newnumbertwo Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 (edited) So, I bought LaunchBox, paid for the premium version. Lots of tutorials, lots of community activity. Seems worth it. First step, import my PSX collection. They're 7z files, with .bin.ecm & cue files. Choose RetroArch as emulator. Looks like none of RetroArch's cores support .bin.ecm files. Move PCSX-reloaded and ePSXe folders into LaunchBox\emulators. Configure. Won't launch with either (both PCSX-r & ePSXe work outside of LaunchBox, albeit with extracted .bin.ecm & cue files as there is no 7zip support in those programs) Second step, give up on PSX collection, go to something "easy" - MAME. Watch tutorial. Import MAME collection. Try to launch with RetroArch. Doesn't work. Try to launch with MAME. Doesn't work (does work with RetroArch & MAME when launched outside of LaunchBox). Figure I will at least try to get my PS4 controller working. DS4Windows installed, controller connected. Go to Options->Legacy->Input->Gamepad/Joystick. Click "Enable gamepad/joystick". See that is has pre-selected "XInput Xbox 360/Xbox ONE". Hit OK, returned to interface. No navigation with game controller. Go back to Options->Legacy->Input->Gamepad/Joystick. See that selection no longer active. Try multiple combos. Nothing is sticking. I guess I do have a nice catalog of un-launchable games, otherwise, I am struggling to see the point of this software. I thought one of the big selling points was that it auto-configures the emulator setup for you. I'm willing to tweak, but it is pretty discouraging that literally neither of the platforms I have imported and tried to use are working. Should I bother with others? Am I missing a security setting? Edited January 15, 2019 by newnumbertwo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Carr Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 The issues that you're having are either emulator issues, or somehow they're misconfigured in LaunchBox. LaunchBox does not auto-configure the emulator setup for you; the only thing it does along those lines is put in the correct command-line parameters to launch the game, in most cases. Our recommendation would be to watch our YouTube tutorial videos. There's a link in the header called Tutorials. I would love to say that emulation never requires any tweaking, but that's simply not true, and you're not likely to find any other method that doesn't require tweaking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newnumbertwo Posted January 15, 2019 Author Share Posted January 15, 2019 (edited) What's the deal with LaunchBox not remembering my controller input? I did watch the tutorials, OP updated. Edited January 15, 2019 by newnumbertwo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil9000 Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 14 minutes ago, newnumbertwo said: First step, import my PSX collection. They're 7z files, with .bin.ecm & cue files. Choose RetroArch as emulator. Looks like none of RetroArch's cores support .bin.ecm files. Move PCSX-reloaded and ePSXe folders into LaunchBox\emulators. Configure. Won't launch with either (both PCSX-r & ePSXe work outside of LaunchBox, albeit with extracted .bin.ecm & cue files as there is no 7zip support in those programs) If you imported them to work with retroarch you need to bulk edit the games to use another emulator. 15 minutes ago, newnumbertwo said: Second step, give up on PSX collection, go to something "easy" - MAME. Import MAME collection. Try to launch with RetroArch. Doesn't work. Try to launch with MAME. Doesn't work (does work with RetroArch & MAME when launched outside of LaunchBox). Do you have a MAME fullset? did you use the fullset importer? 16 minutes ago, newnumbertwo said: Figure I will at least try to get my PS4 controller working. DS4Windows installed, controller connected. Go to Options->Legacy->Input->Gamepad/Joystick. Click "Enable gamepad/joystick". See that is has pre-selected "XInput Xbox 360/Xbox ONE". Hit OK, returned to interface. No navigation with game controller. Go back to Options->Legacy->Input->Gamepad/Joystick. See that selection no longer active. Try multiple combos. Nothing is sticking. I dont currently, but have used a dual shock 4 with both ds4 windows and input mapper and they always worked just fine. 17 minutes ago, newnumbertwo said: I thought one of the big selling points was that it auto-configures the emulator setup for you. nowhere ever have we claimed that, Launcbox, as you may tell from the name is a launcher, you tell it where your games are and where your emulator is, Launchbox then passes the game via commandline to the emulator. If the emulator requires setting up to some extent, which some do, then that is on you im afraid. As i said Launchbox has no more interaction with the emulator other than passing the rom to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newnumbertwo Posted January 15, 2019 Author Share Posted January 15, 2019 Yes, MAME fullset. Used Fullset importer. OK, some tweaking required. Clearly I have to enter the path to the emulator. LaunchBox is launching the emulator, then ... nothing. The input config is broken for me. It doesn't remember the settings. I'm not sure what I can "tweak" to make it remember settings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retro808 Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 2 minutes ago, newnumbertwo said: The input config is broken for me. It doesn't remember the settings. I'm not sure what I can "tweak" to make it remember settings. I've never selected a device in that section since I have used LB. Just checked the box to Enable Gamepad/Joystick Input and then go into the buttons and automation sections to configure my buttons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Carr Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 FYI, the controller settings have nothing to do with in-game controls. They're only for inside of LaunchBox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil9000 Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 35 minutes ago, newnumbertwo said: Yes, MAME fullset. Used Fullset importer. OK, some tweaking required. Clearly I have to enter the path to the emulator. LaunchBox is launching the emulator, then ... nothing. Have you told MAME the location of your romset? MAME has to know this, but it seems like you know enough about the process to be aware of this already right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newnumbertwo Posted January 15, 2019 Author Share Posted January 15, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, neil9000 said: Have you told MAME the location of your romset? MAME has to know this, but it seems like you know enough about the process to be aware of this already right? From %USERPROFILE%\Applications\LaunchBox\Emulators\MAME\mame.ini: rompath M:\Games\Mame\roms The games launch fine from MAME itself. Edited January 15, 2019 by newnumbertwo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Carr Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Did you figure out the controller not saving thing? I saw your post and then saw that you quickly deleted it. I've never seen controller stuff not save. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Carr Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 1 minute ago, newnumbertwo said: From C:\Users\username\Applications\LaunchBox\emulators\MAME\mame.ini: rompath M:\Games\Mame\roms The games launch fine from MAME itself. We'll probably need to see your LaunchBox MAME emulator configuration (screenshots). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newnumbertwo Posted January 15, 2019 Author Share Posted January 15, 2019 1 minute ago, Jason Carr said: Did you figure out the controller not saving thing? I saw your post and then saw that you quickly deleted it. I've never seen controller stuff not save. Yes, figured it out. Operator error. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newnumbertwo Posted January 15, 2019 Author Share Posted January 15, 2019 4 minutes ago, Jason Carr said: We'll probably need to see your LaunchBox MAME emulator configuration (screenshots). Note that I have also tried un-checking "Use file name only without..." Also tried disabling game startup screen. No change in behavior. FWIW, launching the ROM from cmd works without issue, i.e.: Quote %USERPROFILE%\Applications\LaunchBox\emulators\MAME\mame64.exe M:\Games\Mame\roms\blastoff.zip works fine, as does selecting & launching the ROM within MAME itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Carr Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 What exactly happens when you launch the game from LaunchBox? Does MAME load up at all? The first thing I would try is disabling the startup screen, as that can interfere with the startup process if your MAME settings happen to not be compatible. Hmm, actually, looks like your settings are different from mine: I have "don't use quotes" checked, and that should also be automatically checked when you first create the MAME emulator. So I would guess that's the issue here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil9000 Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 any difference there??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newnumbertwo Posted January 15, 2019 Author Share Posted January 15, 2019 2 minutes ago, Jason Carr said: I have "don't use quotes" checked, and that should also be automatically checked when you first create the MAME emulator. So I would guess that's the issue here. I tried both "don't use quotes" enabled and disabled with no change in behavior. I also tried disabling startup screen with no change in behavior. Further investigation reveals it will actually launch MAME if I start the game via "Launch with..." but doesn't work when launched with "Play". The game is definitely associated with the "Arcade" platform. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Carr Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 I'm completely lost then lol. MAME is working perfectly fine for practically everyone here, so there has to be just something we're missing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil9000 Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 8 minutes ago, newnumbertwo said: Further investigation reveals it will actually launch MAME if I start the game via "Launch with..." but doesn't work when launched with "Play". The game is definitely associated with the "Arcade" platform. Then maybe bulk edit your games, like i suggested earlier? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Carr Posted January 15, 2019 Share Posted January 15, 2019 Are you sure that the games are set to use the MAME emulator? That could be the issue, considering that the games launch correctly using Launch With. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newnumbertwo Posted January 15, 2019 Author Share Posted January 15, 2019 What appears to have happened is I did the MAME import, selecting RetroArch. This set the "Emulator" for all games imported to "RetroArch". When RetroArch didn't work, I copied my MAME application folder into LaunchBox\Emulators\MAME, configuring it to be the "Default Emulator" for the associated platform "Arcade". Since my MAME games all had a platform category set to "Arcade" on import, it was my expectation that the "Play" command would launch the "Default Emulator" for any game with a platform category of "Arcade". Additionally It was probably this language: that led me to believe that I would not need to do much in the way of modifying emulator settings. Is designating an emulator as "default" for a platform only applicable to placement in the "Launch with" drop-down? Maybe it also determines an emulator config for games newly imported into a category as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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