A couple of questions. First post. NOOBing hard

[theoakade]

OK. I built a sweet friggin cab. Time for computer side of things. Newly imaged i3 desktop and went ahead and got lifetime membership to HyperSpin and Emumovies. Here I go.....

 

I followed ghutch's install guide and I feel great. RocketLauncher and HyperSpin are working together. I'm mastering MAME before I move on. RL test window plays my copy of 88 Games. HyperSpin can launch and play same copy as well. YAY! So glad I even got this far. I'll worry about controls later. Before I get too deep, I want to completely understand a few things. 

 

1) An XML file is essentially a list of games HyperSpin is going to read and then project to me on the respective emulator wheel, correct? The XML file shows the name of the game, genre, year, yada yada. In RocketLauncherUI I set the rom path and tell Rocket Launcher where exactly the rom folder is. It worked because HyperSpin launched 88 Games perfectly. My question is what file can show me exactly what the rom needs to be named? Not the XML file cause there is no rom path info on that file. So what file will show me that RL/HS wants 88 Games to be "C:\Emulators\MAME\roms\88games.zip"

 

2) An INI file is the wheel setting file for each emulator wheel (or, am I supposed to say module?), correct? The INI file shows what video, what artwork, how the wheel is laid out, etc. Correct? Nothing more?

 

3) What in the hell is an AHK file? I'm completely stumped.

And furthermore...

 

4) If you were me, and you want to narrow down the game list for MAME, you use HyperTools to eliminate crap and keep what you want. HyperTools then spits out a new XML file that you then need to overwrite in both RL and HS database folders, correct? Anything else?

5) And once you have the game list you want, then what? Start gathering my game copies? HyperSync after that? Which leads me back to question 1- How do I know exactly what the rom needs to be named? Or is everything these days pretty pre-configured/named?

LOL, jeez. I feel like an idiot. It's gonna be a long road but if somebody can see where I'm at on the HyperSpin road and has a few lines of wisdom and recommendations, I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

Thanks in advance. Hope to be an involved member at some point.

[Spawk]

Wow, lots to cover here. Here is a couple of quick things.

Xml = database

Ini = short for (initilization) common term/file extension used by many programs

Ahk = referred to as a module.

Best way IMO to see what name to use is by RL'S audit system.

Slimming down mame is major chore! The official xml supplied on site will have removed all gambling/adult games already. Some people use hypertools to split their mame wheel into separate systems. You can also use wheel filters in hyperhq to just trim down what HS shows.

Personally, I use a "rom only" filter and completely delete the roms I do not want to show up.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

[NewYears1978]

You built a cabinet before every messing with the software side of things. You sir are BRAVE! Congrats I hope you get it all worked out

[theoakade]

Thanks to all. Y'all def cleared a few things up. And hell yeah I built the cab first. If I woulda screwed around with HyperSpin first I prolly woulda just given up! But now I'm too far in.  Thanks again. I think my next step is determining what MAME games I want, using a tool to make a new XML, secure my roms, and determine whether I want to download game media personally or figure out HyperSync. If any of this sounds wrong stop me now. And any more tips always appreciated. Thanks again.

[thcdgaf]

well i would take my time you dont wanna stimulate your brain  on a emulator or error you got on hyperspin it and be awake and then say by god i got it and go to pc and code it in lol you be there until its time to wake up for work i been there or start the day...also..media can be retrieved from ftp and some good place to look on there is here /Unsorted Submissions/_Themes/_Presort and media be found on emumovies ftp also i find its easy to get what i need from it....hypersync dont download everything just things it has available for that system..learn and read up on most of it...dons hypertools 4.3.25 is best to use for that...but i dont think the link works anymore so give me inbox ill send it to you...when i get a chance...we all was new once..i was 9 months ago...now im contributing information and soon wheels and themes to the community...

[SIMPLYAUSTIN]

Dive straight in and swim in the waters of Retro Goodness my friend.  If you get stuck, gimmie a shout!  Good luck matey!

[Stormyblade]

Wow, lots to cover here. Here is a couple of quick things.

Xml = database

Ini = short for (initilization) common term/file extension used by many programs

Ahk = referred to as a module.

Best way IMO to see what name to use is by RL'S audit system.

Slimming down mame is major chore! The official xml supplied on site will have removed all gambling/adult games already. Some people use hypertools to split their mame wheel into separate systems. You can also use wheel filters in hyperhq to just trim down what HS shows.

Personally, I use a "rom only" filter and completely delete the roms I do not want to show up.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

 

 

Just curious...where is this official xml file? I went to the Downloads section and didn't see it? Is there a version for the latest version of MAME, i.e. .171?  Thanks in advance.

[Metalzoic]

You built a cabinet before every messing with the software side of things. You sir are BRAVE! Congrats I hope you get it all worked out

Honestly this is the only way I'd recommend anyone to do it.

Once you have your cab built, CP built and artwork on you're ready for everything else. You have that part finished. You have an arcade machine baby!

Hyperspin/Rocketlauncher itself can be set up in just a day or two, but the problem is that it turns into an ongoing, never-ending, never-quite-finished tweak fest. For all eternity Amen.

I think it makes way more sense to work on your Hyperspin build while it's in a cab and perfectly playable. Otherwise what's the point?

I had my cab ready, my CP built and my PC for it all ready to go before I even made an account here and downloaded HS. Then once downloaded I set it up over 2 or 3 days just following the tutorials here and have just been improving it ever since.

[Stormyblade]

For most systems HyperList (the Databases button on the site toolbar) is where you want to get your databases. For MAME, I prefer to use the ones in the 1st post here. You can select your version and pick from databases that have stuff filtered out like non-working, casino/mahjong, clones, etc.

 

Thank you for pointing me in the right direction. I've got Hyperspin working, MAME working, and Daphne working -- just need to trim down that list of 9500+ games down to a more workable number.