Emulator Frontend Deluxe: AttractMode+ 3.1.0 and Smart Themes Project

With the new release 3.1.0 of Attract Mode Plus, the incredible work provided by the Smart Themes Project was also published. As it is hard to explain the incredible work done here in words, so here are two video teasers that demonstrate a small fraction of the work provided here.

Main menu displaying all available systems - plus filters, such as system families, favorites etc:

Sub menu "Favorites" - a glimpse into the vast number of Arcade Smart Themes (which are dedicated animated pages for single arcades that look stunning):

If you are interested, dive into the following details!

First, I may assume that you are familiar with the Attract Mode Setup. I also provided some tutorials here (part 1 of my Attract Mode tutorial) and here (part 2 of my Attract Mode tutorial).

Required Downloads:

Attract Mode Plus 3.1.0 

https://github.com/estefan3112/attractplus-applesilicon/releases/tag/3.1.0 (my code-signed Apple builds)

https://github.com/oomek/attractplus/releases/tag/3.1.0 (official builds for all other platforms and Intel Apple, but not Apple Silicon)

Smart Themes Project Download (7 GB)

Hosted by Oomek: https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ag7uFeM0f_fzjdcZJknASxD7Mw3lDg 

Hosted by PaCiFiKbAllA: http://gofile.me/6OElE/GQOD6itXD 

Hosted by JJTheKing: https://www.mediafire.com/folder/xnw01n9y6ejso/Smart+Themes

Smart Themes Project Discord Server

https://discord.gg/E8kygCJyer

Starting from scratch:

• Important note: The Smart Themes Project .zip file does not open with the system MacOS zip utility. Use a suitable third-party archive app, such as The Unarchiver.
• Easiest way to start is to archive your existing $HOME/.attract system folder first
• The unpacked folder is named 'Smart Themes Project'. Rename to .attract and put it into the usual %HOME folder.

With this, Attract Mode Plus 3.1.0 should launch with the Smart Themes Project Files.

Looking around and first recommended settings: The available systems and options are endless, and I still dig further into the topics. Some recommendations on what to do first

1. Define your MAME Arcade emulator in the settings: I do recommend a text editor, not the interface. In your text editor of choice, head for ./attract/emulators/Arcade.cfg

Settings I had to change are in yellow below - remember, $HOME is your User Root directory.

# Generated by Attract-Mode Plus v3.1.0

#

executable $HOME/Games/mame/mame

args "[romfilename]"

workdir $HOME/Games/mame

rompath $HOME/Library/Application Support/mame/roms/

romext .zip;.7z

system Arcade

artwork snap $HOME/Library/Application Support/mame/videosnaps/

artwork themes collections/Arcade/video themes

artwork wheel collections/Arcade/logo

artwork marquee $HOME/Library/Application Support/mame/marquees/

artwork wheel $HOME/.attract/menu-art/wheel/mame/

For some reason, I needed to change the "wheel" folder of the Arcade setting (i.e. the specific wheel pngs) to something separate and put the wheel artwork for Arcade games in there.

If you are setting up the Emulator from a text editor, don't forget to enter AM+ and re-create the Romlist after having changed the Emulator settings!

2. Define your FBNeo RetroArch emulator in the settings: for example, create ./attract/emulators/FBNeo.cfg

Then head for these emulator settings (adjusted to your paths, of course):

# Generated by Attract-Mode Plus v3.1.0

#

executable /Applications/RetroArch.app/Contents/MacOS/RetroArch

args -L fbneo "[romfilename]"

workdir "$HOME/Library/Application Support/RetroArch/config/"

rompath $HOME/Games/Roms/FinalBurn Neo/arcade-merged

romext .zip

system retroarch

info_source listxml

artwork cabinets $HOME/Library/Application Support/mame/cabinets_am

artwork flyer $HOME/Library/Application Support/mame/flyers/

artwork marquee $HOME/Library/Application Support/mame/marquees/

artwork snap $HOME/Library/Application Support/mame/videosnaps/

artwork video $HOME/Library/Application Support/mame/videosnaps/

artwork wheel $HOME/.attract/menu-art/wheel/mame/

Don't forget to Create the Romlist in AM+ in the Emulator settings -> then FBNeo should appear as new Display in the Main Manu of AM+.

From my own testing, I can confirm that this AM+ setup works nicely with FBNeo in Retroarch. Exiting a game back to AM+ is easiest by pressing dual Escape.

3. Are you missing Keystroke Repeat when scrolling through the lists? Here is a hint to the rescue: Be sure that in the MacOS System Settings, Privacy & Security, Input Monitoring -> and enable Input Monitoring for the new Attract Mode 3.1.0 app!

(more to be added over time)

With this, you are ready to explore the incredible capabilities of the brand new Attract Mode Plus Frontend and the Smart Themes.

Collector for Known Limitations:

• The history.dat plugin initializes the roms, but does not display anything. For re-entering the AM+ menu, you must nevertheless press Escape.