Minor Setup Questions

[THRobinson]

Sorted out most of HyperSpin I think, well, the basic parts anyways. Using it with RetroArch for most emulators and have a few systems added (NES, SNES, N64, MAME).

Still having a few minor probs I'm hoping someone could answer...

1) When I exit a game, it seems to take me to RetroArch, not HyperSpin.

2) I'm testing now with a PS3 controller via USB, since my cabinet is not built yet. when I go into HyperSpin, the controller doesn't work. I use the keyboard to launch a game, and when I come out of the game the controller now works in HyperSpin, though no matter how I setup the mapping, I can't seem to use the PS3 controller to start/execute anything.

3) How do I add art? In LaunchBox I go into the menu and tell it to scrape the db for info/art, similar to how KODI scrapes. I'm not seeing anything like that in HyperSpin. Poked about RocketLauncher as well, but didn't see it either. 

4) How do I delete stuff? For example, I was running through MAME looking to try Metal Slug and noticed a big slew of Mahjongg games I have no interest in. I'm looking to first get things running, then start weeding stuff out. I'm not interested in owning every game ever made like some people, I'm more interested in just the good stuff I know I'll play, so, I don't want duplicates, or various versions of the same thing (ie. NES games, North America release only, don't need a copy of the EU or JAP as well).

Still have a few other glitches I am working out but more about emulators and I think a few corrupt SNES games, but those 4 I haven't been able to sort out yet.

[32assassin]

 

2.  go to your Hyperspin folder an open HyperHQ.exe,  Click on the Controls tab.  by default your keyboard is mapped.  

but you have to enable and map joystick support,   ONE THING YOU SHOULD KNOW,   joystick support in hyperspin is hit or miss.

You may have a great joystick experience you may not,  I suggest you bypass joystick support and use the start up script to map your joysticks

its mapped to a 360 controller,  but you can remap the buttons to any controller.

 

3. their are two ways to add art,

 use the hyperSync utility to automatically download artwork for you.  (You need to be a supporting member)

or manually download files from the download section and extract them to their correct folder location.

 

4. their are multiple ways of doing this 

for MAME

You can modify your game list (XML) to only have the games you want  --> their are multiple tools to do this you don't do it manually

you can also download filtered XMLs from the download section, you should only make one yourself if you have a very selective game list in mind.

 

for every other System.

the most generic way of doing things is by using filters in HyperHQ; You can tell HyperHQ to only display the roms you have,

Open HyperHQ  --> Wheel Settings Tab -->  Select a system --> After you select a system the emulator sub tab will populate

MAKE SURE!!! to add the rom paths and extensions.  you do no need to add the emulator path

after you add your rom and extensions click on the Navigation/themes sub tab -->  you will see "Filters" selection menu. Click on "Roms Only"

 

[THRobinson]

2. I'll give that script a try. I have a PS3 installed for now, and works when in games, and I did find that HyperHQ and set up the joystick there but, hit/miss what works and when. 

3. So for art, I don't scrape I just download either 1-by-1 or as a complete set I guess? Like a set of all NES, set of all SNES, etc? I do plan once I get the games and controls all working to become a full member. About an hour after I posted I found out about HyperSync. I guess you have to be a Platinum member? Looking under Bronze, it doesn't mention HyperSync.

4. Sound good, will give that a try. Again, I don't need 4,000+ games... I use to collect movies for my media server, finally realized most ate up space and just made finding something to watch take longer. And that was only around 1,000. Pre-filtered lists sounds good too... I'm sure a Top 150 list for MAME would probably cover everything I'd want anyways. Is there an app of some sort where once I have a filtered list, it can grab the needed files and move them elsewhere, so I can delete what's left? I don't want to manually delete stuff in case one file depends on another.

 

Any ideas for #1, game either exits to RetroArch or sometimes the MAME screen, which is worse because I can move up/down but can't click on exit, need the keyboard to ESC out.

[32assassin]

1. sorry but I don't use RetroArch

 

3.  HyperSync only works for Platinum members,  and your Platinum membership only lets you download Hyperspin artwork,

if you want videos you also need to get an emumovies account.

you should get everything up and running before you  become a supporting member,  Hypespin is not for everybody, you may find out that launchbox works better for you.

for now you can manually download packs for NES here

http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/files/category/65-nintendo-entertainment-system/

wheels go in --> C:\HyperSpin\Media\Nintendo Entertainment Systeml\Images\Wheel

videos go in  --> C:\HyperSpin\Media\Nintendo Entertainment Systeml\Video

Game Themes (4x3) AND Default Themes go in --> C:\HyperSpin\Media\Nintendo Entertainment Systeml\Themes

 

4.  the rom filter will work great for your Atari set up,   but the rom only filter  does not work for MAME,  because MAME has parent and clone roms.

one example is Puckman ,  Puckman is the Japanese version of Pac-Man.  The US version of Pacman is a clone rom of Puckman.  If you delete the Puckman rom

the US version will not work.

their is a filtered MAME XML with the most popular games available.  a media creator by the name of Sub-Zero released it as a full pack,  I"m too lazy to look for it. but if you find it you will find everything you need.

 

[Avar]

You get a discounted EM membership when you're a full member here though.

[THRobinson]

14 hours ago, Avar said:

You get a discounted EM membership when you're a full member here though.

I've seen that mentioned on the EM site and a few forum posts here where people couldn't find the code number to use, but never a mention of how much.

For the themes, can you replace where the video appears with a static image instead? The videos are cool, but suspect my 1TB drive would get filled pretty quick with 2000-3000 video files.

[Avar]

4 minutes ago, THRobinson said:

I've seen that mentioned on the EM site and a few forum posts here where people couldn't find the code number to use, but never a mention of how much.

For the themes, can you replace where the video appears with a static image instead? The videos are cool, but suspect my 1TB drive would get filled pretty quick with 2000-3000 video files.

It's 25% off and the code's in the plat section of the forums. You can use PNGs instead of MP4s but the entire set of videos isn't that bad for size tbh. The limiting factor as far as storage goes will always be how many disc-based systems you wanna fit onto a single drive. You can practically fit all media and games for every non-disc system on a thumb drive but it's the bin/cues, CHDs, ISOs and the like that get you. Ie. with 1TB you'll have tons of space you won't be able to take full advantage of w/o splitting a disc set apart.

[THRobinson]

Ya, luckily for me I'm not doing much for the big stuff. 

Checked a few websites with Top 10 type lists for CHD Mame's and grabbed just those (Killer Instinct, Gauntlet, few like that). ISO stuff, I'll probably have a few PSOne and PS2 games, but no more than maybe a dozen total... Spyro/MedEvil because the nieces/nephews loved those, and God of War 1&2 for me.

Took advantage of the big STEAM sale as well, I'm patient and cheap so, I can wait a few years to buy games when cheap. I won't be putting those on the system, except probably DeathSpank, which I did not know was out on PC now.  That said, I do have an extra 250GB SATA drive, and if becomes an issue, I may turn that into a Playstation drive.

@32assassin - I found a few of those top lists last night. Not bad, though will have to add to the one I found. was a good list of about 350, but first game I checked for (Karnov) was missing so, may grab that list and add some to it.

I know in LaunchBox when you use the import rom feature, you can choose to move the files, copy, or use in current location, then when importing they have a few filters so can filter out mahjongg, adult, casino, etc... and to skip unplayable ones. Thought maybe use that to copy to another folder, then use that new folder as the MAME game folder because will have a big chunk of files weeded out for me. I know the files aren't that big, but if not playing them I'd rather delete as many as I can to make things cleaner.

Not related really to the OP but, 32assassin mentioned not using RetroArch. I've been on the fence between individual emulators or RetroArch for most of them... what's the general consensus on HyperSpin for that? LaunchBox seemed primarily pro-retroarch.

[THRobinson]

14 hours ago, 32assassin said:

you should get everything up and running before you  become a supporting member,  Hypespin is not for everybody, you may find out that launchbox works better for you.

[THRobinson]

Weird, let me quote, would not let me type... not even if I edited...

Anywho... that's the plan. I heard about LaunchBox first, and tried it. Setup wise, was easier, but can't test any BigBox themes unless a paid member, and then found out that most themes are 16:9 and don't display well on a 4:3 screen, so... that may be the part that killed it for me. I want something cool and flashy... not stiff looking and like an HTPC. Hate to pay and find out that I'm limited to only a few themes and none are that great.

Default theme with HyperSpin I already like. Has pictures, sounds, a few videos to show how it will look, etc... so I know what it can look like. 

Few small issues, like mentioned in the OP... few things I still need to try (like the xml stuff) but I think I'm getting HS Platinum so I can get this all setup and looking great right away. After that, when working how I want, I disable the WiFi, unplug the Ethernet and hopefully never touch it again. I know stuff like MAME is always updating but, if I get stuff working how I want, I don't see the advantage of updating. Not like PacMan is gonna get any better.

[thatman84]

Sounds like you have your head screwed on and planned to succeed round here.

You will just need to take a little more time and care building your romlists and xml files for the games you. Generally Hyperspin is more of a self curated setup the Launchbox.

 Im not a big fan of hunting things down but thats the HS way.

Get to grips with dons tools for the xmls and rom naming. Use the version of dons ending .23

Also Hypertools and Hyperspin Checker are good programs to learn.

Hypersync will give you a good amount but you will still need to hunt stuff down

Did you get retroarch to exit yet?

It is a setting in retroarch you need to get right afaik or use RocketLauncher

There is a very decent currated xml for mame with all clones worth playing. Its at around 2000 games but i would suggest having a full set of mame setup "just in case" then just run your day to day setup with a cut down xml. You never know whats in mame that could take your fancie

[THRobinson]

15 minutes ago, thatman84 said:

Sounds like you have your head screwed on and planned to succeed round here.

 

Hope so... not a programmer/developer or anything so kinda slow at it but definitely plan to get things done right the first time and build a great cabinet. Teaching myself Sketchup this weekend actually. I have the basics done in Illustrator, but wanted to do a 3D version to look at and see if can be improved in anyway. May post it before I proceed for feedback, though it's styled after a traditional cabinet but designed to occupy a bit less space and use less wood. Downside is I'm tall (6'3") so had to make one about the same height so I wouldn't have a marquee in my way when looking down at the screen.

Lot's of Hyper apps it seems... HyperSpin, Hyper Spin Checker, HyperSync, HyperTools... plus RocketLauncher... I think that's where it gets confusing for us noobs... not a one-stop setup, there are a bunch of them.

No luck with RetroArch yet. Not tried yet though... usually too busy during the week so, weekend I'll get stuff done. Long weekend this weekend too so hoping to get stuff all figured out and maybe get the Platinum membership. I suspect the issue is that I have a joystick and buttons setup in Hyperspin, RocketLauncher, RetroArch... probably confusing the system... it's confusing me for sure. 

I have the MAME 0.186 (non-merged) set right now... can't recall how many games, full set. I also have the BIOS files, which I've not yet needed, but I think I just dump into the same folder as the MAME 0.186 games? I found a download of BAT files that pulled out the MAME's into separate folders for Naomi, Naomi 2, etc... leaves the original files but at least now I know which games to add to DEMUL. Played a few... few failed (ie Spawn). I'll definitely figure out the XML stuff though this weekend... takes too long to scroll through the list. 

Started a thread in the db section ... HERE ... but no responses yet. Thought be a fun community effort thing to submit Top 100 lists for certain game systems and merge into single XML's as a sorta 'community picks' list. Would be more than a Top 100 when done for each, but would some pretty good best-of lists for sure.

[32assassin]

I build my cab before Retroarch was a thing, I use the stand alone version of MESS and  Mednafen for most console/handheld systems, and a few stand alone emulators not supported by either of those emulators.

 if I was starting over I would start off with figuring out RetorArch.  I would still keep Mednafen for the Sega Saturn Setup.

the reason I don't upgrade is because; I like playing Arcade games on my TV as much as I like playing console/handheld games on my cocktail cab.

I have a Retropie set up on my TV with hand held controllers to play console games.

 

Since you are limiting your game count  a  1TB hard drive is more than enough to have videos,   emumovies uses the h.26 encoder.  High compression with HQ.  most videos are between 5MB-10MB.

the only thing that eats up drive space in big chunks  is the CD/DVD based games such as the PS2, WII, WIIU.

 - if you look for PSP ready PSX games (extension PBP),  you can get 60 games and it will only eat up 3.6 Gigs,  (this is what I have)

- the PS2 emulator will load compressed games for you --> save more drive space if you compress them.

-MAME CHDs -->  if you only get the CHDs for the games you play you can reduce the size 300++ Gigs down to just a few ( my CHD folder is 18 Gigs)

[THRobinson]

I started with RetroPie... then decided to build a console. Then decided to build a console with arcade style controllers, then decided bartop be cooler, then realized had no place to store it so decided a cabinet with storage underneath.

RetroPie was good, but had issues figuring out getting some stuff to work, never been a linux/unix user and couldn't emulate some of the newer stuff very well (ie N64) or at all (ie PS2). So figured if sinking all this time/effort I'll build a system using old/new parts. I think my system will handle things pretty well. We'll see when I throw God of War at it this weekend I guess. Haven't tried to get PlayStation games running yet. For those though I won't be using RetroArch, rather I'll use I think it was called PCSX or something. I had it running on my PC at home, haven't tried it on the arcade system with HS yet though. worked well on my system... though God of War 2 had some ghosting issues, not a response time deal, rather everything had a faded ghost image about 1/2" to the left. Saw a fix somewhere for that.

CHD's... I saw a download for that, started to get it and had a message saying not enough drive space. I was like, what? I have 56GB... then realized it said 560GB! So cancelled that. Went into a few forums where the general consensus was that most CHD based MAME's worn't worth the drive space, and may listed their top few picks of what was worth having so, I have about 10 CHD files for games. Killer Instinct, Gauntlet, StreetFighter... may grab a few more but, already have enough games that I know I'll never get through them all.

I kinds stopped playing games by the time N64 came out, so will admit, apart from FPS games on the PC and World of Warcraft, I don't know of many games. Absolutely no clue about Wii, GameCube games... nieces/nephews has a PSOne and PS2 so I have some idea about those.

For the BIG file games, I'll probably go by what's on "Top 10" or "Top 20" type lists and that's it. But as mentioned, I don't want a whole lot of games that need a controller. I'll have a pair of front USB ports for controllers when needed but otherwise, 99% of the games will work with arcade buttons... 1-joystick and 6-buttons per player, plus the Coin/Player buttons (pair each) and then I'll have 4-AUX buttons inset at the front for stuff like exiting games, pausing etc.

[thatman84]

I will certainly keep an eye on yout top 100 lists. You will probably have to get some going with regular posts before people notice it.

For hyperspin and most frontends you will really want the MAME split roms at around 50gigs and the bios files.

The non-merged has all files required so you could just have one game in a folder with mame and run it anywhere. This cocks up the rom filter (amongst other things) in Hyperspin so really need to get the split set.

Yes trying to merge all the programs is a task!! Just need to know the main 2 are hyperspin(HyperHQ) and rocketlauncher.

Dons, checker and sync are just for auditing and make things quicker.

 

Hopefully in the next #inserttime here## things in Hyperspin world will get easier

Theres a new sync app thats about to be released that improves on hypersync/HyperHQ and is the 1st step towards a full upgrade.

 

Unfortunately the update has been mentioned for years but no news when it will come even @Avar cant tell us yet and he is Mr HS promo !!

[THRobinson]

Nice... so I can go ahead and delete that folder.

List wise, it wouldn't be Top 100 Lists, but rather combined lists for each system.... but I don't know if those XML files can be merged omitting duplicates or not. I posted in the XML database section, had some views, no responses.

So, for MAME (for example), we had 15 people upload their top 100 XML lists we could merge them together into 1 list. Would be more than 100, but likely less than 1500 because I'm sure big chunks of everyone's lists would be the same. Hard to imagine a MAME list without Pac-Man and Street Fighter on it. And can do that for other systems too... NES has what, around 775ish games? Maybe people upload their Top 50 lists and merge those. Smaller systems like Naomi, are too small to worry about.

I had the idea from looking at some uploaded XML lists and wondering if I can merge them together. List would probably be around 500, but that's still a lot less than the total number of MAME's there are.

So... for HyperSpin, it's better to use the split sets with BIOS files? When I was using LaunchBox I had a set, 0 clue what version it was or type, had so many issues so watched one of the how-to vids which said going forward use the new non-merged sets so, grabbed the most current set and worked fine. Is it Hyperspin that prefers split? or the emulator? I'm using RetroArch right now for most of my systems, seems to load the files ok, though only tested about 10.

[THRobinson]

2 hours ago, agent47 said:

Like I mentioned above the merged set doesn't work with the Roms Only filter in HS, so if you were hell bent on using the Roms Only filter you would want to avoid that set but there are no differences other than that.

How about the non-merged? or do they work the same as the merged ones with the roms only filter?

[THRobinson]

Excellent... was a big download, hate to do it again.