Coleco Handheld... Help required

[FRK]

Hi

I understand that Coleco Handhelds work with mame, as I have seen youtube videos, but for the life of me I cant get them working in mame or launchbox..

Advice very welcome.

Thanks

 

Mike

[FRK]

HI, 

Got them working in mame (had the wrong roms) but for some reason they will not import in to Launchbox.

What am I doing wrong ?

Thanks

Mike

[sundogak]

4 hours ago, FRK said:

HI, 

Got them working in mame (had the wrong roms) but for some reason they will not import in to Launchbox.

What am I doing wrong ?

Thanks

Mike

If you imported with the "Skip non-arcade games" checked it won't import things like handhelds and game/watch games. Of course it also pulls in a bunch of other items (like TV connected games).

If you only want a small subset of handhelds than easier to import manually.  This site can help with that since you can select things under "additional filters/categories" that allow you to pick what items you want to see which also gives you the ROM name.  You can export out the list to a variety of formats. For example, attached is one-screen handhelds (not including TV connected games).

See post below about playlists and the plugin.  Lastly, you can also use this plugin here that imports playlists. It allows you to get very granular on MAME sets on type of games to include. Point to your category.ini file location and then will get a list of categories of handhelds if scroll down.  More than likely you want the "Handheld/Electronic Game" entry.  Assuming you have a fullset MAME setup then the playlist will pickup the proper MAME ROM name so you don't have to manually do it.     

 

MAME search - ADB.txt

Edited October 7, 2023 by sundogak
struck out incorrect info based on JoeViking245 clarificaiton

[JoeViking245]

To clarify, the plugin @sundogak mentioned will create playlists from games already imported into LaunchBox.  It won't actually import any games.  So if you don't already have the game imported somewhere, it won't get added to a playlist.  

 

If you want to import only a subset of MAME machines (games), go to the site sundogak mentioned (Arcade Database) and filter down to the set you want.  When exporting the 'list' (on the site under Options, Export the Results) choose the format MAME (XML).  You can then use the plugin "MAME Custom XML Importer" to import those games into LaunchBox. (provided you have the ROMs)

 

 

Though, for the Coleco handhelds, it might be easier just to drag & drop all 6 of the ROMs into LaunchBox.  

 

[sundogak]

1 hour ago, JoeViking245 said:

To clarify, the plugin @sundogak mentioned will create playlists from games already imported into LaunchBox.  It won't actually import any games.  So if you don't already have the game imported somewhere, it won't get added to a playlist.  

 

If you want to import only a subset of MAME machines (games), go to the site sundogak mentioned (Arcade Database) and filter down to the set you want.  When exporting the 'list' (on the site under Options, Export the Results) choose the format MAME (XML).  You can then use the plugin "MAME Custom XML Importer" to import those games into LaunchBox. (provided you have the ROMs)

 

 

Though, for the Coleco handhelds, it might be easier just to drag & drop all 6 of the ROMs into LaunchBox.  

 

Thanks. XML output from arcadeitalia.net is I how did prior (for subset) but then couldn't find the link to the plugin (forgot was still in beta)!  Thanks for fixing my error on the INI playlist tool.  

[JoeViking245]

1 hour ago, sundogak said:

Thanks. XML output from arcadeitalia.net is I how did prior (for subset) but then couldn't find the link to the plugin (forgot was still in beta)!  Thanks for fixing my error on the INI playlist tool.  

I didn't see it as an error.  I just figured you were 'future proofing' the thread.  After importing various handhelds, the next logical step is to put them in their own playlists.