Gamezone with PVRX2 in fullscreen issue

[D.R.]

I've got gamezone working but only when PVRX2 is running in windowed mode. In fullscreen the emus won’t run, this is a problem I've come across with other HTPC software which I have only been able to resolve by writing some ugly wrappers to force the HTPC software out of fullscreen just before launching the emu.

I am currently running PVRX2 using the -fse switch, I need to do this in order to get decent video playback on my TV. Now I'm guessing -fse means "full screen exclusive" but when I set video decode to full screen exclusive in the config appalet I still get horrible video playback.

So is there either:

1) A way of running PVRX2 in a window with the same video settings as the -fse switch (I have found the switch to run it without a title bar) or;

2) A way of forcing PVRX2 back to windowed mode before launching the selected emu (other than me applying my rather crude coding "skills" to the problem once more).

Any suggestions gratefully received.

EDIT:

I've just been serching the forums for "fse"...can...open...worms all over the floor! I can see I'm probably not going to get an easy answer to this. I will try the new build and see if EVR solves my problem *crosses fingers*.

[McBainUK]

What were your results on this? I need to run -fse due to my slow HTPC and find launching an emu causes all sorts of problems. Was thinking of use a bat file running off a custom task to restart GB-PVR in non -fse mode but I don't think custom tasks are supported in PVRX2 yet?

Is there a better way?

[idkpmiller]

Hi Guys,

Would it be any use if I added a feature that would call a batch file if it existed when you first call GameZone and another when it closed, if you could script your way around issues it may help. Just an idea!

Cheers

[D.R.]

I did have a very quick go at writing wrapper in autoit to get over the problem which went something like this:

Write wrapper named whatever the emu.exe is normally named e.g. mame.exe, gamezone calls wrapper to run thinking its the emu.exe. Wrapper grabs all the switches after the .exe, switches pvr2x into windowed mode then calls the emulator .exe (renamed) e.g. mame1.exe followed by all of the switches sent by gamezone. When the emu is terminated the wrapper forces pvrx2 back into fullscreen.

Great thinks me, just one problem. You cant switch pvrx2 into windowed mode when its running in -fse. Bugger...

And that is the crux of the problem. I tried the new build this morning with EVR and I get a horrible line right accross my screen. I then tried -fse, lovely clear picture. I did sort of fix my problem though. By making my TV the primary monitor I can run pvrx2 without -fse and I get no tearing on the TV image.

That means gamezone can happily launch emulators with no mods. It wont fix things in the long run though as I was hoping to run pvrx2 on the second monitor.

EDIT:

Forgot to mention, pvrx2 does support calling custom tasks so you could shutdown and restart. I tried the new build this morning and called a MAME frontend from pvrx2 as a custom task with no problems...except I still cant do it in -fse.

[McBainUK]

Was thinking of use a bat file running off a custom task to restart GB-PVR in non -fse mode but I don't think custom tasks are supported in PVRX2 yet?

Have just tried adding a custom task which launches notepad.exe and it works, sub must have added it in recent builds.

Using a bat file to restart GB-PVR (in different modes) isn't tidy but should work. Will post again when I have a spare minute to implement this idea.

[D.R.]

It will work but the problem is you would have to be carefull not to do it whilst recording something.

Is there a process you can check is running whilst recording to stop you from switching modes?

Its a bugger coz being able to play games whilst recording TV is one of the good things about having your emus available from your pvr.

[McBainUK]

It will work but the problem is you would have to be carefull not to do it whilst recording something.

I thought that you could close the GB-PVR GUI and it would still record, as it's the recording service that does the business?

[pastro]

I thought that you could close the GB-PVR GUI and it would still record, as it's the recording service that does the business?

That's right. I do it all the time.

[idkpmiller]

I wouldnt think many of the emulators will allow you to send them to the second monitor, so how really useful is this?

[D.R.]

Yeah you're right about the emu on second monitor and I'm new here so I didnt realise you could close the gui and keep recording! That being the case its suddenly doable to run in -fse and run gamezone with a bit of scriptery pokery!

If I get something working I will post it. Thanks for the input so far most helpful.