Groovyarcade - Anyone tried it?

[cRacKh0rN]

https://code.google.com/p/groovyarcade/"

This project looks really interesting as it attempts to use original monitor timings of the pcb.
Anyone tried it?

[cools]

GroovyArcade I've not had any success with, plus the frontends are kinda dull so I've not persisted.

GroovyMAME however is 99% there. It's excellent.

Personally I've messed about in the past with AdvanceMAME and custom modes, but never got it working just right with refresh timing and syncing. Recent MAME builds cope far better, and Groovy adds in some extra bits to assist.

I'm running XP64 with Hyperspin and GroovyMAME in test, and I'm nearly 100% happy with it. But I'm running in an odd fashion - using a 31k monitor and faking the scanlines. I never liked modeswitching in the past (it's ugly watching the monitor desync then resync) so this method is really pleasing to see. On the Rodotron using 31k gives vastly superior geometry to 15k, and faking the scanlines means they're far less pronounced than they are in 15k on this tube.

99% because the cleanstretch code doesn't have enough flexibility yet to do what I want. Once it does I'm going to put together a tutorial because quite honestly this is the endgame for MAME in a cab as far I'm concerned. Yes it's still MAME and yes it's not exact to using the PCB if you've spent dozens of hours on it, but it's as good as it's going to get and indistinguishable if you're not intimate with the game.

Running the original modes is useful if you're using a 15k cab, but I'll be quite vocal about this and I've no doubt people will disagree initially - running Groovy on a 31k CRT is better than running it on a 15k one.

[Spectre]

Once it does I'm going to put together a tutorial because quite honestly this is the endgame for MAME in a cab as far I'm concerned.

Will look forward to that. I've never tried MAME in a cab for various reasons, but my laziness and inaccurate emulation have always been high on the list

[pubjoe]

but I'll be quite vocal about this and I've no doubt people will disagree initially - running Groovy on a 31k CRT is better than running it on a 15k one.

Gasp.

[cRacKh0rN]

GroovyMAME however is 99% there. It's excellent.

Praise indeed.
Does it require much configuring for accurate 15k usage?

[cools]

Apparently not, but make sure you get a supported ATI card so you can use the modified drivers (if you're running with Windows).

There is one occasion where MAME is better than the PCB. Games that ran in interlaced modes. Ever seen Mr Driller running 480p ? It's gorgeous. And you can't do that on a 15k CRT either, it has to be 31k.

[cools]

Seeing if I can take that 99% to 100% by myself. Hopefully it's just the two lines of code I've added.

[cools]

99.5%

[pubjoe]

I don't believe it can be better than 15k by the way. Easier, yes, but not better.

[cools]

You have seen a Rodotron in 15k, yes?

[AeroCityMayor]

You have seen a Rodotron in 15k, yes?

[pubjoe]

I was referring to the last sentence in your first post. Not specifically a rodotron.

I'm very interested that you say it's so good though.

[cools]

I suspect a PC VGA CRT may not be as nice, but a Nanao 31k should be the same as what I'm seeing.

Struggling to compile a working stock version of groovymame so I know the original unmodified code is working before I mess with it though.

[cools]

No need for hacks! Got it going. 100%. In fact in some ways better than I imagined - you certainly couldn't do what I've managed on an old version of MAME. And again I repeat - running on 31k is better than 15k, albeit in the future if Calamity/SailorSat implement the tweak I've been trying to do you'd get much of the same benefits (I think). But no need for any tweaks in 31k

I will provide instructions and screenshots when I get some spare time.

Note: if you're one of the load-the-entire-supported-ROM-set gang then you will not like this method as you will need to adjust the settings for every game you run.

[chubsta]

I use groovyarcade in a couple of my cabs, both have nanao monitors running at 15khz and since i have got them set up right there is no way i would ever go back to running any other version of mame. To finally have games running at the right resolutions makes such a difference to the graphics, until now i was quite happy but its only when it is set up right you realise how poor the graphics are on the standard setup - god only knows how people run these games using lcd monitors



ooooh - my thousandth post

[TadCool]

load-the-entire-supported-ROM-set gang

ooooh - my thousandth post

Congrats, matey!

[cRacKh0rN]

I use groovyarcade in a couple of my cabs, both have nanao monitors running at 15khz and since i have got them set up right there is no way i would ever go back to running any other version of mame. To finally have games running at the right resolutions makes such a difference to the graphics, until now i was quite happy but its only when it is set up right you realise how poor the graphics are on the standard setup - god only knows how people run these games using lcd monitors



ooooh - my thousandth post

Good to hear! So was this a case of plug and play for you, or did you do lots of tweaking?

[chubsta]

Once I had the graphics cards sorted - an arcadevga in the Astro and a hd4350 in the Atomiswave - it was pretty simple, just ran the avres utility for the avga and the utilities for the calamity drivers for the hd4350 and it worked. Seriously, seeing the games at he correct resolutions makes all the difference, something hat can't be achieved by adding scan lines or an sg3000 like I have tried befor.

[cools]

If you're using a 15K monitor then it makes sense to use the most accurate resolutions available, but personally now I've got it spot on with a 31K monitor I prefer this method as it avoids mode switching, something I've never really liked.

I understand that running everything at 640x480@60 means some games will run faster or slower than they're supposed to, but even in 15K you cannot get exact modes for everything - if you could you wouldn't need all the refresh rate syncing hacks or throttling enabled. There's a margin of error with a lot of stuff that is hidden by these options.

For me, most accurate (15K MAME) is as far away from perfect (PCB) as so-wrong-it-shouldn't-work-but-it-does is (31K MAME). And it closes off a project that I started 14 years ago in a manner that I really didn't expect.

Once I'm home for a few hours I'll set up the tripod and go through the steps necessary.

[Pete]

What's the best default config to have then Cools ?