MESS for Atari

[justbbuck]

Probably some will think I'm nuts for wanting MESS for some consoles.....
But the way I look at, it's a lot key mapping after setup...
I've built my own machine before using MAME, Daphne, MESS, and a few other emulators but that was 14 years ago....   Time for an update!  (past time really).  However.

I'm having a heck of time getting 2600, 5200, 7800 to run on any type of frontend.
Games are working in MESS, both mess64 and messui64, V221
However, I've tried Hyperspin, LaunchBox, Maxius Arcade, and a few others, and NOTHING will launch MESS and Atari. 

It appears I've set it up correctly by following the online videos for setup...
(had to keep hitting pause and going back....  He talked fast!    )

I can open the emulator in Rocket.  I can open the file location.  All good.
Game audit is all green for 72 roms...   But can't test it through rocket.... 
Black screen for a bit, then yells ahk_class mame, check you have the correct version emulator installed.

I'm guessing here, but when I look at installed modules, MESS lists v0.161 and it needs my MESS of V221??
If so, please tell me where to find....

Also, can anyone point me in the direct of Atari setup instructions for Hyper?
I followed tutorials on here and they were blank or no post found errors.

Open to suggestions also, I used MESS in the past for 2600,5200,7800, and Colecovision only.
Can MESS using V0.161 be utilized for these?  Seems there have been a lot of changes to MESS.
And only speculating, but probably not too much has changed game/rom wise in Atari between the MESS Versions.

ANY and all assistance would be really appreciated!!!

[dark13]

Why not using RetroArch? Right now it can emulate 2600, 5200 and 7800. MESS is a REAL mess to configure, and actually right now it would be probably better to use MAME (MESS has been merged into MAME)

[justbbuck]

Thank you for the reply.  

Yes, I noticed Mame and Mess were combined, I just used it to keep config similar to what I setup 15 years ago. 

Didn’t know that Retro could emulate. When I went to site, it said it was a front end.  Odd.  I’ll have to look at that again! 

[dark13]

10 hours ago, justbbuck said:

Thank you for the reply.  

Yes, I noticed Mame and Mess were combined, I just used it to keep config similar to what I setup 15 years ago. 

Didn’t know that Retro could emulate. When I went to site, it said it was a front end.  Odd.  I’ll have to look at that again! 

RetroArch is actually a frontend (a terrible one lol) with lots of cores to emulate lots of stuff. Anyway it is possible to use RocketLauncher to launch games from HyperSpin without using RA's GUI. The real good thing about it is it has some terrific shaders
 

 

[justbbuck]

Apparently I'm not meant to play Atari games....  This process has me on the verge!!! 
Checked out Retro...  I can make 7800 Games work in Retro, but not 5200...
Okay, I'll deal....   
Go to Rocket, Use Atari800 for 5200 play...  All good, just have to figure out key mapping....
I can use Retro for 7800, plays fine...  Go through Rocket, I get the Atari logo and then it freezes.
Even tried setting up EMU7800 on Rocket and nothing works at all....
But EMU works as a standalone.

Just might have to look elsewhere to run a frontend which sucks because I like this design.
Other are too generic and "windows" looking....

I used Maxius Arcade in the past because of the interface and it was so simple to setup.

 

[dark13]

Atari 800 emulator must be set to "5200" in option

You need to set RA config folder

Check also that the correct core is selected

You need also "5200.rom" in RetroArch/system (bios)

 

[justbbuck]

You've given me some great advice here!
Showing me some things that I'm unaware of.
Sadly, I did that and I get a black screen.
I'm going to keep trying though

Will triple check my work tomorrow...  May even just blow it away and start over.
Really appreciate your advice, help, and guidance.

[dark13]

Uhm, as far as I remember those things worked out of the box here. Be sure to give admin privileges to HyperSpin and RocketLauncher on Windows 10

[justbbuck]

Dark, thank you very much for the advice and guidance.

I did decide to skip Retro altogether and force myself to make this work!

After 3 different A800 installs and pulling my hair out with renaming the files that the renamer did to the files, I can happily say that 5200 and 7800 are both working.

Now I have to figure out the controls to make everything the same....

But I may do that last (unless you think otherwise).

And move on to the next console.  Once all consoles are setup, I'll tackle MAME

Again, I really appreciate you taking the time to help and advise me!!

[Spawk]

3 hours ago, justbbuck said:

Now I have to figure out the controls to make everything the same....

This might prove difficult... at least for the Atari 5200, here is the controller:

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.atarimuseum.com%2Fvideogames%2Fconsoles%2F5200%2F5200paddle.html&psig=AOvVaw1OJHV9NZnKvpZ6W4L05BoI&ust=1592803340758000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCLjvxfyUkuoCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAR

This is the paddle version, there is also a joystick version. Mapping either to a gamepad like xbox360 (what I am using) is practically impossible. I suppose an arcade panel set up specifically for this could be feasible... but it's a lot of buttons!

[Spawk]

Here's a better look at the joystick version:

Those red buttons are on both sides. So 12 for the numpad, 4 for shoulder buttons, and 3 system ones along the top. So 19 buttons... for each player. To further complicate things games included an "info" card that would slip over the numpad to tell you what buttons did what.

I am sure there are a great number of games that are still playable with very few buttons used but you may have to take this system on a game to game basis.  I would like to hear peoples experience with this system.

[dark13]

9 hours ago, agent47 said:

Not necessary and not recommended.

When I moved on Windows 10 I noticed problems without admin privileges, as far as I remember other people had problems using HS/RL without admin privileges

[justbbuck]

Thanks for the info guys!

Thanks for the controller info also.....   But I'm going to build a cabinet again and not use standalone controllers like that.  Plan to use a USB key type board and real arcade controls.  That's why I need everything to map together. 

Not having any luck with these various emulators and being able to map what keys I need.