[phearless-d]

Zsnes on xbmc live through launcher.
*please note these are my settings and might not work with the way you have things configured*
*another note this is not my work this is a culmination of other guides on here*

1: Install zsnes
2: Install launcher
3: ROMS
4: Configure

Install zsnes
get to the terminal with <ctrl> + <alt> + <F1>
type

Code:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install zsnes

zsnes will now be installed to /usr/bin/zsnes


Install Launcher
Method 1
Download Launcher from http://code.google.com/p/xbmc-launcher/downloads/list
unzip and sftp it over to /home/xbmc/.xbmc/plugins/programs

Method 2
Use SVN Installer


ROMS
Create a folder somewhere for your roms.

Code:

sudo mkdir /home/xbmc/roms/snes/

Download and place some roms inside this folder


Configure
First up is to configure Launcher to run zsnes. so....
Edit /home/xbmc/.xbmc/userdata/plugin_data/programs/Launcher/launchers.xml

Code:

sudo nano /home/xbmc/.xbmc/userdata/plugin_data/programs/Launcher/launchers.xml

To look something like this

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="yes"?>
<launchers>
        <launcher>
                <name>Zsnes</name>
                <application>/usr/bin/zsnes</application>
                <args>-m -s -v 15 </args>
                <rompath>/home/xbmc/roms/SNES/</rompath>
                <romext>smc</romext>
                <thumb></thumb>
                <wait>true</wait>
                <roms></roms>
       </launcher>
</launchers>

Then <ctrl> + x then y to save

*the args are specific for myself please see http://zsnes-docs.sourceforge.net/html/advanced.htm*

OR sftp it across



At this stage znses should load through launcher and show your roms.
when running a rom you need to press \ to minimize xbmc and switch to zsnes and same when you quit zsnes.
luckily enough there is a workaround.

1: EDIT ~/.xbmc/plugins/programs/Launcher/resources/lib/launcher_plugin.py

Code:

sudo nano /home/xbmc/.xbmc/plugins/programs/Launcher/resources/lib/launcher_plugin.py

2: FIND TWO elif (sys.platform.startswith('linux')):
3: WRAP BOTH with xbmc.executehttpapi("Action(199)")

Code:

elif (sys.platform.startswith('linux')):
                        xbmc.executehttpapi("Action(199)")
                        os.system("\"%s\" %s \"%s\"" % (launcher["application"], launcher["args"], rom["filename"]))
                        xbmc.executehttpapi("Action(199)")

Any problems I will try and help.

Big thanks to Zosky, Leo2 & fuz10n

[phearless-d]

Could this be moved to the how tos.
I cant post there yet

[kappaman210]

Thanks for the guide! Will give it a try later.

[TheDuffMan]

I'm running into problems first getting zsnes to even run from the command line. I'm getting frame buffer errors like /dev/fb/0 not found and zsnes won't start. Should I be running a command like startx first before trying to start zsnes?

[JackieBrown]

I'm running into problems first getting zsnes to even run from the command line. I'm getting frame buffer errors like /dev/fb/0 not found and zsnes won't start. Should I be running a command like startx first before trying to start zsnes?

You should already have x running (thanks to xbmc)

[TheDuffMan]

Thanks. Turns out it is working when fully following this method, it just wouldn't launch from the command line. Now on to find out how to make it maximized

EDIT: got it maximized with -v 18 argument.

My last problem is no sound. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm using HDMI for sound, I've tried different arguments for zsnes sound with no luck, I've tried downmixing multi channel to stereo but that made no difference. I use plughw:0,3 for audio output and passthrough output on a Revo.

[Izod517]

Followed all directions, had to use JustSomeUsers patched Launcher for XBMC 9.11. My problem is when I go into Launcher from the XBMC UI, I click on the "Snes" folder, it asks if I want to import files - when I click Yes it runs the dialog then the system just freezes. Thoughts?

Edit: As in freezes I mean the XBMC UI - I force it to go to command line and I can Putty into the unit just fine.

Edit: Very werid.... It seems launcher isn't properly importing the ROM files - if I add the ROM manually to the Launcher.xml file, I can launch said game perfectly. I really don't want to add 100+ roms to said file manually. Any thoughts??

Duff did you check out this thread http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=71838 ? If so what were your results, I've got no sound as well, HDMI Revo too.

[Izod517]

Ok I fixed my problem - because I used wrote launchers.xml as root, it was owned by root/root - meaning that Launcher from within XBMC could not write to launchers.xml when I got new thumbs and tried to add new games.

If you're a linux noob here's how to figure out if this is your problem:

Change to the plugins data dir in terminal

cd /home/xbmc/.xbmc/userdata/plugin_data/programs/Launcher/

write ls -l in the command line.

It should spit out something like this:

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 570 2010-04-25 17:12 launchers.xml

See the "root root" there, well if that's the case XBMC cannot write to the file because it's owned by root and the group root.

sudo chown xbmc:xbmc luanchers.xml

Make sure it's correct:
ls -l
-rw-r--r-- 1 xbmc xbmc 570 2010-04-25 17:12 launchers.xml

Success.

I know for a lot of people that's Linux common sense, but you know it happens.

[TheDuffMan]

No, I still didn't get any luck with sound. I tried that thread now too and no luck, and had to revert back like you mentioned. The hunt continues...

[Izod517]

Ok from our PMs, DuffMan and I THINK XBMC is holding the HDMI hostage (or the drivers are stupid?). I get the same results from snes9x, with no sound - but if you start a movie, or music, or hit a button on the remote you can still hear XBMCs sounds.

It's a similiar problem to the one found here:
http://www.stepmania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22910
and somewhat tangentially related to the one found here:
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=62360

I'm thinking the answer lies in .asoundrc but the fix show in the above thread did nothing for me. Anyone?

[TheDuffMan]

Thanks to Izod, I've managed to get it working! Final changes:

zsnes args: <args>-m -s -v 18 -ad sdl -r 6</args> (i added -r 6 because without it, sound was a bit poppy)

.asoundrc has only the following line, nothing else:

defaults.pcm.device 3

I had tried a /etc/asound.conf config but deleted it now.

XBMC Audio settings:

Audio Output Device: DEFAULT
Passthrough Output Device: CUSTOM
Custom Passthrough Device: plughw:0,3

For reference, this is a Revo 1600 with HDMI for audio connected to my Sony TV, which then carries audio through toslink to the Sony receiver and 5.1 setup.

[Izod517]

Fan-f*cking-tastic!

Using the exact same config as DuffMan, with one small hiccup - I got the sound as well!

My problem was I had libsdl1.2debian-all installed, switching to libsdl1.2debian-alsa fixed it for me.

VERY similar setup to DuffMan -

Revo 1600 HDMI audio out to my Sony receiver, pass-through video to my LG TV.

Thanks to DuffMan, and a few other posts (http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=62360).

Now everyone with a Revo 1600 and Live should be able to get all ROMs running through Launcher with sound through HDMI!

[digitized]

To duff and izod, another success here copying duff's args and asound. Also on a revo 1600 and I finally got sound working thanks to you guys.
WOOT!!

[henwy]

Thanks for the tutorial. It's working perfectly! Is it possible to do the same with MAME on XBMC Live?

[Izod517]

Thanks for the tutorial. It's working perfectly! Is it possible to do the same with MAME on XBMC Live?

I see no reason why following the general settings established in this Tutorial won't work for any variety of EMUs.