Mega-distribution! (1 Viewer)

[Chreekar]

I will release an alternative MPI package of the plugin with thumbnails and emulators included. My plans are to include emulators for these formats:

MAME
SNES
NES
N64
GENESIS/MEGA DRIVE
GBA

So my question now is: should I add or remove any platform, and what emulator should represent each of them? The only ones I have tested are Project64, FCE Ultra and Snes9XW. I know that they work good, so my initial thought is to include them. What do you say?

 

[z3us]

For megadrive I think that the best is the gens

 

[hakuna]

It would be great to have emulators included as well, setup for a common current pc.
I updated from 0.2 to 1.0rc2 recently and have not had the time to setup the emulators again, the kids are complaining...

Good work!

 

[ThaClown]

Great Idea... I used GENS and Project64...
A good ideo wuld be to also include specific settings for each emulator to have it start fullscreen and close easily..
This has been my major frustration with emulators.

 

[Justchill]

Hi,

I would NOT include the emulator program's. Someone who does not like that emulator, has to delete it than.. That's stupid.
But I would include a separate _WORKING_ configuration for each emulator. It will require some testing off course.
Perhaps you can use an XML configuration file for each emulator; it's done in EMUcenter like this:

<PROJECT64>
<PATH>c:\program files\project 64\project64.exe</PATH>
<ATTRIBUTES> -f -d</ATTRIBUTES>
<CONSOLE>Nintendo 64</CONSOLE>
<....>
</PROJECT64

Here are some consoles + emus I use.

1. N64 => project64
2. SNES => ZSNES (best emu, works great)
3. ARCADE => mame
4. PLAYSTATION => eSPXe

- Also include emulator thumbnails in your installpackage. However when installing, be aware that the thumbs folder might be different for everyone.

- Another idea is to create a database website like The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) for emulators and make it possible to download GAME metadata directly from mediaportal or from it's configuration.

- Cheeckar: here's a thing you should really spend some time on: Make it possible to close the emulator with the remote control without the use of other Remote control software. It is possible within Vista Media Center with the EMU-Center plugin. This is how it works:
* So you're runing the emu and want to quit; press the green button; than you go back to vista media center and you get a menu of which you can choose: quit emulator / continue emulator. Works great.

- Perhaps make it possible to add per game some metadata like; score, console, year, genre,... Than you can sort out sport games etc...

I really can't think of other features right now, but the most important ones are here..

good luck!

 

[Shukuyen]

I would really like to have the emulators included, or as an alternative configurations for those and a list of recommended emulators. There are quite many of those around and for someone who is not that much involved it's quite hard to decide which to install.

 

[mortstar]

I think the problem you will find, is that you are making a rod for your own back. I'll use a simile from my own life.

I am the Network Manager of a school in the UK. As well as doing my own job (which I am salaried for), I often get requests from members of staff who want me to do IT work for them. I did use to do this, however, I suddenly found that I became their only source of IT support. So, I may go and setup their wireless network for them, which works flawlessly for months. Then the day it breaks their first port of call is myself, they believe that somehow the setup which I created has conspired to break 3 months down the line. This quickly became a PITA and I have put a stop to any 'extra-curricular' activity as it's just not worth it! (Also, they seem to believe 2 to 3 hours of IT work + my own transport costs = 4x Cans of Stella. Not the price they'd get even from the local 'bob-a-job' IT guy.)

By providing a 'suggested' range of emulators I think you'll end up getting many, many requests from people with problems very specific to their own setup. We all have to make our own way in the world, real and virtual. Having your hand held all the way isn't always constructive.

 

[joz]

I'm agreeing with Mortstar. This could be a neverending request thread.

Won't it be more usable to make a thread somewhere with the best emulators with links (so you don't have to update the package all the time when new emulators come out)? Besides that stating switches people can use to start roms from MP.

here's the first one I use with zsnes
ZSNESW.EXE -v 27

 

[Diablokiller]

I would agree to you (as I did in the other thread ), it's the easiest way for newcomers to have an All-In-One Package. I also don't see major problems because:

- All Emulators work very similar and are final, so most Games, Pads, etc. will work
- This Package is optional, everyone who has more "major-skills" with PC and Plugins could configure by himself ( I think this package should aim for beginners ( and lazy people like me )
- The list of emulators is up to you, cause you're the programmer you should know which emulator works best with your Plugin, if someone doesn't agree with your choice, he can easily use Option 2
- Don't know how hard it's to realise, but is it possible to make a Choice-Menu during installation, so everyone who really dislikes an emulator can uncheck specific onces to install his favorite Emu on his own?

If there's something I've forgotten (and sure I have) , I'll let you know

Now my List of good emulators for the MPI-Package:

Nintendo 64: Project 64 1.6
SNES: SNES9X
NES: FCE Ultra 2.0.2
Mega Drive / Genesis : Gens 2.14
GameBoy Advance: Virtual Boy Advance (does anyone know a better? )
Mame: Don't know any MAME Emulators

 

[Chreekar]

Thank you Diablokiller, you spoke my mind. This package would be an option for those who just want to have emulators installed and working without any fuss and don't care what version it is. In other words, most of you here on the forum would probably want to use the standard .rar file to have control over everything yourselves. I understand mortstar's point (I am the guy everyone in my family calls whenever their computer is broken) but people wanting another emulator would just have to install that on their own. Regarding Justchill's request on closing the emulator with a remote: I'e tried to look into it but it is to complex at the time beeing. I do not have the time to research how to do it since it would require some kind of other process running and catching system calls somehow, I don't know...