Complete Guide for Adding MAME Manufacturers or Genres to HL3 and Hyperspin 1.3

[DrMaxwell]

DrMaxwell's Complete Guide for Adding MAME Manufacturers or Genres to RL and Hyperspin 1.3

1. Download Checklist
   
   
2. Adding a MAME Dependent System to a Hyperlaunch HQ MAME Module
   
   
3. Cross-referencing Paths in Hyperlaunch HQ with HyperHQ
   
   
4. Populating the New System Database with a Split MAME XML
   
   
5. Using HyperSync to Download Artwork and Videos for your Custom MAME Manufacturer or Genre
   
   

I'm making this guide to help people old and new to Hyperspin split up the rather large set of MAME roms into more manageable and personalized sets quickly, easily and without too much stress. Three words you would have hardly experienced if you first started using Hyperspin a few years ago!

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Download Checklist

MAME is now on rom set 0.153b and with it a number of changes have allowed us to again officially play some of the previously locked games from manufacturers such as Cave.

Firstly, we will need to make sure your have the right tools for the job:

1. Pleasuredome
   
2. Don's Hyperspin Tools
   
3. HyperSync 3.5+

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Great! You've downloaded the files, installed them and are ready to go! Take my hand and come this way...

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Adding a MAME Dependent System to a Hyperlaunch HQ MAME Module

putting your own genre or game manufacturer from MAME into hyperlaunch HQ as a new system that we can then use in hyperspin as a new wheel

1. Step 1 - Open up Hyperlaunch HQ, select the Global tab on the top left and click on Modules. Then, highlight the MAME.ahk script below and open the editor above at the top left of the screen.
   
   
2. Step 2 - add the manufacturer name of your new MAME dependent system. For example, if you are adding a new Technos Japan section for Ninja Gaiden. Call it whatever you like!
   
   
3. Step 3 - close HyperlaunchHQ and restart to see your associated module.
   
   
4. Step 4 - select your new system or manufacturer then click the magnifying glass and double click on MAME.
   
   
5. Step 5 - click on the green plus sign and direct MAME to your MAME rom directory.
   
   

Cross-referencing Paths in Hyperlaunch HQ with HyperHQ

checking that both Hyperlaunch HQ (the launcher; the meat in the sandwich or the middle man) and HyperHQ (one side of the bun) are looking for the same games and artwork

1. 
   
   1. 
      
   2. Step 6 - confirm that the same information here is in HyperHQ.
      
      
   3. Step 7 - Confirm the paths and extension is either zip or 7z to match your romset.
      
      
   4. Step 8 - direct your videos to the folder where you keep your MAME videos. If you have no artwork or videos installed yet or want a fresh set just for this system/ manufacturer/ genre then keep reading below.
      
      

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Populating the New System Database with a Split MAME XML

Now you have your folders set up and pointing to the MAME roms, we need to create your custom games list for that manufacturer you like or genre you want on a separate wheel.

1. Step 1 - open the Don's Hyperspin Tools zip file and extract it then start the List Splitter
   
   
2. Step 2 - click on the browse button at the end of the HyperSpin XML File field
   
   
3. Step 3 - click on the file named MAME and click open
   
   
4. Step 4 - now click on the browse button at the end of the Output Folder
   
   
5. Step 5 - find the the system or manufacturer you just created and click ok
   
   
6. Step 6 - change this dropdown menu to manufacturer if you are making a list for Midway or Capcom etc then click Generate XML Files
   
   
7. Step 7 -
   
8. Step 8 - wait for about 20 seconds and then check the folder
   
   
9. Step 9 - copy and paste the list you are creating into the folder and change it to the same name as the folder and system in hyperlaunch HQ or HyperHQ
   
   

Well done! You have just created your custom list that is ready to run in Hyperspin!

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Using HyperSync to Download Artwork and Videos for your Custom MAME Manufacturer or Genre

So...you've made it this far down the page...

This next step is straightforward. I'll make a video of it tomorrow when I wake up, but I'm happy with the results and ease of it. Basically you generated a part of the original MAME XML and if we feed our new list into Hypersync it won't recognize the system because it is named something different, for example, "Capcom". So simply take that list you made and change the name to MAME.xml, then put it back into Hyperspin/Databases/MAME/ folder. Turn on hypersync, pick what you need for the system, then before you sync, change the directory to output into your "Capcom" folder.

This will generate a MAME folder with all the artwork for the roms listed in your custom XML. Saving you the hassle of matching themes, artwork and video for newly created systems. I just wish the same were true for MESS systems; it is a pity the naming conventions are different!

Well I am off to bed, please reply with any feedback or questions!

[Agrajag]

Thanks very much for this. I've not felt the need to use Don's tools before but have been thinking it would be nice to split up MAME into more manageable sections. Another job to add to the list of things to do when I have time!

[potts43]

Nice tutorial

[DrMaxwell]

Thanks guys! I was writing this up at 3:30AM this morning, so the positive feedback is great!

I don't usually write up guides, but I had to go through the process and couldn't really find something that was step by step to explain the process on here. Sometimes I think us members forget just how much time we have spent using the programs and forget that some are still wrapping their heads around the basics, so I tried to make it as simple as possible and more importantly accessible for those wanting to venture out from the default setup.

I was limited to 30 attachments for the initial post; I wanted to show the final step in much greater detail, so here are some screen shots of the process:

1. 
   

[Pyramid_Head]

This is very cool thanks man! Also nice avatar

[DrMaxwell]

This is very cool thanks man! Also nice avatar

Thanks!

I hit my 500GB download cap for the month, so I will upload a video tutorial when my internet is up and running again!

[Shungle Flump]

Thanks for the guide DrMaxwell, it seems pretty straightforward but for some reason I have an issue!

When I click on the 'Edit Module with your prefers editor' an error message pops up saying 'you don't have an editor set, make sure you set on under the HyperLaunchHQ tab.'

I've no idea what this means as I can't find an option to select 'on' in the HyperLaunch HQ tab.

Would you be so kind to guide me in the right direction with this?

Appreciate the guide, thanks in advance :-)

[Agrajag]

It's a typo! Should say "make sure you set one under the HyperLaunch HQ tab" i.e. make sure you set up an editor that HLHQ will use to open up the module.

[Shungle Flump]

That makes more sense! Why didn't I see that?!! Thanks. How do I set up an editor for HLHQ to use? I'm assuming notepad++ is the way to go?

[Agrajag]

It's a setting in the tab called "HyperLaunch HQ"', like the message box says. And yes, notepad++ is what you need.

Sent from my phone using Tapatalk, probably while at work...