fr0stbyt3

Hey everyone!

First off, a huge thank you to everyone who’s been testing, reporting bugs, and sharing feedback over the past few months. Your input has been invaluable in shaping these releases—every feature and fix you see here was directly influenced by your suggestions and the issues you reported. You all rock!

We’ve been working through a pretty substantial update cycle across the entire HyperSpin ecosystem. This includes over 100 improvements spanning HyperHQ (v2.0.103-beta through v2.0.116-beta), HyperSpin (v2.0.55 through v2.0.61), HyperTheme (v1.9.0 and v1.10.0), and our documentation site.

Here’s what we’ve been able to get done: complete MAME overhaul, a new plugin system, GPU optimization improvements, significant RAM reduction on large libraries (60-85% in testing), automatic database backups, and quite a bit more. We’re doing our best to address the feedback you’ve shared and make the ecosystem more reliable and performant.

Let’s walk through what’s new!

MAME - Complete Rebuild

The MAME plugin received a complete architectural overhaul with massive improvements:

Core Improvements

• Streamlined Wizard: Faster, cleaner setup process with better feedback
• Large Collection Support: Handle massive MAME game lists (10,000+ games) without slowdown
• Local Processing: Game XML processing happens locally for dramatically improved speed
• New Plugin Architecture: Built on the all-new plugin system for better reliability

Enhanced Update Workflow

• Visible Filters: Filter options now stay accessible during MAME updates
• Media Options Available: Choose which media types to download while updating
• Better Feedback: Clear progress indicators at each stage
• More Control: Better visibility into what’s being updated and downloaded

New Filtering Options

• Handheld Games Filter: New filter specifically for handheld/portable arcade titles
• Better Organization: Organize your MAME collection by form factor
• Dedicated Wheels: Create specialized wheels for handheld classics

This rebuild addresses nearly every pain point users experienced with the old MAME setup. Whether you’re managing a small curated collection or a complete MAME set with thousands of games, the new system handles it smoothly.

Plugin System - Expand HyperSpin Your Way

One of the most significant architectural changes is the introduction of a full plugin system:

Core Philosophy

• Keep HyperSpin Lightweight: Core application stays lean and fast
• Add Features as Needed: Install only the plugins you want
• Community Extensions: Users can create and share custom plugins

Developer-Friendly Features

• Load Development Plugins: Test plugins without publishing them
• Direct Installation: Install plugins right from the plugins page
• Comprehensive API: Full access to system and media folder data
• Better Event Handling: Plugins can hook into application events
• Media Folder Overrides: Plugins can provide custom media folder paths

Enhanced Security

• Challenge-Response Authentication: New security model for plugin communication
• Protected Access: Plugins can’t interfere with each other or core functionality

User Experience

• Cleaner Confirmation Dialogs: Improved messages when installing or managing plugins
• Better Error Handling: Clear feedback when something goes wrong
• Reliable Loading: More consistent plugin initialization from folder installations

The plugin system opens up exciting possibilities for community-driven features while keeping the core HyperHQ application maintainable and fast.

HyperSpin Performance

Lazy Loading Update

HyperSpin v2.0.57 introduced a complete rewrite of the media loading and management system:

• Assets Load On-Demand: Media files load only when needed, not all at startup
• 60-85% Less RAM Usage: Massive memory reduction, especially with large libraries
• New Cache Database: Lightning-fast lookups replace slower file system operations
• Smoother Performance: Reduced memory pressure means better overall responsiveness

This single change transforms HyperSpin’s performance on systems with large game collections. If you have thousands of games, you’ll immediately notice the difference.

GPU Detection and Optimization

HyperSpin now intelligently detects and optimizes for your graphics hardware:

• Hardware Analysis: Detects dedicated vs integrated graphics automatically
• Adaptive Settings: Graphics settings adapt based on your hardware capabilities
• Safer Defaults: Systems with integrated graphics get conservative settings
• Maximum Performance: Dedicated GPU users get optimized settings for smooth animation
• Smoother Wheel Navigation: Silky-smooth scrolling with dedicated GPUs
• Better Frame Rates: Fixed loading screen lag and frame drops
• Maintains 60 FPS: Multi-window support (with marquee displays) stays buttery smooth

Resource Management

• Background Pausing: Animations pause when HyperSpin isn’t the active window
• Reduced Background Usage: Lower CPU/GPU usage when minimized
• Better Memory Management: More efficient allocation and cleanup
• Optimized Image Caching: Smarter caching strategy for browsing

Data Protection - Automatic Backups

HyperHQ now includes a comprehensive backup and restore system that protects all your hard work:

Automatic Backup System

• Configure automatic backups in Settings > HyperHQ > Database Backup
• Backups run automatically on the schedule you choose
• Smart cleanup keeps your 7 newest backups and removes older ones
• Backups include your entire database—all systems, games, media links, and settings

One-Click Restore

• Browse your available backups in the settings panel
• Restore any backup with a single click
• App automatically restarts with the restored database
• Perfect for recovering from bad configurations or testing changes

Manual Backup Option

• Create a backup anytime you want with one click
• Perfect before major changes or updates
• Backups are stored safely and clearly labeled

This system means you can experiment freely, knowing you can always roll back to a known-good state. Testing new configurations? Make a backup first. About to import hundreds of new games? Make a backup first. Peace of mind is just one click away.

Visual Experience - Marquees & Backgrounds

The marquee system has been completely reimagined with stunning new features:

HyperHQ Marquee Display

• Enable "Marquee (HyperHQ)" in settings to see your marquees while browsing games
• Smooth animations and background blur effects
• Proper window management and positioning
• Works alongside HyperSpin for dual-display setups

Three New Animation Styles

• Slide: Marquees slide gracefully into view
• Cascade: Layered animation effect
• Expand: Zoom and expand animations
• Random Playback: Different animation each time you browse for variety

Background Effects

• Dynamic, subtle movement on marquee backgrounds
• Adds life to static images
• Creates a more engaging browsing experience

Enhanced Customization

• Background Alignment: Choose top, center, or bottom alignment for marquee background images
• Per-System Override: Enable or disable marquee media for individual systems
• Smart Fallback: When marquee media is disabled, shows wheel image with theme background
• Retro Arcade Theming: Beautiful arcade-themed backgrounds when no marquee images exist

Game Backgrounds in Systems Page

The Systems page now displays game backgrounds behind the sidebar as you browse:

• Auto-Switching: Backgrounds change smoothly as you navigate
• Blur Effect: Subtle blur keeps text readable
• Darker Gradient: Sidebar has improved contrast with gradient overlay
• Immersive Feel: Makes browsing systems feel more connected to your game collection

Media Management - Faster and Smarter

Media handling received significant attention with numerous improvements:

Core Fixes

• Deletion Bug Fixed: Media deletion now properly updates the database (this was a long-standing issue!)
• Persistent Settings: Download settings are saved when refreshing media
• Better Checkbox Behavior: Checkbox interactions work more intuitively throughout
• Auto-Migration: Older system configurations automatically migrate to new format

Performance Improvements

• Faster Matching: More reliable and faster game-to-media matching
• Intelligent Caching: Smarter caching strategy in media audit reduces redundant operations
• Optimized Image Loading: Better caching for browsing large collections
• Smoother Scrolling: Performance improvements when viewing game lists

Enhanced Capabilities

• Expanded Media Type Support: Comprehensive list of game and system-level media types
• Alphabetized Lists: Media types are now alphabetically sorted in refresh modal
• JSON Export: Media statistics now export to JSON format with 30-day tracking

Logs & Debugging - Complete Redesign

The logs page received a complete redesign focused on giving you better visibility into what’s happening:

Powerful Filtering System

• Real-Time Search: Type to instantly filter logs by message, level, source, or timestamp
• Entry Counter: See exactly how many log entries match your current filters
• Source Toggles: One-click filtering between HyperHQ and HyperSpin logs
• Level Filters: Quick chips for All, Info, or Errors only

Usability Features

• Copy Individual Entries: Copy any log entry with one click
• Copy All Filtered Logs: Export all visible logs at once
• Clear Logs Button: Remove logs from view without closing the page
• Auto-Scroll Toggle: Control auto-scroll with clear visual indicator
• Scroll to Top Button: Appears when you’ve scrolled down

Whether you’re troubleshooting an issue, monitoring background tasks, or just curious what’s happening, the new logs page makes it faster and easier to find what you need.

RetroArch Integration

HyperHQ now includes an intelligent core selection system with pre-configured recommendations for over 100 gaming systems:

• See Only Compatible Cores: The system filters cores to show only those that work with your chosen platform
• Smart Recommendations: Default cores are pre-selected based on community best practices
• Integrated Setup: Core selection is built right into the system configuration workflow
• Automatic Launch: Your chosen core is used automatically when launching games

Video & Animation Fixes

Numerous video and animation bugs were identified and fixed:

• Video with Marquee: Fixed video playback when marquee displays are enabled
• Transition Pausing: Corrected videos and transitions pausing incorrectly
• JPG Support: JPG files now load correctly as metadata images
• Flipbook Animations: Resolved flipbook animation bugs
• Tiling Issues: Fixed theme tiling problems
• Projection Fixes: Corrected rendering issues with projections
• Granular Progress: More detailed progress indicators during asset loading
• Metadata Hiding: Metadata automatically hides while spinning/changing wheels (default theme)

Game Management Enhancements

Hide and Disable Games

• Grayscale Indicators: Hidden or disabled games shown with grayscale effect
• Show Hidden Toggle: Quickly show or hide disabled games
• Better Organization: Remove games from wheels without deleting them

"Scrape As" Feature

• Custom Scraping: Tell HyperHQ to scrape games as a different System.
• Perfect for Custom Systems: Handle homebrew, hacks, and custom collections
• Better Metadata: Get accurate metadata for games with unusual names

User Experience Improvements

• Drag-Drop ROM Paths: Drop folder paths directly into path fields
• Compact Asset Grids: Cleaner, more efficient grid views for media
• Better Responsive Layouts: Improved layouts throughout the application
• Wheel Manager Help: Added help documentation for wheel configuration

HyperTheme Enhancements

Change Theme Type Anytime

The biggest limitation in HyperTheme has been eliminated:

• Change Theme Type After Creation: No longer locked into your initial choice
• Automatic Validation Updates: Validation rules adapt to new theme type
• Dynamic Form Updates: Form fields adjust based on theme type
• Smart Tag Management: Tags automatically update for compatibility

Workflow Improvements

• Spacebar Control: Press spacebar to play/pause theme preview
• One-Click Downloads: Save media items directly from the library with new download button
• Better Browsing: "Load More" button remembers your filters
• Better Loading Spinners: Loading indicators work correctly throughout
• Fixed Metadata Loading: Metadata images load reliably
• EmuMovies Fixed: Video preview works again

Visual Polish

• Removed Blue Halos: Eliminated distracting blue focus highlights
• Updated Theme Colors: Refreshed colors in left navigation menu
• Loading Indicators: EmuMovies content shows proper loading states
• Fixed Dropdowns: System Theme dropdown works correctly

Documentation Improvements

The documentation site at docs.hyperai.io received significant updates:

• Plugin API Standardization: All Socket.IO events now use camelCase convention
• Enhanced Plugin Logging: Comprehensive logging examples and best practices
• Multi-Language Support: Examples provided for Go, C#, and Python plugins
• Improved Event Documentation: Updated event subscription examples with camelCase patterns

Emulator Management

Script Management

• Reset Emulator Scripts: New button in emulator metadata editor
• Fresh from Server: Pull latest default scripts with one click
• All Script Types: Covers startup, exit, pause, resume, reset, save state, load state, and disc swap scripts
• Reset in Cache Settings: Reset button also available in Cache Settings

Better Selection Interface

• Improved Dropdown Visibility: Emulator selection dropdown works better
• Clearer Options: Better organization of emulator choices

Theme Management

• Efficient Metadata: More efficient theme metadata processing
• Better Caching: Improved caching strategy for themes
• No More Repeated Downloads: Fixed themes downloading repeatedly

Privacy and Community

New privacy controls give you transparency and choice:

• "Help Improve HyperHQ": Toggle to control usage data collection
• Community Metadata Sharing: Control whether you contribute metadata improvements
• Your Choice: Both features completely optional
• Transparency: Clear explanation of what gets shared

Version Summary

This update cycle included:

HyperHQ: 14 releases (v2.0.103-beta through v2.0.116-beta)

• Plugin system launch
• Database backup system
• RetroArch core selection
• MAME plugin rebuild
• Marquee system overhaul
• Logs page redesign
• Media management improvements
• 100+ individual improvements

HyperSpin: 7 releases (v2.0.55 through v2.0.61)

• Lazy loading system (60-85% RAM reduction)
• GPU detection and optimization
• Performance improvements throughout
• Video and animation fixes
• Better resource management
• Multi-display improvements

HyperTheme: 2 releases (v1.9.0 and v1.10.0)

• Change theme type after creation
• Spacebar preview control
• One-click media downloads
• Interface improvements
• Bug fixes and stability

HyperSpin Docs: Alpha improvements

• Plugin API standardization
• Enhanced documentation
• Search function
• Better organization

Your Feedback Matters

We’d love to hear your thoughts on these updates:

• Which features are you most excited about?
• What improvements have made the biggest difference for you?
• What would you like to see next?
• Are there any issues you’re encountering?

Thank you for being part of the HyperSpin community. Here’s to many more improvements ahead!

As always, thanks for all your support, feedback, and enthusiasm—it’s what keeps us going.

Stay awesome,
-fr0stbyt3

 

Welcome to the party. 

Hey everyone!

The past month has been packed with updates across HyperTheme, HyperSpin, and HyperHQ. We’ve knocked out dozens of bug fixes, introduced tons of new SFX, added controller support, and made the whole system feel a lot more polished. Let’s dive into what’s new!

HyperTheme + ThemeBuilder

We’ve continued building out the visual side of HyperTheme with new effects, better tooling, and publishing improvements that help your work shine across the web and the forums.

New SFX Effects
We’ve added a big batch of new shaders to help you get creative with your themes. These are now available directly in the ThemeBuilder:

• To Grayscale

• To Color

• Bloom

• Gauss

• Color Adjustment

• To ASCII Art

• Outline

• Bevel

• Color Replace

• Cross Hatch

Big thanks again to @yaron and the shader team for making these possible.

Improvements to Builder & Publishing

• Animations can now be added to groups (Layer Grouping is now live!)

• Rotation animations now support flag SFX

• Themes now auto-post to the HyperSpin forums with full credit and YouTube preview support

• Publishing screen now pulls all your data into the forum post

• UI refresh for the project edit and publish experience

Bug Fixes

• Fixed issues where themes would freeze or fail to publish

• Fixed theme loading issues and animation overlap

• Reveal animations now reset after running

• Grayscale, grow Y, ripple shaders, and PSD uploads all fixed

• Group pivot and animation timing bugs resolved (Exploding Kittens timing issue squashed)

Reminder
If your theme looks off in HyperSpin but fine in the builder, just republish—it should correct itself. Already helped a few folks fix things instantly.

HyperSpin

HyperSpin now fully supports all new SFX, including everything added in the latest ThemeBuilder release. Combined with improved controller support and bug fixes, this is the smoothest HyperSpin experience yet.

New Features

• Full support for DirectInput (alongside XInput)

• All new SFX types now supported

• System Defaults now load properly

• Faster ROM loading and overall responsiveness

• Updated Joystick animation (thanks @yaron for the animation and @rondar for the artwork

Fixes

• Fixed issue where HS was still accepting input after a game launch

• Animations now wait until fully loaded

• Fixed theme and MAME game previews not showing

• Menu navigation issues resolved

• Video overrides now stretch fullscreen

• Themes no longer load twice

• UI touch-ups and overall polish

HyperHQ

The controller config pages are starting to take shape, and although we’re still in beta, there’s been huge progress here—especially around MAME and emulator support.

New Controller Features

• New controller interface (rebinding required)

• Support for multiple controller types including DirectInput

• "Clear All Mappings" button added

• Better support for custom emulators

• Speed and stability improvements

MAME Enhancements

• Support for more than one MAME install

• MAME Update Wizard (update without deleting files)

• MAME Import Wizard (change settings without full reset)

• Ability to duplicate MAME configs

ROM & Emulator Additions

• Full support for file type filtering by extension

• You can now define exactly which file types are recognized per system
   

While HyperTheme got the spotlight this month, we're now shifting gears toward controller testing and finishing up the next round of builds. If you have a controller setup handy, we’d love for you to help us test. 

More soon!
— fr0stbyt3

Big thanks to @Roadrunner and @rondar for the epic themes that they've been working on. Please check out the new themes thread for more updates!
   

I absolutely love this one. Fantastic work, sir.

Hey everyone!

It’s been a few weeks since our last update, and we’ve been hard at work behind the scenes—especially on the Theme Engine, which has been our primary focus. Thanks to all the amazing feedback from the artist community, we’ve made huge strides toward what we think will be the most fun and flexible theme-building experience yet.

Theme Engine Updates
The latest build includes several major enhancements:

• New and improved UI controls

• A brand-new 3D Perspective Mode

• Faster load times in HyperSpin

• Better performance loading and rendering themes

Coming Soon
We’re continuing to build on this momentum with exciting new features that will roll out shortly:

• Shader support

• Element grouping

• Group-based animations

If everything stays on schedule, HyperSpin and the next version of ThemeBuilder are expected to release next Friday.

HyperHQ Improvements
We’ve also been making important updates to HyperHQ, many of which were driven by user reports:

• Fixed bezel-related issues in the download process

• Updated EmuMovies login handling

• Bug fixes and improvements for Steam integration

• Resolved a startup hang issue reported by several users

We’re also laying the groundwork for our next big milestone: a brand-new controller system for HyperSpin and HQ. Once the current HS update wraps, controller improvements will begin rolling out—bringing support to more device types and improving compatibility overall.

Looking Ahead
We’re moving to a bi-weekly release cycle, which will give us enough breathing room between builds to focus on bigger and more impactful updates as we head into summer.

Final Thoughts
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who’s been part of this journey—whether you’re testing, building themes, or sharing feedback. Your input has been instrumental in shaping HyperSpin’s next chapter. Even the critiques have been helpful, and it’s genuinely made this project exciting again. Hats off to all of you.

Stay tuned—more updates are right around the corner!
   

Hey everyone!

We've been making significant progress on improving startup speed in HyperSpin and optimizing cache performance. Internal testing shows that startup times are now 3-4x faster, and cache rebuild times have been reduced to just 2-3 seconds, which is approximately 10x faster.

Fixes and Enhancements

• Emulators: Fixed an issue where the launch button on the edit screen only worked when using default directories.

• EmuMovies: Resolved an issue where high-quality settings were not working correctly.

• Cache: Added a "Sync All Media" option.

• Cache: Revalidation now shrinks the database and builds much quicker.

• Core: Prevented HyperSpin from launching multiple instances.

• Themes: Fixed Master System theme download issues.

• Themes: Updated the default HyperSpin theme.

• Systems: Fixed an issue where launching a game would refresh the game list to the top.

• Import: Stopped the importer from running by default.

• Installer: Fixed an issue where the installer would update the wrong directory.

• Downloads: Additional speed improvements implemented.

• Systems: Added cart, box back, and background views to the dropdown menu.

Controller Support Update

While making these improvements, we’ve also been working hard on new controller support for both HQ and HS. Internal testing will begin soon, and once it’s ready, we’ll roll it out to everyone. The major changes include:

• Support for more than 4 controllers (previously limited by the API we used).

• Expanded support for additional controller types.

Many of you have brought us unique controllers I've never encountered before, and it’s been so much fun to figure out how they work and integrate them properly.

Future Plans: ThemeBuilder Enhancements

Once controller support is complete, we’ll shift our focus to ThemeBuilder improvements. Expect features such as:

• Group animations

• Child/linked animations

• Filters & shaders

• And much more!

These updates will roll out incrementally throughout Q2, so stay tuned for more details.

Thank You!

A huge thank you to everyone who has been testing and providing feedback. The past few months have been some of the most rewarding in HyperSpin’s development, and we couldn’t have done it without your support.

 Happy gaming!

Over the past week, we’ve refined the UI, streamlined performance at startup, and tackled key bugs affecting game lists. You can now rely on CRC checks for systems to get real-time status updates, and the newly refreshed UI design ensures smoother navigation. We’ve also addressed issues with RetroArch integration, resolved duplication errors, and consolidated logs for easier troubleshooting.

Here’s what’s new:

HyperHQ

Emulators

• Launch Bug Fix: Resolved an issue preventing games from launching properly after editing an emulator.
• RetroArch Improvements:
  • Fixed RetroArch core settings.
  • Fixed a bug where custom RetroArch installs did not display selectable cores.
• UI Enhancements: Improved the emulator UI for a cleaner, more intuitive experience.

Games

• Refresh Duplicates: Fixed an issue where refreshing the game list could create duplicate entries.

Systems

• Add System View:
  • Updated UI for a wider layout, displaying more data.
  • Automatically syncs newly added systems to Settings > Cache.
• System CRC Checks: Added CRC checks for systems, providing status updates on potential issues.

Downloads

• Main Menu Video: Fixed an error preventing main menu videos from loading.
• Expanded Support: Added compatibility for additional systems.

Startup

• Performance Fix: Addressed lag issues experienced when launching HyperHQ.

Logs

• Unified Log Viewer: Consolidated HyperSpin and HyperHQ logs into a single interface.

Search

• HQ Search Bug Fix: Corrected an issue where searching within HyperHQ was not functioning properly.
   

HyperSpin Updates (2.0.35)

• Image Scaling Bug Fix: Corrected a scaling issue that affected image display.
• Controller Exit Fix: Resolved an issue preventing controllers from properly exiting HyperSpin.
• Missing Images Fix: Addressed a bug where the wrong image would display if the intended image was missing.
• Theme Player Update: Made improvements to the theme player for a smoother experience.
   

One of the biggest items on our radar remains the new direct HID controller support. We’re still a few weeks out from having it fully integrated, but each round of testing has brought us closer to a smooth, native experience. We appreciate your patience as we iron out the final kinks.

Thank you, as always, for your support and feedback. These updates wouldn’t be possible without your help. Keep the suggestions coming, and we’ll keep refining.

Happy gaming!

HyperHQ

Systems

• Updates to the add system pages
• Made the system add page wider to show more date
• Sync all systems added to settings > cache
   

Downloads

• Fixed main menu video error
• Added support for more systems

Startup

• Fixed issues where some users were experiencing lag on startup

HyperHQ

Emulators

• Fixed bug where launching games would not work on emulator edit.
• Fixed RetroArch core settings.
• Added system CRC checks (now provides status updates).
• Updated emulator UI.
• Fixed bug where a custom install of RetroArch did not have selectable cores.

Games

• Fixed issue where duplicates would be created on game refresh.

Logs

• Log viewer now shows HyperSpin and HQ logs in the same viewer.

Search

• Fixed search in HQ.

Systems

• Add system view UI updated.
• Added system CRC checks (now provides status updates).

We're reworking the cache system in the next build coming out in the next few days. But the suggestion from @Davenzd is the current workaround

- HyperHQ uses multiple processes within a single instance. This is common for multi threaded multi process applications. Chrome, Slack, and discord look and work the same way for example. When you close the app, it minimizes to the tray. This is also fairly normal for modern applications. In our case, it leaves a process running to accept downloads from HyperTheme. In the future is will act as a plugin host as well. To close the app, right click on the icon in your task bar and select quit.

- The rom matching process is CPU/Disk bound. So slow hard drives and older CPUs may have slower performance. But I believe the issue you are having is download speed for new media. A release coming out in a few days has an update for download speed.

- Shaders in HyperSpin/HyperTheme are coming very soon. We're going to implement them in the same way other features have already been added to the theme builder with a full UI for configurable settings.

We're working on ways to make it more portable, but it can't be zip portable like HS1. I'll outline more with my wrap up post this week

We should have an update for this in the coming days. Stay tuned!

On 1/20/2025 at 9:57 AM, mikty said:

I am looking for this feature too in order to kill joytokey. Thanks again, hope it will come

Regards

Yeah this is absolutely part of the roadmap at this point. After some update to the themebuilder to take themes to the next level, the event system will be the next feature I would like to focus on. This one thing will enable a ton of customization and new features for us in the future.

I can add that for sure. Moving this to feature requests.

So the default logic is that the overrides folder acts purely as an override. Meaning if it exists there it replaces the media being presented to you.

However, I can see it being interesting to allow users to:

• not download files if they exist in overrides
• give downloaded media priority and fill in the blanks with overrides

As for it downloading even when not selected, I will both add logging for this and double check this week during testing. Thanks @Creezz67

I'm moving this to feature requests. This is doable for sure - but we would probably like to hold off until we enable our new event system.