Launch Platforms 2.1.0

36 minutes ago, arcademode said:

Odd error: "Lplat is an undeclared prefix" on the Colorful theme. Seems to be ok with Default but Colorful and a few others result in this LPlat error.

This is saying the Theme you're using didn't get setup or setup "correctly".

Try to Restore the Theme(s) and then Setup Theme again [via Launch Platform Setup] and see if that fixes it.

17 minutes ago, JoeViking245 said:

This is saying the Theme you're using didn't get setup or setup "correctly".

Try to Restore the Theme(s) and then Setup Theme again [via Launch Platform Setup] and see if that fixes it.

Tried that a few times, same result. Anything else I can try?

1 minute ago, arcademode said:

Tried that a few times, same result. Anything else I can try?

You could try setting them the old way by manually doing what's shown in the [Reveal Hidden Contents] What's actually happening when you "Setup" a theme: (a behind the scenes look) section in the description.

 

What view are you using?  Can you copy that file (the file, not its contents) here.  e.g.  /LaunchBox/Themes/Colorful /Views/PlatformWheel4FiltersView.xaml 

With how the theme was written, how the plugin inserts the 2 lines may not find "the spot" to insert them.  Based on the error, my guess is the 1st line (near the top) didn't get inserted.  Were there any other errors that show when you start BB or load the particular theme?  Like a big, long error message with a bunch of garbley-gook of the issue (aka, more than what you mentioned)?

And here's the filePlatformWheel1FiltersView.xaml

I already see where it's in the wrong spot! Manually changing it seems to work

52 minutes ago, arcademode said:

I already see where it's in the wrong spot! Manually changing it seems to work

Glad to hear it works.  I'll take a look and see if I can do something to get it in the right spot. 😎

New Release:  v2.0.1

Fixed:  The plugin declaration wasn't properly getting added on certain themes

 

Thanks @arcademode for bringing this to my attention!

@JoeViking245 I am currently using this plugin and its working nicely. Thanks! However I've found that I have some scenarios where I have one game in a platform, where it would be nice to skip the game selection but still get the game detail where I have to the option to select play, show the manual and have the text description, etc. Is there anyway to have this go straight from the platform list to the game detail screen, while skipping the game selection?

Select the platform

Select the [only] "game"  <--- I want to skip only this

Select "Play".

5 minutes ago, reggorf said:

I am currently using this plugin and its working nicely. Thanks!

Thanks! Good to hear it's still working well.  

9 minutes ago, reggorf said:

scenarios where I have one game in a platform, where it would be nice to skip the game selection but still get the game detail where I have to the option to select play, show the manual and have the text description, etc. Is there anyway to have this go straight from the platform list to the game detail screen, while skipping the game selection?

Interesting idea. I'm not sure if the LaunchBox API has a call to "push" you into a specific View. 

e.g. Platform View > Games View > Game Details View

 

Code-wise, it [appears it] would be just a matter of changing Launch_The_One_Game to Go_To_The_One_Games_DetailsView.  Then a matter  of changing the plugins UI to ask which option you want for each platform while still keeping it "pretty".  Then do I rename the plugin or just create a new one.  For the 2 or 3 people that might use it.  

I'd be curious to hear how many users actually have a platform with just one game in it.  Seems odd. But probable.

I'll add this to my "Hey Joe, are you bored?" to-do list and see if it's even possible.  No promises. No timeline.

3 hours ago, JoeViking245 said:

I'd be curious to hear how many users actually have a platform with just one game in it.  Seems odd. But probable.

I'll add this to my "Hey Joe, are you bored?" to-do list and see if it's even possible.  No promises. No timeline.

Thanks. I appreciate you adding it to your list.

Its just one of those little things but I think it would be a cleaner and more consistent look for my system. In my case, I have added a platform for the Radio Shack TV Scoreboard (a 70s pong console), where the platform basically is the game. Technically it has multiple types of pong games but those toggle inside the emulator since it didn't have cartridges. So it actually is a game unlike other apps like a music jukebox or video streamer, etc. so it has a box, manual, gameplay screenshots... Things that could be utilized in that screen. Others might have similar uses. 

37 minutes ago, reggorf said:

Thanks. I appreciate you adding it to your list.

Its just one of those little things but I think it would be a cleaner and more consistent look for my system. In my case, I have added a platform for the Radio Shack TV Scoreboard (a 70s pong console), where the platform basically is the game. Technically it has multiple types of pong games but those toggle inside the emulator since it didn't have cartridges. So it actually is a game unlike other apps like a music jukebox or video streamer, etc. so it has a box, manual, gameplay screenshots... Things that could be utilized in that screen. Others might have similar uses. 

Just reading this - would love to have a look at that Radio Shack TV Scoreboard emulator? Is that downloadable anywhere? Or do you have the name of the emulator? I'm unfortunately old enough to remember those pong games and would love to fire it up and have a game with my grand-kids. Thanks

1 hour ago, reggorf said:

Thanks. I appreciate you adding it to your list.

New Release v2.1.0

New Feature:    (option) Go straight to the Game Details View from the platform wheel for platforms having only one game.
exist Feature:    (option) Launch games directly from the platform wheel for platforms having only one game.

13 hours ago, JoeViking245 said:

New Release v2.1.0

New Feature:    (option) Go straight to the Game Details View from the platform wheel for platforms having only one game.
exist Feature:    (option) Launch games directly from the platform wheel for platforms having only one game.

Wow @JoeViking245 lightning fast!!!!

That's a very impressive turnaround - great work as always  

@JoeViking245  Thanks so much. This works wonderfully!! And so quickly! 

20 hours ago, Johnny T said:

Just reading this - would love to have a look at that Radio Shack TV Scoreboard emulator? Is that downloadable anywhere? Or do you have the name of the emulator? I'm unfortunately old enough to remember those pong games and would love to fire it up and have a game with my grand-kids. Thanks

Well yes and no. I used WinArcadia (https://amigan.1emu.net/releases/). It is a multi system emulator that has several old arcade systems. One of the things it has is a General Instruments AY-3-8500 emulator. That's the original pong chip. Its quite good and accurate. It has all of the variations of those early consoles. It even has the quirks, like when the ball goes through your paddle and certain locations, etc. The Radio Shack console was my first console and I wanted to get it on Bigbox, but I didn't find WinArcadia easy to use with Bigbox. You have to go into the Windows menu to change things frequently with the mouse and the gamepad keys are a little odd. Anyway, I used Gemini and Claude (I am not a programmer) to help me get the C code (its open-source freeware) into Visual Studio and modify the source to make changes so it has a proper controller setup and has a 1-button click to map all the existing settings to the Radio Shack console I had.  I also added a pause screen with key mappings and a settings status bar that's always under the game. I got it into BigBox with some decent photos and logos. I'm happy to get it together and attach what I made here.  Not sure where is the appropriate place. I'm not on Github or anything.

2 minutes ago, reggorf said:

Well yes and no. I used WinArcadia (https://amigan.1emu.net/releases/). It is a multi system emulator that has several old arcade systems. One of the things it has is a General Instruments AY-3-8500 emulator. That's the original pong chip. Its quite good and accurate. It has all of the variations of those early consoles. It even has the quirks, like when the ball goes through your paddle and certain locations, etc. The Radio Shack console was my first console and I wanted to get it on Bigbox, but I didn't find WinArcadia easy to use with Bigbox. You have to go into the Windows menu to change things frequently with the mouse and the gamepad keys are a little odd. Anyway, I used Gemini and Claude (I am not a programmer) to help me get the C code (its open-source freeware) into Visual Studio and modify the source to make changes so it has a proper controller setup and has a 1-button click to map all the existing settings to the Radio Shack console I had.  I also added a pause screen with key mappings and a settings status bar that's always under the game. I got it into BigBox with some decent photos and logos. I'm happy to get it together and attach what I made here.  Not sure where is the appropriate place. I'm not on Github or anything.

That's brilliant @reggorf thank you! It would be amazing if you could share it on here? I think the Downloads section would be appropriate - https://forums.launchbox-app.com/files/ 

But, if not, I'll drop you a PM if you don't mind and then we can arrange something. I have a Google Drive that we could use. It would certainly really help me to replicate what you've done.

It's really nice of you to offer to share all your hard work - thanks mate