MiSTer Super Attract Mode (SAM) is now available - the first game screensaver for your MiSTer!

[rhester72]

OK...I figured it out, but I don't understand what it means.

In function load_core_amigacd32, it originally read:

Code: Select all

mute "${CORE_LAUNCH[amigacd32]}"

which resolves to Minimig (and is wrong, because the desired result is AmigaCD32).

It was then changed to:

Code: Select all

mute "${CORE_LAUNCH[minimig]}"

which is even more wrong, because it would obviously resolve to Minimig.

It now reads:

Code: Select all

mute "${CORE_LAUNCH[${nextcore}]}"

which resolves to Minimig, not AmigaCD32.

A working hack is just to change the line to read:

Code: Select all

mute AmigaCD32

but that seems to violate the spirit of the code. I can't seem to work out, however, what variable in MiSTer SAM would correctly resolve to AmigaCD32 (matching /tmp/CORENAME)...in fact, I'm not sure why the value of that file isn't used consistently instead of ${nextcore} as it should theoretically always be correct.

[mrchrister]

How dare you scrutinize my code

$nextcore in this case is amigacd32 which resolves to minimig which should mute the minimig code.

I just realized the reason we don't want to pass minimig but amigacd32 directly to mute. It's because we're using set name which treats this mgl as it's own core so we have to mute amigacd32 instead of the actual core name.

Thanks for investigating, I'll fix this now

[rhester72]

Thank you!

VERY last commentary, and I swear I'll stop. LOL

By default, the filesystem is case-insensitive...are there any circumstances where a remote-mounted FS (that contains the config directory) could be case-sensitive? I ask because in the case of AO486 and AmigaCD32, theoretically with a case-sensitive FS you're writing them as lowercase that may not be seen by the core. If that's not a real thing in the real world, please ignore. =)

[mrchrister]

It's always good to be case sensitive just in case. Input maps for example have to be case sensitive if I remember correctly. I'll incorporate it into the next bigger update

[LamerDeluxe]

For some reason setting the filter to only play vertical arcade cores doesn't work correctly anymore. It will still show all other cores as well. I remember using this at the local retro computer club before and it worked fine.

EDIT: I guess I have to disable all non-arcade cores as well. Would be handy if there was a quick setting for that. And one to enable all cores.

[mrchrister]

Can you try and update SAM? I had some issues with filters myself and just pushed a fix yesterday night..
I believe I added a "reset" preset in menu that resets to all cores btw..

[LamerDeluxe]

Can you try and update SAM? I had some issues with filters myself and just pushed a fix yesterday night..
I believe I added a "reset" preset in menu that resets to all cores btw..

Thanks! That is interesting. I'll let you know when I get around to testing it.

[LamerDeluxe]

Can you try and update SAM? I had some issues with filters myself and just pushed a fix yesterday night..
I believe I added a "reset" preset in menu that resets to all cores btw..

Finally got around to do some proper testing.

Selecting only vertical arcade games and then selecting arcade cores in the single core only list doesn't work. Without selecting run SAM now, the menu exited, but SAM didn't run. Rebooted and it just ran all cores.

When I did select run SAM now, it also ran all cores and TTY2OLED got wrong output (that part might be a coincidence). After rebooting, it just runs all cores again. I seems like the single core option for arcade games doesn't work at the moment.

Even selecting only the arcade cores by hand in the core list, which is a bit of a hassle and needs a keyboard, doesn't work initially (selected started SAM now). Only after a reboot the core selection is getting applied.

Presets and game modes -> Default settings is probably the reset function you mentioned.

[zaxonite]

for some reason SAM gets stuck on certain games and I have to restart my mister to exit

[mrchrister]

Can you try and update SAM? I had some issues with filters myself and just pushed a fix yesterday night..
I believe I added a "reset" preset in menu that resets to all cores btw..

Finally got around to do some proper testing.

Selecting only vertical arcade games and then selecting arcade cores in the single core only list doesn't work. Without selecting run SAM now, the menu exited, but SAM didn't run. Rebooted and it just ran all cores.

When I did select run SAM now, it also ran all cores and TTY2OLED got wrong output (that part might be a coincidence). After rebooting, it just runs all cores again. I seems like the single core option for arcade games doesn't work at the moment.

Even selecting only the arcade cores by hand in the core list, which is a bit of a hassle and needs a keyboard, doesn't work initially (selected started SAM now). Only after a reboot the core selection is getting applied.

Presets and game modes -> Default settings is probably the reset function you mentioned.

Sorry for the late reply! I somehow don't get notified on new posts.

I just went to SAM's menu and set:
Stop SAM
Filters -> Only show vertical Arcade games
Configure Core List -> Only play games from one core -> Arcade

Note that only playing games from one core is temporary and will reset on reboot. If you want to set Arcade only permanently, you can do this through MiSTer_SAM.ini with corelist="Arcade"
Now it's only playing vertical games for me. Are you fully updated to latest version?

[mrchrister]

for some reason SAM gets stuck on certain games and I have to restart my mister to exit

Not sure what this could be but I don't think it's SAM related. I keep my MiSTer running 24/7.
Just had it running uninterrupted for 10 days straight and it's still running SAM and TTY2OLED. Very happy how stable it seems to be for my setup.
Apparently there is some issues with Direct Video... what is your output mehtod?

[LamerDeluxe]

Sorry for the late reply! I somehow don't get notified on new posts.

I just went to SAM's menu and set:
Stop SAM
Filters -> Only show vertical Arcade games
Configure Core List -> Only play games from one core -> Arcade

Note that only playing games from one core is temporary and will reset on reboot. If you want to set Arcade only permanently, you can do this through MiSTer_SAM.ini with corelist="Arcade"
Now it's only playing vertical games for me. Are you fully updated to latest version?

No problem, that happens to me all the time.

The difference is that I never stopped SAM before changing the settings, so that would probably explain the behaviour I was experiencing.

Thanks for the step-by-step explanation, that is very enlightning.

[mrchrister]

I think a lot of times I get feedback and the problem seems to be that SAM wasn't reset and was still using the old game lists. I actually just updated SAM's behaviour that when you stop SAM, it will reset the game lists as well.

Thanks for providing feedback, it makes the software better!

[LamerDeluxe]

I think a lot of times I get feedback and the problem seems to be that SAM wasn't reset and was still using the old game lists. I actually just updated SAM's behaviour that when you stop SAM, it will reset the game lists as well.

Thanks for providing feedback, it makes the software better!

Great! That should make things more straightforward.

I'm not exaggerating when I say that my MiSTer setup is being used to run SAM 99 percent of the time (in combination with my TTY2OLED display). It is just really fun to have running in the background, discovering new interesting games.

[natadiem]

Hi, thank you for the great script.
I am trying to make a very curated list, I started only with zelda and metroid on NES.

For some reason when I put those games on the "goat list", it will only start whatever is on first line and loop it undefinitely.
My script is:
[NES]
Metroid (U)
Legend of Zelda, The

I tried with full address, same result. Any idea? Thank you.

[mrchrister]

I'm not exaggerating when I say that my MiSTer setup is being used to run SAM 99 percent of the time (in combination with my TTY2OLED display). It is just really fun to have running in the background, discovering new interesting games.

Haha, great to hear and it's the same for me. I don't have much time playing retro games these days but I love looking at them.

[mrchrister]

Hi, thank you for the great script.
I am trying to make a very curated list, I started only with zelda and metroid on NES.

For some reason when I put those games on the "goat list", it will only start whatever is on first line and loop it undefinitely.
My script is:
[NES]
Metroid (U)
Legend of Zelda, The

I tried with full address, same result. Any idea? Thank you.

GOAT list only supports arcade and neogeo atm.

You have two options to achieve this in SAM:

1. Use path filters in MiSTer_SAM.ini. Just create a subfolder with your curated games.

2. If you don't want to copy files around you can also create an exclude list where you basically take your full game list, e.g. /media/fat/Scripts/.MiSTer_SAM/SAM_Gamelists/snes_gamelist.txt, copy it and name it /media/fat/Scripts/.MiSTer_SAM/SAM_Gamelists/snes_excludelist.txt. Now delete the titles you want to play from it.

[natadiem]

Thank you for your answer.
I see, then that would not work in my case.

[mrchrister]

Quick update to SAM:
If you have BGM running, it will now display the current song on TTY2OLED display and in SSH

To install:

• Update SAM
• Enable BGM from Menu -> Add-ons (even if BGM is running already)
• Restart MiSTer