SteveJ Please release code for zvg/mame .137 for windows

taylormadelv

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SteveJ Please release code for zvg/mame .137 for windows

I had a sneaky suspicion about this particular topic and now that things have started to wind up a bit, I have discovered that I am correct...
SteveJ-You really HAVE TO post the original code for the command line version of mame for windows .137 that you worked hard to make work with ZVG. I understand that this is YOUR work, however, when you work on mame, it is an ongoing project that all can add into and you have prevented this, even after repeated requests, you still ignore me. It is actually a LEGAL deal, there is no owner of the code and if you work on mame, you HAVE to SHARE. You HAVE TO SHARE!!
Here's a quote from Haze over at Byoac on my request thread.

"The problem is that by not releasing the sources he's not only stalling any progress, but is also in direct violation of the MAME license agreement which has always been explicit in the requirement for sources for any modifications to be made available.

This isn't about one platform being superior, instead simply one guy failing to fulfill his legal obligations.

This is why I've stated in the past that the new advanceMAME builds are bad too. No source means in the long run the entire community just loses out due to a handful of selfish b*****ds."

My thread is here:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=112217.0

SteveJ, Please, please post the code or send it to me directly, I will accomodate whatever is convenient for you but please let other's work with the souce code you produced. PLEASE!
 
Just my opinion, but I don't think posting something like this on a public forum is the way to get what you want. If I was Steve I suspect I'd have a sudden hard dive crash and lose the source forever if someone tried to cajol me into releasing it like this.

I'm pretty sure Steve stopped working on the Windows version because he found an inherent issue with windows that meant that you always got flicker when using the ZVG, this was something that couldn't be fixed. My memory is hazy and Steves blog on the issue has gone but I think Zonn also found the same issue originally which is why a windows version wasn't released when the zvg first came out. I really think our best hope is with the Linux version on a newer mame code base because as you possibly don't realise, there are issues even with the dos version on the Sega games. I've yet to find any dos version that will play them all correctly and none that will play without slowdown on MH, SW, ESB, etc regardless of the pc spec. I guess if you really want to take over the development you could ask the Mame dev team for some source? If you do take it on you have my full support and I'll help anyway I can.

Just my 2c worth

Dan
 
Glad to hear you chime in. You have nailed exactly why this project needs outside help.
And I have asked SteveJ in PM's and he ignores me, over and over. So I feel the only chance is to become beligerent and keep asking for the code.
Just because he made a special version of mame, doesn't mean he has the right to keep it all to himself, as Haze has stated. When you work on mame, you are working on a group project and you must allow others to contribute. I think that this point has been lost on SteveJ because he and maybe others like youself are completely in the dark about what a recent guimame version is capable of doing. Nobody can state as fact that any windows version will have framerate issues, because there is no guimame with zvg support. This is what I am attempting to do, get a guimame version working and start playing with it.
This kinda stuff is exactly what killed AAE, let's learn from past mistakes...
Some of these framerate issues may be solved with the multitude of programmable settings in recent versions of GUImame. SteveJ and anybody else really cannot say that a guimame has no ability to solve these issues, that's really ignorant to say that only dos and linux will make this work. I think that he's missed the point here. I think that a guimame WILL fix issues but I need help getting zvg re-written back into a guimame, NOT command line mame, big difference. BTW, I have had this disscussion with Zonn and I think a GUImame will make a big difference.
I guess I'll just have to keep bumping this, since SteveJ ignores me.
 
Well, I have bought a ZVG and I hope the problems can be fixed in Windows or Linux.

I didn't realize there were slowdowns and issues with the DOS version. I figured that after so many years today's hardware would easily run the ZVG and emulation would be near 100%. After looking into it, well... I was mistaken ;)

But the bright side, as far behind on projects that I am, it will be 6 months to a year until I get a chance to put a multi vector together.. so maybe things will get fixed and sorted out by then! :)
 
I hear what you are saying, but I think you are going about it the wrong way...

Playing the legal card, really? having people call Steve a "a handful of selfish b*****ds".

If I was steve, i would not release it either.
 
That's HAZE saying it is a legal issue. And if SteveJ wants to keep it all to himself, what difference does it make? Just read the byoac thread. You seem to want to keep this as a "private" project and mame doesn't work like that. See, that's the thing. I really do not think this is an OS issue. I think the only way to compensate for zvg rendering issues is to play with guimame video settings. The command line version does not have as many adjustable settings as recent guimame versions. The way I see it, this project needs as many people involved as possible, as SteveJ has not offered a solid, finished "turnkey" solution. Let others try but unless he releases the code, we are stuck where we are now. This is not a turnkey deal, zvg needs lots of work...
 
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And BTW, if SteveJ just posted the source code or a link to the code, this thread would not be neccessary. I look like the bad guy here because he ignores my requests. Why won't he allow someone else to work on a windows version?
And if he continues to ignore my PM's, what else should be done? Just give up?
 
I don't know the MAME license specifically (and I don't feel like looking it up), but usually there's no requirement to release any source unless you release compiled code. Was a Windows binary ever released with his code changes? Otherwise, I'm most likely in violation of the license every time I recompile MAME with some random crappy hack to test something out.

And if he continues to ignore my PM's, what else should be done? Just give up?
Yeah, pretty much. If he doesn't want to release it, I don't think this is going to help. I think open source is great, and I try to make most things that I work on "open"... but I also understand not wanting to give out bad "work in progress" code.

DogP
 
I wish I had the ability to re-write mame with the zvg code but I do not have that capability, I need outside help. To get that outside help, the souce code is needed and even then, it will be a very generous person to help out. The fact that SteveJ will not post anything makes this almost impossible right now, I don't think I am being unreasonable to ask him to SHARE. Again, I have asked him in private and been ignored.
SteveJ is responsible for the windows version, it was great work and I would like to improve it, not steal it. I have no intent to steal his "thunder". I just want to get zvg to run better and I personally can only do that through a guimame running in windows.
The windows version is not that bad, it's actually pretty decent. It just needs some tweaking, not a complete re-write. I think that it is very usable but it needs the work that I have detailed in previous posts. SteveJ obviously does not agree and that's why I have asked him in PRIVATE for the code and been very patient. But weeks and weeks go by and he ignores me and I see him post here. So let's just have it out, then?
I'm not afraid of confrontation. It wasn't my original idea to have this become so public and kinda nasty but he still ignores me.
Mame is supposed to be SHARED, I don't understand every little legal detail, I really don't care. Mame should be shared and that's that.
Again, a myopic attitude towards emulation projects makes them die, just look at AAE. It took YEARS for Tim to post his code and by then it was too late, as peeps just got tired of the spin.
 
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