ScummVM libretro and standalone: can i use both?

[AlphaUMi]

Hi! I'm new to LaunchBox, although I have several years of experience with emulators and retro gaming. In LaunchBox, you usually can associate two or more emulators to the same platform. So, for example, for SEGA Genesis you can choose a default emulator (let's say Retroarch) and two other emulators, and choose with which one you want to play, when you want.

I've searched other topics, but I've not found a clear answer to my question. I mean, what I said above is not valid for ScummVM (or DosBox). If you use RetroArch to play ScummVM games, you cannot add the integrated ScummVM program to this same platform, and choose which one to use when you want. Am I right about this, or not?

Thanks in advance for your clarifications!

[sundogak]

On 7/23/2022 at 4:37 AM, AlphaUMi said:

Hi! I'm new to LaunchBox, although I have several years of experience with emulators and retro gaming. In LaunchBox, you usually can associate two or more emulators to the same platform. So, for example, for SEGA Genesis you can choose a default emulator (let's say Retroarch) and two other emulators, and choose with which one you want to play, when you want.

I've searched other topics, but I've not found a clear answer to my question. I mean, what I said above is not valid for ScummVM (or DosBox). If you use RetroArch to play ScummVM games, you cannot add the integrated ScummVM program to this same platform, and choose which one to use when you want. Am I right about this, or not?

Thanks in advance for your clarifications!

Yes, you can use both a standalone (not the built-in version within LB) of ScummVM and the RA core in that I have this setup this way.  But it takes a bit of work initially in that you have to add a dummy pointer text file with the ScummVM GameID for all to work.  I did this several years ago now but here are basic steps:

1. Setup a normal ScummVM instance and make sure it works outside LB with your games.  Your ScummVM.ini file shows your gameIDs if wondering what they are and where to find. It also is in the ScummVM control panel (standalone). 
2. You should have folders with each game in it with the various files that ScummVM needs  
3. In each folder, you place an empty text file with the gameID as part of the file name. This is what we will point LB to when installing the ROMs/Games. The extension of the dummy file can be anything, but I used an extension of *.scummvm.  The key is the extension is consistent or will be headache when trying to import into LB.  
4. In LB, setup the ScummVM standalone emulator. See Figure 1 and 2 below.  Note the setups in Details and Associated Platforms portions. I also have a eXoScummVM version in there but ignore that.  The path in quotes must match your specific setup to where you keep your working scummvm.ini that is installed as part of standalone.  

-c "G:\Emulators\ScummVM\ScummVM\scummvm.ini" --no-console -f

Figure 1 - ScummVM Standalone

Figure 2 - ScummVM Standalone

 

5. For Retroarch your setup in LB looks like this for ScummVM core:

As an example, using the game Backyard Football 2002.  Notice that LB is pointing to football2002.scummvm which is the dummy text file noted above with the gameID of "football2002".  Again, the text file is empty and is just being used to tell program which ScummVM game ID to pass to the emulator.  The second snap is of the directory of the game and the text file.  Note this HAS to go on the root of each game folder (unfortunately) or things won't work without a lot of other things to manage.  

 

if all is well, then in LB you should see this which gives you option of which emulator to use:

 

In the Retroarch directory under System you should have a scummvm.ini file. Make sure the paths to the games match.  My recollection is the scummvm.ini for RA was different versus what standalone uses.

 

Test RA by launching RA outside of LB then going to the scummvm text file pointer and selecting that to run.  If this runs and ScummVM standalone runs outside of LB, then reduces troubleshooting if something is not working. ScummVM is particular about where things are located so best to get that squared first.  

If both ScummVM standalone and RA are working then you can do a normal LB import where you tell LB to import all *.scummvm files as "ROMs".  Unfortunately, another step is you have to match the LB entry manually to the LB database. Some might connect if folks have put in an alt name in DB.  

So as can see not simple to do, but once you get one game working it is just wash and repeat and have flex of using RA or standalone.  Any new games that come up you do the same thing so you only have to do the drugery of placing the text file and manually matching one time.  

Edited July 25, 2022 by sundogak

[AlphaUMi]

1 hour ago, sundogak said:

Yes, you can use both a standalone (not the built-in version within LB) of ScummVM and the RA core in that I have this setup this way.  But it takes a bit of work initially in that you have to add a dummy pointer text file with the ScummVM GameID for all to work.  I did this several years ago now but here are basic steps:

1. Setup a normal ScummVM instance and make sure it works outside LB with your games.  Your ScummVM.ini file shows your gameIDs if wondering what they are and where to find. It also is in the ScummVM control panel (standalone). 
2. You should have folders with each game in it with the various files that ScummVM needs  
3. In each folder, you place an empty text file with the gameID as part of the file name. This is what we will point LB to when installing the ROMs/Games. The extension of the dummy file can be anything, but I used an extension of *.scummvm.  The key is the extension is consistent or will be headache when trying to import into LB.  
4. In LB, setup the ScummVM standalone emulator. See Figure 1 and 2 below.  Note the setups in Details and Associated Platforms portions. I also have a eXoScummVM version in there but ignore that.  The path in quotes must match your specific setup to where you keep your working scummvm.ini that is installed as part of standalone.  

-c "G:\Emulators\ScummVM\ScummVM\scummvm.ini" --no-console -f

Figure 1 - ScummVM Standalone

Figure 2 - ScummVM Standalone

 

5. For Retroarch your setup in LB looks like this for ScummVM core:

As an example, using the game Backyard Football 2002.  Notice that LB is pointing to football2002.scummvm which is the dummy text file noted above with the gameID of "football2002".  Again, the text file is empty and is just being used to tell program which ScummVM game ID to pass to the emulator.  The second snap is of the directory of the game and the text file.  Note this HAS to go on the root of each game folder (unfortunately) or things won't work without a lot of other things to manage.  

 

if all is well, then in LB you should see this which gives you option of which emulator to use:

 

In the Retroarch directory under System you should have a scummvm.ini file. Make sure the paths to the games match.  My recollection is the scummvm.ini for RA was different versus what standalone uses.

 

Test RA by launching RA outside of LB then going to the scummvm text file pointer and selecting that to run.  If this runs and ScummVM standalone runs outside of LB, then reduces troubleshooting if something is not working. ScummVM is particular about where things are located so best to get that squared first.  

If both ScummVM standalone and RA are working then you can do a normal LB import where you tell LB to import all *.scummvm files as "ROMs".  Unfortunately, another step is you have to match the LB entry manually to the LB database. Some might connect if folks have put in an alt name in DB.  

So as can see not simple to do, but once you get one game working it is just wash and repeat and have flex of using RA or standalone.  Any new games that come up you do the same thing so you only have to do the drugery of placing the text file and manually matching one time.  

Wow! What an excellent guide! Thank you!

[SonGokuu]

Is it possible to load a game choosing the language through the command line like the commands "--no-console" or "-f" (for fullscreen)?

I know there are the  --language and -q parameters, but I'm not able to use them. (the game doesn't load through launchbox with "-q es" or "-q=es")