Hypertools makes visualizing your artwork assets and rom database lists way more palatable . Whether you’re striving for collection perfection or just want to see artworks that you have or are missing, this guide will help you set it up quickly. In a few steps, you’ll be ready to explore and visualize your hyperspin artwork and databases more effectively. Let’s jump in!
On the initial startup of hypert00ls you will be asked to select your main hyperspin folder, select the folder and your done!
LOL close, but noooot quite. You will be met with the main hypert00ls screen that should find all of your systems via the main hyperspin database folder. You may also need to set your rocketlauncher folder so navigate to the “Parameters” tab and select the browse button on the right column to browse for the root RocketLauncher folder.
It’s worth noting here that today rocketlauncher is officially known as RLauncher; however when this tool was created it was known as Rocketlauncher so I may use those terms interchangeably. Also Hyperpause is now referred to as Pause.
After you have set your Rlauncher path to the main Rlauncher folder, this would be a good time to set your artwork preferences to check for completion. Everyone will have different preferences. I strive for completeness whenever possible; however I don’t need EVERY system to be complete…just most of them :). Below is a screenshot of my current preferences.
These checkbox items will effect existence stratus’s on the Roms & Medias CHECK tab.
- Description – Displays the Name of the of the Game that will displayed on the hyperspin screen. Most of the time rom name and the Description will be the same. One of the few times this is drastically different is when working with MAME games which can often be drastically different than the rom name. Example: Rom Name bucky and Description: Bucky O’ Hare (Ver EAB).
- Enabled – Indicator that the game is visible in hyperspin.
- Hyperspin – This is a parent item in the list. If unchecked, all child items under the parent Hyperspin item will not be checked.
- Wheel – Checks for Wheel artwork to be available
- Video – Checks for video artwork to be available
- Theme – Checks if a theme is available to be displayed
- Art 1 – Checks if artwork exists in the Artwork 1 folder for a rom
- Art 2 – Checks if artwork exists in the Artwork 2 folder for a rom
- Art 3 – Checks if artwork exists in the Artwork 3 folder for a rom
- Art 4 – Checks if artwork exists in the Artwork 4 folder for a rom
- Hyperpause – This is a parent item in the list. If unchecked, all child items under the parent Hyperpause
- Artwork – Checks if any assets are in the artwork folder for the highlighted rom, this will be displayed under the artwork menu in Hyperpause or Pause
- Background – Checks if any assets are available in the background folder for the highlighted rom, the background will be displayed when the hyperpause or pause menu is active
- Bezel – Checks if a bezel exists for the highlighted rom to be displayed during gameplay. This check is for individual game bezels, not system wide bezels.
- Controller – Checks if artwork is available in the controller folder of Rlauncher. Controller artwork can be used for any system however it is typically used for MAME arcade cabinets to display photos or enhanced diagrams of cabinet controllers as a point of historical reference.
- Fade – Checks if fade artwork exists for an individual rom. Note: this does not display a true value for system wide fade screens.
- Fonts – Checks if a rom specific font is available. I personally have no use for this item so i leave it unchecked. I have unique fonts per system.
- Guides – Checks if a cheatguide or magazine exists for the highlighted rom.
- Music – Checks if music or soundtrack songs exist for a specified rom. The music will be played as background music during the pause menu being active.
- Sounds – Checks if soundfx files exist. Sounds can be selected and played during the pause menu being active.
- Videos – Checks if videos exist for the highlighted game. Video format is .mkv or mp4 and will automatically play when highlighted in the Pause menu. These videos can be playthrough videos, loose video snaps, youtube videos for the current game or Historical commercials.
- Wheels – I don’t know what this item is for and i have never used it; however, I believe it wheel artwork can alternatively be stored in the Rlauncher folder if using multiple front end platforms like launchbox and hyperspin. However, I personally have never done this.. It is possible to redirect main wheel folder artworks to Rlauncher.
Apply and save any changes and that’s it! You’re all set up. There are a few other items on this page that can be checked however, I have never needed them. One item is to enable debug logging. The developer has done a fantastic job of making this application stable enough that I’ve never had to use it and also to slow down scanning in the even that you happen to notice that items are being overlooked; however, I have never needed to slow down scanning.
To Audit a system, by now the main system database should be imported and you should see a list of your systems to the left. Highlight a system and select the “Roms & Medias CHECK” tab at the top of the screen.
Select the Check Button just below the tab; this will perform scan of all the roms you currently have and also report any available artwork or video for each rom. Each column represents the item searched an a green (yes) if the artwork or video is available and a red “no” if there is no artwork found.
Lastly, there is an overview screen at the bottom of the Roms & Medias CHECK tab that allows you to view the artworks that are listed as available.
