RetroFE forums

thanks for not taking my comments negatively, thanks 

system backgrounds - system image float (great)
game backgrounds - box art backgrounds zoomed in (personal favorite) may look best with logo style
selection wheel - make it a perfect oval with the selected game below the video
firstletter - make horizontal on top of screen (finishing touches)
reflection - less (too many is kinda distracting)
video bezel - not a fan of per game bezels BUT a standard simple per system one might be cool
selected system console logo - on the bezel or video (maybe)
pointer - really helps people know where they are giving them the focus on the video (good idea)
on screen controls - 100% helps, the question "So how do I go back" infuriates me BUT really needs to be basic with so many control schemes ppl choose
*also, one only truly needs SELECT and BACK. "X" button for categories and letterscroll etc...don't really need representation imo

Guess what i'm saying is that basic appears better. The best insight comes from children. If a kid can use it without instructions then you know it's perfect.
My theme on my Arcade1up only has "PRESS START" flashing on the bottom center. Off to the side I have "O" "BACK". That's it. Plain old stupid simple. Haven't made a theme since.

Count me in on your project if you want a hand. I've worked with RetroFE for years and I do have Photoshop.

Best advice I could ever ever give is "Make it for you, not the community. A visual masterpiece is great and all BUT....does it get played?"

...just an idea

<image src="images/loading.png" width="1920" height ="1080" alpha="0" layer="6">
   <onGameEnter>
                <set duration=".25"><animate type="alpha" from="0" to="1"/></set>
                <set duration="5"><animate type="nop"/></set>
                <set duration="1"><animate type="alpha" from="1" to="0"/></set>
       </onGameEnter>
</image>

<image src="images/gameover.png" width="1920" height ="1080" alpha="0" layer="6">
   <onGameExit>
                <set duration=".25"><animate type="alpha" from="0" to="1"/></set>
                <set duration="5"><animate type="nop"/></set>
                <set duration="1"><animate type="alpha" from="1" to="0"/></set>
       </onGameExit>
</image>

There should be way more themes out there for download. I can build themes. What I can't, others can. Let's go!! 

Here's a sample of what I'm playing with right now on my theme. It's just a snippet of my collection menu displaying the box and title. Sorry I forgot how to code tag it, but I'll try



    <!----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->
    <!-- Collection Menu -->
    <!-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> 

    <!-- Collection Box -->
    <menu type="custom" menuIndex="1" orientation="vertical" imageType="artwork_front" scrollTime=".1" scrollAcceleration=".1" x="0" width="center" y="center" algorithm="easeincircular">
        <itemDefaults alpha="1" x="250" y="0" maxWidth="100" maxHeight="100" xOrigin="center" yOrigin="center" layer="17"/>   
        <item yOffset="114" alpha="0"/>
        <item yOffset="220">
<onMenuExit menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuExit>
<onMenuEnter menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuEnter>
<onGameEnter>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameEnter>
<onGameExit>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameExit>
        </item>
        <item yOffset="326">
<onMenuExit menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuExit>
<onMenuEnter menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuEnter>
<onGameEnter>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameEnter>
<onGameExit>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameExit>
        </item>
        <item yOffset="432" selected="true">
<onMenuExit menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuExit>
<onMenuEnter menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuEnter>
<onGameEnter>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameEnter>
<onGameExit>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameExit>
        </item>
        <item yOffset="538">
<onMenuExit menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuExit>
<onMenuEnter menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuEnter>
<onGameEnter>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameEnter>
<onGameExit>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameExit>
        </item>
        <item yOffset="644">
<onMenuExit menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuExit>
<onMenuEnter menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuEnter>
<onGameEnter>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameEnter>
<onGameExit>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameExit>
        </item>
        <item yOffset="750">
<onMenuExit menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuExit>
<onMenuEnter menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuEnter>
<onGameEnter>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameEnter>
<onGameExit>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameExit>
        </item>
        <item yOffset="856">
<onMenuExit menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuExit>
<onMenuEnter menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuEnter>
<onGameEnter>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameEnter>
<onGameExit>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameExit>
        </item>
        <item yOffset="962" alpha="0"/>
    </menu>



 

    <!-- Collection Title -->
    <menu type="custom" menuIndex="1" orientation="vertical" textType="title"  scrollTime=".1" scrollAcceleration=".1" x="0" width="center" y="center" algorithm="easeincircular">
        <itemDefaults alpha="1" x="309" y="0" maxWidth="1028" xOrigin="left" yOrigin="center" textFormat="uppercase" fontSize="72" loadFontSize="72" fontColor="ffffff" layer="17"/>
        <item yOffset="114" alpha="0"/>
        <item yOffset="220">
<onMenuExit menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuExit>
<onMenuEnter menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuEnter>
<onGameEnter>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameEnter>
<onGameExit>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameExit>
        </item>
        <item yOffset="326">
<onMenuExit menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuExit>
<onMenuEnter menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuEnter>
<onGameEnter>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameEnter>
<onGameExit>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameExit>
        </item>
        <item yOffset="432" selected="true">
<onMenuExit menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuExit>
<onMenuEnter menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuEnter>
<onGameEnter>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameEnter>
<onGameExit>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameExit>
        </item>
        <item yOffset="538">
<onMenuExit menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuExit>
<onMenuEnter menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuEnter>
<onGameEnter>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameEnter>
<onGameExit>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameExit>
        </item>
        <item yOffset="644">
<onMenuExit menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuExit>
<onMenuEnter menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuEnter>
<onGameEnter>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameEnter>
<onGameExit>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameExit>
        </item>
        <item yOffset="750">
<onMenuExit menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuExit>
<onMenuEnter menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuEnter>
<onGameEnter>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameEnter>
<onGameExit>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameExit>
        </item>
        <item yOffset="856">
<onMenuExit menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuExit>
<onMenuEnter menuIndex="1">
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onMenuEnter>
<onGameEnter>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="0" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameEnter>
<onGameExit>
<set duration=".01">
<animate type="alpha" to="1" algorithm="easeincircular"/>
</set>
</onGameExit>
        </item>
        <item yOffset="962" alpha="0"/>
    </menu>



Well as far as menus go, you can't make menus of all reloadable things. You can't make a menu for year, manuf, numberPlayer, genre, etc. You can for items like the title, even the reloadable images like artwork_front and logos. Not so much for things like a menu of just fanarts. Of course it gets loaded for the the single item on screen but to have a menu that shows all on-screen items including the players for each game is a no go. A menu to show a default image for all on-screen items is a no go. You can only reload the single item in the menu.

Good example, look at the snes mini game menu. Underneath each game there is an image for the numberPlayers underneath each box. This I cannot do.

The "default.png" doesn't appear to be working for me. The image I am trying to use does appear when it's titled the same as a listed game but "default.png" does not populate the other games. What I belive should work is (imageType="screentitle" mode="layout") with the location of (RetroFE\layouts\layoutname\collections\Super Nintendo Entertainment System\medium_artwork\screentitle\default.png). This does not function with or without another image.


  No mode used:
      collections/SNES/medium_artwork/logo/1942.png
      collections/SNES/medium_artwork/logo/default.png
  Mode layout:
      layouts/<layout name>/collections/SNES/medium_artwork/logo/1942.png
      layouts/<layout name>/collections/SNES/medium_artwork/logo/default.png                  *Here is what does not work for me. Logo obviously works as I have the logos, but an unused imageType with default.png in it's directory
  Mode system:
      collections/SNES/system_artwork/logo.png
  Mode systemlayout:
      layouts/<layout name>/collections/SNES/system_artwork/logo.png
  Mode common (not very useful for type logo):
      collections/_common/medium_artwork/logo/1942.png
      collections/_common/medium_artwork/logo/default.png
  Mode commonlayout (not very useful for type logo):
      layouts/<layout name>/collections/_common/medium_artwork/logo/1942.png
      layouts/<layout name>/collections/_common/medium_artwork/logo/default.png    
    
*If you could test and confirm how this is done that would be awesome.

O.K. Having said that...I'm only missing the tiles underneath the artwork. I can't display much more than titles and boxes natively as menus. What would work is to batch the exact same tile image for each game & have them named accordingly.

So the question is... how would one call a background image for each game? Not asking for the singular background like fanart but rather use the same background image displayed underneath all logos. Hopefully this can be done without batch. If not, I'm just gonna batch 1000's of the same image.

Just had to say I liked this theme a lot when I first saw it. The fact that an image was needed for each menu item with the box & title & and genre made me not want to travel this road. I can say now that this is possible without custom images. After what I've just seen, I know fantastic things are possible if coded correctly. In other words, I could make this theme with no extras necessary as it would natively use the box and info as a single image. Im recreating igarikoitz aura theme and....wow.

Big thanks to him & Peter.