Just Got A Gp32, Some Q's From A N00b


DaveC

Internal Development
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Mar 4, 2004
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I just got a GP32 FLU from ebay and I have a few questions. First I like this thing, it is a really cool little device. But..

I have read about registering or something. Since I got it used it must be registered to someone else. Is that a problem? What should I do.

Also the screen has this odd blue color, but the blue color is worn off in spots making the screen look mangey, Is there an easy way to fix it?

What is a good launcher if I like to catagorize things in folders or menus. For example I would like a group of icons that is something like GAMES, APPS, EMULATORS, UTILITIES. Then when I click on emulators for example I would just get all of the emulators and nothing else.

I really don't know what the flash is or whatever but I don't want to take a chance with flashing the rom and have my computer bug out and corrupt the GP32.

Also what is some recommended cool stuff? Yes I know about the emus. But I would like to know what are some good homebrew hacker demos, games, and utilities. I really don't care about MP3, Movies, Picture viewers though as I use my Zodiac for that stuff.

Thanks much.
 
hiss zodiac!!!

Seriously though:
1) the blue sht is the anti-glare coating, it comes off Easy nd thats why it looks mangy
2) Windups has icons availabl so you can put it on a "desktop" envioroment, soyou can launch without going into the file browser. there is no way to organiz them unless wiht folders in GPMM folder, but some games may not work due to direct programming to the GPMM folder, so basically al FXE and exective files *i think GXE* go in GPMM
3)Flashing takes place al on the gp32, if he has things lik Wind-ups or pacrom already on it then it has already been flashed with a firmway *prolly Spiv's multifirmware, hold select and turn it on*

what you mean by homebrew hacker demos?
 
He wants homebrew games and apps and such! All of these can be found on the GP32x download section. There are some great demo's, games and programs that were made during the GBAx 15 Day Coding Competition.

If you're after games too, get Pinball Dreams from JoyGP - That's a classic port, extremely well done.

Play around with the console, try things. See what you like. I've had mine for just a week and I've been ROM flashing, emulating, watching allsorts.

As ThndrShk2k said, the Pacrom bios is usually your best bet. Windups is a good launcher if you like desktop icons etc. I personally use the free launcher from GamePark. The naming of some files is sometimes confusing but I think it's pretty.

As for registering, you could try I guess. Ask around and wait for this thread to grow a little, I'm sure someone will know.
 
You may prefer YAFL over windups if that is the case...very easy to sort as well. Personally I just use it like a start menu in windups..
 
ThndrShk2k posted on Mar 5 2004 at 03:30 AM said:
hiss zodiac!!!

Seriously though:
1) the blue sht is the anti-glare coating, it comes off Easy nd thats why it looks mangy


what you mean by homebrew hacker demos?
As for "hiss zodiac" I had that first and bought a GP32 afterwards and like the GP32 as well each has its plusses/minuses.

I was going to eventually replace the plastic screen eventually and replace it with a glass piece but I always hate that proceedure because as soon as I take the plastic screen off dust seems to gravitate to the LCD (I did it on a GBA before) like they are black holes or something. I HATE dust on the screen. I was wondering if there was some chemical or something that would dissolve the blue $#!+ without damaging the screen.

Hacker demos are those little intros with the techno music and vector balls, scrollers, particle and raster effects, plasma, they used to have them on the Amiga alot.
 
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yaustar posted on Mar 5 2004 at 05:00 AM said:
You may prefer YAFL over windups if that is the case...very easy to sort as well. Personally I just use it like a start menu in windups..
What is YAFL? Is that a launcher? I couldnt find that here. With that can you do multiple levels? for example have icons that when you click them sub groups come up?
 
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ThndrShk2k posted on Mar 5 2004 at 03:30 AM said:
3)Flashing takes place al on the gp32, if he has things lik Wind-ups or pacrom already on it then it has already been flashed with a firmway *prolly Spiv's multifirmware, hold select and turn it on*
I tried doing the hold select thing but nothing happens other than it goes into the menu that says "PLAY" and PC LINK" when I do play it comes up with icons on top and bottom with the name appearing in the middle. It is not bad but you have to do alot of scrolling to find what you want.
 
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DaveC posted on Mar 5 2004 at 05:55 AM said:
I tried doing the hold select thing but nothing happens other than it goes into the menu that says "PLAY" and PC LINK" when I do play it comes up with icons on top and bottom with the name appearing in the middle. It is not bad but you have to do alot of scrolling to find what you want.
Does the screen look like that normally?
the PLAY and PC LINK menu is the beta firmware from GamePark I think
 
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I too had a mangy looking screen. I took a little Brasso (polish) and used it on the screen. This means theres no anti glare but its better than a blotchy screen. Remember this actually works like t cut for car paint so dont over do it!
 
craigrwallace posted on Mar 5 2004 at 09:47 AM said:
I too had a mangy looking screen. I took a little Brasso (polish) and used it on the screen. This means theres no anti glare but its better than a blotchy screen. Remember this actually works like t cut for car paint so dont over do it!
I will attempt to put a glass screen in soon. The mangy plastic one ain't going to cut it. I just hope I don't suck too much dust in when performing the "surgery" on the screen. I have the perfect thickness float glass that I got from an art glass place that I have used for GB screens before. I could try the polish for temporary though.
 
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woogal posted on Mar 5 2004 at 08:48 AM said:
YAFL is available here - http://gp32.sector808.org/yafl.php
You don't get sub levels, but it has pre-defined categories (games, apps etc) that you can move stuff into so it should do what you need.
I have a killer idea for a design of a file launcher that is clean, organized and simple yet powerful and intuitive. It wouldn't have all of the file management and pic viewer BS but would be very easy to navigate and be layed out logically, and look purty too. Is there someone around that would be interested in coding something like that? I can't program at all but can do the designing and art. So if anyone knows of a coder that wanted to do it please let me know. I think everyone would like the result.
 
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Doctor posted on Mar 5 2004 at 06:27 AM said:
DaveC posted on Mar 5 2004 at 05:55 AM said:
I tried doing the hold select thing but nothing happens other than it goes into the menu that says "PLAY" and PC LINK" when I do play it comes up with icons on top and bottom with the name appearing in the middle. It is not bad but you have to do alot of scrolling to find what you want.
Does the screen look like that normally?
the PLAY and PC LINK menu is the beta firmware from GamePark I think
It comes up that way. It has this little GP ball that bounces and rotates over the word "play" and has a vertical scroller moving up the left side of the screen saying "GamePark".
 
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I have a killer idea for a design of a file launcher that is clean, organized and simple yet powerful and intuitive. It wouldn't have all of the file management and pic viewer BS but would be very easy to navigate and be layed out logically, and look purty too.
I thought I'd done that with YAFL. Oh well, you can't please all of the people all of the time ;)
I'd be happy to hear any ideas you have for an improved launcher though, as I start disliking anything I've written about a month after I finish it and wish I'd done things differently :)
 
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