N64FlashcartMenu/README.md
Robin Jones 269a8ae94d
Optimize boxart image load (#130)
<!--- Provide a general summary of your changes in the Title above -->

## Description
<!--- Describe your changes in detail -->
Improves boxart image loading by using directory file paths.
It also adds matching by full game ID's (for compatibility), but notes
in the readme that it is slow.

## Motivation and Context
<!--- What does this sample do? What problem does it solve? -->
<!--- If it fixes/closes/resolves an open issue, please link to the
issue here -->
Loading boxart was slow in certain circumstances.

## How Has This Been Tested?
<!-- (if applicable) -->
<!--- Please describe in detail how you tested your sample/changes. -->
<!--- Include details of your testing environment, and the tests you ran
to -->
<!--- see how your change affects other areas of the code, etc. -->
Locally on an SC64.

## Screenshots
<!-- (if appropriate): -->

## Types of changes
<!--- What types of changes does your code introduce? Put an `x` in all
the boxes that apply: -->
- [x] Improvement (non-breaking change that adds a new feature)
- [ ] Bug fix (fixes an issue)
- [ ] Breaking change (breaking change)
- [ ] Documentation Improvement
- [ ] Config and build (change in the configuration and build system,
has no impact on code or features)

## Checklist:
<!--- Go over all the following points, and put an `x` in all the boxes
that apply. -->
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here to help! -->
- [ ] My code follows the code style of this project.
- [ ] My change requires a change to the documentation.
- [ ] I have updated the documentation accordingly.
- [ ] I have added tests to cover my changes.
- [ ] All new and existing tests passed.

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Signed-off-by: GITHUB_USER <GITHUB_USER_EMAIL>


<!-- This is an auto-generated comment: release notes by coderabbit.ai
-->
## Summary by CodeRabbit


- **New Features**
- Introduced a new image type enumeration for boxart components,
enhancing image management.
- Updated boxart initialization to allow for specific image views,
improving flexibility in image retrieval.
- Enhanced instructions for setting up boxart images with clearer
directory structures and simplified naming conventions.

- **Bug Fixes**
- Improved the logic for loading boxart images, enabling better fallback
options in case of missing files.

<!-- end of auto-generated comment: release notes by coderabbit.ai -->
2024-09-28 20:47:53 +01:00

128 lines
5.5 KiB
Markdown

![Build](https://github.com/polprzewodnikowy/N64FlashcartMenu/actions/workflows/build.yml/badge.svg)
# N64 Flashcart Menu
An open source menu for N64 flashcarts.
## Supported Flashcarts
### Fully supported
* SummerCart64
* 64Drive
### Work in Progress
* ED64
* ED64P
## Current (notable) menu features
* Fully Open Source.
* Loads all known N64 games (including iQue and Aleck64 ROMs (even if they are byteswapped)).
* Fully emulates the 64DD and loads 64DD disks (SummerCart64 only).
* Emulator support (NES, SNES, GB, GBC) ROMs.
* N64 ROM box image support.
* Background image (PNG) support.
* Comprehensive ROM save database (including HomeBrew headers).
* Comprehensive ROM information display.
* Real Time Clock support.
* Music playback (MP3).
* Menu sound effects.
## Documentation
* [Getting started guide](./docs/00_getting_started_sd.md)
* [Menu controls](./docs/01_menu_controls.md)
* [Developer guide](./docs/99_developer_guide.md)
## Video showcase (as of Oct 12 2023)
[![N64FlashcartMenu Showcase](http://img.youtube.com/vi/6CKImHTifDA/0.jpg)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CKImHTifDA "N64FlashcartMenu Showcase (Oct 12 2023)")
## Aims
* Support as many N64 FlashCarts as possible.
* Be open source, using permissive licensed third party licensed libraries.
* Be testable, using unit and smoke tests in ares emulated environment.
* Encourage active development from community members and N64 FlashCart owners.
* Support as many common mods and features as possible.
## Experimental features
These features are subject to change:
### GamePak sprites
To use N64 `GamePak` sprites, place `PNG` files within the `sd:/menu/boxart/` folder.
#### Supported sprites
These must be `PNG` files that use the following dimensions:
* Standard N64 GamePak boxart sprites: 158x112
* Japanese N64 GamePak boxart sprites: 112x158
* 64DD boxart sprites: 129x112
They will be loaded by directories using each character of the full 4 character Game Code (as identified in the menus ROM information).
i.e. for GoldenEye NTSC USA (NGEE), this would be `sd:/menu/boxart/N/G/E/E/boxart_front.png`.
i.e. for GoldenEye PAL (NGEP), this would be `sd:/menu/boxart/N/G/E/P/boxart_front.png`.
To improve compatibility between regions (as a fallback), you may exclude the region ID (last matched directory) for GamePaks to match with 3 letter IDs instead:
i.e. for GoldenEye, this would be `sd:/menu/boxart/N/G/E/boxart_front.png`.
**Note1:** Excluding the region ID may show the wrong boxart.
**Note2:** For future support, boxart sprites should also include: `boxart_back.png`, `boxart_top.png`, `boxart_bottom.png`, `boxart_left.png`, `boxart_right.png`.
#### Compatibilty mode
If you cannot yet satisfy the correct boxart layout, The menu still has **deprecated** support for filenames containing the Game ID.
**Note:** This will add a noticeable delay for displaying parts of the menu.
Each file must be named according to the 2,3 or 4 letter GamePak ID (matched in this order).
i.e.
* for GoldenEye 4 letters, this would be `sd:/menu/boxart/NGEE.png` and/or `sd:/menu/boxart/NGEP.png`.
* for GoldenEye 3 letters, this would be `sd:/menu/boxart/NGE.png`.
* for GoldenEye 2 letters, this would be `sd:/menu/boxart/GE.png`.
As a starting point, here are some links to boxart packs:
* [American GamePak Boxart](https://mega.nz/file/6cNGwSqI#8X5ukb65n3YMlGaUtSOGXkKo9HxVnnMOgqn94Epcr7w)
* [European GamePak Boxart](https://mega.nz/file/O7AjDbRJ#VnVU10dq8HQvBUQptppI6PAcQMb8-Zembqav8WtAQ_M)
* [64DD Boxart](https://mega.nz/file/O3JzwD7B#BYl1aV-pbrJ-MxWUbM_K0yGVIRbmSoxJJZqQInRzZyM)
### Menu Settings
The Menu creates a `config.ini` file in `sd:/menu/` which contains various settings that are used by the menu.
If required, you can manually adjust the file on the SD card using your computer.
## Flashcart specific
### SC64
* Ensure the cart has the latest [firmware](https://github.com/Polprzewodnikowy/SummerCart64/releases/latest) installed.
* Download the latest `sc64menu.n64` file from the [releases](https://github.com/Polprzewodnikowy/N64FlashcartMenu/releases/) page, then put it in the root directory of your SD card.
### 64drive
* Ensure the cart has the latest [firmware](https://64drive.retroactive.be/support.php) installed.
* Download the latest `menu.bin` file from the [releases](https://github.com/Polprzewodnikowy/N64FlashcartMenu/releases/) page, then put it in the root directory of your SD card.
### ED64 & ED64P
Currently not supported, but work is in progress (See [PR's](https://github.com/Polprzewodnikowy/N64FlashcartMenu/pulls)).
The aim is to replace [Altra64](https://github.com/networkfusion/altra64) and [ED64-UnofficialOS](https://github.com/n64-tools/ED64-UnofficialOS-binaries).
# Open source software and licenses used
* [libdragon](https://github.com/DragonMinded/libdragon) (UNLICENSE License)
* [libspng](https://github.com/randy408/libspng) (BSD 2-Clause License)
* [mini.c](https://github.com/univrsal/mini.c) (BSD 2-Clause License)
* [minimp3](https://github.com/lieff/minimp3) (CC0 1.0 Universal)
* [miniz](https://github.com/richgel999/miniz) (MIT License)
## Sounds
See [License](https://pixabay.com/en/service/license-summary/) for the following sounds:
* [Cursor sound](https://pixabay.com/en/sound-effects/click-buttons-ui-menu-sounds-effects-button-7-203601/) by Skyscraper_seven (Free to use)
* [Actions (Enter, back) sound](https://pixabay.com/en/sound-effects/menu-button-user-interface-pack-190041/) by Liecio (Free to use)
* [Error sound](https://pixabay.com/en/sound-effects/error-call-to-attention-129258/) by Universfield (Free to use)