Print

[madmab]

QUOTE(gilles9999 @ Oct 30 2008, 08:06 PM)

I'm working on a better madmab edition logo at the moment
perheaps with the famous dragon from adventure, coming and eating the dot in the "edition" text

QUOTE(gilles9999 @ Oct 30 2008, 08:06 PM)

p.s.: madmab, have you succeed finding the very obscure bug that crash the emu if it has more than 25 sprites in the sprites folder,
because i have a lot of bonus sprites, especially for the dynamic atarixlbox

Sorry.  Not just yet.  Busy meeting at work this week.  Afterwards I was too braindead to work on anything.  Although I did create more AdamX videos and got in a little Guitar Hero World Tour time.  Well that and listening to some 2600 demo's to see if I could find some good TIA based music.

But when I get a chance I'm thinking it should be easy to fix.

[gilles9999]

QUOTE(madmab @ Oct 31 2008, 03:14 AM)

But when I get a chance I'm thinking it should be easy to fix.

excellent news so,
be sure to rename the settings.ini to one of the pre-made configs for this 2 dynamic skins (but i'm sure you knew that )
I was just wondering, what will you use for the default "settings.ini" in your future releases?
perheaps the "SDTV med previews only" since most of the users have a good old sdtv, and most of them haven't downloaded the ressurectionXtras yet?
let me know, so the "settings.ini" config will be right in all the dynamic skins

[ressurectionx]

Hey guys,

I just got a chance to mess around with the Colecovision with the new build and skins.  Lots of great stuff there.  I'm a little disappointed in the sprite naming thing though.  It's not either of your faults.  I just misunderstood how the system worked originally.  I was hoping that instead of "Configure Sprite 1, Configure Sprite 2, Configure Sprite 3, etc..." it would say something like "Configure Video Box.  Configure Artwork Box.  Configure Banner.  etc...."   It's made slightly less confusing now though at least when we can press one of these choices and see the name of the image that is being used in each "Configure Sprite X" spot.

Using AdamX (DualPreview Beta v3b7) and Gilles latest Colecovision skin (with the renamed sprites), here are the bugs and my suggestions:


BUGS:

1) Configure Left-Select Sprite and Configure Right-Select Sprite freezes my XBox (I'm not sure what either of these are supposed to do anyways, but they both freeze up the Box.  If they're not needed, could they be removed?)

2)  While flipping through different sprites using the "Sprite Graphic" in the "Configure Sprite 1" the XBox froze up on me several times.  I'm not sure how stable this is.  I didn't have this problem with the older build.

3) In Other Menu Settings-> Main Menu Settings the text and the green button don't match up with the background.

4)  When you select "Browse Screenshots" the video shows up as well as you scroll through the folders.  This might also be a problem when we add the ability to view the jpgs of the game manuals?




SUGGESTIONS:

1) Can we move "Show Available Memory" to Utilities?

2) Add the ability to view a .txt file in-game to view any gamefaqs.  

3) Add "TV Commercial Directory" to "Change Default Directories".

4) Add "Gamefaq Directory" to "Change Default Directories".

5) Add "Game Manual Directory" to "Change Default Directories".

6) Change default for "Show Full Favorites Path" to No.  Change default to "Hide Filename Extentions" to Yes.  

7) Can we make a preview for the Select Skin?  Perhaps just a screenshot of the skin would be sufficient.   For example, if skins were packaged with a sample.jpg in the main folder, it would display this picture while scrolling through available skins.

 Change Offset X to "Move Right/Left" and change Offset Y to "Move Up/Down"

9)  Re-order the "Configure Sprite" commands as follows:
Sprite Graphic -
Move Right/Left (Offset X)
Move Up/Down (Offset Y)
Scale
(Then whatever else, because I don't know much about the rest of the options)



Thanks guys,  Great work,
~Rx

[madmab]

QUOTE(ressurectionx @ Oct 31 2008, 01:31 PM)

Hey guys,

I just got a chance to mess around with the Colecovision with the new build and skins.  Lots of great stuff there.  I'm a little disappointed in the sprite naming thing though.  It's not either of your faults.  I just misunderstood how the system worked originally.  I was hoping that instead of "Configure Sprite 1, Configure Sprite 2, Configure Sprite 3, etc..." it would say something like "Configure Video Box.  Configure Artwork Box.  Configure Banner.  etc...."

I didn't think of that for some reason.  But if I did change it then it would be misleading because then the user would think they are configuring "video box" or "artwork box".  "video box" and "artwork box" are the graphic that the sprite just happens to be using.  But I do understand what you mean.

QUOTE(ressurectionx @ Oct 31 2008, 01:31 PM)

BUGS:

1) Configure Left-Select Sprite and Configure Right-Select Sprite freezes my XBox (I'm not sure what either of these are supposed to do anyways, but they both freeze up the Box.  If they're not needed, could they be removed?)

2)  While flipping through different sprites using the "Sprite Graphic" in the "Configure Sprite 1" the XBox froze up on me several times.  I'm not sure how stable this is.  I didn't have this problem with the older build.

3) In Other Menu Settings-> Main Menu Settings the text and the green button don't match up with the background.

4)  When you select "Browse Screenshots" the video shows up as well as you scroll through the folders.  This might also be a problem when we add the ability to view the jpgs of the game manuals?
SUGGESTIONS:

1)  Didn't realize that.  I think technically those two sprites are the last two sprites used.  Probably a good chance this is the "-1" bug Gilles was referring too.  BTW these are the graphics displayed to the left and right of the current selected line.

2)  Yeah giles mentioned this one.  For some reason it didn't happen to me when I was testing.  But I do know what it is since I was concerned about it happening.  I'm wondering if running in debug mode is preventing it from freezing (has happened before).

3)  I'd have to look but if it is what I think it is there is nothing I can really do.

4)  I touched on this at some point.  The display and select directories/files routine is practically used everywhere.  I was thinking of modifying it so it could be told when to or not to display movies and screenshots.

QUOTE(ressurectionx @ Oct 31 2008, 01:31 PM)

1) Can we move "Show Available Memory" to Utilities?

2) Add the ability to view a .txt file in-game to view any gamefaqs.  

3) Add "TV Commercial Directory" to "Change Default Directories".

4) Add "Gamefaq Directory" to "Change Default Directories".

5) Add "Game Manual Directory" to "Change Default Directories".

6) Change default for "Show Full Favorites Path" to No.  Change default to "Hide Filename Extentions" to Yes.  

7) Can we make a preview for the Select Skin?  Perhaps just a screenshot of the skin would be sufficient.   For example, if skins were packaged with a sample.jpg in the main folder, it would display this picture while scrolling through available skins.

 Change Offset X to "Move Right/Left" and change Offset Y to "Move Up/Down"

9)  Re-order the "Configure Sprite" commands as follows:
Sprite Graphic -
Move Right/Left (Offset X)
Move Up/Down (Offset Y)
Scale
(Then whatever else, because I don't know much about the rest of the options)
Thanks guys,  Great work,
~Rx

1)  The purpose of that command is so the person creating the skin knows how much memory the graphics are taking up.
2)  Not really any buttons available for it.  The last button has already been reserved for the synopsis.
3)  I have not had a chance to think about what to do about commercials just yet.
4)  Gamefaq's huh?  All I remember is discussing  game documentations, commercials, and synopsis.
5)  Well I figured the location of text files (which was originally intended for documentation) would serve the same purpose.
6)  That ones a matter of preference.  Although I agree with the first I personally usually leave the second at it's default.  
7)  Hmmmmmmmm......  
 We discussed this before.  Although that would describe the result of modifying that number it does not really explain "what" that number is for.  The offset and boundary are also tied into each other.  Maybe we could change it to "Offset X (left/right)" for those who skipped graphing courses in math class?  
9)  Wait a minute? Is this what your suggesting changing number 8 too?  That might work.    I suppose the Scale option could be bumped up.

[ressurectionx]

QUOTE

I didn't think of that for some reason.  But if I did change it then it would be misleading because then the user would think they are configuring "video box" or "artwork box".  "video box" and "artwork box" are the graphic that the sprite just happens to be using.  But I do understand what you mean.

Yeah... I wasn't necessarily pointing out a change here.  I was just saying that I was a bit disappointed how it was originally set up.  I see from using it that there is really no good option here.  Even if you made the changes to the names of the "Configure Sprite X", somebody could very well make a Banner out of the "Video Box" easily.  Perhaps just have a few that are pre-named that we'd be very likely to use, and then rename the others to something like "Misc Sprite 1, Misc Sprite 2".  Your call here.

QUOTE

RessurectionX:

BUGS:

1) Configure Left-Select Sprite and Configure Right-Select Sprite freezes my XBox (I'm not sure what either of these are supposed to do anyways, but they both freeze up the Box.  If they're not needed, could they be removed?)

2)  While flipping through different sprites using the "Sprite Graphic" in the "Configure Sprite 1" the XBox froze up on me several times.  I'm not sure how stable this is.  I didn't have this problem with the older build.

3) In Other Menu Settings-> Main Menu Settings the text and the green button don't match up with the background.

4)  When you select "Browse Screenshots" the video shows up as well as you scroll through the folders.  This might also be a problem when we add the ability to view the jpgs of the game manuals?

---

QUOTE

1)  Didn't realize that.  I think technically those two sprites are the last two sprites used.  Probably a good chance this is the "-1" bug Gilles was referring too.  BTW these are the graphics displayed to the left and right of the current selected line.

Did it freeze for you or Gilles?  Any time I select either one it totally freezes my XBox.  If there is no reason for us to have it in there (we can't control anything with it), then I suggest we remove them so our Boxes don't freeze up accidentally.

QUOTE

2)  Yeah giles mentioned this one.  For some reason it didn't happen to me when I was testing.  But I do know what it is since I was concerned about it happening.  I'm wondering if running in debug mode is preventing it from freezing (has happened before).

Wish I could tell ya     It's definately happening though.  I don't have patience to keep getting up and resetting my XBox, so the DYNAMIC ability is pretty much lost to me until/if we can fix this....

QUOTE

3)  I'd have to look but if it is what I think it is there is nothing I can really do.

I was assuming that this one is something that Gilles could fix in the skin settings.  Maybe I'm wrong....

QUOTE

4)  I touched on this at some point.  The display and select directories/files routine is practically used everywhere.  I was thinking of modifying it so it could be told when to or not to display movies and screenshots.

That would be cool.  Not a big deal compared to other bugs here, but it would be nice to have this fixed.

________________________________

QUOTE

RessurectionX:

SUGGESTIONS:

1) Can we move "Show Available Memory" to Utilities?

2) Add the ability to view a .txt file in-game to view any gamefaqs.  

3) Add "TV Commercial Directory" to "Change Default Directories".

4) Add "Gamefaq Directory" to "Change Default Directories".

5) Add "Game Manual Directory" to "Change Default Directories".

6) Change default for "Show Full Favorites Path" to No.  Change default to "Hide Filename Extentions" to Yes.  

7) Can we make a preview for the Select Skin?  Perhaps just a screenshot of the skin would be sufficient.   For example, if skins were packaged with a sample.jpg in the main folder, it would display this picture while scrolling through available skins.

 Change Offset X to "Move Right/Left" and change Offset Y to "Move Up/Down"

9)  Re-order the "Configure Sprite" commands as follows:
Sprite Graphic -
Move Right/Left (Offset X)
Move Up/Down (Offset Y)
Scale
(Then whatever else, because I don't know much about the rest of the options)

---

QUOTE

1)  The purpose of that command is so the person creating the skin knows how much memory the graphics are taking up.

Gotcha.  That didn't make sense to me to have it there before.

QUOTE

2)  Not really any buttons available for it.  The last button has already been reserved for the synopsis.

Not a button command here that I'm talking about.  I was thinking of doing what NES did to ZSNESXBox and having a menu option for "View Gamefaq" in the In-Game menu.

QUOTE

3)  I have not had a chance to think about what to do about commercials just yet.

Sure.  I just thought it would probably be a good idea to have this here no matter what we end up doing with commercials.  We definately want to have them in a separate folder from the Previews no matter what we end up doing with this.

[ressurectionx]

QUOTE

4)  Gamefaq's huh?  All I remember is discussing  game documentations, commercials, and synopsis.

I thought I mentioned this before.  Maybe I didn't.  Again, just thinking that it was a real cool option that NES put in his emu and it could be done easily by using the view txt file command in-game and renaming it to "View Gamefaq".  Also, it would then be nice if it defaulted to the "Gamefaqs" folder you specify in the Configuration Options.

QUOTE

5)  Well I figured the location of text files (which was originally intended for documentation) would serve the same purpose.

I don't like having anything in the "D:\" directory, which is where the .txt files default to now.  But the game manuals aren't text files anyways.  They're very large .JPG scans of the original game manuals that came with the game.  This would require an in-game menu for "View Game Manual" which used functionality similar to the "View Screenshots" in the utilities menu.  Even better if we could zoom in on the image like in ZSNESXBox since sometimes it can be hard to read when the full image is displayed.  I have the manuals in separate folder by game and they could just be dropped into the "D:\Manuals" folder.

Now that I'm reading this over, I think that when we were talking about the manuals before, you thought I meant "Game Documentation" such as text files like you mentioned in #4.

QUOTE

6)  That ones a matter of preference.  Although I agree with the first I personally usually leave the second at it's default.  

Bummer.  I hate having to change those two every damn time I get a new emu.  I think it looks a lot cleaner with just the romname witout the extention, but this is a small thing I've already learned to live with.

QUOTE

7)  Hmmmmmmmm......  

Can't tell if you're really thinking about it or if I'm just being annoying here now....     I think a fullscreen preview of the JPG with the skin look would be appropriate here.  

QUOTE

 We discussed this before.  Although that would describe the result of modifying that number it does not really explain "what" that number is for.  The offset and boundary are also tied into each other.  Maybe we could change it to "Offset X (left/right)" for those who skipped graphing courses in math class?  
9)  Wait a minute? Is this what your suggesting changing number 8 too?  That might work.    I suppose the Scale option could be bumped up.

You got it.  Keep the Offset X garbage in paranthesis, but dumb it down for guys like me that hate math.  I always have to do a trial and error thing on this when I go to make a skin change.

Later,
~Rx


Sorry I had to do this in two posts.  I think there is a quote limit that I reached.

[madmab]

Sorry I didn't get a chance to look into those lock-ups and get out something quicker.  Things have been a bit busier at work a little more than usual.

The view txt file function points to a directory that the user can change in the "change directories" menu.  So I was originally thinking that this feature would serve well for viewing documentation, whether it be .jpg's or .txt files.  If the user selected a .jpg file it would default to displaying the picture.  Otherwise it would assume text.

For example if the user set the default directory to point to "\documentation" and had the following directory structure.

\documentation\
\documentation\pdf\
some game pdf files
\documentation\txt\
some game txt files
\documentation\faq\
some game faq files

Then getting to the needed file should not be too difficult.

There certainly seems to be no need to clutter up the menu with a bunch of different options when one can serve the purpose just fine.

---------------------------------------
Commercials...

I just had not had anytime to digest how to best handle this.  Most likely it would be like you said.  A seperate menu option that would traverse whatever directory the user specified and display movies when the user selects them.  But beyond that I have not given it much thought because I wanted to get bug fixes for sprite naming, synopsis, and pdf viewing going.   Baby steps..
---------------------------------------

7) Hmmmmmmm...

means the idea crossed my mind but outside of displaying a .jpg file or something I can not think of any other way to convey to the user how the skin will look.  Each skin has, what, 4 or 5 different screens with varying animations?  Besides I'm still a few steps behind you guys and looking at getting bug fixes for sprite naming, synopsis, and pdf viewing going.

Left-select and right-select sprite are used.  Like I said it is most likely related to one of the other two lockup bugs so once I fix those it should clear up.  I just never bothered when doing my quick test to go into those two menus.

I know what you mean about rebooting.  I actually have a button on my controller that turns on/off my xbox but it seems to have stopped working.    So now I have to get up.

[gilles9999]

QUOTE(madmab @ Nov 1 2008, 09:51 AM)

I wanted to get bug fixes for sprite naming, synopsis, and pdf viewing going.   Baby steps..

WAOUH! If you succeed into this,
the emu will become perfect (or so near)!
pdf viewing is a dream here in the xbox scene, I can't remember how much this feature has been requested, but it's really the cherry on the cake!

Besides that, if I replace spritenum=-1 with spritenum=0 in all the settings.ini, it correct the 2 bugs i mentionned.I can easilly rename them all, but perheaps you can say to the emu:

-"hey guy, if spritenum=-1, replace it with spritenum=0 ok?"
-ok boss

rezx have 25 sprites in the sprites folder, that's why it locks the xbox when you loop into the sprites
 (i have the same bug)

if the emu doesn't want to do this, i will replace manually all the spritenum=-1 in the settings, let me know

[ressurectionx]

PDF viewing is huge.  You sure you meant PDF and not JPG madmab?  It's really not necessary since I've found an easy way to convert the PDF's to JPG, but it has been something peopple have kicked around in here for a few years it seems.

Hey Gilles, did you notice that the text and green button don't sync up in the Other Menu Settings-> Main Menu Settings?  I was wonderin if you could fix that yourself since madmab can't do anything about it.

I just noticed earlier that I was using the colecovision skin that you had up here before the new one you put up yesterday.  It must have 25 sprites in it, huh?

Later guys,
~Rx

[madmab]

Sorry to be misleading.  I chose /pdf/ as a sample directory name because from what I understand the source of these .jpg files are a from a .pdf and /jpg/ just didn't seem to make for a good directory name.  

[gilles9999]

AH! ok madmab, so don't loose your time with it, like rezx said,
we can easilly convert any pdf and read the jpg files like in zsnexbox, the best solution is here

-Good news!!, i was able to fix the annoying little ugly bug when  "In Other Menu Settings-> Main Menu Settings the text and the green button don't match up with the background."

I have changed the vertical alignment and redo the font size/line height/position, so it's ok now,it's looking great!

DYNAMIC COLECOVISION 01/11/2008

and ok for atarixlbox too
DYNAMIC ATARIXLBOX 01/11/2008

Oh, and, after lot of testing, the "spritenum=-1" bug is the guilty guy behind the xbox freeze
(but don't worry, i can at least correct this manually, a little boring though)

rez, can you add them in the madmab and gilles thread? thx (only you have the superhero power to edit the first post )

[ressurectionx]

It's updated  

Glad to hear you fixed that main menu bug.  Nothing big, but I figured I'd mention it.  I thought you'd be the guy to fix that one.

So which XBox freeze does this fix then Gilles?  I'm hoping it's the one where you can't have more than 24 sprites.

Later,
~Rx

[gilles9999]

for the moment:

-if you have more than 24 sprites in the sprites folder, the xbox freeze when you are browsing the sprites: 22,23,24,freeze!(instead of sprite 1)
- if one of the sprite is named (in any of the settings) spritenum=-1
The xbox freeze when you will want to configure that sprite

But there is solutions, madmab had encountered more vicious bugs in the past

[ressurectionx]

QUOTE(madmab @ Nov 1 2008, 03:51 AM)

Sorry I didn't get a chance to look into those lock-ups and get out something quicker.  Things have been a bit busier at work a little more than usual.

No worries man.  I've had things come up recently too.  No problems with a little burnout either.  Better to take a break than to get sick of it.  

QUOTE

The view txt file function points to a directory that the user can change in the "change directories" menu.  So I was originally thinking that this feature would serve well for viewing documentation, whether it be .jpg's or .txt files.  If the user selected a .jpg file it would default to displaying the picture.  Otherwise it would assume text.

For example if the user set the default directory to point to "\documentation" and had the following directory structure.

\documentation\
\documentation\pdf\
some game pdf files
\documentation\txt\
some game txt files
\documentation\faq\
some game faq files

Then getting to the needed file should not be too difficult.

There certainly seems to be no need to clutter up the menu with a bunch of different options when one can serve the purpose just fine.

I see where you're coming from, but I think that it would be better for the end user to have different folders for each, if this is something that could then be easily ported from one emu to the next.  I think it would be kinda out of place for a perfected emu to have a little glitch of having to navigate to a folder depending on which media you're looking at.  

Ideally, way in the future maybe when the next emu-tweaker comes along and we're long done with our work, if you pressed "View Game Manual" in the in-game settings, it would pull up the manual for the game you're playing (if there is one).  I know how difficult that might be now, and there's plenty of other things to do before everyone can see how great these new features are, so I think it's still important to have the emu automatically navigate to the "Game Manual" folder instead of a generic "Documentation" folder.  I still think the same of the other types of files.  

I know that it's not a huge thing, but not taking that shortcut would greatly improve a small feature of your emu.  I'm putting a lot of work into the manuals and I'd like to get to some gamefaqs someday and I think they are important enough to warrant their own folders.  They could be defaulted to the "Game Manuals", "TV Commercials", "Gamefaqs", and "General Text Files".  I doubt anyone would put them anywhere else, so it's even unlikely that they'd ever have to change these options in the menu screen.

QUOTE

---------------------------------------
Commercials...

I just had not had anytime to digest how to best handle this.  Most likely it would be like you said.  A seperate menu option that would traverse whatever directory the user specified and display movies when the user selects them.  But beyond that I have not given it much thought because I wanted to get bug fixes for sprite naming, synopsis, and pdf viewing going.   Baby steps..
---------------------------------------

First thing's first man.  I know that I don't work my things to do around anyone's schedule usually.  There's so much to be done that it's just good to be working on it, knowing that we're working on one piece of the ultimate puzzle.

QUOTE

7) Hmmmmmmm...

means the idea crossed my mind but outside of displaying a .jpg file or something I can not think of any other way to convey to the user how the skin will look.  Each skin has, what, 4 or 5 different screens with varying animations?  Besides I'm still a few steps behind you guys and looking at getting bug fixes for sprite naming, synopsis, and pdf viewing going.

Hope we can do something with it.  I do see how it's low on the priority list.  I figured I'd just throw it out there for an idea when you update your to-do list.

QUOTE

Left-select and right-select sprite are used.  Like I said it is most likely related to one of the other two lockup bugs so once I fix those it should clear up.  I just never bothered when doing my quick test to go into those two menus.

Hopefully it clears it up.  Glad you're on the job, cause I'd be lost.  I didn't say that the function wasn't used.  I was just saying that if the end-user had no use for it, it could be removed from the menu.  I've never used it, but maybe you or Gilles have used it for something before.

QUOTE

I know what you mean about rebooting.  I actually have a button on my controller that turns on/off my xbox but it seems to have stopped working.    So now I have to get up.

Yeah, and I have a cheaper Hitatchi 500 GB hard drive in there, so I always have to wait about 5-10 seconds to power it back on or it will freeze on me.  (At least, I assume it's the hard drive's fault)

Later,
~Rx

[madmab]

This is just a quicky update.  I'll be sending the latest to you guys for tire kicking.

QUOTE

1) When you have more than 25 sprites in the sprites folder, and browse all the sprites (in the sprite config menu)when you are selecting a new one, the emu freeze...

2) When spritenum=-1 (in any settings.ini) the emu freeze...
i can easilly rename them to 0, it will work,but if a user want to use an old skin, it can be a problem

3) When you are using a sprite effect (any one,shader,etc...) you can select the duration of the effect, but when it is superior to 2.55 seconds, the sprite stop responding (not a big problem, but i report this one)

4) Video and skin configuration at the same time, no.

1) Not sure about this.  I added an extra sprite (for a total of 26) and it did not freeze on me.  But it may be this way because I fixed problem #2.

2) Should be fixed now.  It displays "none" if no sprite is selected.  This includes the "configure effect" and "configure left/right sprite" options.  I assume the lockups were occuring when trying to enter the above menu's and not elsewhere?

3) I looked at this but I'm lost.  Are you referring to the "Lenght X" and "Length Y" options?  Is there an example skin I can try to see this?

4)  Split up the video and skin configuration stuff.  Although I did dups of a couple video options in the skin menu ( screenshot/movie preview settings, game screen size position, and video mode).

5) Changed "offset X" and "offset Y" to "Offset X (left/right)" and "Offset Y (up/down)".

The font size on SDTV in the atari_5200 skin seems to be just a teeny bit too small.