MiSTer Super Attract Mode (SAM) is now available - the first game screensaver for your MiSTer!

[holaplaneta]

Check the [menu] section in mister.ini. delete all entries so it only reads

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[Menu]
video_mode=640,16,64,80,240,1,3,14,12380
fb_terminal=1
vga_scaler=1

This did the trick!! A slight Overscan on the right side is still present but is nothing compared to before. Thank you!

[Zagg3r]

I've been using SAM for a while, the systems I had enabled were "TGFX16" and "Arcade".
However, after I enabled "tgfx16cd", I started having problems. Check this sequence for example:

• tgfx16 - 084 Makai Prince Dorabocchan (Japan)
• tgfx16cd - Fray_cd_xak_gaiden(ntsc-j)[mccd4005]
• Arcade - Ginga_fukei_densetsu-sapphire(ntsc-j)[hcd5080].chd

The third game is a PCE CD that's wrongly assigned to Arcade.
This happens at each boot, and when it happens Mister shows a black screen and stops working.

Is there something that can be done to fix this problem?

[mrchrister]

Not sure what went wrong with your setup. Please try to reset Sam through the menu and try again. SAM also shouldn't play two TGFX16CD games after each other...

[Zagg3r]

Thanks!
I've done an uninstall, followed by a re-install, and now it seems to work.

I have a further request:
I've been able to configure my controller (previously the menu would't let me do it), but pressing the "next" button just exits to MiSTer menu.
How do I skip to the next game instead?

[mrchrister]

Great!

There is a file in .MiSTer_SAM folder. It should look something like this:
https://github.com/mrchrisster/MiSTer_S ... llers.json

This should have your controller mappings in it. maybe take a look and see which button hit configured for skip button

[Zagg3r]

Fixed, thanks!
For some reason my pad settings weren't saved.
Now there's a "sam_controllers.custom.json" and the "next" button works.

[UScr00ge]

Anyone having any issues with SAM getting stuck on a single game shortly after starting? I started noticing the issue last week after doing update_all. From looking at the SAM Github it doesn't look like SAM has updated in 2 months, so I assume a change on the MiSTer side has potentially broken something on SAM.

[LamerDeluxe]

Anyone having any issues with SAM getting stuck on a single game shortly after starting? I started noticing the issue last week after doing update_all. From looking at the SAM Github it doesn't look like SAM has updated in 2 months, so I assume a change on the MiSTer side has potentially broken something on SAM.

Mine was still working fine after updating the MiSTer yesterday. But I probably haven't updated SAM in a while.

[UScr00ge]

Well crap. I've tried deleting the .MiSTer_SAM/ folder, reinstalling SAM and resetting the ini file to defaults. Guess I'll wait to see if anyone else is experiencing issues.

I do have SAM video enabled for archive.org VG commercials to play intermittently and tty2oled enabled, so I should probably try turning both those off to see if SAM starts behaving.

[dickhardpill]

I have been running SAM for a couple hours a day for the last week or so and I haven't had this problem recently. I remember it happening to me approximately a year ago. I assumed it was my setup. I have since only enable SAM for arcade and neogeo cores and have not experienced any issues except the occasional tate game when I have horizontal specified in the ini file.

[mrchrister]

I will take a look in a bit to see if I can replicate the problem. it's always helpful when you go into SSH monitor and see what the output says while it's running

[mrchrister]

Well crap. I've tried deleting the .MiSTer_SAM/ folder, reinstalling SAM and resetting the ini file to defaults. Guess I'll wait to see if anyone else is experiencing issues.

I do have SAM video enabled for archive.org VG commercials to play intermittently and tty2oled enabled, so I should probably try turning both those off to see if SAM starts behaving.

I updated with update_all, enabled tv commercials mode and have tty2oled running but so far no problems with core switching. Can you check your ssh output?

• Find MiSTer IP. Open Powershell window and type

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  ssh root@192.168.1.5 

  (or whatever your ip is)
• Type

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  /media/fat/Scripts/MiSTer_SAM_on.sh monitor 

[dickhardpill]

in my ini I had;

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gametimer="300"
menuonly="No"

I noticed the game would change sooner than that sometimes so I started monitoring.

It turns out that something in my setup is toggling volume for a split second every X amount of time or under X condition. I'm not sure what X is but it's causing SAM and then monitor to stop. The games would crash after approximately 65 seconds (when I noticed them) into the 300 second cycle. After 60 seconds SAM would kick back on and start up a new game and the monitor would be available again.

I changed my ini to;

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gametimer="180"
menuonly="Yes"

and confirmed that after X happens, SAM appears to stop/quit/crash and the last loaded game runs until I intervene.

I've been working outside in the heat for a while and my brain is cooked. Open to troubleshooting suggestions.

[mrchrister]

Hey, thanks for reporting. Are you saying you used to have these issues or you are currently experiencing trouble?
It seems like some device might appear/disappear maybe like a Bluetooth controller which might cause SAM to stop. What devices do you have connected?

[dickhardpill]

I am experiencing the issue. I can mitigate the problem by setting menuonly="No" but it doesn't fix the problem.

I don't know if the issue is my external (powered) hub, the MiSTer hub, or the peripherals I have attached. Maybe there is a way to extend the length of time required for the button push to trigger SAM shutdown.

[mrchrister]

menuonly=no would just restart SAM so it makes sense that this "fixes it". What peripherals do you have attached? Could you try and see if you have the issue without any peripherals attached? Thanks!

[dickhardpill]

I have an mt-32pi, USB to barrel jack powering a DAC, and an external powered hub connected to 4 generic USB controllers.
The common denominator seems to be the pi but I’m not positive and need to run a couple more tests to verify. As I think I had just the pi plugged in and nothing happened
Pi and barrel didn’t do anything
Pi, barrel and external hub tripped it
Hub by itself doesn’t trip it
I need to test hub and barrel jack but I’m probably finished for the night.

I think I have a 5 amp power supply.

[mrchrister]

hmm, very strange. thank you for investing this. I don't have a mt32-pi so I wouldn't be able to check. a useful command for debugging is

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ps -af | grep -i sam

to see all Sam processes running The one starting with python is the input monitor that checks if you pushed a button. If SAM trips does one of its input monitors appear/disappear?

[dickhardpill]

final output of

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watch -n 1 ps -af |grep -i sam

...

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 9191 root     {MiSTer_SAM_on.s} /bin/bash /media/fat/Scripts/MiSTer_SAM_on.sh start_real
 9304 root     {MiSTer_SAM_on.s} /bin/bash /media/fat/Scripts/MiSTer_SAM_on.sh monitor
 9338 root     {tmux: client} tmux attach-session -t SAM
  533 root     /media/fat/MiSTer /media/fat/_Console/NeoGeo_20240418.rbf /tmp/SAM_Game.mgl
  885 root     {tmux: server} tmux new-session -s MCP -d /media/fat/Scripts/.MiSTer_SAM/MiSTer_SAM_MCP
  891 root     {MiSTer_SAM_MCP} /bin/bash /media/fat/Scripts/.MiSTer_SAM/MiSTer_SAM_MCP
  903 root     inotifywait --quiet --monitor --event create --event delete /dev/input --include js --outfile /tmp/.SAM_tmp/Joy_Change
  906 root     inotifywait -r --quiet --monitor --event create --event delete /dev/input/ --include by-path --outfile /tmp/.SAM_tmp/Key_Change
  925 root     python /media/fat/Scripts/.MiSTer_SAM/MiSTer_SAM_joy.py /dev/input/js0
  926 root     python /media/fat/Scripts/.MiSTer_SAM/MiSTer_SAM_joy.py /dev/input/js1
  927 root     python /media/fat/Scripts/.MiSTer_SAM/MiSTer_SAM_joy.py /dev/input/js2
  928 root     python /media/fat/Scripts/.MiSTer_SAM/MiSTer_SAM_joy.py /dev/input/js3
  929 root     python /media/fat/Scripts/.MiSTer_SAM/MiSTer_SAM_joy.py /dev/input/js4
  930 root     python /media/fat/Scripts/.MiSTer_SAM/MiSTer_SAM_joy.py /dev/input/js5
 8897 root     grep -i sam
  533 root     /media/fat/MiSTer /media/fat/_Console/NeoGeo_20240418.rbf /tmp/SAM_Game.mgl
  885 root     {tmux: server} tmux new-session -s MCP -d /media/fat/Scripts/.MiSTer_SAM/MiSTer_SAM_MCP
  891 root     {MiSTer_SAM_MCP} /bin/bash /media/fat/Scripts/.MiSTer_SAM/MiSTer_SAM_MCP
  903 root     inotifywait --quiet --monitor --event create --event delete /dev/input --include js --outfile /tmp/.SAM_tmp/Joy_Change
  906 root     inotifywait -r --quiet --monitor --event create --event delete /dev/input/ --include by-path --outfile /tmp/.SAM_tmp/Key_Change
  925 root     python /media/fat/Scripts/.MiSTer_SAM/MiSTer_SAM_joy.py /dev/input/js0
  926 root     python /media/fat/Scripts/.MiSTer_SAM/MiSTer_SAM_joy.py /dev/input/js1
  927 root     python /media/fat/Scripts/.MiSTer_SAM/MiSTer_SAM_joy.py /dev/input/js2
  928 root     python /media/fat/Scripts/.MiSTer_SAM/MiSTer_SAM_joy.py /dev/input/js3
  929 root     python /media/fat/Scripts/.MiSTer_SAM/MiSTer_SAM_joy.py /dev/input/js4
  930 root     python /media/fat/Scripts/.MiSTer_SAM/MiSTer_SAM_joy.py /dev/input/js5
 8897 root     grep -i sam

[mrchrister]

It doesn't look like any of the joystick devices are disappearing. Next step would be to to check if a button gets triggered when SAM quits.
You can monitor this with this command:

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tail -f /tmp/.SAM_tmp/SAM_Joy_Activity

[dickhardpill]

okay, now I'm having a different problem.

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Starting Super Attract Mode...
Let Mortal Kombat begin!

Finding system folders...
Scanning Arcade: /media/fat/_Arcade
Indexing complete (13829 games in 4s)
grep: /media/fat/games/NEOGEO/NeoGeo.zip/2 AES Specific - A-Z/Metal Slug 5 (AES) (mslug5h).neo: Not a directory
Starting now on the MiSTer Arcade: Metal Slug 5 (AES) (mslug5h).neo

the core doesn't load.

While typing this a "Button pushed" was reported and then it successfully load a new game;

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Starting Super Attract Mode...
Let Mortal Kombat begin!

Starting now on the SNK NeoGeo: Magician Lord (NGH-005)
Finding system folders...
Scanning Arcade: /media/fat/_Arcade
Indexing complete (13840 games in 1s)
grep: /media/fat/games/NEOGEO/NeoGeo.zip/1 World A-Z/Twinkle Star Sprites (twinspri).neo: Not a directory
Starting now on the MiSTer Arcade: Twinkle Star Sprites (twinspri).neo

I don't know what's going on here. Magician Lord loaded fine and then Twinkle Star Sprites failed.

Edited to add,
I'm getting

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Button pushedtail: /tmp/.SAM_tmp/SAM_Joy_Activity: file truncated

but no other info.

Also SAM failed more Neo Geo loads, I got a button pushed and then it SAM successfully loaded a new game.

I'm disabling neogeo in MiSTer_SAM.ini

[dickhardpill]

I have

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corelist="arcade"

I did a full reboot and I am still seeing the same error.

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Starting Super Attract Mode...
Let Mortal Kombat begin!

Finding system folders...
Scanning Arcade: /media/fat/_Arcade
Indexing complete (13840 games in 5s)
grep: /media/fat/games/NEOGEO/NeoGeo.zip/1 World A-Z/Irritating Maze, The (irrmaze).neo: Not a directory
Starting now on the MiSTer Arcade: Irritating Maze, The (irrmaze).neo
Finding system folders...
Scanning Arcade: /media/fat/_Arcade
Indexing complete (13840 games in 1s)
grep: /media/fat/games/NEOGEO/NeoGeo.zip/1 World A-Z/Pochi and Nyaa (pnyaa).neo: Not a directory
Starting now on the MiSTer Arcade: Pochi and Nyaa (pnyaa).neo

I'm not sure why it's still trying to load Neo Geo games.

[dickhardpill]

Holy cow...
I ran SAM_off, rebooted and then ran SAM_on
now when SAM kicks on my the desktop image on my HDMI display goes to vertical lines and monitor outputs this;

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Starting Super Attract Mode...
Let Mortal Kombat begin!

Setting orientation for Arcade Games to horizontal only.
Disabling static screen games for arcade core... 0 games will be shuffled.
Finding system folders...
Scanning Arcade: /media/fat/_Arcade
Indexing complete (13840 games in 1s)
grep: : No such file or directory
Starting now on the MiSTer Arcade: 

so I repeated the SAM_off, reboot, SAM_on, the images is no longer corrupted but I'm getting what looks like the same output;

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Starting Super Attract Mode...
Let Mortal Kombat begin!

Setting orientation for Arcade Games to horizontal only.
Disabling static screen games for arcade core... 0 games will be shuffled.
Finding system folders...
Scanning Arcade: /media/fat/_Arcade
Indexing complete (13840 games in 1s)
grep: : No such file or directory
Starting now on the MiSTer Arcade: 

[dickhardpill]

ETA:
I swear I ran MiSTer_SAM_on.sh and looked for an uninstall option before posting this. I found it.

Okay... sorry to spam this thread.

SAM started failing completely for me. Then after sitting at the menu for a few minutes something else crashes(?) and none of my controllers are responsive except for 1 push of the menu button, then nothing.

I have ran SAM_off and rebooted and I haven't had any problems with input.

What is the best way to completely nuke SAM and settings from my MiSTer so I can reinstall?

[mrchrister]

Sorry to hear you are having so many issues all of a sudden! Were you able to uninstall SAM and did this resolve your issues?

[dickhardpill]

I uninstalled. I haven't reinstalled yet. I'm waiting until I have time to troubleshoot again. I have another SD card I'm going to setup from scratch.

[muggsy]

Quick question. Only just tried out SAM tonight to try out the commerical video playback. Having a few issues with enabling local playback. Ive download some of the videos from the archive.org repository and when I set the video source samvideo_source="local" and copied the files to /media/fat/video I get nothing. When i run the on script and enable ssh output, i can see an error repeating "error while downloading"

When i dig a bit deeper i found an local video list in /tmp/.SAM_List/ which contains the videos I downloaded.

Setting the location to archive works, but I'd rather not keep downloading the files.

Has anyone successfully gotten local playback to work and can offer some assistance?

[neogeo81]

i have no playback at all. set the menu to 640x480 and to download from archive. but on the screen nothing happens. i only see the description of the commercial video on the tty2oled but no playback. It just stays on the wallpaper image.

[mrchrister]

i have no playback at all. set the menu to 640x480 and to download from archive. but on the screen nothing happens. i only see the description of the commercial video on the tty2oled but no playback. It just stays on the wallpaper image.

Have you tried changing this value?

[mrchrister]

Quick question. Only just tried out SAM tonight to try out the commerical video playback. Having a few issues with enabling local playback. Ive download some of the videos from the archive.org repository and when I set the video source samvideo_source="local" and copied the files to /media/fat/video I get nothing. When i run the on script and enable ssh output, i can see an error repeating "error while downloading"

When i dig a bit deeper i found an local video list in /tmp/.SAM_List/ which contains the videos I downloaded.

Setting the location to archive works, but I'd rather not keep downloading the files.

Has anyone successfully gotten local playback to work and can offer some assistance?

Local download is on my to do list. I'll see if I can implement this when I have some time.