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ID Category [?] Severity [?] Reproducibility Date Submitted Last Update
07789 Misc. Feature N/A Nov 12, 2020, 12:57 Nov 13, 2020, 15:09
Tester StHiryu View Status Public Platform MAME (Official Binary)
Assigned To Resolution Won't fix OS Windows Vista/7/8 (64-bit)
Status [?] Closed Driver
Version 0.226 Fixed in Version Build 64-bit
Fixed in Git Commit Github Pull Request #
Summary 07789: No system type ini for handhelds
Description This is more a request than a bug report. Actually there are system type ini files for arcades, consoles and computers. Since there are a lot of handhelds added lately, I think should be a good idea to create a specific system type ini for them. (Actually the handhelds are in the console.ini group, if I am not wrong).

I open this request here cause I still don't have a github account :)
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4
User avatar
No.18152
Tafoid
Administrator
Nov 12, 2020, 13:22
edited on: Nov 12, 2020, 17:37
AFAIK, all Category type .ini files are maintained outside of this project. Perhaps, one day, there will be more internal categorization of machines as to type and function, but for now those external files are dutifully maintained elsewhere. This file catlist, upon some examination has a "[Handheld / Electronic Game]" section which should cover what you are looking for.

If you have suggestions as to how to further classify things, you'd want to talk to people there as it is beyond MAME's current scope of support.
http://www.progettosnaps.net/catver/
https://www.mameworld.info/ubbthreads/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=snaps

Closing
User avatar
No.18153
Tafoid
Administrator
Nov 12, 2020, 18:05
As was communicated to me outside of this request, it actually was a request for a "handheld.ini" options in the configuration hierarchy
https://docs.mamedev.org/advanced/multiconfig.html

Not impossible, but as I mentioned in earlier note such internal categorization may come with time and isn't something that can just be implemented since there are so many variations of 'handheld' with different types of screens (LCD/SVG/LED or no screen at all).

I'll reopen to acknowledge for now to allow input.
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No.18154
Haze
Senior Tester
Nov 13, 2020, 13:49
edited on: Nov 13, 2020, 13:53
There's no real clarity on what a 'handheld' is.

Apparently in the US all the 'Plug and Play' games that connect to the TV are called 'Handheld games' (because they take batteries? because they're joysticks? I'm not sure)

In the UK we'd only call something a 'handheld' if it was battery operated and has a screen built in and doesn't connect to a TV (if it does connect to a TV it becomes 'portable' instead? although phones and tablets have made a complete mess of all that)

Many of those devices already emulated, with built in screens also connect to a TV, like any other console, some even take cartridges, like any other console, some don't even operate off batteries.

If anything it's more likely the existing categories will vanish, and it will be up to frontends to decide what something is based on more logical criteria, such as if they have a keyboard, and the type of screen they have.

All creating another 'system type' would do is cause arguments over categorization.
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No.18155
hap
Developer
Nov 13, 2020, 15:09
Seconded