Seamless Launch Request

RetroArch General
#1

I’m using RetroArch in a console-recreation machine (computer built into an SNES case to play old systems), and I’m wondering if a feature can be added that hides the console altogether when launching games. I’d like launching and closing games to appear so seamless that it stops being obvious the machine is running Windows, if that makes sense.

This is my Project Arcade cabinet so you can kind of see what I mean: http://youtu.be/FAgvCyHbvQo?t=7m8s

I know about the “-D” switch, but that still shows the console first before quickly hiding it. Alternately, if this is not possible, maybe black out the entire screen upon launch? I don’t know what way would work best or be most feasible. :slight_smile:

Thank you for all the work you do on this, and I understand if this just isn’t important to you.

#2

I don’t think RetroArch can do anything about the command window opening up - it really depends on the front-end you’re using to launch it with. For example, I use XBMC’s Advanced Launcher add-on which has a feature to hide the command window for launched batch files, so I created a batch file to start retroarch instead.

I do have a request of my own when it comes to seamless launching though. I use a program called nomousy that hides the Windows mouse cursor, but it seems RetroArch briefly displays it’s own mouse cursor when it’s loading (a black mouse pointer with a white outline). Is there anyway to disable this?

#3

The command window does not appear when launching from Phoenix, though. There must be a way to prevent this, as none of the other emulators I’ve seen show a console window when launching. It’s not an enormously annoying thing, but it would make for a more seamless experience.

Edit: A batch file with XBMC does work to hide it. Thanks! Not ideal, but functional. :slight_smile: Now, is there any way to hide the black mouse cursor which shows up? I think it’s part of SDL apps, but I think it could be hidden or removed in the retroarch code.

#4

For anyone reading this thread and looking for a resolution, the solution to the SDL black cursor issue is here: http://forum.themaister.net/viewtopic.php?id=103

#5

CreateProcess() in Win32 has an option to disable the console window on start up (look in RetroArch-Phoenix to see how). Apparently there’s no simple way to do so outside the raw C API.

If you start RetroArch standalone, there’s the “unknown” -D option as noted, which detaches the console right after startup. Indeed, you’ll see it flash though, nothing I can do about that.

#6

http://www.commandline.co.uk/chp/

I’m using this to launch retroarch without the console showing up. Shows up as virus under windows though, dont know if it is.

I point the launcher to a compiled autohotkey script with this in it


Run, C:\Games\RetroArch\chp\chp.exe C:\Games\RetroArch\Retroarch.exe %1% -D -c nes.cfg

This runs retro arch without ever showing the console. It doesnt seem to work with files that have spaces in them though. Also in autohotkey script is code to load a custom xpadder profile and to close xpadder when retroarch closes.

#7

@SeeThruHead Looks like a good solution. Windows generally thinks anything that intercepts anything else is a virus. This is often true, but it causes false-positives for things like this, Cheat Engine, etc.

#8

Thanks to retroarch I now have GBA, SNES, Genesis, and NES running perfectly seamlessly out of my XBMC setup. Loading the correct controller profile and config automatically when launching the games and returning to XBMC flawlessly afterward.


Run, C:\Games\RetroArch\chp\chp.exe C:\Games\RetroArch\Retroarch.exe %1% -D -c C:\Games\RetroArch\NES
es.cfg
Run, C:\games\Xpadder\xpadder.exe RetroArchNes
WinWait, RetroArch : Nestopia v1.44
WinWaitClose
Run, C:\games\Xpadder\xpadder.exe /C