Vectrex(pucpuc_11-10-2008)

[pucpuc]

I' began to skin some game menus for consoles and I wanted to keep the design simple, like the amchine skins. I've also used elements from existing skins.
please tell me if it is o.k. that way, also general feedback is very welcome.
WIP:
Atari2600
Vectrex
Master System
Genesis
Planned:
Colecovision
Intelllivision
Odyssey2
(same text for all posts today to save time for working on the WIPs ;) )

[pucpuc]

Getting closer to the release.

I can also upload full sets of additional artwork (wheel, box, cart, video) for all original vectrex standard carts which do not require additional hardware.

I've uploaded some flvs to emumovies wip/pucpuc, but could also share the whole vetcrex set (as the roms are public domain) in one torrent/rapidshare.

just converted my screenshots to "fake" flvs, means only one frame per video and results in less than 1 MB zipped.
Is it o.k. to include this flvs to the theme when uploading?

[The Loafer]

I think the theme is looking really good, though I'll admit I'm greedy and can't wait to see it with full FLV's. I am not really sure I understand the need to have a fake FLV, Hyperspin can use screenshots if that's all you have.

[pucpuc]

... and closer.

Loafer, the 1-frame flv will only be used for the games I do not have a video. The reason of using them, is that if I wold use png's, I would also have to define a new layer for them - right? With my solution I avoid using up one of rhe 4 artwork layers we have.

main menu wip waiting for feedback :)

[The Loafer]

I don't make themes so I'm no expert but what you can do is make it part of the background and thus not use an artwork layer. This means you sacrifice an effect for it but once a flv becomes available it will just go over it. This has been done already, see the Captain America and the Avengers theme for an example of what I mean.

[pucpuc]

Now in in the moderation queue:
Vectrex NoIntro-20081109 main theme, default theme, wheel, box and cart.

Some cleanup on box and cart would be really appreciated (uploaded to Unclean Sets - Need Cleaning), the wheels are better (but not vecorized).

This set contains all the official games that do not require hardware as 3dImager or Lightpen.

I've configured M.E.S.S. to display the right overlays with the NoIntro romset, can I upload the package (without mess.exe) here? Would be great to include also the roms - as they are freeware now.


hyperlaunch:

;********************************GCEVectrex******* *************************
else if (systemName = "GCE Vectrex" && executable = "mess.exe")
{
hideDesktop()
Hotkey, %exitEmulatorKey%, CloseProcess
RunWait, %executable% vectrex -cart "%romPath%%romName%%romExtension%" -view "%romName%" -skip_gameinfo -nowindow -nonewui, %emuPath%, Hide UseErrorLevel
}

while the files are in the moderation queue it is not possible to change something, so please use the attached xmls - then everything matches to NoIntro-20081109.

FLV's are located on emumovies /User Submitted - Videos/GCE Vectrex - (NoIntro-20081109)(FLV)(pucpuc)

[StarControl]

Awesome! I'm looking forward to this!

How do you do the one frame FLV conversion? I would love to do that. When I do video snaps I end up taking two of the artwork layers -- one for the snap, and one for the frame overlay, since I can't seem to get Hyperspin to use the video frame on a snapshot.

[pucpuc]

for 1 frame flv I used avidemux and copy-pasted together a job.js (attached).
you get best results when using jpg images.

[Nucklez]

Woohoo, thank you sir! I've been waiting on a Vectrex theme, and this one looks awesome! I may have to learn Photoshop one day so I can help with these. Good job man.

[StarControl]

Thanks for that script! This is going to make adding snaps for missing movies so much easier! I'm going to be giving it some heavy use.

I tried it out and everything works except that it gives the new flvs a ".jpg" extension, so I have to go run a batch rename on them after they are made before I can use them. Other than that it works great.

Do you know if this will upscale a small image to the video size, or do I need to do that to the JPG before I turn it into an FLV?

[pucpuc]

@StarControl
yes, the script works exactly as you described your experience, it's possible to add rezising, right extension ....
this script was just a quick and dirty solution for myself, so feel free to improve it. :)

I see one big problem distributing 1-frame flvs: If someone has a set, containing real-flvs and wants to update with a a mixed set, containing 1-frame and full videos, video-files could be overwritten by 1-frames.

I've changed my vectrex-flvs on emumovies and moved polar rescue (the only 1-screen in this set) to a subfolder called 1-frame.

[StarControl]

Well, they are easy enough to separate out. You just sort the directory by size and all the one-frames cluster together nicely.

[Nucklez]

Hey man, was you able to find anywhere to upload the layouts yet? Your FLVs look great with the layouts, and make my emulation look all boring and white. Thank you again for your hard work, this is working great!

[pucpuc]

I will update my m.e.s.s. settings to version 0.131, including screen overlays bios and roms for vectrex.
then upload the package - need still input where - taking offers :)

[Nucklez]

I would guess MegaUpload. Lots of websites use that for older roms. Your file will probably be pretty small too, so it shouldn't be too much of an inconvenience for anyone.

[StarControl]

If you don't mind, I'd like to take a shot at cleaning up the wheel text in Photoshop. Logos are slow and painful for me and I need the practice and this is a nice small set to start with.

[pucpuc]

yes! I'm really happy about you cleaning this :)

they will look best when 400px wide.

Hope I do not sound greedy, but is there a chance that you do a cleaned atari7800 logo? (could post a "dirty" if needed)

[StarControl]

Good! Then here's a few more.

[pucpuc]

great - I've already tested them in hyperspin. the theme looks already cleaner now :)

[johnmike7]

This is great. I was working on a Vectrex theme and abandoned it after cause I couldn't find any decent wheel art. It looked almost identical to your. Same pic of the Vectrex and all.

I'm anxious to see this one finished. Looking good.

[StarControl]

Here's a couple more from the main set and a couple of strays. Space Wars was vectorized, and the other three are enlargements taken from the box art, so they may be a bit fuzzy.

[pucpuc]

Thanks for your work :)
Are there coming more logos or should I upload the cleaned set?

[StarControl]

More are coming. I'm just not particularly fast with logos, and I tend to get distracted with other projects. I spent most of the weekend on the GBC box set cleaning (1st pass complete!), and I just did an AAE wheel set. I'll let you know when I post the final logo.

[StarControl]

Here's a few more. In order to get the yardage #'s readable in Blitz I had to recreate the field flat and then warp it and then stick the Blitz extract from the box art on top of it. It was a fun evening, but this is why I don't do wheels of 800 logos. I'd never finish.

[logan5]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but I'm having a MAJOR headache with the new version of MESS (0.134) and the overlays. I've got an old version of mess working with them (just before they switched to .lay format) but I CAN'T FIND THE NEW .lay OVERLAYS ANYWHERE! pucpuc can you PLEASE upload the mess package that you mentioned? I REALLY don't want to use my old mess setup in hyperspin...Thanks a lot in advance if you can, I'll be watching the thread and I don't hear from you I'll send you a PM...

Never mind, found them (new artwork) on the MESS website...Thanks anyway!

[logan5]

Oh man, only the minestorm overlay loads! Anyone know how to fix this? pucpuc could you upload that mess setup to the FTP???