT display connected through S-Video.  Correct?
Title: Re: How can I shift the the game image in MAME per game?
Post by: matsadona on September 03, 2015, 02:33:26 am
Cool, I am assuming that it will work fine using a low resolution CRT display connected through S-Video.  Correct?
Based on your question about having the display output off center I assume that it is a horizontal screen. I'm not sure playing a vertical game on a horizontal low res screen will be a good experience (because of the pixel scaling etc). If it was a HD monitor it is more feasible...
Title: Re: How can I shift the the game image in MAME per game?
Post by: DarthMarino on September 04, 2015, 09:30:39 am
Another option is to make a simple .lay file.
Title: Re: How can I shift the the game image in MAME per game?
Post by: Wags on September 04, 2015, 09:50:27 am
Another option is to make a simple .lay file.

And how does that simply work?

As far as the horizontal monitor with vertical games goes, there are a crap load of people doing just that with great results, and by low resolution, I mean a 480i TV, which gives well over the 224 x 288 that games like Pac-Man use.   :P
Title: Re: How can I shift the the game image in MAME per game?
Post by: matsadona on September 04, 2015, 10:44:03 am
Ah, great. Thanks for the clarification.

Do you have any flickering issues with that setup? What's the hardware?
Title: Re: How can I shift the the game image in MAME per game?
Post by: DarthMarino on September 04, 2015, 08:25:38 pm
And how does that simply work?

Something like this (adjust the values that best work for your screen):

<mamelayout version="2">
   <view name="Image Shift">
      <screen index="0">
         <bounds x="0" y="0" width="1024" height="768" />
      </screen>
</view>
</mamelayout>

Then just use the sliders in MAME to get the stretch and position to your liking.