October 27, 2021 [version 8.9.4 released]

"This is not the splash screen you're looking for!"
After years of suffering, I finally found a way to make the splash screen not to show up on top of other applications. While games lists are being created/scanned, you can do something else without that annoying splash screen popping up constantly. Not yet fixed for a clean install though.

I have created a new RGB Color Picker dialog from scratch, named Color Picker Ex. It's fast, lightweight and easy to use.
It even comes with a HEX edit box so you can enter a color in HEX format. It replaces the jurassic Windows color picker dialog.

Search bar edit box locked and inaccessible at startup, is now fixed. Another bug, making the games list not focused at startup, is also fixed.
Both bugs were caused by a function that removes Delphi 7's hidden form trickery. Moving this function from the main form's OnActivate() event to the OnShow() event, fixes it.
I spent 2 weeks debugging the frontend's startup code to find the little devil that was causing these issues. But I also ended up optimizing the frontend's startup code in the process so, it's a win-win.

September 01, 2021 [version 8.9.2 released]

One more. :)
Some bug fixes and new stuff for MAME. A bunch of console/computer system icons were updated and they all got a 256x256 resolution icon.
This is the last big pack update, I promisse...
Contens of mameinfo.dat and messinfo.dat are handled separately. This fixes wrong game info being shown in Game Documents feature.

Support for new MAME game info, read from -listxml output. They might be useful for a future frontend improvement... or not. You need to create a new MAME games list so they can be used:
cocktail mode
cocktail status
driver protection tag
requiresartwork tag
lan tag
ramoption tag

I forgot to support some mame.ini settings in MAME Settings screen:
Directory To Share With Emulated Machines (-share)
Path To Loose Software (-swpath)
Path For LUA Plugins To Store Data, Read/Write (-share_directory)

New Machine Slots / Media Info panel in Custom Parameters screen. You can see a list of supported MAME machines for the softlist game being edited. Select one of those machines to view a list of supported slots and supported media options.
This feature is really handy when creating custom parameters for a softlist game.

I think I've done all the improvements I wanted to. It only took me 4 months of non-stop work.
Now I can finally rest and go back playing my PC games, cough... Resident Evil Village ...cough :) :)
Have fun!

August 13, 2021 [version 8.9.1 released]

A few oopsies... I made.
Some minor bug fixes in this build, and I forgot to include the updated logo.png for standard resolution. I tweaked the colors a little bit and added more sprites in there. :D
Tweaks were made to better handle requirements detection for MAME softlist games. In a computer machine, the frontend was trying to load a device set as a cartridge instead of enabling that device in the machine's slot1, and a couple more bugs in other console machines.

I think it might be time to choose a new theme for the splash screen, this apocalyptic theme is getting old, no ? Not that it's not a good one...

New MAME feature: custom parameters.
You can create custom parmeters for a softlist game, a software list or MAME machine. Do things like, attach a cassete tape, a special cartridge, a floppy drive or another device. Enable a special feature in a computer machine that you cannot do with MAME settings .ini files.

Added support for another Apple II emulator, microM8 Apple II Emulator. Interesting emulator, this one.
In the Apple IIgs front, emulator GSplus" Apple IIgs Emulator is now supported.

Emu Loader is ready for MAME v0.235 with the new BGFX backend options: Direct3D 12 and Vulkan. I guess you're gonna have to wait a few more weeks to try these renderers...

The full pack still have all 4K content in it, but this time you can grab the update package if you already have v8.9. It will take me more time to sort some things out and update the downloads page with all updated content, including Photoshop's .psd files with all my work. Have fun!

August 04, 2021 [version 8.9 released]

Ep 6: A Night of Melodies & Unmissable Performances! (SonyLiv WebDL Hindi) The stage is set, the stakes are higher than ever, and Indian Idol Season 15

Standout Moment: Neeti Mohan performed a special duet with one of the young contestants, adding a high-energy musical moment to the high-stakes eliminations.

Indian Idol Season 15 Episode 06: A Masterclass in Talent | Watch Now on SonyLIV

Episodes air every Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 PM IST on Sony TV and SonyLIV.

Episode 6 is a turning point in the competition. It separates the contenders from the pretenders and sets the stage for the top contestants of the season. The 1080p quality allows you to catch every emotion on the contestants' faces and hear the crystal-clear nuances in their voices. 🗣️ Who Was Your Favorite?

Indian Idol Season 15, Episode 6 (E6), titled Theatre Round - Day 2

3. Why Watch in 1080p Web-DL?Explain the benefit of the high-quality format. The 1080p SonyLIV Web-DL ensures crystal-clear audio—crucial for a singing competition—and a sharp visual experience without the lag often found on lower-quality streaming mirrors.

For the full episode and subsequent performances, you can watch directly on the SonyLIV website.

Open SonyLIV on your phone or tablet.
Go to Indian Idol S15 E06.
Look for the Download button (Downward arrow icon).
Select quality: 1080p.
Watch offline for 48 hours (standard rental period for downloads).

Indianidols15ep061080psonylivwebdlhindi Top