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johnparker007

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27 minutes ago, Amusements said:

Win 10 is being annoying now!
I have reported this as safe. Hopefully others are doing the same.

image.thumb.png.af765cf87af252b1d9d217383604cbcd.png

Thanks man - unfortunately the .exe will change sometimes when I do an update (that also needs the installer exe updating) - so I think Windows will keep saying the .exe is suspicious!

Nothing I can really do, apart for paying for ongoing exe signing, and even then, it'll still be flagged as this is a pretty underground project (they also go on how many people have downloaded etc).  It's a pain, but they're only trying to keep people safe from viruses :) 

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[ Arcade Simulator ] Pre-alpha installer: http://arcadesimulator.net  |  Known Issues: https://tinyurl.com/yz4uom2e  |  Donation info: https://tinyurl.com/yzvgl4xo
[ Community Drive ] The drive: http://tinyurl.com/yckze665
[ Fruit Machine Database ] Initial google sheets (WIP): https://tinyurl.com/2c5znxzz
[ MFME Launch ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/MFMELaunch
[ Oasis ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/Oasis
[ Sound ROM Editor ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/SoundRomEditor

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A new patch is uploaded :)   This contains:

- machines now save their RAM :)  I'll be doing more with RAM features later, but at least now they don't play the exact same game each time you fire up ArcadeSim.

- a further rewrite of the new User Settings save system.  Users who've previously changed settings away from the default ones will need to set them again. 
(this rewrite was necessary as I found a flaw with the system that meant that as I introduced completely new settings, I wouldn't be able to give them default values other than zero/off for existing users).
 

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[ Arcade Simulator ] Pre-alpha installer: http://arcadesimulator.net  |  Known Issues: https://tinyurl.com/yz4uom2e  |  Donation info: https://tinyurl.com/yzvgl4xo
[ Community Drive ] The drive: http://tinyurl.com/yckze665
[ Fruit Machine Database ] Initial google sheets (WIP): https://tinyurl.com/2c5znxzz
[ MFME Launch ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/MFMELaunch
[ Oasis ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/Oasis
[ Sound ROM Editor ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/SoundRomEditor

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Just a quick tech update :) 

Been having a look at a basic 'Machine Options' menu.  So when you are playing a machine, you can press the TAB key, to pull up this menu:

image.thumb.png.7ae74e7d1b2718c54c33f5fbd37887ef.png

'Reset' simply resets the machine.

'Exit (No Save)' would exit the machine without saving the RAM's current state.

'Switches' option gives you these basic switch toggles:

image.thumb.png.35c517f13c06f7d3266cc61b113b3a1a.png

'RAM' option gives you these options:

image.thumb.png.b56250d9a9a64b4c3aa3195a68636788.png

Load/Save will be to load/save to some kind of simple Slot system, perhaps with user-editable names (Happy RAM, Dead RAM etc).

Revert would revert the RAM to the one that came with the original DX layout.

Clear would clear the RAM (and reset machine).  This may lead to some buttons needing to be pressed to initialise the machine again (setting percentages etc).



Just some basic options for now, mainly because I've realised RAMs can go wrong and end up in boot loops, so need at least the Revert option so people don't end up with completely broken machines if that were to happen :)

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[ Arcade Simulator ] Pre-alpha installer: http://arcadesimulator.net  |  Known Issues: https://tinyurl.com/yz4uom2e  |  Donation info: https://tinyurl.com/yzvgl4xo
[ Community Drive ] The drive: http://tinyurl.com/yckze665
[ Fruit Machine Database ] Initial google sheets (WIP): https://tinyurl.com/2c5znxzz
[ MFME Launch ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/MFMELaunch
[ Oasis ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/Oasis
[ Sound ROM Editor ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/SoundRomEditor

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57 minutes ago, cja272 said:

Is it just me but none of the machines will load up now since the last update and they did before?

Thanks for letting me know :) 

I've changed stuff with how the machines load up now (to do with the RAM saving), and a an couple of updates back I changed how it 'finds' MFME.exe on your system - I guess it could be either of these changes causing a problems

Once you've pressed enter in front of a machine, and then waited for say 10 seconds... if you then press Alt+Tab (to cycle through the windows of the Windows OS) - do you see MFME loaded in the background with a 'data layout'?

Here's a vid of me doing the Alt+Tab thing after loading a machine on my setup:


Also - are you already running MFME before starting ArcadeSim?  As that could potentially cause an issue (I think it should be ok now, but it used to in the early days).

Another possibility is if you have been running an older version of MFME (say v19).  Once you next load v20 you are then shown a new 'copyright' screen before you can use MFME again... this would also cause the issue you describe... I will probably sort out a fix for this particular bug as it's happened to me during testing (repeated copyright screens when switching MFME versions).

Edited by johnparker007
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[ Arcade Simulator ] Pre-alpha installer: http://arcadesimulator.net  |  Known Issues: https://tinyurl.com/yz4uom2e  |  Donation info: https://tinyurl.com/yzvgl4xo
[ Community Drive ] The drive: http://tinyurl.com/yckze665
[ Fruit Machine Database ] Initial google sheets (WIP): https://tinyurl.com/2c5znxzz
[ MFME Launch ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/MFMELaunch
[ Oasis ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/Oasis
[ Sound ROM Editor ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/SoundRomEditor

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1 hour ago, johnparker007 said:

Thanks for letting me know :) 

I've changed stuff with how the machines load up now (to do with the RAM saving), and a an couple of updates back I changed how it 'finds' MFME.exe on your system - I guess it could be either of these changes causing a problems

Once you've pressed enter in front of a machine, and then waited for say 10 seconds... if you then press Alt+Tab (to cycle through the windows of the Windows OS) - do you see MFME loaded in the background with a 'data layout'?

Here's a vid of me doing the Alt+Tab thing after loading a machine on my setup:


Also - are you already running MFME before starting ArcadeSim?  As that could potentially cause an issue (I think it should be ok now, but it used to in the early days).

Another possibility is if you have been running an older version of MFME (say v19).  Once you next load v20 you are then shown a new 'copyright' screen before you can use MFME again... this would also cause the issue you describe... I will probably sort out a fix for this particular bug as it's happened to me during testing (repeated copyright screens when switching MFME versions).

When I click on a machine it does not initialise and when I click alt and tab I get the error message in the attached photo 

image.jpg

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15 minutes ago, cja272 said:

When I click on a machine it does not initialise and when I click alt and tab I get the error message in the attached photo 

image.jpg

Thanks for the detailed feedback :)  ...doesn't happen on my 3x test PCs, but I will try to reproduce tonight - I roughly know what this is - and I may have some more things to try later.  We'll hopefully get a fix figured out! :) 

If anyone else who has been testing this is also now having this issue, please let me know :) 

Edited by johnparker007
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[ Arcade Simulator ] Pre-alpha installer: http://arcadesimulator.net  |  Known Issues: https://tinyurl.com/yz4uom2e  |  Donation info: https://tinyurl.com/yzvgl4xo
[ Community Drive ] The drive: http://tinyurl.com/yckze665
[ Fruit Machine Database ] Initial google sheets (WIP): https://tinyurl.com/2c5znxzz
[ MFME Launch ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/MFMELaunch
[ Oasis ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/Oasis
[ Sound ROM Editor ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/SoundRomEditor

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Hi John.

I finally got this running (Avoiding the Microsoft warnings). It runs very smoothly on my system and looks amazing!!!

I don't get any errors when trying to run a machine, but MFME does not start up after pressing enter, so I am wondering if MFME has to be in C drive to get found?

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Hiya @Amusements :) 

Glad you got around all the warnings!

Currently it looks in the registry for the 'Install Path' for MFME - however this can be missing in some cases (if an earlier version of MFME was installed, then updated).

If it doesn't find the Install Path, it has a very basic fallback at present - it looks in the root of the drive ArcadeSim is installed on (in case people are using D:\ instead of C:\ for their programs) for the 'standard' install path, which is [Drive Letter]:\MFME\v20

Do you have ArcadeSim installed on your C drive, but MFME installed on a different drive?  (perhaps D:\MFME\V20 etc)

I could add further code, so then it tries to find MFME\v20\ in the roots of the other available drives...

It is also looking for the very latest MFME, which should read 20.2.00
image.png.4faf69c634f90b338b6ed1e4a21b36f0.png

Edited by johnparker007
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[ Arcade Simulator ] Pre-alpha installer: http://arcadesimulator.net  |  Known Issues: https://tinyurl.com/yz4uom2e  |  Donation info: https://tinyurl.com/yzvgl4xo
[ Community Drive ] The drive: http://tinyurl.com/yckze665
[ Fruit Machine Database ] Initial google sheets (WIP): https://tinyurl.com/2c5znxzz
[ MFME Launch ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/MFMELaunch
[ Oasis ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/Oasis
[ Sound ROM Editor ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/SoundRomEditor

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30 minutes ago, wearecity said:

I've not been able to play anything like CJA. 

Not done the alt tab thing yet, but upon closing the simulator, I've not had any message about program terminations or access violation. 

Will try again later when at home. 

Thanks :)  It seems like I definitely need more work on getting the MFME mechanism robust, hopefully we can get these problems ironed out in update patches...

I will get an update out soon, that will show some debug information on the HUD (enabled by default) - so then we should be able to tell from a screenshot what the specific MFME-related problems are...

Edited by johnparker007
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[ Arcade Simulator ] Pre-alpha installer: http://arcadesimulator.net  |  Known Issues: https://tinyurl.com/yz4uom2e  |  Donation info: https://tinyurl.com/yzvgl4xo
[ Community Drive ] The drive: http://tinyurl.com/yckze665
[ Fruit Machine Database ] Initial google sheets (WIP): https://tinyurl.com/2c5znxzz
[ MFME Launch ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/MFMELaunch
[ Oasis ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/Oasis
[ Sound ROM Editor ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/SoundRomEditor

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1 hour ago, johnparker007 said:


Currently it looks in the registry for the 'Install Path' for MFME - however this can be missing in some cases (if an earlier version of MFME was installed, then updated).

If it doesn't find the Install Path, it has a very basic fallback at present - it looks in the root of the drive ArcadeSim is installed on (in case people are using D:\ instead of C:\ for their programs) for the 'standard' install path, which is [Drive Letter]:\MFME\v20


It is also looking for the very latest MFME, which should read 20.2.00
 

Thanks for the reply.

I checked my Reg, and it shows up on my "I" drive, so that is correct, it is also the last released version. Obviously it is not on the same drive as the sim, so that must be the problem.

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Treat every day like your last, because one day it will be!

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Looking pucker there John and thanks again for your service.

You adding a test mode to options? A dumb question, you will get round too it I suppose, I just didn't see it.

P.s. Will jump on later and let you know how I am getting on.

 

Zippy🤐

Edited by Big J
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48 minutes ago, johnparker007 said:

Thanks :)  It seems like I definitely need more work on getting the MFME mechanism robust, hopefully we can get these problems ironed out in update patches...

I will get an update out soon, that will show some debug information on the HUD (enabled by default) - so then we should be able to tell from a screenshot what the specific MFME-related problems are...

Just tried it, can move around etc, press enter then nothing happens.

Did the alt/tab thing and no other windows were open or error messages etc...

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38 minutes ago, Amusements said:

Thanks for the reply.

I checked my Reg, and it shows up on my "I" drive, so that is correct, it is also the last released version. Obviously it is not on the same drive as the sim, so that must be the problem.

Thanks for the info - I believe I should be able to a do a couple of improvements in the next update that should then work for you on your current setup :)

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[ Arcade Simulator ] Pre-alpha installer: http://arcadesimulator.net  |  Known Issues: https://tinyurl.com/yz4uom2e  |  Donation info: https://tinyurl.com/yzvgl4xo
[ Community Drive ] The drive: http://tinyurl.com/yckze665
[ Fruit Machine Database ] Initial google sheets (WIP): https://tinyurl.com/2c5znxzz
[ MFME Launch ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/MFMELaunch
[ Oasis ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/Oasis
[ Sound ROM Editor ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/SoundRomEditor

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38 minutes ago, Big J said:

Looking pucker there John and thanks again for your service.

You adding a test mode to options? A dumb question, you will get round too it I suppose, I just didn't see it.

P.s. Will jump on later and let you know how I am getting on.

 

Zippy🤐

Would the 'test mode' be this switch in MFME?  (usually seems to be unavailable in the few layouts I checked)

image.png.7b48a395bc0e86bfa20673170b206fc4.png

Only added S Door / C Door / Refill switches to the menu so far since they are the only ones that seems clickable...

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[ Arcade Simulator ] Pre-alpha installer: http://arcadesimulator.net  |  Known Issues: https://tinyurl.com/yz4uom2e  |  Donation info: https://tinyurl.com/yzvgl4xo
[ Community Drive ] The drive: http://tinyurl.com/yckze665
[ Fruit Machine Database ] Initial google sheets (WIP): https://tinyurl.com/2c5znxzz
[ MFME Launch ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/MFMELaunch
[ Oasis ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/Oasis
[ Sound ROM Editor ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/SoundRomEditor

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40 minutes ago, wearecity said:

Just tried it, can move around etc, press enter then nothing happens.

Did the alt/tab thing and no other windows were open or error messages etc...

Thanks for the info :) 

That sounds like it's not managing to find the MFME.exe.  With the next update, it will either be hopefully fixed, or there will be an on-screen message showing where it has failed so we can figure out further improvements... I'll post up on here and tag everyone having issues, once the next update is live :)  

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[ Arcade Simulator ] Pre-alpha installer: http://arcadesimulator.net  |  Known Issues: https://tinyurl.com/yz4uom2e  |  Donation info: https://tinyurl.com/yzvgl4xo
[ Community Drive ] The drive: http://tinyurl.com/yckze665
[ Fruit Machine Database ] Initial google sheets (WIP): https://tinyurl.com/2c5znxzz
[ MFME Launch ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/MFMELaunch
[ Oasis ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/Oasis
[ Sound ROM Editor ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/SoundRomEditor

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9 minutes ago, johnparker007 said:

Would the 'test mode' be this switch in MFME?  (usually seems to be unavailable in the few layouts I checked)

image.png.7b48a395bc0e86bfa20673170b206fc4.png

Only added S Door / C Door / Refill switches to the menu so far since they are the only ones that seems clickable...

Yep. I know you have your lists and highly doubt you will miss out much but wanted to check you were not falling asleep😉

Not going there but ever since you started building this I have been thinking about designing within your platform if that intention is there, would be nice to be able to peek into the future 1-2 years down the line but that would be fleeting as anticipation along with your detailed development is the key to total fulfilment.

 

Zippy🤐

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6 hours ago, cja272 said:

When I click on a machine it does not initialise and when I click alt and tab I get the error message in the attached photo 

I get the same on my pc. The MFME exe is in a seperate drive, and it's seen in the registry, but no happy ending!

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2 hours ago, Big J said:

Yep. I know you have your lists and highly doubt you will miss out much but wanted to check you were not falling asleep😉

Not going there but ever since you started building this I have been thinking about designing within your platform if that intention is there, would be nice to be able to peek into the future 1-2 years down the line but that would be fleeting as anticipation along with your detailed development is the key to total fulfilment.

 

Zippy🤐

I've added that Test Mode switch to my lists ;)  Doesn't usually seem to do anything for me, and is kinda 'greyed out' unlike the C Door / S Door / Refill checkboxes - I guess on some layouts it does?

Really no plans for making a replacement MFME editor, since there already is the MFME editor!  It would be a ton of work for not much benefit - plus everyone is used to making layouts on MFME, so I don't think it'd see much use :) 

 

33 minutes ago, davep180 said:

I get the same on my pc. The MFME exe is in a seperate drive, and it's seen in the registry, but no happy ending!

Thanks, good to know :)  I've got an external drive hooked up to my dev PC in addition to the C drive, so I can hopefully recreate this bug when I next work on it, so I can test a fix is good before rolling out the next patch :) 

Edited by johnparker007
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[ Community Drive ] The drive: http://tinyurl.com/yckze665
[ Fruit Machine Database ] Initial google sheets (WIP): https://tinyurl.com/2c5znxzz
[ MFME Launch ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/MFMELaunch
[ Oasis ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/Oasis
[ Sound ROM Editor ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/SoundRomEditor

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Yes you are correct it is greyed out in a number of layouts.

Just ideas swimming round my head you know how it is, if I get too far ahead of myself John the usual stfu will suffice lol.

Oh and BTW I disabled Reel Physics and it plays pucker for the stage it is at atm so thanks for that John.

P.s. you took away my cheat😱

 

Zippy🤐

*edited*

Getting an alarm on only Sonic when inserting coin but creds still come up and hold button 2 is not working on it either for me bud, all the others are good which I have tested so far.

 

Edited by Big J
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You can only press the test button with doors open. It's not a check box but a "button" so looks like a greyed out checkbox.

You'd also need one for "hopper top up" as for scorp5 bellfruit you need to press test then hopper top up straight after to get into test mode... that said, I believe each layout has a different button assigned to hopper top up? 

No doubt someone with more experience will be about to put the record straight lol

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4 hours ago, Big J said:

Getting an alarm on only Sonic when inserting coin but creds still come up and hold button 2 is not working on it either for me bud, all the others are good which I have tested so far.

 

The hold button, can't be fixed until later unfortunately, when I rebuild the machines through the new process. 

The coin alarm when inserting coins, this is a known bug with the JPMs - for now if you 'tap' the 0 key very quickly, you shouldn't set the alarm off - it's just holding it down, even for like 1/4 of a second is enough to set the sirens off (will again be fixed later when I can work on the relevant stuff required to sort out) :) 

(and glad the reel physics setting helped on your machine :) )

1 hour ago, slasher said:

You can only press the test button with doors open. It's not a check box but a "button" so looks like a greyed out checkbox.

You'd also need one for "hopper top up" as for scorp5 bellfruit you need to press test then hopper top up straight after to get into test mode... that said, I believe each layout has a different button assigned to hopper top up? 

No doubt someone with more experience will be about to put the record straight lol

Thanks for this additional info - when the time comes I'll make those new ones buttons in ArcadeSim's UI.  Will probably be able to deal with the different button stuff for the 'hopper top up', again thanks for the new info :) 

Edited by johnparker007
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[ Arcade Simulator ] Pre-alpha installer: http://arcadesimulator.net  |  Known Issues: https://tinyurl.com/yz4uom2e  |  Donation info: https://tinyurl.com/yzvgl4xo
[ Community Drive ] The drive: http://tinyurl.com/yckze665
[ Fruit Machine Database ] Initial google sheets (WIP): https://tinyurl.com/2c5znxzz
[ MFME Launch ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/MFMELaunch
[ Oasis ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/Oasis
[ Sound ROM Editor ] Source code: https://github.com/johnparker007/SoundRomEditor

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