Another Phoenix launcher without the preloading games requirement - LBPhoenixLauncher

[dragonz6189]

Got the two previous Phoenix launchers working but didn't want to have to preload all my games first into Phoenix for it to work as I usually add my games piecemeal.

Decided to write a new one that will properly inject just a singular game with it's necessary data (hashes, file size, etc) into the XML and then launch the emulator and send it keystrokes to make it fullscreen.  Future launches will clear out any previous written XML in the pertinent areas so that the rom area of the config file stays clean.

 

1. Install Phoenix emulator

2. Run it at least once so the config file is created.  You also should click on the Jaguar icon on the left sidebar as seen in the image below so it's config section is also properly created.

3. If you're going to be using it for 3DO, you should go to 'File' -> 'Add BIOS to 3DO folder' and choose a valid 3DO bios.  This will make it appear under the 'BIOS' node when on the 3DO view of the emulator.  The next step is very important.  You must double click the newly added bios file in the 'BIOS' node so it 'attaches' it to the emulator.  The text becomes bold if you've done this.  If you fail to do this when the emulator tries to launch a 3DO ISO via my launcher the emulator will complain you haven't chosen a BIOS file.  You need only do this once.

 

4. Configure any other emulator settings you need (eg Controllers)

5. Close the emulator which will save the configuration file

6. Add your platforms (3DO, Jaguar) to Launchbox as you normally would

7. Go to 'Manage Emulators' and add a new emulator, call it Phoenix and for the EXE path point to LBPhoenixLauncher.exe (which should be in the same folder as the emulator).

 

8. Under the 'Associated Platforms' tab, add the platforms you're interested in (Jaguar, 3DO).  In the 'Default Command-Line Parameters' field, for Jaguar enter 'Jaguar' (without quotes) or '3DO' (without quotes) for 3DO

 

That's it.  Games in your collection should now launch Phoenix then enter the necessary keystrokes to enter fullscreen

If you're having issues, check LBPhoenixLauncher.log in the same folder as the EXE for clues as to what's going wrong.

The app is written in C# for DotNet Core 3.x which you should already have installed as Launchbox also requires it.

I've included the source code here as well for transparency

 

Let me know if there are any enhancements / fixes that may need to be addressed!

 

Note: For 3DO games I noticed Phoenix prefers the ISO files over the CUE files but Launchbox will add the CUE files when importing the 3DO games, so watch out for that.  Phoenix won't load CUE files.

LBPhoenixLauncherSource.zipLBPhoenixLauncher1.0.zip