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[madmab]

MednafenX-NES - NES Emulator for XBox v12b (Public Beta)


http://mednafen.com/
http://xport.xbox-scene.com

Special thanks..

RessurectionX, and Gilles9999 for giving the project legs when it needed them.  
Frank Morris for some suggestions.
Cospefogo.. For a spankin' new default keyboard look.
Mega_Man_(?) for being crazy enough too volunteer to enter tons of gamegenie codes.
Gilles for some rumble codes.
Nes6502 for the proposal on the Synopsis format
Thanks to all involved for doing the missing movie previews and filling out the Synopsis for the NES.  Rx, Gilles, Justgoonies, and Mega_Man_(?).
XTecuterX73... Where are you man?
Anybody else my brain dead self forgot.

What's New:

Dynamic Skin with Dual Screenshot Movie Previews
DYNAMIC MEDNAFENX PM3 skin by Gilou9999 (read the readme.txt in his skin folder).
There is an alternate synopsis background in the skin directory.  Feel free to try it (just rename it to "synopsis.jpg)

Lots of interface updates.

This is mostly an interface update with all the changes I've made over the past few months.  It's basically a public beta to (hopefully) drum up some interest and give everyone a taste of what's ahead.  If you feel like signing up head over to the RessurectionXtras thread at http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=660135 and volunteer.
If you have any questions head over to that thread, or the official release thread.  I have a few tips for working with the .dat files.

-----------------
Interface Changes
-----------------

The much talked about "Game Synopsis!".  See http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=663137

* Synopsis.  Press down on right stick to see a description, tips, hints, of the highlighted game.
* Synopsis background can be stored in the skins "backgrounds" directory or the emulators "background" directory.  Skin directory is searched first.

* Help screen support for game select screen and text browser (try pressing start).  (Graphics provided by Gilou9999)

* The two help menu's and synopsis background are now skin specific. So if the emulator finds the files in a directory called "backgrounds" in the skin directory it will use them. Otherwise it looks in the emulators directory for a "backgrounds" directory. If no synopsis background is discovered the emulator will use the default "other" panel.  The Synopsis background is named "synopsis.jpg".  The help files are named "Game Selection Menu.jpg" and "View Text File.jpg"

* Box/Cart art can be displayed in seperate window. Box/Cart art is autodetected based on size (only in "old screenshots" directory).
* Movies display over screenshots so if you want, you only see screenshots when no movie exists.
* Can now stream videos and screenshots from Samba or Relax.  It is recommended to do on or the other, but not both or you will get slowdown on the videos.
* Screenshots are now sorted and displayed in proper order.
* Screenshots/Box/Cart art in the "old screenshots" directory can be named anything (as long as it has a .png extension)
* The In Game Options Screen can be sized and positioned now.

* New option to "Force Game Screen Size/Position". There are two configurable screensizes. (To deal with multi-core systems like MekaX and XboyAdvance). This will be useful when switching from HDTV to SDTV or vice versa. It will save the user the trouble of resizing the screens for something that is likely temporary.

* Numerous changes to menu system see below (current menu configuration layout)

* Skin sprites can now be named for easier manipulation. Directory names must be of the format "0_spritename", "1_spritename", etc. Do not use underscores for the spritename. It is a delimiter.

* Added "Select Skin Configuration Used..." and "Save Skin Configuration as..." to the "Configure SKin" menu. This allows multiple skin configurations in one skin allowing the user more "pre-defined" options on how a skin looks. For example the placement of the games list and the preview screens. Gilou's Dynamic skins really take advantage of this, check 'em out!

* Skin previews when selecting a skin or a skin configuration. The files must be in the "preview" directory within the skin directory. "preview.jpg" for the 4-in-1 pic, and "configuration name.jpg" for the rest.

* Removed popup message from "Configure Skin/Select Skin" and replaced the top line with the text "Press Start To Select Directory". This displays on all "change directory" menu screens.

* Changed "Seconds before auto-advancing Screenshot" to "Seconds Before Auto-Advancing Artwork".
* Changed "offset X" and "offset Y" to "Offset X (left/right)" and "Offset Y (up/down)" in the Sprite Settings menu for those who are confused by cartesian coordinates.    

* Sprites now display when sizing the preview screens.
* Screenshot, movie, and gamebox preview transparency's now working properly.
* Removed "Sprite Settings" option from "Pop-up Configure Skin Menu"...  Fixed bug caused by doing this.  
* Changed directory browse code so it can be told to "ignore screenshots/streaming media"
* Changed volume increment/decrement on mp3 player and game sound.  Set to 10 for now.
* User can now change music volume in the game select/help/and synopsis screen.
* Zip selection screen now sorts the zip contents. Helpful in Computer emulators in which some zips may contain "multiple disks"!

* Unmapped all the default UI mappings except for "in game menu", "keyboard", and "fast forward".

* Modified the autolaunch (from dash) so that it jumps straight into the emulated game.  Be sure to set the option to "Exit the emulator on game exit after autostart".
* Fixed a bug where the gamescreen would get blurry after changing video options.
* Fixed a bug where the xbox would lock-up when setting 10x11 mode in non 480 modes.

* Improvements to the cheat database system.  Changed menu options to "Search Cheat Database for Codes" and "Save Cheat Codes To Custom DB".

* Search can handle multiple CRC's for games that use same cheat codes but have different CRC's.  (Be careful with this).
* Search and save database options modified to be able to handle GameGenie codes in addition to Gameshark codes.
* Fixed a bug that would cause "Add new code" to default to GameGenie when it should be Gameshark.  Use "Add New Game Genie Code" at the bottom for GameGenie codes.

* completely changed around the screenshot directory structure to accomodate the ability to display both screenshots and cart/box art at the same time.  (Don't worry the old screenshot directories will still work until you are ready to switch).

* Text file directory retired and renamed to "Media" directory.  Screenshots (in the menus) renamed to "old screenshots" to reduce confusion.

Note: Point the media directory to the directory that contains your "artwork" folder.

New format as follows

/usernamedfolder/NES/artwork/box front/
/usernamedfolder/NES/artwork/box back/
/usernamedfolder/NES/artwork/cart/
/usernamedfolder/NES/artwork/titles/
/usernamedfolder/NES/artwork/action/
/usernamedfolder/NES/artwork/misc01/
/usernamedfolder/NES/artwork/misc02/
/usernamedfolder/NES/artwork/misc03/
/usernamedfolder/NES/artwork/misc04/
.......
/usernamedfolder/NES/artwork/misc99/
and so on

Pictures are displayed in the following order. Title, Action, Misc01-Misc??, and then it switches to the old dated ( ) screenshot directory. Be sure to remove your old screenshots once you've switched over or just point the screenshot directory to somewhere else.

It alternates between Boxart and Cartart in the area specified for them.

left/right on left analog to change screenshots.

* Changed the way the movies directory is handled.  The emulator no longer adds the emu name to the path (ex: NES or "f:\movies\NES\").  So you'll either need to move your movies down a directory or just point the movies directory to where the movies are located.

* After changing the media directory the emu will ask the user if they want to point the movies directory to "media\movies".

* Tinkered around with volume control options for mp3 (music), in games sound, and CDDA.  0 (no volume) thru 100 (full volume). Although technically the volume is no longer audible well before it hits 0.

on normal game select menu...

Right analog stick left/right - music volume
Right analog stick up/down - movie volume
Left analog stick left/right - change pictures
Left analog stick up/down - nothing

On favorites menu...

Right analog stick left/right - music volume
Right analog stick up/down - movie volume
Left analog stick left/right - change pictures

In game menu now shows current Game (SFX), mp3CCDA and CDDA volume (if applicable).

Right analog stick left/right - game volume
Right analog stick up/down - music volume
Left analog stick left/right - CDDA volume
Left analog stick up/down - mp3CDDA volume


------------------------------------
Sorta implemented features (hidden).  Try selecting .xmv and .jpg/.png files while in the text file browser.
------------------------------------

- Ability to display documentation (.jpg)
- Commercials - Framework put in place for "mediabrowser"


-------------------
Changes to Mednafen
-------------------
* Modified the rewind controls to use the now standard method of mapping used by all other x-port emus.
* Customized the default mappings for emu (Only NES related mappings are displayed).
* mp3CDDA and CDDA have their own volume control now and are saved with each game configuration (only affects MednafenX_PCE).
- Still waiting on some Mapper changes by XTecuterX73.  But this is beta, so no big hurry.


------------------------------------
Current menu configuration layout..
------------------------------------

MAIN MENU

Select Game From Favorites
Select Game
Configure Skin

---->Select Skin
---->Save Skin Configuration As
---->Load Skin Configuration
---->Skin Editor

---->---->Game Select Menu Settings
---->---->---->Screenshot/Movie Preview Settings
---->---->---->---->Show Screenshots? Yes/No
---->---->---->---->Show Movie? Yes/No
---->---->---->---->Play Sound From Movie? Yes/No
---->---->---->---->[Screenshot/movie/boxart] Size/Position
---->---->---->---->[Screenshot/movie/boxart] Transparency
---->---->---->---->Seconds Before Auto-Advancing Artwork
---->---->---->---->Auto-Screenshot Capture Delay -
---->---->---->---->Show Screenshots While Scrolling

---->---->---->Sprite Settings
---->---->---->Background Settings
---->---->---->Text Settings

---->---->Game Screen Size/Position
---->---->---->Set Game Screen Size/Position
---->---->---->Set Text Screen Size/Position
---->---->---->In Game Options Screen Size/Position
---->---->---->Force Game Screen Size/Pos (0) - Yes/No
---->---->---->Force Text Screen Size/Pos - Yes/No

---->---->General Settings
---->---->Main Menu Settings
---->---->Popup Menu Settings
---->---->Loading Screen Menu Settings
---->---->All 'Other' Menu Settings
---->---->Show Available Memory

---->Video Mode (For setting screen resolution)
---->Start With Music: Yes/No (maybe change to Music: on/off)
---->Favorites Screen: Regular/Enhanced
---->Start Screen: Favorite Select/Game Select/Main Menu

Configuration

---->Change Default Directories
---->Controller Configuration
---->Video Configuration

---->---->Video Mode - (480i,720i,720p, etc) [or leave/dup this in skin configuration)
---->---->Screenshot/Movie Preview Settings
---->---->---->Show Screenshots? Yes/No
---->---->---->Show Movie? Yes/No
---->---->---->Play Sound From Movie? Yes/No
---->---->---->[Screenshot/movie/boxart] Size/Position
---->---->---->[Screenshot/movie/boxart] Transparency
---->---->---->Seconds before auto-advancing Screenshot -
---->---->---->Auto-Screenshot Capture Delay -
---->---->---->Show Screenshots While Scrolling - Yes/No

---->---->Game Screen Size Position
---->---->---->Set Game Screen Size/Position #
---->---->---->Set Text Screen Size/Position
---->---->---->In Game Options Screen Size/Position
---->---->---->Force Game Screen Size/Pos (0) - Yes/No
---->---->---->Force Text Screen Size/Pos - Yes/No

---->---->Other Video Configurations
---->---->---->Xbox Hardware Filtering -
---->---->---->Software Filter -
---->---->---->Force PAL50 Mode (PAL only) - Yes/No
---->---->---->Flicker Filter Level
---->---->---->Soften Display - Yes/No
---->---->---->10x11 Pixel Aspect Ratio - Yes/No
---->---->---->Move menu text (maybe this should be moved into skin settings)

---->General Settings
---->Network/Netplay Options

Utilities
---->Save Game Management
---->Browse Screenshots
---->View Text File
---->Help

Return to Launcher


This post has been edited by madmab: Jul 26 2009, 12:43 PM

[crash1235]

Cheers thanks for all your hard work man.

[madmab]

ok news has been posted via the xbox-scene news submission email..

[ressurectionx]

Awesome to finally get this out there.  Hopefully this gets some well deserved coverage and renews some life into the scene.  Fortunately, it won't take a year for each release and there are now 16 XPORT emulators total that have been updated to some stage of the process so far.  

I'm close to getting the NES to its true "final" state as far as the Xtras go.  When I do, I'll have to make a torrent of this stuff so people don't have to go through all the BS setting it up.  I've tried to make that as easy as possible, but for the casual gamer it's still a pretty daunting task and it would be a shame if a lot of people didn't experience the full effect of all of our work here because the learning curve is still kinda steep setting the Xtras up.

Dammit.  Rules here about stuff, rules there about stuff.  Even the torrent site I frequent that allows every rom under the sun won't allow me to post anything with XBox code in it, so even though I could post every other single thing on my NES setup they'd still have to go through the bitch of a time figuring out the "usual spot" for the first time if they've never used it before just to get the emulator.  Then we've got our "other spot" but there are so little people there it's hardly worth the effort.  

Got to figure out the best way of doing this where it gets the most exposure and is set up so a 2 year old could do it.  

Please... be smart.  If you have an idea, don't post it in the open forums.  By now most of you know of other ways to get in contact with me.

Congrats to everyone involved on the release!

~Rx

[FrankMorris]

Thanks!!

[ressurectionx]

QUOTE(ThE MaSTeR 3 @ Jul 26 2009, 11:10 AM)

Thanks to everyone involved! Testing now...

EDIT: This is awesome it was worth the wait!! Cant wait for the other emus!

That's what we wanted to hear  

Are you using the Xtras too?

[ressurectionx]

Pretty cool, huh?

[Mega Man (?)]

Hooray!
Great job guys!

[ThE MaSTeR 3]

[gunzdiesel]

thanks for the screen shot! looks pretty f'ing sweet..  Does this work well with pm3 hd skin by chance?

[Axl_Mas]

Many thanks for this great news!!!!!
ps: new skin is fantastic!!

[madmab]

QUOTE(gunzdiesel @ Jul 27 2009, 03:33 AM)

thanks for the screen shot! looks pretty f'ing sweet..  Does this work well with pm3 hd skin by chance?

Yes.  This is the version that will work with Gilles pm3 dual skin..

[Maturion]

YEAH! madmab, you rock! Thanks a lot for the release!

[FrankMorris]

Must agree. We have a living legend here..

[UCBeef]

Very nice work guys   All the hard work is definitely appreciated.