Star Castle Color Overay/bezel Conflict

[TomConklinVO]

Hey Everyone!

I'm hoping someone can help with a small "Star Castle" issue. For reference I am using MAME 0.251 with Launchbox for my arcade games. So, Star Castle has a color overlay which I have been using and enjoying for some time. However, since I downloaded the Bezel Project and the MAME bezels, it seems that I cannot use the color overlay and the bezel at the same time. I am able to switch back and forth between the two using the video menu but using both at the same time doesn't seem to be an option. Does anyone have some insight or ideas here? Thanks so much!

Just wanted to add that I just realized its the same problem with Asteroids Deluxe. Thanks!

Edited Sunday at 09:01 PM by TomConklinVO

[dragon57]

It sounds like the only way to get your intended result is to combine the lay files and resulting graphic assets. If you don't have the MAME knowledge to do that, there are many here who could probably help out. Just reply and attach the assets you are using for both the overlay and bezel.

[TomConklinVO]

Thanks, I'll have to see if I can figure that out. I'm learning, but not sure on a lot of stuff. 

[TomConklinVO]

So I found these files in the Starcas folder which was in the artwork folder. Seems to be the bezel.png and default.lay files for starcastle. What type of file would the color overlay be? I'm not even sure I'm on the right track. Thank you.

 

 

Default.lay

[dragon57]

OK, the overlay definition in MAME for Star Castle without any 3rd party bezels installed, like from our project, are in its defined logic for the game itself. The lay language allows defining rectangular and circular objects in the later versions of MAME (originally MAME used .art files for many overlays) without needing external graphic files. The only way to use Bezel Project files AND original overlay definitions is to combine the lay file contents in a way that combines all the definitions. I have all this info, but haven't ever performed the conversion required. I will work on your requirement and get back here with an attachment and explantion of how to use the attachment contents.

[dragon57]

This should be very close to what you are after. Make a copy of your existing lay file in the starcas directory, then put this lay file from the attachment into your starcas directory. Make sure MAME isn't running when you do this. If you want/need to adjust the strength of the colored overlay parts, look at line 33 for the value of the color alpha value. I set it to .05, which looks good on my monitor, but you may have to tweak it on your setup. The value goes from 0 to 1.

Default.lay

[TomConklinVO]

Oh wow! Thank you so much for working on this! I'll give it a shot and let you know how it goes.

[TomConklinVO]

I just tried it. Amazing! You totally nailed it! If there is anything I can do in return please let me know. Was this all done by changing a few lines in the lay file? I have discovered that I am having the same issue with Asteroids Deluxe and Battlezone. Might the solution be similar with those games? 

Thank you! Thank you!

[dragon57]

I'm not a big arcade game player, so I had to find those and run them. Yes, looks like the same requirement. I'll track down the info required to modify their lay files and work on them tomorrow. Stay tuned! 😁

[TomConklinVO]

Thank you so much. If you need me to reply with the current files I have, let me know. I appreciate your help!

[dragon57]

I should not need anything from you other than which MAME games need lay file editing.

[TomConklinVO]

Ah okay cool. So, as I mentioned... Battlezone and Asteroids Deluxe. When I am back at my computer in the morning I can post the specific game file names. 

[dragon57]

I went ahead and knocked these out while I had lay logic in my brain.

Here is the replacement for astdelux:

default.lay

Here is the replacement for bzone:

Default.lay

[TomConklinVO]

Fantastic. Thank you! I'll give these a try in the morning and let you know how they go! 

[dragon57]

After you brought this up, I am now thinking of going over the rest of the MAME vector game list to see how many others have colored overlay definitions that could be integrated.

[TomConklinVO]

That's a great idea! I would love to know what other ones you find. If you put together a collection, please let me know as well. I'll run though my library at some point too and see what ones I might have. 

By the way... those lay files worked perfectly! Thank you so much!