Unable to add roms in Launchbox!

[RetroExecutioner]

I Im trying to add some single ROMs for Arcade, but none of the games show up, so they can't be added. I downloaded the ROM game Gunforce II, but it doesn't add.

What do I have to do? The ROM I downloaded from here xxxx

Im just looking for some hidden gems that I don't have. The platform I have is MAME 0.253, if that matters.

PLEASE HELP!!!

Edited Saturday at 12:22 PM by JoeViking245
Removed link to ROM

[JoeViking245]

It should be able to show up and import without issue.  Which method are you using to import the ROM?  If you're hoping it will auto import when adding it to you /Games/Arcade/ folder, auto-import is disabled for Arcade (as well as a few other platforms).

 

Worst case scenario, you can press Crtl+N to manually add the game.  When in you Arcade platform, press Ctrl+N and type in the Title and hit enter to get the metadata. Then in the Launching section, click Browse and navigate to and select the ROM.

[RetroExecutioner]

I tried via Tools - Import - Roms - Single Platform, I chose the rom file, then I selected platform Arcade, then emulator MAME 0.253, then chose copy file to my launchbox games folder, then next, next, and when arrive at ready to import window there is no game, 0 games, bassicaly is not see it at all to import.

CTRL-N does not even find the game, only the first Gunforce and another Gunforce for SNES, no Gunforce 2.

Edited Saturday at 01:02 PM by RetroExecutioner

[JoeViking245]

25 minutes ago, RetroExecutioner said:

CTRL-N does not even find the game, only the first Gunforce and another Gunforce for SNES, no Gunforce 2.

Run...   Tools < Download < Force Update Games Database Metadata...   Then try again.

What version of LaunchBox are you on?

[RetroExecutioner]

I am using Launchbox 13.24. I managed to add the game with CTRL+N, but it is not starting, just a 1 sec black screen and that's it.

[JoeViking245]

3 hours ago, RetroExecutioner said:

I am using Launchbox 13.24. I managed to add the game with CTRL+N, but it is not starting, just a 1 sec black screen and that's it.

Is it safe to assume the other games in Arcade launch and the added ROM(s?) is in the same folder as the others?

If so, the ROM might not be compatible with your 0.253.  That is, it might be for a newer release.

You could try this plugin and see if it sheds any light.

 

[RetroExecutioner]

My MAME set is 0.253. I have everything well organized in folders, games, and emulators.

Regarding that plugin, what should I do with it? I have never used it before.

 

This is what i receive from the plugin

 

 

gunforc2.zip.txt

Edited Sunday at 10:40 AM by RetroExecutioner

[JoeViking245]

1 hour ago, RetroExecutioner said:

This is what i receive from the plugin

Quote

-----------------
Run MAME output
-----------------
Warning: layout view 'Bezel Artwork' contains deprecated bezel element
Warning: layout view 'Bezel Artwork' contains deprecated bezel element
m92_a-3m-.ic11 NOT FOUND (tried in gunforc2)
m92_a-7j-.ic41 NOT FOUND (tried in gunforc2)
m92_a-9j-.ic51 NOT FOUND (tried in gunforc2)
m92_b-3f-.ic14 NOT FOUND (tried in gunforc2)
m92_b-4f-.ic21 NOT FOUND (tried in gunforc2)
m92_b-7j-a.ic41 NOT FOUND (tried in gunforc2)
Fatal error: Required files are missing, the machine cannot be run.
 

You can ignore the 1st 2 warnings.  The other 6 errors are files missing from inside the ROM file's zip.  Based on those missing files, it looks like the ROM file you have is for MAME 0.252 or older.

I was right when I stated, "the ROM might not be compatible with your 0.253."   But was wrong when I said, "it might be for a newer release."  It's actually for an older release.

 

Though some ROMs can work between different released versions of the MAME executable, the rule of thumb is to have ROMs that are for the same version as the executable.

[RetroExecutioner]

So I need only ROMs for 0.253? I worked a lot on this set to make it only 4 GB of the games that I like. Now have to do a new one again?

Also, my set is merged. Is it better to have merged or non-merged sets?

And how do I do if some games are not available from the beginning in the sets, like some hidden gems, for example?

Edited Sunday at 12:44 PM by RetroExecutioner

[JoeViking245]

26 minutes ago, RetroExecutioner said:

So I need only ROMs for 0.253?

Ideally, yes.  In the case of Gun Force 2, you need one for at least 0.253.  A newer versioned one may still work with 0.253.

 

30 minutes ago, RetroExecutioner said:

Also, my set is merged. Is it better to have merged or non-merged sets?

If you're cherry-picking, ideally yes.

e.g.  The Simpsons

The parent ROM is simpsons.zip which is the 4-player version.  If you want the 2-player version only, using a merged set you'd still need the ROM simpsons.zip. But the launching section of the game in LaunchBox will "point to" simpsons2p.zip.  simpsons2p files are "inside" of simpsons.zip (along with 12 other versions of the game).

Using a non-merged set, you'd have/use just simpsons2p.zip.  Which contains ONLY files for that 2-player version.

In the end, it's less confusing to have and use simpsons2p.zip (via a non-merged set) rather than having simpsons.zip and pointing to simpsons2p.zip (merged set).

BTW, MAME "knows" to look inside simpsons.zip (for simpsons2p files) if simpsons2p.zip doesn't exist.

 

51 minutes ago, RetroExecutioner said:

And how do I do if some games are not available from the beginning in the sets, like some hidden gems, for example?

I'm not sure what you mean here.  If you're starting with a partial set, you get what you have.  If you were to start with a full set, you can cherry pick from that. Then if you later discover a "hidden gem", you can go back to your full set and "pull it out".

 

 

59 minutes ago, RetroExecutioner said:

Now have to do a new one again?

A possible solution is to:

• Get full non-merged set.
  • save it somewhere.  e.g. F:\MAME 0.284 (non-merged)
• Get the corresponding mame.exe version
  • e.g. 0.284
• Optional, but probably not a bad idea...
  • Create a backup of your /LaunchBox/Data/ folder before continuing.
  • This can be done in LaunchBox via Tools < Options < Data < Backups
• In LaunchBox
  • Update your MAME emulator to the new one
• In LaunchBox
  • In your Arcade platform
    • select all games
    • Go to Tools < File Management < Change ROMs Folder Path for Selected Games...
    • Tell it to change the path to wherever you saved your non-merged set
    • Test a few games. They should just work.
  • In your Arcade platform
    • select all games
    • Go to Tools < File Management < Export/Copy ROM Files from Selected Games to New Folder...
    • Tell it to copy the ROMs to your "F:\LaunchBox 13.5\LaunchBox\Games\Arcade\" folder
      • aka. where you had you previously stored the games you like
    • This step creates a curated COPY of your ROMs. Leaving the full set intact for later retrieval of future-discovered "hidden gems"
    • If you're nervous, you can create a backup of your existing ROMs 1st, before doing this step.
  • In your Arcade platform
    • select all games
    • Go to Tools < File Management < Change ROMs Folder Path for Selected Games...
    • Tell it to change the path [back] to "F:\LaunchBox 13.5\LaunchBox\Games\Arcade\"
    • Test a few games. They should just work.

 

Note: This process will only work with a non-merged set!

 

[RetroExecutioner]

And how do I properly curate the games from the non-merged set? I mean, I want to make it the same 4GB only games that I want, but to delete the games that I don't need, I need to see the games from the set like pictures or videos, so I can choose properly. Can you guide me, please?

And you say that it is better to remain on the non-merged version? Can I add new games, or do I always have to create a new set?

Edited Monday at 11:33 AM by RetroExecutioner

[JoeViking245]

2 hours ago, RetroExecutioner said:

how do I properly curate the games from the non-merged set? I mean, I want to make it the same 4GB only games that I want

Follow the steps I outlined above.

 

2 hours ago, RetroExecutioner said:

And you say that it is better to remain on the non-merged version? Can I add new games, or do I always have to create a new set?

As stated above:  

If you were to start with a full set, you can cherry pick from that. Then if you later discover a "hidden gem", you can go back to your full set and "pull it out".

The process I outlined creates your "4GB only games" set.  AND maintains the full set.  Which you can keep on an external drive, or wherever, so that it's out-of-the-way. Yet available.

Again:  Note: This process will only work with a non-merged set!

 

Adding new games:

Then when you discover a "gem" (like Gun Force 2) that's not in your LaunchBox collection, go to your external drive (or wherever) and copy gunforc2.zip to where you have your "4GB only games" set.  Then use Tools - Import (or Ctrl+N) and navigate to where you copied the ROM to.

 

Keeping the full (non-merged) set intact (somewhere, wherever) is cheap insurance in case something was to happen with your "4GB only games" set.  Also, it makes it easy to retrieve the "gems" from.

[RetroExecutioner]

The question is how to delete the games from the complete set so I can reduce its size to 4GB. As I said, I need, of course, to see the game picture or gameplay so I am sure of what I delete. I want to delete directly from LaunchBox. Will it be entirely deleted from the name set folder? 

Please elaborate on the steps. Thank you! 

[JoeViking245]

9 minutes ago, RetroExecutioner said:

The question is how to delete the games from the complete set so I can reduce its size to 4GB. .... Please elaborate on the steps. Thank you! 

1. Carefully follow all of the steps in the "possible solution".
   • Note that the mentioned "curated copy" that is created is your [new] 4GB set.
2. Once done, and satisfied, delete the folder the full set ("complete set") is in.  
   • e.g. F:\MAME 0.284 (non-merged)

You won't be able to later to retrieve a future-discovered "gem".  (Well, you can. By going through the process that initiated this post. )  But this will accomplish what you're asking for.   Having a 4GB set and no full set.

 

Please take some time and carefully re-read my previous 2 posts as they're pretty elaborate to begin with.  Then if you have questions about a specific item in them, ask.