Installing a Universal Theme?

[DJQuad]

Hi, I know how to install Game Themes but how do you install Universal Themes? I'm trying to install http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/files/file/7453-hyperspin-redesign. Thanks.

[JoyStickKilla]

Put the theme in the main menu folder.

[DJQuad]

Thanks, but I put "HyperSpin Redesign - Chicuelo (20130727).zip" in C:\HyperSpin and C:\HyperSpin\HyperTheme\MyThemes, neither worked.

[THK]

Should be in ..\HyperSpin\Media\....

 

What's inside the zip? because every system needs its Default.zip theme in it's own media folder

And each system also needs it's main menu theme [system name].zip in \HyperSpin\Media\Main Menu\

 

"HyperSpin Redesign - Chicuelo (20130727).zip" is named to differentiate the themes. It's [theme content] - [creator] (release date) in this case.

[SkyHighGam3r]

rename it "Default.zip" and place it in C:\Hyperspin\Media\Main Menu\Themes

THK makes a good point, if you're applying it to more than just the main menu, there should be items in every system's theme directory as well.

C:\Hyperspin\Media\Nintendo NES\Themes
C:\Hyperspin\Media\Sega Genesis\Themes
C:\Hyperspin\Media\Sony Playstation\Themes

etc, etc,.

[DJQuad]

Yeah that's what confuses me. For Main menu themes, it's easy to put them in directories as was mentioned. This is a universal theme tho which applies to all systems. Check out

 

[wesfranks]

Chicuelo has set up the theme on his system and then made what is essentially a "Default.zip" that you can use as a universal theme for both a system level (HyperSpin/Media/Main Menu/Themes/) and as a games level (HyperSpin/Media/<each-of-your-systemnames-here>/Themes/). The basic theme artwork is present.

 

However, not all of the files that you will need are included in the "HyperSpin Redesign - Chicuelo (20130727).zip" file. To get it to work you will need to do a lot of work. Chicuelo has included 18 Main Menu wheels such that you see :15 seconds into the video. If you don't have those 18 systems setup, it will not look right until you create each of the wheels that you have for the systems represented in your setup. Unless you work in Photoshop or similar you will probably need this program to batch create the wheels.

 

For the program: http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/files/file/7416-autokustom-beta-2/ and for some frames: http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/files/file/7406-auto-kustom-background-templates/ . I glanced around and didn't see the specific wheel border Chicuelo used but you can probably just use one that he included in his zip as a template for your use.

 

Also, about 2:36 into the video he shows the games wheels that he has included. They are only 50 representative PlayStation wheels in his universal format. If you only have the 50 games he has included artwork for you are good. If not, you will also need to recreate all the games wheels for each of the games systems that you have.

 

You will need to have all of these wheels created and ready before you set this universal theme system up. At that point you will need to copy and move the files to their respective folders as directed by JoyStickKilla, THK, and SkyHighGam3r. Chicuelo has also included flash special arts, pointers, letters and settings.ini for each system. But first you need to make those wheels.

[gec5741]

Hi I am also trying to get this theme towork.  I have most of it all working but I have not made the wheels yet.  I figured it would just look a bit odd until I do make them but still work?  But If I use the default.zip them in my \\media\mame\theme folder and use the settings.ini file included named as mame.ini I cannot get into my mame system.  It bounced me back into the main menue.  If I go back to the orginal mame\theme\default.ini and the orginal mame.ini settings file I can get back in.  Am I missing something or is this because of not having the wheels created?  I can work to make those if that's all i'm doing wrong.  I did find a blank frame for use with his theme and grabbed that program listed above.  I can also use photo shop.  I am just hoping that's all that's the issue with not being able to get into that system.  That's the only one I have setup right now.  I can create the other wheels needed for the couple other systems I plan to use when the time comes.

 

Thanks!

[wesfranks]

If I go back to the orginal mame\theme\default.ini and the orginal mame.ini settings file I can get back in.  Am I missing something or is this because of not having the wheels created? 

You had me worried until I saw the the bold print above. So you did backup your original files and got it working again.

 

The Settings.ini should go into the HyperSpin/Settings/ folder if I remember right. The instructions should have been on the .png files he included. Did you put it into your MAME emulator folder? That would be bad. Stick to the HyperSpin/Settings/ folder for the INI files and be sure to put the original files into backup folders just in case.

 

For the themes, I believe if you start inside HyperSpin/Media/Main Menu/Themes, create a "backup" folder and drag all the zips in Main Menu/Themes into the backup folder, then copy over the default.zip to the Main Menu/Themes/ folder, that would get you started with the Main Menu. Then look at Main Menu/Images/ for the "Special" art folder and eventually "Wheel" once you get those system wheels created. And of course system videos in the Main Menu/Videos/ folder. So system files in Main Menu Folder. Remember, Chicuelo already included 18 of these.

 

Then go up to the HyperSpin/Media folder and for each games system you have set up, do the same thing in each system folder. For example, go inside HyperSpin/Media/MAME/Themes/, create a backup folder and drag any zips to the backup folder. Then copy the Default.zip to the HyperSpin/Media/MAME/Themes/ folder. Special art to HyperSpin/Media/MAME/Images/Special/, game wheels to HyperSpin/Media/MAME/Images/Wheels, and game videos to Images/Video. Therefore, games files in each games system folder.

 

As to the wheels, the theme will not look 100% until you generate those custom wheels, but everything else should work once you get the files in place. You should be able to see all the other elements. Since you have Photoshop experience, just use that. The AutoKustom program will work, but it will require a little setup time (updated XMLs, System Logos, and the unframed games wheels for the systems you have).

 

I believe that is right. I did it in my head (so FYI) backup as you go along and test each level afterward. Let me know if it works.

[gec5741]

Thank you for your post.  Yea I always backup files before making any changes so i can go back!  I've been doing websites and such for years and have learned never to just over write files   So I was able to get it back up and running.  However yes I still didn't get the theme fully working.   I think I'll give it another try tonight and start from scratch.  Now that I think about it I don't think I did put the "default.zip" into the main menu themes area.  I can't remember now but I obviously did something wrong.  I'll sit down now that I have a better understanding of the file structure and this theme's file structure and try again. 

 

Also the png files he has with ini file settings.  I'll look again but it looked to me like his ini file is already setup exactly as it should be according to his png so I didn't think there was really anything needed to be changed.  I'll look closer at that again. 

[gec5741]

errrr I think I see the problem!  He has the path in the exe info (very top) of the ini file set to Sony PlayStation.  That would make sense why it couldn't go to my MAME system!  I'll try again tonight

[gec5741]

But I do still have wheels for my games they are just the old ones.  I guess I thought they would still show up?  I'll disable them and see if what happens. 

[gec5741]

Right so in the system ini file for mame I didn't edit the rompath.  He has it default to Sony PlayStation.  So if I just change that to point to my mame rom path I should be good right?

[gec5741]

OK so if I just add zip in the romextentsion = section?

 

I hate being stuck at work when I could be home working on my arcade system! 

 

Thanks for your assistance!

[gec5741]

Or is what he's trying to say with the system.ini settings png file he highlights the game text section.  Is he trying to say just add that into the existing ini file?

[wesfranks]

Thanks, Agent47. I downloaded the theme to see what it had for post#7, but then deleted it.  Thanks for your intervention.

 

gec5741, way to dig around. I think you will fit in well around here.