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Autoplay Attract Mode


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Autoplay Attract Mode

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This was inspired by "Play N Quit" and I wanted to create an improved version that would work for anyone regardless of settings in Big Box

Description: This is an AHK script that will automatically launch and close selected games for an in game playable take on Attract Mode. In between each game being selected, it will randomly scroll through your game wheel. Please note at this time it will only work in a single game wheel (it's not smart enough to know how to go into different platforms/playlists) and though can be easily configured for efferent emulators, it can only be configured for one at a time. Once the script is running you can easily start playing whatever game is currently being ran by hitting the designated hotkey to stop the script and proceed with your gaming session!


Here are the improvements:

  • Takes into consideration whether or not Startup/Shutdown screens are enabled
  • Takes into consideration whether or not Game Details View is skipped
  • Can work with any emulator
  • Uses a random number for the game wheel selection to change
  • Can set a max value for this random number
  • Randomizes direction for the game wheel to move
  • Will work with a vertical or horizontal game wheel
  • Removed all the extra non-functional lines


How to use:

In the header section of the script there are detailed comments directing users what a handful of variables are doing and how to set them

  • GameDetails - Use a value of 1 if you have Game Details View enabled. Use a value of 0 (or anything but 1) if you have Game Details View disabled
  • GameWheelOrientation - Use "V" (must be in quotes) for vertical game wheels (ie up and down) and use "H" for horizontal game wheels (left and right)
  • GameRunTime - Enter the number of minutes each game should run before closing and choosing the next game
  • MaxGames - the maximum random number to be generated. Tip: make this at or smaller than the total qty of games in the platform/playlist. (if you make it same or greater as total qty it is possible for the random number to select the same game twice in a row)
  • EmulatorEXE - Enter the file name with extension of the emulator (must be in quotes)
  • Exit Hotkey - last line in script is a hotkey to terminate the script. Use this at any time the script is running to stop it

 

Default values:

  • GameDetails - 0 (disabled)
  • GameWheelOrientation - "V" (vertical)
  • GameRunTime - 3 (minutes for game to run)
  • MaxGames - 150 (max number for wheel to move to select new game)
  • EmulatorEXE - "retroarch.exe" (emulator's executable file name with extension)
  • Exit Hotkey - Joy8 (commonly the "start" button on joypads)

 

How to use (continued):

  • Place the script file in a desired location
  • In LaunchBox, edit a game entry
  • In the game's Additional Apps, add the script file as the Additional App
  • Select for the Additional App to start automatically at game launch
  • Now when this game is launched, this script will start the Autoplay Attract Mode

Alternative launching method:

  • Alternatively, you could add a hotkey to the script that would start it
  • If so place this hotkey at the spot designed in the script, specifically it is line 28
  • For ex: +Home::
  • The above example starting hotkey would be shift+home keys
  • Recommended to add the script to startup programs in LaunchBox if using the start with hotkey method. Do this instead of adding it to a game as an Additional App
  • This is due to the script will instead launch automatically at start of LaunchBox/Big Box. But it will not execute the main part of the script until the hotkey is pressed
  • This may be a better method for some to start/stop the script depending on your use case

 

Leave any feedback in this thread! Cheers!

 


 

Edited by skizzosjt
adding better description
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