openMSX Launcher v1.0

The first version of openMSX Launcher, a multi-platform front-end for openMSX, was released earlier this month. There are versions for Windows, MacOS, Linux and BSD and the launcher has the following features:

Create multiple databases of all MSX software supported by openMSX.
Scan the hard disk to automatically fill launcher databases with ROMs, disks, tapes, hard disks and laserdiscs, and sync the database to your hard disk any time later.
Display two screenshots for each game.
Display the text on the launcher using a number of supported languages (English, Arabic, Catalan, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Swedish).

Along with the release of openMSX Launcher v1.0 a new website, msxlaunchers.info, was created to host this new launcher as well as blueMSX Launcher. The blueMSX Launcher version, v1.13, on the new website is the same one on the blueMSX website, released back in Oct 2012.

Although this is version 1.0 of openMSX Launcher, there are still a lot of features missing, but the author welcomes any suggestions, comments or translation fixes. You can find the contact information in the help menu of the launcher.

Relevant link: msxlaunchers.info

Comments (15)

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6481)

08-07-2013, 21:34

Finally an advanced multi-platform launcher for openMSX to replace the too disappointing Catapult !

By Manuel

Ascended (19465)

09-07-2013, 23:26

It has quite a different focus than the (old aged) Catapult, so I don't think it can replace it for all users yet. But it's looking pretty good. Sam, if you need any support from us, do let us know. We'll be happy to provide it.

By oelsha

Resident (47)

10-07-2013, 04:15

Thanks Manuel.

By Vampier

Prophet (2413)

10-07-2013, 07:38

http://romdb.vampier.net/ is back and has cheats and generationMSX linked. Maybe something you could utilize in your launcher. And it has all up-to-date new releases. (database is included in openMSX and I can provide it in any format you want)

By Poltergeist

Champion (280)

10-07-2013, 15:49

@Vampier: the links to the cheats don't seem to match up. If I click (for example) f1 spirit, I'm seeing cheats for Mobile Planet Suthirus. And every link I tried, returned something else...

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6481)

10-07-2013, 16:27

Go directly in the Cheat Menu, it's the easy way as you get then only the games with available cheats. Many games are without any available cheat, so it's pure waste of time if you click on all the cheat links of the database.

Besides, more cheats can be found on the Resource page of the blueMSX website, but need to be converted into the format used by openMSX. More recent cheats are only available on the blueMSX forum.

You can also use the MSX database of blueMSX (msxromdb.xml - see the Resource page), it includes many roms that are not included in the openMSX database. Just rename it as softwaredb.xml, it will work for almost all roms.

By Vampier

Prophet (2413)

10-07-2013, 20:53

I see... I believe I made a mistake in putting the site back to the server.

Anyway.. since Marsk2000you thinks there is a race between openMSX and blueMSX

If you want to use sub-par data use Mars2000you's data I don't mind. He seems very passionate about blueMSX which is a great emulator which could use an update about now. If you want to use a more recent (a bit less userfriendly) emulator you can use openMSX which is updated almost on a daily basis.

In reality openMSX and the blueMSX core programmers teams work together on various issues and report findings to eachother.

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6481)

10-07-2013, 20:57

I can only repeat myself : there are more MSX roms in the blueMSX database.

From my point of view, there are many useless data in the openMSX database such as Konami RC numbers, extracted from Konami Game Compilations, provided by Author, etc ...

The only thing where openMSX database is better is its updating 'in real time' for the new games, but so many conversions for example are missing.

By Vampier

Prophet (2413)

10-07-2013, 21:04

Mars I'll do a scan on your database and will see which sha1 values I'm missing. I'll update the credits after I have done that.

As for the cheats... I'm not planning to update them since openMSX has reverse and finding a cheat is a matter of seconds in most cases.

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6481)

10-07-2013, 21:13

blueMSX has also a reverse feature (2.8.3 beta and unreleased 2.9), but that's not the point : many users will never try to find cheats by themselves, by using the tools available in the emulators. I think it's better to always give new cheats to the MSX community.

Now, it's a question of time ... and I prefer also to make combined things such as both mapping and training a game, at least when it's a big game (at the moment, I'm busy with Dragon Quest 2).

By Vampier

Prophet (2413)

13-07-2013, 09:58

for everyone who wants to parse the romdb into a simpel list - http://pastebin.com/zuP9FZu8 (non optimized python XML stuff)

By Vampier

Prophet (2413)

14-07-2013, 09:53

the openMSX rom database has been synced with the blueMSX Rom database again without adding mars2you's private dsk2rom collection in it. Those get auto recognized by openMSX anyway. Please don't use the blueMSX database with openMSX since we put much more information into a more efficient XML format.

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6481)

14-07-2013, 10:57

Besides the conversions you've ignored, you've also 'forgotten' important remarks. So, blueMSX database remains the best and I recommend to use it with openMSX.

By Vampier

Prophet (2413)

14-07-2013, 19:44

stop contradicting yourself

here is what you said:

Quote:

From my point of view, there are many useless data in the openMSX database such as Konami RC numbers, extracted from Konami Game Compilations, provided by Author, etc ...

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6481)

14-07-2013, 20:08

Konami RC numbers, extracted from Konami Game Compilations, provided by Author, etc ... are not important to play the game. The same for the link to Generation MSX, especially now it is in the extra data used by the openMSX/blueMSX launchers.

But if I indicate for example "Cheat version" or "Non-flashable - MegaFlashRomSCC+ required in slot 2", it has some additionnal value for the gamers.

Of course, it's a question of personal appreciation. Just follow your own rules, I'll follow my own rules.

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