[Recalbox 9] Theme Next Pixel

[mYSt]

So here it is, version 0.4 is available! Initial post is up to date with this version, if you come from version 0.3 here is the changelog :

• Add dreamcast support
• Add psp support
• Add pcengine cd support
• Add colecovision support
• Change atari 5200 image
• Improve basic/details view design

[lhari84]

@myst wow, thank you so much! Looks so great, cannot wait to have a look on big tv screen in the evening

Just one more question about music:
I saw for PSP you've chosen graphics from game Patapon, right?
The music ogg music file doesn't seem to be from this game, I'm not sure... Maybe you could replace with something like that?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRXLa9HWFac

Also, because of its length, current music file is very big (19.2 MB). Don't know how recalbox handles audiofiles, especially on Raspberry Pi, but maybe it's not good for performance though. Can't tell...

@paradadf
I'd suggest to give this thread a "Pinned" state, so more users are able to find this theme easily. It's really the best one I personally could find here in forum.

[mYSt]

@lhari84 PSP image is from Lumines II and music should be from Lumines. I can try to change music but it looks like this one was popular for Lumines (accordingly to youtube likes) if you have any suggestion i'm all ears.

[lhari84]

@myst Ok, thanks for info. As I only know Lumines 1, I have not recognized it. So everything is fine. Thanks once again!

[lhari84]

@myst Sorry to disturb again, but could you give me info which games/graphics you used for:

• atari7800 (no idea, seems I'm too young :D)
• segacd (is it Sewer Shark?)
• sega32x (is it Virtua Fighter?)

Just want to make sure I own each game used in theme

[mYSt]

sure
atari 7800 game is Galaga
segacd reference is Silpheed (not a huge fan of this choice, may change later)
sega32x is virtua fighter

[lhari84]

@myst I just finished modifying everything for my needs. Here things I did, maybe it helps for optimizing future releases:

• compressed 1080p backgrounds for performance optimization on Pi3
  (because quality still looks better than 720p version and images are smaller)
• compressed audio files of used systems
  (cannot hear a difference and maybe better for performance on Pi3)
• replaced audio file of system psp by a louder version
  (still don't know how to normalize a bunch of ogg-files to same volume level, I had to do it with mp3 and converted it afterwards)
• prboom background + sound used for system pc
  (copied to folder to activate art for Dos)
• neogeo background + sound used for system fba_libretro
  (copied to folder to activate art for Final Burn Alpha)
• custom.xml of most systems (France -> Europe, etc.)
  (I modified text of MAME and fba_libretro system a little too)
• replaced content in data-folder with files previous version 0.3
  (can't tell, but I liked the clean gamelist view of version 0.3 much more, so I reactivated this one + compressed backgrounds like there too)

If you need more information or any for example files, just contact me.

[mYSt]

@lhari84

compressed 1080p backgrounds for performance optimization on Pi3
(because quality still looks better than 720p version and images are smaller)

Memory footprint is a matter of resolution not compression, compressing an image may just lead to more time injecting it into graphics GPU but of course you'll save some disk space.

replaced audio file of system psp by a louder version
(still don't know how to normalize a bunch of ogg-files to same volume level, I had to do it with mp3 and converted it afterwards)

Musics should all be normalized (using audition), maybe i forgot this one

custom.xml of most systems (France -> Europe, etc.)
(I modified text of MAME and fba_libretro system a little too)

good catch i 'll remove or replace with europe next time (by the way from theme options system infos can be removed)

replaced content in data-folder with files previous version 0.3
(can't tell, but I liked the clean gamelist view of version 0.3 much more, so I reactivated this one + compressed backgrounds like there too)

Sad to hear i'll see if i can do something better next time

Thx

[lhari84]

@myst said in Next Pixel theme:

@lhari84

compressed 1080p backgrounds for performance optimization on Pi3
(because quality still looks better than 720p version and images are smaller)

Memory footprint is a matter of resolution not compression, compressing an image may just lead to more time injecting it into graphics GPU but of course you'll save some disk space.

Thanks for info, didn't know that. I thought about it might take more time to read all the data from SD card, especially with Pi's slow USB 2.0 interface.

replaced audio file of system psp by a louder version
(still don't know how to normalize a bunch of ogg-files to same volume level, I had to do it with mp3 and converted it afterwards)

Musics should all be normalized (using audition), maybe i forgot this one

custom.xml of most systems (France -> Europe, etc.)
(I modified text of MAME and fba_libretro system a little too)

good catch i 'll remove or replace with europe next time (by the way from theme options system infos can be removed)

in this case i also recognized that not all information is shown, only 4 lines. other lines in custom.xml are ignored (no problem for me, but I think to remember at MAME, etc. there will be sentences cut)

replaced content in data-folder with files previous version 0.3
(can't tell, but I liked the clean gamelist view of version 0.3 much more, so I reactivated this one + compressed backgrounds like there too)

Sad to hear i'll see if i can do something better next time

Sorry, should not be a genreral negative feedback, everbody is differnent. But gamelist text looked too small and pixels around the list are not such a good border for me than the clean version before. Maybe you and others like the new design better, it's no problem for me to use the old one

Thx

[Kintao]

@myst Thanks for your job.

[lhari84]

@myst said in Next Pixel theme:

@lhari84

compressed 1080p backgrounds for performance optimization on Pi3
(because quality still looks better than 720p version and images are smaller)

Memory footprint is a matter of resolution not compression, compressing an image may just lead to more time injecting it into graphics GPU but of course you'll save some disk space.

You're right, file size seems not to matter at all. Switched to 720p again and Emulationsstation seems to run smoother.

[mYSt]

@lhari84 I've already switched to 720p by default for next release, 1080p works only when using a few system (10 or less) and as most of us use more than 10, 720p should be the default.
For those using 30+ systems i think this theme won't work well even with 720p (can't do much on my side to fix that).

[TriaH_]

Hi! I can't get this theme to work properly, when i choose it and reload, it shows only text and a white background. Can you help a newbie?

[TriaH_]

btw i'm using the latest Batocera on pc.

[mYSt]

@triah_ I don't know about Batocera but are you using an official recalbox release? Since recalbox use its own emulationstation fork if you don't use an offical recalbox release theme may not work properly.

[lhari84]

@myst
I‘ve reduced systems already, going for quality instead of quantity. I‘m on 21 now and 720p is ok so far.
Further I changed switching between systems from „slide“ to „instant“ in recalbox ui settings. Sliding seems to cost much performance, even in default next theme, in instand mode it‘s quite smooth.

[Bloodsurfer]

@myst said in Next Pixel theme:

though only horizontal view is available for now.

Do you have plans for integrating a vertical view with wheel support in the future?

[mYSt]

@bloodsurfer definitely something i want to do, but requires lot's of work since backgrounds are designed to fit system wheel, which one do you want? vertical or vertical wheel?

[Bloodsurfer]

@myst I think vertical wheel is the most beautiful and stylish (but that's only my opinion)

[mYSt]

Version 0.5 is out, new options are available from theme options, you can now show all system info lines (previoulsly only 4 were displayed) and you can now hide "pixel border" from game list view (@lhari84 hope it will suit you). And of course this version add some new system support.
Here the full changelog :

• Add neogeocd support
• Add daphne support
• Add fba support (use pacman as atari 5200)
• Add fba_libretro support (use donkey kong as colecovision 5200)
• Add an option to show all system info in addition to actual no info or 4 lines option
• Add an option for game list view to hide "pixel border"
• Fix psx background was Final Fantasy VII instead of Crash Bandicoot by default
• Fix some very low level musics
• Update system release date for each region when possible (JP, USA, EUR)
• 720p is now default resolution instead of 1080p (check installation guide to know how to switch image resolution)