On screen buttons Android port of openMSX

Master (205)

30-12-2012, 15:14

Currently, the Android port has by default 4 on screen buttons enabled, with a "medium" size and the so-called "sun" theme:

These buttons are couple to the following 4 functions:
-Toggle console
-Toggle on screen MSX keyboard
-Fire button A
-Fire Button B

These buttons are coming from the Android version of the Simple Direct media Layer (SDL) library.

With SDL it is possible to enable up to 6 of these onscreen buttons:

It is also possible to change the size, from "tiny"

to "large":

It is also possible to change the "theme". The default is the so-called "sun" theme but in the SDL settings menu:

you can for example select the "simple" theme:

As you can see in the screenshots, the buttons get by default placed in the right bottom corner of the screen. It is however possible to programmatically change this.

The purpose of this topic is to discuss:
1) How many buttons should by default be enabled in the APK
2) What function should by default be coupled to each button
3) Where should each button be placed on the screen
4) What default theme should be used

The idea is to find consensus and decide on default settings to be used in the APK that cater to most of you, so that most of you don't have to change these settings after installation of the APK

By Vampier

Prophet (2412)

30-12-2012, 18:46

I think this is the best layout:
1) have the A and B buttons at the bottom (placed under a sligt angle to follow the flow of the hand placement)
2) have the android keyboard @ the same place as we have it now
3) have the OSD in the upper right corner

maybe have an auto shot option to activate/deactivate the A and B buttons.

But this is my personal preference. Maybe other have other suggestions/preferences.

By d-fader

Champion (293)

31-12-2012, 14:58

@Vampier: that's would be my fave too, although I would love to see the top right button pull down a menu with options like OSD. But from what I understood from Alex' post that would not be possible, since it's either all buttons on the top right or all on the bottom right, right?

As for the theme, I would create a new one with A, B and some kind of a joypad like directional button element, if that is possible.

By Manuel

Ascended (19462)

31-12-2012, 15:00

d-fader, try some of the other themes. One has the joypad directional button element.

By d-fader

Champion (293)

31-12-2012, 15:06

Manual: aye, I will, last couple of days I've been very occupied though, so I actually have had not time to test things in the emulator. I also don't know why it doesn't run as smooth on my SGS as your GIO, have to look into that too. Just trying to help, since I think it's really an awesome development

By Manuel

Ascended (19462)

31-12-2012, 15:13

Can you be a bit more concrete on 'not smooth'? What do you see? There are some valuable set-up tips here: http://openmsx.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/openmsx/openmsx/tr...

By d-fader

Champion (293)

31-12-2012, 15:25

I just booted f1-spirit with c-bios and it runs smooth except for the sound, once per second or two it stutters The rest is perfect and fast

By Manuel

Ascended (19462)

31-12-2012, 16:18

d-fader: did you already change that sound buffer setting as mentioned in the link of my previous post?

By d-fader

Champion (293)

31-12-2012, 16:30

Of course not Will do when I have some spare time. I'll let you know.

By Manuel

Ascended (19462)

31-12-2012, 17:24

It would take you less time than posting here But I will be patient

By d-fader

Champion (293)

31-12-2012, 17:36

Alex: sorry for hijacking this topic
I've tried and when I change the buffer to anything larger than small, the app crashes before the c-bios logo is displayed. I also tried to run f1-spirit with a turbo-r (for 60hz ) and that dramatically decreases performance of the emulator. When running on a turbo-r it's barely playable.