tty2oled Soft&Hardware Add-On (Shows Core based Pictures on a Display)

[Moondandy]

That would certainly be an easy way to check images if you just needed to run through the menu to see them without launching

[RealLarry]

That would certainly be an easy way to check images if you just needed to run through the menu to see them without launching

And that is what I mentioned with "nice option" - but leds to more new difficulties: How long to wait after receiving a new selected entry to display the picture? What if your are selecting ROMs one by one in a second? ESP/OLED needs some time too. Would led to receive and display every n'th entry only when fast tackling the entrys.
But good to talk about, as this brings ideas, solutions and problems ontop the table.

[venice]

Arcade pictures :
Tokio - Scramble Formation = tokiob.xbm
...

Pack 11 (tty2oled-xbm_11.rar) uploaded.
Many Thanks

[Moondandy]

I don't know if one of you chaps would be interested in doing this, but it would be really helpful to see a video demo of your workflow for making an image. Getting the initial image, what software you use for resizing and rendering, how you check them, then finally uploading. A visual step by step guide of how to do it efficiency with free software would be great. Might help get some more image makers on board as well, I am certainly keen to give it a go and would to see how a pro does it.

I was having a think about what systems might be doable originally for game images without the use of checksum tables etc. For different named ones. Some of the smaller, older systems sometimes only have one pack with a handful of games, the RX-78 springs to mind. The downside is these cores don't get a lot of eyes on them but would work as almost a proof of concept. The one that may be more interesting might be the Top300 Dos Pack, as most people playing on the 486 are using the same pack and it has all the big games in there.

If you have a system you are wanting to use as a proof of concept test let me know and I can put together a new tab on the sheet.

[stefer09]

Hmmm for myself it's a combination of Photoshop, then Gimp to convert the file to XBM ... and I use different tools in Photoshop depending on the image, so it would be hard to do a step by step guide because it's on a case by case basis...

[RealLarry]

I don't know if one of you chaps would be interested in doing this, but it would be really helpful to see a video demo of your workflow for making an image. Getting the initial image, what software you use for resizing and rendering, how you check them, then finally uploading. A visual step by step guide of how to do it efficiency with free software would be great. Might help get some more image makers on board as well, I am certainly keen to give it a go and would to see how a pro does it.

There is no "standard procedure" for b/w images. The capabilities for these pictures are so much limited (256x64 pixel with one colour) that one has to be highly imaginative. This getting more easier with our "mysterious greyshades" and with some luck and depending on the source picture, one can use a handful of functions within GIMP to gain attracive results. But again, sometimes it might be necessary and/or useful to use these functions the other
way round, in addition with other functions, technics and artistical ability. Like the real life

[RealLarry]

I was having a think about what systems might be doable originally for game images without the use of checksum tables etc. For different named ones. Some of the smaller, older systems sometimes only have one pack with a handful of games, the RX-78 springs to mind. The downside is these cores don't get a lot of eyes on them but would work as almost a proof of concept. The one that may be more interesting might be the Top300 Dos Pack, as most people playing on the 486 are using the same pack and it has all the big games in there.

If you have a system you are wanting to use as a proof of concept test let me know and I can put together a new tab on the sheet.

I'm getting crazy and doomed about this. Filenames are too much unreliable, CD based games aren't revealling their fileextension and VHD based cores/games are permanently changing their content. Waiting for the Geistesblitz (a flash of genius).

[Moondandy]

Well if it is only used for arcade cores, it can be kept so that with non-arcade it always just displays the system image, right?

[RealLarry]

Well if it is only used for arcade cores, it can be kept so that with non-arcade it always just displays the system image, right?

Correct. The core's picture will be displayed all the time when core is getting started (ie "Commodore C64") (I wouln't change that bevaviour, regardless what way tty2oled is going to be in future). If the function of displaying ROMs/Disk pictures will be realised, the meant behaviour would be extended by "if a ROM/Disk is loaded and there exists a picture which fits to checksum/filename/whatever, it will be displayed - or the name of core/disk will be shown as plain text and last resort". Regardless of the core. Existing information would be shown.

[Moondandy]

That's OK then, so it's something that can be used where it will benefit - like on System E, and there is no instance where having this means you wouldn't still get the system image.

I think I have figured out why I keep getting my tty2oled script being a 0 bytes file. I think it happens if you run the script when you have no internet connection, it tries to download a new version before checking there is one, and replaces the file with a 0 bytes file.

[RealLarry]

That's OK then, so it's something that can be used where it will benefit - like on System E, and there is no instance where having this means you wouldn't still get the system image.

I think I have figured out why I keep getting my tty2oled script being a 0 bytes file. I think it happens if you run the script when you have no internet connection, it tries to download a new version before checking there is one, and replaces the file with a 0 bytes file.

Thanks for your informations. Will be checked out tomorrow.

[RealLarry]

I think I have figured out why I keep getting my tty2oled script being a 0 bytes file. I think it happens if you run the script when you have no internet connection, it tries to download a new version before checking there is one, and replaces the file with a 0 bytes file.

Gosh, you're right! Just simulated a "no internet" at my MiSTer and also got an update_tty2oled.sh with 0 Byte.
Will be fixed before breakfast.

EDIT: Fixed, tested and comitted. Please run update_tty2oled.sh again to get the new fixed updater.
If anything is getting wrong with updater's uddate, please report immediately and if in doubt, manually download the updater and rerun:

Code: Select all

wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/venice1200/MiSTer_tty2oled/main/update_tty2oled.sh -O /media/fat/Scripts/update_tty2oled.sh

[RealLarry]

That's OK then, so it's something that can be used where it will benefit - like on System E, and there is no instance where having this means you wouldn't still get the system image.

Seems that System E games are using the normal Sega Master System (SMS) core, but MAME ROMs with it. This is using the standard pictures for tty2oled then.

[Moondandy]

Update ran fine for me, thanks for fixing!

[RealLarry]

Update ran fine for me, thanks for fixing!

Aah! Glad to hear. You're welcome.

[Jukk@M]

Arcade pictures :
Super Zaxxon = szaxxon
Swat = swat.xbm
Tetris = atetrisc.xbm , tetrisse.xbm , tetris.xbm
The King of Dragons = kod.xbm
Time Pilot '84 (Set 2) = tp84a.xbm
Time Pilot '84 (Set 3) = tp84b.xbm
Time Scanner = timescan.xbm

[Jukk@M]

Arcade pictures :
SuperCobra = scobra
Super Glob = sprglbpg
Super Pac-Man = superpac
Tazz-Mania = tazmania
TeddyBoy Blues = teddybb
The Glob = theglobp
The Punisher = punisher
The Speed Rumbler = srumbler
Three Wonders = 3wonders
Tiger Road = tigeroad.xbm

[venice]

Jukk@M Pictures Packs 12+13 ready for your Updater.

[venice]

Hi tty2oled friends,
we have released the tty2oled Greyscale-Update for you!

During our tests with an 5.5" SSD1322 Display we figured out that the SSD1322 Display controller is able to handle 16 greyscale levels!

The main problem was that the actual used Arduino graphics library "U8G2" is for monochrome displays only.
Adafruit offers a graphics and greyscale library called "Adafruit GFX" but without support for the SSD1322 controller.
But Adafruit offers a hardware add-on library for the SSD1327 controller.
We forked this library and modfied it for the SSD1322 controller.

Voila! Now we have full 16 level greyscale-support for the SSD1322 controller and our 256x64 pixel display.

altered_beast.png

We have modified all parts of the software around the tty2oled display for greyscale support.
You need to update the tty2oled MiSTer scripts and it's INI file. Just run the tty2oled updater to accomplish this.
And you will have to re-program your tty2oled hardware with the new Arduino program.

If you have updated your tty2oled hardware with the new Arduino program, set the new
INI Option "USE_GSC_PICTURES" (see below) to "yes", to get the new pictures shown.

The Arduino program code got:

• Support for monochrome (xbm) and greyscale (gsc) pictures

• Option "XROTATE" to enable 180° rotation per default

• Option "XTILT" to enable support for a tilt-sensor for display auto-rotation on (actually) pin32

• Option "XDTI" to enable support for the MIC145 (LM75 compatible) temperature sensor on d.ti's board

• Option "XSENDACK" to enable "Send Acknowlege" from tty2oled back to the MiSTer - very useful if you're using the text or geometric commands

• Changed (!) commands for text and geometric output
  Applications using the text or geo commands need a few and small changes.
  See https://github.com/venice1200/MiSTer_tt ... Command_v2

Needed libraries for the Arduino program:

• Adafruit GFX (*) and all depending libraries

• U8G2 for Adafruit GFX (*)

• SSD1322 for Adafruit GFX (https://github.com/venice1200/SSD1322_for_Adafruit_GFX)
  Download and extract from here: https://github.com/venice1200/SSD1322_f ... ses/latest

• Bounce2 (*) needed for the tilt-sensor

• eHaJo_LM75 (*) needed for the MIC145 sensor on d.ti's tty2oled board

(*) These Libraries can be installed using Arduino's library manager.
See also https://github.com/venice1200/MiSTer_tt ... Windows%29

The INI file got:

• New option "USE_GSC_PICTURES" to enable or disable greyscale picture (GSC) support - if you set this option to "no" (default) you can still use the old Arduino software.

• New option "USE_RANDOM_ALT" to enable or disable the usage of the alternative "_alt" files - if set to "yes" and there're xxx_alt* pictures, they'll be diced out and displayed.

The MiSTer scripts got:

• Support for monochrome and greyscale pictures

• Picture download using rsync

• Enhanced error handling

• Enhanced update handling

General Changes:

• Moved the pictures to a separate GitHub repository
  https://github.com/venice1200/MiSTer_tty2oled_Pictures

• Initial picture download is done using an zipped file

• Picture content delivery is now done using an external webserver
  This extremely speeds up the picture download and their checksum files aren't needed anymore

Needed tools for creating greyscale pictures:

• Graphic program (Gimp, Paint, Photoshop, Paint@Net, etc.)

• The picture converter IMAGE2LCD (Linux: can be used with WINE)
  Download link with register code: https://www.buydisplay.com/download/sof ... ge2Lcd.zip

• The little Gimp and converter HowTo
  See: https://github.com/venice1200/MiSTer_tt ... d_GSC_Gimp

The following Picture priority is used:
Highest

• GSC Pictures in /media/fat/tty2oled/pics_pri

• XBM Pictures in /media/fat/tty2oled/pics_pri

• GSC US Pictures (if enabled) in /media/fat/tty2oled/pics/...

• XBM US Pictures (if enabled) in /media/fat/tty2oled/pics/...

• GSC Pictures in /media/fat/tty2oled/pics/...

• XBM Pictures in /media/fat/tty2oled/pics/...

• Text based Pictures (if enabled) in /media/fat/tty2oled/pics/...

• Corename Output as Text

Lowest

Requirement: You need to run MiSter Release 2021-08-31 or newer.

[Moondandy]

Wow, congrats chaps, that's quite an achievement and Altered Beast image looks great!

For people making images, should they stop making monochrome and just make greyscale going forward or is there still a reason to keep making monochrome in addition to Greyscale?

[venice]

Sometimes you don‘t need more than B/W.
And whatever looks better is the right choice
but greyscales offers much more possibilities.

Actually we have around 370 XBM Pictures
and already 270 GSC Pictures.
Let‘s see how it goes.

[RealLarry]

For people making images, should they stop making monochrome and just make greyscale going forward or is there still a reason to keep making monochrome in addition to Greyscale?

As venice already said, please don't stop making anything (better)
For some systems, specially computer cores, I haven't found an adequate template and decided to set an image of a pcb or similar to gain an eyecandy. These are "drafts" for now to motivate everybody to "do it better".
Hint: Even a filthy text with a nice font should look very smoothier now, as their curvings and eges are "shaded" or antialiased.

[gojira54]

Wow that is quite an upgrade =]
Amazing - thanks!!

KMSnVtF.jpg

[Jukk@M]

Cores:
Amiga = minimig.gsc
Commodore 64 = C64.gsc
Commodore VIC-20 = VIC20.gsc
Sinclair QL = GL.gsc
Arcade:
Alibaba 40 Thieves = alibaba.gsc
Arkanoid (Japan) = arkanoidj.gsc
Arkanoid (US) = arkanoiduo.gsc
Crazy Kong = ckong.gsc
Crazy Kong (Orca bootlet) = ckongo.gsc
Crazy Kong Part II = ckongpt2.gsc
Crush Roller = crush2.gsc
Gauntlet = gauntlet.gsc
Gauntlet 2 = gaunt2.gsc
I´m Sorry = imsorry.gsc
Mr.TNT = mrtnt.gsc
Tapper = tapper.gsc
Tetris = atetrisc.gsc , tetris.gsc & tetrisse.gsc
The Battle Road = battroad.gsc
The End = theend.gsc
The Golb = theglobp.gsc
The Punisher = punisher.gsc
Three Wonders = 3wonders.gsc
Top Gunner (US) = topgunr.gsc & topgunbl.gsc
Silkworm = silkworm.gsc
Super Zaxxon = szaxxon.gsc
Ultra Tank = ultratnk.gsc
Vampire Hunter 2: Darkstalkers' Revenge = vhunt2.gsc
Woodpecker = woodpeck.gsc
Zaxxon = zaxxon.gsc

GSC_1.jpg

[RealLarry]

Bunch of GSC pictures

Many thanks for your support, very well done, pal! That's the way I meant: Play with it (e.g. GIMP), draw something simple, set a cast shadow and/or a 3d-ish effect and voila, you've just created a nice and pretty Bob Ross picture

[venice]

The new Pictures are uploaded and ready for the tty2oled Updater.
Some of them got the suffix "_alt" as there was already a Picture.

I need to double check the google list later.

Many Thanks

[Jukk@M]

Cores:
Atari ST/STe = AtariST.gsc
Commodore 16, Plus/4 = C16.gsc
ZX Spectrum = Spectrum.gsc
ZX Spectrum Next = ZXNext.gsc
Arcade:
Turbo Tag = turbotag.gsc
Turtles = turtles.gsc
Vortex = vortex.gsc
Wizard of Wor = wow.gsc
Wonder Boy = wboy.gsc

GSC_2.jpg

[venice]

The new Pack of Pictures is also "online".
Many Thanks

[Jukk@M]

Cores:
Apple Macintosh Plus = MACPLUS.gsc
CHIP-8 = Chip8.gsc
Gameboy Advance 2P = GBA2P.gsc
Gameboy, Gameboy Color 2P = GAMEBOY2P.gsc
ZX81 = ZX81.gsc

GSC_3.jpg

[Reg]

@venice.

Many thanks for this update - just got a chance to update and it's soo cool looking with the greyscale options. Thank you.