The new proposed "VM2" from Chris at DreamMods.net

[RazorX]

That's an interesting idea.

What you guys described could be further simplified into a FAVORITES or RECENT list, right?

So, for example:

1. FAVORITES : the VM2 could allow you to create a favorites list of existing .VMU files on the SD.
Then, you could bring-up this favorites list (using a button combination or something) and select a .VMU file regardless its location to the SD. For easier management, this list could be created/edited through the GUI..

2. RECENT : The VM2 could automatically (and seamlessly) store a list of the last files you used (with a maximum, let's say 10 files).
Then, same way, using a combination or something, you could bring-up this list and select a file.

i do like this but i'm basically thinking of the average person, yes a recent and/or favourites section is a good idea and that would also be a great addition but i'm just imagining the sort of person who just asks the community what are the best dreamcast games and just stick them on their ode etc
so just being able to stick a bunch of vmu games in a folder and have them just listed there in an easy to see, easy to read manner so you can click and run them like you would on a flashcart etc makes sense to me.
it will make it more in line with other little handhelds and devices of this nature and would be very intuitive.

i know it maybe a bit too much or even impossible for you to simply support vmi and vms files directly but in an ideal world i'd prefer that given that's the common form they come in but if it's impossible then i guess i'll just have to sit and manually make them all into vmu images lol.

[chrisvcpp]

I get what you mean..

OK, here's an idea: The GUI could let you select a folder (any folder - no need to be a special one) and mark it as a "boot" folder. Then, once the VM2 powers-up and/or you press a button combination, this folder would show up and list the .VMU files in there. To restore default behavior, you could just remove the "boot" flag using the GUI.

Also, supporting VMI/VMS is not quite feasible, due to the nature of how a VMU works.
In fact, VMI/VMS is a type created mainly for PC management.

[RazorX]

I get what you mean..

OK, here's an idea: The GUI could let you select a folder (any folder - no need to be a special one) and mark it as a "boot" folder. Then, once the VM2 powers-up and/or you press a button combination, this folder would show up and list the .VMU files in there. To restore default behavior, you could just remove the "boot" flag using the GUI.

that seems quite a bit too much work for someone who just wants to play a few vmu games, if it could be done on the VM2 itself then maybe, but having to go through the GUI just to play some vmu games is a bit too much i feel.
i think if it could be done i'd prefer a fixed name folder and the default game section you have showing the list if it detects some in there otherwise defaulting to what it does now would be better but if that's not feasible i understand.

[RazorX]

Also, supporting VMI/VMS is not quite feasible, due to the nature of how a VMU works.
In fact, VMI/VMS is a type created mainly for PC management.

yeah i totally get that, it just sucks that it's what everything comes as, how feasible would it be to add an option on your GUI to automatically convert them to .VMU? because that would be useful in general, to be able to click one button and select the .vmi and have it create a default .VMU file with the .vmi and .vms in it would be excellent for not only games but saves in general.
it would simplify so much being able to do that and would be really useful and would be quite easy for you to pull the name from the .vms file and name the .VMU file as that.

[chrisvcpp]

OK. For me, this way is much less work to do.
I could just have the VM2 detect a fixed-name "FAVORITE" folder and jump straight there.

Yes, I get that. And it can be done on the GUI. But, I preferred to just include the VMU Explorer for this.
The reason is, that VMI/VMS represent not only mini-games (that's only one case), but save-games as well.
For some users it would be mandatory to go through a full VMU editor in order to import several saves into one VMU file.
So, using the VMU Explorer covers all these cases - and it's not that complex. Just a few more clicks to do.

[RazorX]

OK. For me, this way is much less work to do.
I could just have the VM2 detect a fixed-name "FAVORITE" folder and jump straight there.

call it something simple like Games but yeah if it can then default to that for games selection that would work great and just have it default to what it does now if it doesn't detect the folder or the folder is empty.

[chrisvcpp]

Sure. Will check it out and see how it works and feels. Thanks!

[RazorX]

Yes, I get that. And it can be done on the GUI. But, I preferred to just include the VMU Explorer for this.
The reason is, that VMI/VMS represent not only mini-games (that's only one case), but save-games as well.
For some users it would be mandatory to go through a full VMU editor in order to import several saves into one VMU file.
So, using the VMU Explorer covers all these cases - and it's not that complex. Just a few more clicks to do.

i agree but if it's possible to add a one click solution where you can select one or more save files and have it create the VMU files for you in the GUI i can see a lot of people liking that, i have no issues doing stuff like that manually but if there is an automated process that can possibly even do them in batch i'm going to go for that option everytime and for ones that are more important to me i'd likely do those manually.
if you can implement a method like that in your GUI, i can see a lot of people loving having that option.
it would be so amazing being able to select a crap load of saves and just have it spit out VMU files for them lol, doesn't vmu explorer have support for doing stuff via commands, i'm sure it at least used too.
i know you can do it if you can figure out how to do it batch conversion would be a killer feature in my opinion.

[chrisvcpp]

I'll check this out too..

[OatBob]

That's an interesting idea.

What you guys described could be further simplified into a FAVORITES or RECENT list, right?

So, for example:

1. FAVORITES : the VM2 could allow you to create a favorites list of existing .VMU files on the SD.
Then, you could bring-up this favorites list (using a button combination or something) and select a .VMU file regardless its location to the SD. For easier management, this list could be created/edited through the GUI..

2. RECENT : The VM2 could automatically (and seamlessly) store a list of the last files you used (with a maximum, let's say 10 files).
Then, same way, using a combination or something, you could bring-up this list and select a file.

That's quite the proposal if it's capable. I see it being especially useful for quickly accessing saves where GameID detection isn't supported.