One Emulator to Rule Them All: GroovyUME by Calamity + DrMaxwell's AHK Script

[DrMaxwell]

I'm slowly working my way through the No-Intro set available on pleasuredome because it's free and everyone has access to it. Some of these systems are new to HyperSpin so that's a bonus for those of you who like to collect. I hope you enjoy!

I've added the following AHK scripts on the first page:

Epoch - Super Cassette Vision

Fairchild - Channel F

Funtech - Super Acan

(The Super A'can is a console that was released exclusively in Taiwan in 1995 by Funtech Entertainment. Inside is a Motorola 68000, also used in the Sega Genesis and Neo Geo. This is a system I haven't seen before but it's working through HyperSpin; however, the sound emulation isn't. I added for those who want to try something new)

Nec SuperGrafx

Nintendo Gameboy

[DrMaxwell]

I'm heading to Japan to see family for two weeks, hopefully some others can add a few more system AHKs and I'll put hem on the front page and credit who has submitted these.

See you after I get back!

[DrMaxwell]

I've just returned from Japan and tonight I've created a new Database file that can be used with the MESS rom list for Casio PV-1000 that includes all 13 playable games as opposed to the 5 No-Intro set currently availble and incorrectly listed as 100% on our Hyperlist database.

The code xml is presented in a similar format as the current one to save people from edited their images and videos in their current setup. To use the mess rom list roms simply renamed them to match the xml file, you don't need to extract and rename the bin files for them to function through GroovyUME.

The PV-1000 images for carts, boxes etc are very hard to source. When I was in Japan I took some pictures of about 8 carts I found in Akihabara at a trade store. I will update artwork for this PV-1000 set and start working on the Casio PV-2000 one next in the Gold member's Artwork thread. The new Themes for rare systems I will add in my upload folder on the ftp under:

DrMaxwell\Main Menu\Themes\

The new xml for Casio PV-1000 I will add to the first page for convenience sake.

That's all for today, I'll try to keep adding systems after testing through Hyperspin

[BladeZX]

This looks great. Nice job

The modules look like the old HS 1.0 modules. Any plans to do them as HL 2.0 modules. I think most people are heading towards HL 2.0 modules.

[DrMaxwell]

They should function as separate systems within the Hyperspin menu and for now it makes sense to split them based on system as not all MESS systems function 100% yet. I purposely split them to keep track of what I've done as well; having the running record of AHK scripts helps anyone who wants to simply get their flavor of system up and running.

The script is a mixture of MESS and MAME ones, but calls on HS 2.0 functions for close process as is mentioned in the scripts. Having said that, I'm not nearly as talented in coding as some of the people around here are and I'm sure it could always be improved. Further, I believe that as a basic functioning script that loads GroovyUME, hides background cursor and windows, as well as closes using the ESC as a universal close process, it functions to what I need to maintain that immersive environment within Hyperspin.

On that note, I've had a long day at work and all I want to do is work on my Casio PV-1000 and Casio PV-2000 artwork that I took pictures of when I was in Japan recently. Mind you I'm working on a 640x480 CRT monitor and it can be arduous to work with photoshop! I need to teach myself how to integrate flash into these themes to spice things up a little.

[BladeZX]

I just set this up to try it.

I am running windows 8 with a GTX 670 graphics card with the most recent nvidia drivers.

I install MESS and then I downloaded UME and renamed the exe to ume.exe and placed it in the mess folder.

When I run ume I get the following message:

SwitchRes: Could not find a video mode that meets your specs

How do I get rid of this?

Thanks for your help

[BladeZX]

I wrote a HL 2.0 module and tried running it with Atari 2600 and it seems to run great.

Is there a way to get rid of the nag screen that shows the information when you start it?

[BladeZX]

OK I have 2600, 5200, 7800 and colecovision running with UME

I was hoping the player controls would be the same in each game but that does not seem to be the case.

In order to start a game in ColecoVision I seem to have to press #1 on the numpad.

Maybe I am missing something in the setup.

[BladeZX]

This seems to get rid of the nag screen

Run, %executable% a2600 -cart "%romPath%%romName%%romExtension%" -skip_gameinfo , %emuPath% , Hide

[shinobi68]

to map the control, it's like mame. So press tab and then select "this game" (game, ie the system). Now you can configure the key for your system. I specified my controler file for all systems. It work for "standard" system (nes, snes, genesis...). But certain systems use specific controllers. So you will have to map thoses scpecific commands.

[BladeZX]

So if I select "this game" it maps the controls for the entire system or do I have to configure for each game (God I hope not)

Thanks

[shinobi68]

It's for the entire system. Under mess, a "game" is the system you selected. And for each "games" (-> system), you select the cartridge you want.

[BladeZX]

Ah that seemed to work nicely. Thank you

Atari 5200 uses a Analog control so once I mapped that it was fine

[BladeZX]

ColecoVision is a bit of a pain because of the numpad assignments.

Not sure how I am going to do this one yet

[shinobi68]

Yeah, depends on the system. For example,for astrocade, icbm attack as different controls than other games, so it is changed via hyperlaunch script...

[BladeZX]

FYI... I have some of my HL 2.0 modules for GroovyUME to my BladeZX folder on the HS ftp.

[shinobi68]

Thanks, I'll take a look at those scripts

[thor999000999]

HS Newb here, have a few questions:

1) Is this only useful for arcade type monitors, or can I use it on my 50" plasma? (1080p, 60hz)

2) Anyone know if I can dual boot a shelled HS, so that I can use the Calamity drivers? (Using Win 7 64, would be 2 instances of the same OS in this case)

[BladeZX]

Is there a way to run a system in UME with the actual aspect ratio instead of it making the game the full screen. This is ok for newer games but for the Atari Lynx for example it looks very bad.

Can you set this for each system?

[megamanwilson]

I recently stumble to this thread and this is something I want to do in the future. I have an arcade cabinet with a tri-sync monitor and have it setup with groovymame. I was just wondering is there are AHK Scripts for nintendo, super nintendo,gameboy, gameboy color gameboy advance Genesis and turbografix 16 for ume in hyperspin? if so where can I get it. I want to try this also. These are the consoles I am interested in ume with hyperspin.

[shinobi68]

Check my ftp (upload here/shinobi68/modules/). My modules for genesis and snes for example are made for mess. If you want more systems, just launch messui, check the name of the system you want, and just change it in the module

[DrMaxwell]

@Shinobi68 - Yeah, this is the way to do it! If you guys can help me out by testin some of the lesser known systems to see if they emulate properly and to what degree with what Romsets (TOSEC, GoodSet, No-Intro etc), I think it will help others who don't want to go through the trial and error process. I've been busy these past fee days working with the Japanese Playstation emulation that requires CHD files. Some games run really well and other get a black screen; it's all trial and error.

@Megamanwilson I'll add the scripts to the front page for ease of use and in the meantime just follow Shinobi68's comments to look up what to substitute into the scripts I've made so far. Just check the system name and cart type etc.

@BladeZX - Yes, you can easily do this. When you run the system using UME, it generates an .ini file for each system. In this file you can customise the screen settings. Failing that you can change settings in game by hitting TAB then I think video settings then select pixel aspect or ratio (I'm writing this in bed so I forgot the exact name).

@thor999000999 - 1) You can use it on your plasma and even set it to generate scan lines as well so it looks closer to a CRT that the arcade machines use. I have a dual screen setup, an LCD generating 1080p for all over the modern games such as Taito Type X2 /X2+ etc and my tri sync CRT that sits in my Taito Egret 3 for all the games under 720p.

2) Yes, I've run Windows 8 and Windows XP both 64 bit editions in dual boot before and as long as there is a common drive for Hyperspin, for example, D: then separate drives for your operating systems, this isn't a problem at all.

I guess the real question is, why not run everything through one operating system like Windows 7 for example?

[megamanwilson]

Thank You Shinobi68 and DrMaxwell for your suggestions. I have not had time to try this but today I will install windows 7 and fallow your guide. Hopefully I get it to work with windows 7 and report back.

[megamanwilson]

I having the same issue as opcode with ati 4650

"Install using the setup.exe. That always fails with a "Setup must be run in Administrator Mode" or something like that. I tried right clicking and running as administrator, no luck.

Trial 2:

Go to the device manager and right-click the 4670 and manually update the driver. The first time I did this it appeared it might work, when through the unsigned drivers, then eventually it spits out an error saying this driver isn't for this version of windows.

So I tried those 2 things about 10 times with many reboots in between, even removing the windows drivers then rebooting (windows puts them right back). Only thing I can think of left to try is hook up another monitor and see if I can boot into safe mode and remove the bastard windows drivers and try there.

I came from a semi working winxp64, but that is such a wonky setup, with many newer program's not working quite right (or at all). I would really like to get this working, and from what you say you got it working w/ a 4850 so I have no clue why a 4670 wouldn't also work with the same setup.

Edit:

Went back and tried booting into safe mode and tried the install. This time running setup.exe set to run in compatibility mode for win xp sp3, it gives me message saying the drivers are only for windows xp/2000. I also tried updating the driver manually like before but that also says that the drivers aren't for this version of windows."

I am stuck here.

Here is what I did I install the 64 bit driver drmaxwell had for catalyst 13 8.970.100.7000 then try the crt_emudriver_9.3_1.ax64 with no luck. I really wanted this to work.

[megamanwilson]

ok try just try soft15 install 15khz settings and quickres2 and no luck the lowest resolution I have was 640X480@60. No option for interlace.