C64 - A few questions (Multi image games, Warp button)

[eezetee]

I followed the following guide (thanks rfancella) with HyperSpin and winVice.

http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/forum/showthread.php?30434-Complete-Guide-for-Commodore-64-in-HyperSpin-and-RL-using-WinVICE

A few questions have come up

1) First off, given the very slow loading times of many games and the warp mode. Has anyone done any special key mapping to enable WARP mode (Alt-W)?

I think of maybe adding an extra button to my cabinet to MAP to this?

2) Is there a way to load multiple images at the same time? Some of the games (Summer Games) has multiple files (4 different d64 files) and the WinVice does have 4 1541 drive's it emulates. Is there a way to load up all 4 in a script?

Many thanks for everyone that contributes! Really had some fond memories tonight while playing Summer Games.

[rfancella]

I followed the following guide (thanks rfancella) with HyperSpin and winVice.

http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/forum/showthread.php?30434-Complete-Guide-for-Commodore-64-in-HyperSpin-and-RL-using-WinVICE

A few questions have come up

1) First off, given the very slow loading times of many games and the warp mode. Has anyone done any special key mapping to enable WARP mode (Alt-W)?

I think of maybe adding an extra button to my cabinet to MAP to this?

2) Is there a way to load multiple images at the same time? Some of the games (Summer Games) has multiple files (4 different d64 files) and the WinVice does have 4 1541 drive's it emulates. Is there a way to load up all 4 in a script?

Many thanks for everyone that contributes! Really had some fond memories tonight while playing Summer Games.

Hi,

I may be able to answer some of them for you.

1). The warp key for sure is very useful! But it depends on what you are using for a control panel. To set the warp key:

Open up HyperLaunchHQ.

Click Commodore 64 on the left.

Then Modules on top.

Select WinVICE.ahk in the list and click the "Edit Global Module Settings" button.

On that page, set your WarpKey there.

2). What you are talking about can be easily accomplished if the rom names are correct.

Example: Airborne Ranger

The original name in the xml was: Airborne Ranger (1987)(Microprose Software)(Side A)[cr ESI]

I changed it to: Airborne Ranger (1987)(Microprose Software) (Disk 1 Side A)

The original name of the rom was:

Airborne Ranger (1987)(Microprose Software)(Side A)[cr ESI].zip

Airborne Ranger (1987)(Microprose Software)(Side [cr ESI].zip

I changed both to:

Airborne Ranger (1987)(Microprose Software) (Disk 1 Side A).zip

Airborne Ranger (1987)(Microprose Software) (Disk 1 Side .zip

So, when I launch the game it loads the first disc. When the game asks for side 2, I hit the HyperPause key (yes, enable HyperPause) and one of the options is "CHANGE DISK". I go to it and choose Disk 1 Side B and hit enter. It swaps the disks and when the emu comes back, I hit enter to tell the game I have Side B in there now.

Hope this helps some.

Thanks,

Ron

[eezetee]

Hi Ron,

Many thanks for your answer. Already looking at the WinVice and the WARP setting was easy. May just use one of the unused buttons (built a 6 way CP) instead of a separate button.

For item #2, I heard about HyperPause but never investigated as I thought it was a way to add more artwork, videos, information to the game itself and what I get with HyperSpin and Emumovies donations is just plenty for my setup. If you are running this in a cabinet, what do you have mapped for your "HyperPause key" and what is the "Enter key"

Many of the c64 games ask for names and such, wondering how I can get around that so I don't plan to continue using a keyboard once the cabinet is built.

Cheers Ron

[brolly]

You don't need HP if you only want to switch disks, you can use the MultiGame menu for that (yes it will still need a button or button combo to activate it).

[rfancella]

Hi Ron,

Many thanks for your answer. Already looking at the WinVice and the WARP setting was easy. May just use one of the unused buttons (built a 6 way CP) instead of a separate button.

For item #2, I heard about HyperPause but never investigated as I thought it was a way to add more artwork, videos, information to the game itself and what I get with HyperSpin and Emumovies donations is just plenty for my setup. If you are running this in a cabinet, what do you have mapped for your "HyperPause key" and what is the "Enter key"

Many of the c64 games ask for names and such, wondering how I can get around that so I don't plan to continue using a keyboard once the cabinet is built.

Cheers Ron

I have HyperPause mapped to a shifted key when using everything but Pinball. Mine is Player 1 Start + Right Flipper. Very hard to hit on accident.

Don't think you have any options as far as a keyboard goes. There are way to many combinations when you are talking about PC emulation. Some games require you to hit [Enter], some use cursor keys, some use F-Keys and some use other keys. I use a bluetooth keyboard that tucks away. The common keys, [Enter], [space], etc. I have mapped to my CP.

You don't need HP if you only want to switch disks, you can use the MultiGame menu for that (yes it will still need a button or button combo to activate it).

Agreed. But there is so much more content available through HP.

Thanks,

Ron

[eezetee]

You don't need HP if you only want to switch disks, you can use the MultiGame menu for that (yes it will still need a button or button combo to activate it).

Hi Brolly,

Can you elaborate a little? the Multigame is the ability to load a specific disc from the main wheel

Such as this request - http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/forum/showthread.php?15013-Multi-disc-games

Was it this Multigame support in HL?

Change Discs - MultiGame support while paused so you can swap discs from within HP.

http://emumovies.com/forums/index.php/topic/6135-hyperlaunch-3-has-arrived/

Also found this other thread from yesterday that talks about Multigame and naming, but not how to set it up

http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/forum/showthread.php?35960-Help-needed-with-Multigame-can-t-make-it-work!

Anyone have a link to share on how to set this up?

Cheers. Thanks for your help Brolly and Ron

[brolly]

Read this:

https://sites.google.com/site/hyperlaunch2/home/features/multigame

Should clear your questions.

That first request should be implemented on the HS side so doesn't seem likely to happen at this point and has nothing to do with the MG feature, it was just to add the ability to remove multiple disc entries from the wheel. This was already implemented on HS2.0, but never saw the daylight.

[eezetee]

Thanks Brolly.

Not sure if I should open another thread, but let me try here.

Many of the games i've been toying around with in WinVice have requirements for some special keystrokes.

For example "Enter" in many of the games

or some games like Summer Games or Winter Games ask for the players to enter their names. Some have completely random requirements for teh Run/Stop button (Caps Lock)

Any idea how I can get around this? Was thinking of putting some small buttons for the WARP, RUN/STOP but would like to avoid the others.

[brolly]

Commodore 64 is a PC, so it expects you to have a keyboard available. So you either have a wireless keyboard around or you're better off deleting the games that require one from your wheel. This simply isn't a system intended to be played on arcade machines even though many games will be ok. You can always map the most used keys to some cp buttons, but that's it.

You also have SDL WinVICE which has a built-in keyboard, but disk swapping won't work on that version since everything is done on the actual emulator internal UI.

[eezetee]

I'm thinking of some HAPP mini buttons for Enter, Run/Stop and others. For the games that require some other buttons (like player names) I may just make some buttons that MAP to a unused letter. Just hope all of my friends are named WWWW and UUUUU

Anyone ever built a mini-keyboard into a control panel before?

[dougan78]

I had thought about the minikb idea. I use a bluetooth tablet style one and sits fine on top of my controlpanel (4 player). I didnt realize I would add computer based systems and if I did it all over again I had the idea of putting it flush with control panel top by cutting/routing out a spot for it. Just an idea.

[eezetee]

Dougan78,

That's a great idea. I'm wondering if I could repurpose an old mini-keyboard i've got laying around. (see link below)

The only issue is that with the joystick to keyboard mappings, one couldn't type in a name like "Player 1" without trigger a different keystroke. How do you get around that?

Wonder if I could mount something like this flush with my control panel

http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Slim-Bluetooth-Wireless-Aluminum-Keyboard/dp/B00EEPZHZ0/ref=sr_1_1?srs=3029624011&ie=UTF8&qid=1407159615&sr=8-1&keywords=bluetooth+keyboard+back+to+school

[dougan78]

I havent tested but on my setup I have 4x xbox controllers and I need to test direct input for those instead if possible and not using the ipac for that system. I also know any keys you use for joysticks end up unuseable for typing unless you toggle joykeys off.

[eezetee]

Hi Brolly,

I've seen some conflicting information about the naming convention. If I had a game called "Summer Games (Epyx)" and it had 3 files. File one ends in G64, file 2 is D64 and File 3 is D64.

Should they be named (Summer Games) (Epyx) (Disc1)" and (Disc2) and (Disc3) without spaces like this article below says

http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/forum/showthread.php?15013-Multi-disc-games/page4

Or like your original article that says include a space between the file type and the disc number. Not sure if I used disc and it's a G64 if that still works or it must be an ISO?

Also, Do I have to put all 3 files into the loader as the link you gave says no but I wasn't able to get it to not prompt for a disc 2 or 3 otherwise.

Cheers and thanks for your help

[rfancella]

Hi Brolly,

I've seen some conflicting information about the naming convention. If I had a game called "Summer Games (Epyx)" and it had 3 files. File one ends in G64, file 2 is D64 and File 3 is D64.

Should they be named (Summer Games) (Epyx) (Disc1)" and (Disc2) and (Disc3) without spaces like this article below says

http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/forum/showthread.php?15013-Multi-disc-games/page4

Or like your original article that says include a space between the file type and the disc number. Not sure if I used disc and it's a G64 if that still works or it must be an ISO?

Also, Do I have to put all 3 files into the loader as the link you gave says no but I wasn't able to get it to not prompt for a disc 2 or 3 otherwise.

Cheers and thanks for your help

That is an old thread. Yes you do need to have a space between "Disc" and "3". There also needs to be a space between the "(Epyx)" and the "(Disc 1)".

The file extension is fine the way it is. Do not change them. Add the space and try it.

Thanks,

Ron

[brolly]

What Ron said.

It also should be Disk and not Disc, but that doesn't make a difference.

[eezetee]

While i'm still toying with this and it's not working, i'll ask a few questions to be clearing i'm doing $hit right.

1) Is there a single entry in the XML game DB? If yes, that would be "game name (epyx) Disk 1" right?

2) If I do #1, the artwork changes and so will hypersync. A small manual process for this game, but for all games too. Is this just something I need to accept or am I doing it wrong?

3) Is there any difference between naming the files as "Disk 1" and "Disk 2" as opposed to "Tape 1 Side A" or will they all be loaded sequentially as required? If a game says "Inside side B to disk 2" whill HS know to grab "Disk 4"

4) Finally, on the article that Ron passed over to me, I've enabled Multigame on RL but I don't have all the settings in my ini files as in that URL. I just set this up 3 or so weeks ago so i'm assuming the latest files.

Thanks all. I'm taking notes for all the questions that get answered and will provide this back to the community.

[rfancella]

While i'm still toying with this and it's not working, i'll ask a few questions to be clearing i'm doing $hit right.

1) Is there a single entry in the XML game DB? If yes, that would be "game name (epyx) Disk 1" right?

That is correct. You have to edit the xml to fit the new names. And only one entry (Disk 1) needs to be in there:

"game name (epyx) (Disk 1)"

2) If I do #1, the artwork changes and so will hypersync. A small manual process for this game, but for all games too. Is this just something I need to accept or am I doing it wrong?

Unfortunately, yes. You also will need to rename the art and videos. Not much can be done about that until someone changes the official xml.

3) Is there any difference between naming the files as "Disk 1" and "Disk 2" as opposed to "Tape 1 Side A" or will they all be loaded sequentially as required? If a game says "Inside side B to disk 2" whill HS know to grab "Disk 4"

HyperLaunch will not auto-load anything. It will give you a screen with all the disks or tapes and sides listed and you choose the one to load. I don't think there is any difference except that when you hit the HyperPause or MultiGame key, the images displayed along with the name is different. If you have Disk, it will show an image of a disk, etc.

4) Finally, on the article that Ron passed over to me, I've enabled Multigame on RL but I don't have all the settings in my ini files as in that URL. I just set this up 3 or so weeks ago so i'm assuming the latest files.

For MultiGame to work, you do not need to edit any files. If the emulator already has MutliGame in it, you just have to be sure it's enabled. You also may have to change the key for MultiGame or HyperPause. To do so:

Open up HyperLaunchHQ.

Be sure GLOBAL is selected on the top left.

Now click the General Settings tab on top and the Controls sub-tab.

You may want to change the MultiGame and HyperPause Activation Key (mine did not work until I set it, the default did not work for me).

Click the Settings tab and then the MultiGame sub-tab.

Make sure that General Options - Enabled is set to true.

Now, just to double check. On the left, click Commodore 64 in your list of systems.

General Options - Enable should be use_global.

Now, launch a game and see if it works.

Thanks all. I'm taking notes for all the questions that get answered and will provide this back to the community.

Thanks,

Ron

[eezetee]

Hi Ron,

Many thanks for your step-by-step instrunction. I do indeed see the loaded pop up asking me for a disk. However only 1 of the disks shows up. I've been reading up online and trying to get to grips with the default hyperlaunch settings, the systems.ini and where they are are located.

When I read this, there is some verbage about making sure my module supports multi-game.

https://sites.google.com/site/hyperlaunch2/home/features/multigame

Since the only thing that pops up is the "disk 1" and not 2 or 3, is it possible my module doesn't support it?

Or could it be something wrong with my ROMS? The only difference I see is the D versus G

Summer Games (1984) (Epyx) (Disk 1).G64

Summer Games (1984) (Epyx) (Disk 2).D64

Summer Games (1984) (Epyx) (Disk 3).D64

[eezetee]

Remppaed the multi-game with the global settings and now in another game (Caveman Ugh-lympics) the disks do show up.

So it seems there is an issue with the Summer Games G64 first file and D64 for the 2nd and 3rd file. Not sure if that's normal.

Now to figure out how to get this Caveman game not expect a joystick but rather a keyboard.

Thanks Ron! Really appreciate your time and helpfulness.

[rfancella]

Hi Ron,

Many thanks for your step-by-step instrunction. I do indeed see the loaded pop up asking me for a disk. However only 1 of the disks shows up. I've been reading up online and trying to get to grips with the default hyperlaunch settings, the systems.ini and where they are are located.

When I read this, there is some verbage about making sure my module supports multi-game.

https://sites.google.com/site/hyperlaunch2/home/features/multigame

Since the only thing that pops up is the "disk 1" and not 2 or 3, is it possible my module doesn't support it?

Or could it be something wrong with my ROMS? The only difference I see is the D versus G

Summer Games (1984) (Epyx) (Disk 1).G64

Summer Games (1984) (Epyx) (Disk 2).D64

Summer Games (1984) (Epyx) (Disk 3).D64

Just be sure they are both listed in your Global Module settings for that emulator. I think I had to add g64 in mine.

Thanks,

Ron

[eezetee]

Works a treat! Thanks pal! Renamed a D64 to G64 and my finger's already hurting from this game!

[rfancella]

Works a treat! Thanks pal! Renamed a D64 to G64 and my finger's already hurting from this game!

Sweet! Glad it's working!!

Thanks,

Ron