Mame/mess and vectrex overlays

[d8thstar]

I've tried all suggestions that I could find and nothing seems to stick.

i have tried both mess and mame cores, they both play vectrex games just fine and will load up the generic minestorm overlay.  I can change the overlay within the game and that same overlay will load next time no matter what game is started.  I had this working fine in HS.

any thoughts?  Anyone have clear step by step instructions to get the overlays to load correctly?

thanks!

[spycat]

Hi @d8thstar

I use MAME standalone to play Vectrex games with their overlays displayed.
Unfortunately as the overlay png name or a similar identifier needs to be specified for each game I've had to use Custom Command Line Parameters for each game.

So I have my vectrex artwork zip in my MAME artwork folder and my GCE Vectrex platform added to my MAME Associated Platforms.

And here are a few examples of Custom Parameters for the games Polar Rescue, Pole Position and Armor Attack

vectrex -cart %romfile% -view polar
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view pole
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view armor

Not very elegant but I haven't figured out a method of adding the overlay name as a variable to allow me to ditch the Custom Parameters per game solution.

[d8thstar]

Makes sense but for some reason, still not working for me.  Whatever game I load, it brings up whatever overlay was loaded last.

 

fyi, I have "vectrex.zip" in my mame artwork folder.  Within that zip is the lay file, all looks good.

Edited April 21, 2017 by d8thstar

[d8thstar]

Never mind, working now!  I had to delete a vectrex cig file

[d8thstar]

I spoke to soon.  most overlays show correctly, some do not.  below is my vectrex.lay file.  two games as examples, blitz and clean sweep.

blitz overlay show fines.  when I start clean sweep, I get the minestorm overlay.  I have triple checked that the overlay is named correctly and that the command line for clean sweep ia accurate.

bothe games look exactly the same in the lay file except of course for the names.

anyone have any ideas?

thanks

</mamelayout>

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<mamelayout version="2">
 <element name="mine">
  <image file="Mine Storm (World).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Mine Storm (World) overlay">
  <bezel element="mine">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="mine">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="mine">
  <image file="Mine Storm II (USA) (Rev 2).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Mine Storm II (USA) (Rev 2) overlay">
  <bezel element="mine">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="mine">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="armor">
  <image file="Armor..Attack (World).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Armor..Attack (World)">
  <bezel element="armor">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="armor">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="bedlam">
  <image file="Bedlam (USA, Europe).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Bedlam (USA, Europe) overlay">
  <bezel element="bedlam">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="bedlam">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="berzerk">
  <image file="Berzerk (World).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Berzerk (World) overlay">
  <bezel element="berzerk">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="berzerk">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="blitz">
  <image file="Blitz! - Action Football (USA, Europe).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Blitz! - Action Football (USA, Europe) overlay">
  <bezel element="blitz">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="blitz">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="chasm">
  <image file="Cosmic Chasm (World).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Cosmic Chasm (World) overlay">
  <bezel element="chasm">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="chasm">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="sweep">
  <image file="Clean Sweep (World).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Clean Sweep (World) overlay">
  <bezel element="sweep">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="sweep">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="mrboston">
  <image file="mrboston.png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Mr. Boston Clean Sweep overlay">
  <bezel element="mrboston">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="mrboston">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="dktower">
  <image file="Dktower2.png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Dark Tower overlay">
  <bezel element="dktower">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="dktower">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="narzod">
  <image file="Fortress of Narzod (USA, Europe).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Fortress of Narzod (USA, Europe) overlay">
  <bezel element="narzod">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="narzod">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="headsup">
  <image file="Heads-Up - Action Soccer (USA).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Heads-Up - Action Soccer (USA) overlay">
  <bezel element="headsup">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="headsup">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="hyper">
  <image file="HyperChase - Auto Race (World).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="HyperChase - Auto Race (World) overlay">
  <bezel element="hyper">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="hyper">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="polar">
  <image file="Polar Rescue (USA).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Polar Rescue (USA) overlay">
  <bezel element="polar">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="polar">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="pole">
  <image file="Pole Position (USA).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Pole Position (USA) overlay">
  <bezel element="pole">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="pole">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="ripoff">
  <image file="Rip Off (World).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Rip Off (World) overlay">
  <bezel element="ripoff">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="ripoff">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="scramble">
  <image file="Scramble (USA, Europe).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Scramble (USA, Europe) overlay">
  <bezel element="scramble">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="scramble">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="solar">
  <image file="Solar Quest (World).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Solar Quest (World) overlay">
  <bezel element="solar">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="solar">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="space">
  <image file="Space Wars (World).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Space Wars (World) overlay">
  <bezel element="space">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="space">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="spike">
  <image file="Spike (USA, Europe).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Spike (USA, Europe) overlay">
  <bezel element="spike">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="spike">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="spinball">
  <image file="Spin Ball (USA).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Spin Ball (USA) overlay">
  <bezel element="spinball">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="spinball">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="castle">
  <image file="Star Castle (USA).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Star Castle (USA) overlay">
  <bezel element="castle">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="castle">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="starhawk">
  <image file="StarHawk (World).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="StarHawk (World) overlay">
  <bezel element="starhawk">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="starhawk">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="startrek">
  <image file="Star Trek - The Motion Picture (USA).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="Star Trek - The Motion Picture (USA) overlay">
  <bezel element="startrek">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="startrek">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>

 <element name="webwars">
  <image file="WebWars (USA).png" />
 </element>

 <view name="WebWars (USA) overlay">
  <bezel element="webwars">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </bezel>

  <overlay element="webwars">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </overlay>

  <screen index="0">
   <bounds left="0" top="0" right="3" bottom="4" />
  </screen>
 </view>
</mamelayout>

[spycat]

@d8thstar

Some games are a bit funny.

For Clean Sweep my Custom Command Params are

vectrex -cart %romfile% -view clean

Using sweep instead of clean won't work.

[d8thstar]

Right on, thank you that worked!  Not sure why, everything I had in files pointed to "sweep", not clean.

wiuld you mind checking two of your command lines for me?  I can't get overlays for Star Trek or star castle to come up.

thanks a lot for your help!

[spycat]

Here is a list of my Vectrex games and their Custom Params.
Note that where more than one word needs to be put after -view you need to use quotes.

Armor Attack
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view armor

Bedlam
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view bedlam

Berzerk
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view berzerk

Blitz! - Action Football
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view blitz

Clean Sweep
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view clean

Cosmic Chasm
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view cosmic

Dark Tower
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view dark

Fortress of Narzod
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view fortress

Heads-Up - Action Soccer
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view heads

HyperChase - Auto Race
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view hyper

Polar Rescue
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view polar

Pole Position
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view pole

Rip Off
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view rip

Scramble
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view scramble

Solar Quest
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view solar

Space Wars
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view space

Spike
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view spike

Spinball
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view spin

Star Castle
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view "star castle"

Star Trek: The Motion Picture
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view "star trek"

Star Hawk
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view "star hawk"

Web wars
vectrex -cart %romfile% -view web

By the way there is an error in the lay file in the artwork vectrex.zip that affects the game Dark Tower. The png image file reference needs to be changed from Dktower2 to just Dktower.
Hope this is of some help to you. And sorry for the long list in my post, I can't for the life of me figure out how to use the spoiler thing.

[d8thstar]

Worked perfectly, thank you sir!

[spycat]

You're more than welcome.

By the way, if you ever need to run a game without it's overlay you can use

-view standard

[d8thstar]

Great tip spycat, thanks.

 

curious if you have had any luck adding home brew games that have overlays?

[spycat]

@d8thstar

I have a few homebrews working with overlays in LaunchBox. I hope to add some more when I can find the time.

 

[smpetty]

Thanks Spycat!  Huge help, much appreciated!