New release: v2.3.0

[freezy]

Hi folks,

 

I've decided to bump this version to v2.3.0 due to a major upgrade for Serum fans! The latest Serum v2.0 introduces a new coloring mode with an impressive 65k colors, along with support for high-resolution frames at 256x64 pixels. A few adjustments were necessary to ensure compatibility with all displays.

 

I'm also thrilled to announce that several colorizations in the Serum v2.0 format were released today, including:

 

• TRON: Legacy (Stern 2011) by @PastorLUL
• Star Trek: The Next Generation (Williams 1993) by @PastorLUL

 

In addition, this release includes numerous bug fixes.

 

Lastly, I'm pleased to share that @russdx and Paul have given us permission to publish the source code for the PinDMD3 firmware. While it’s not yet in a fully usable state, our goal is to improve and maintain it as new Serum features are added (currently, two frame formats are missing, which causes lag for PinDMD3 users). But most importantly, get rid of the serial number lock, so anyone can install it! The firmware is currently maintained by @mk47, and you can find the repository here.

 

On the topic of new features, I'll be accepting PRs for other devices, specially PIN2DMD. @lucky1, if you’re interested in adding RGB565 mode to the PIN2DMD firmware, it would help reduce lag for PIN2DMD users, as RGB565 currently has to be converted to RGB24.

 

As always, you can download the new version on GitHub.

 

Cheers!

 

  -freezy.

 

 

P.S.: To use the new coloring, ZeDMD users will need to upgrade their firmware to v4.0.2.

 

EDIT: As usual, don't overwrite your DmdDevice.ini, but get rid of any serum.dll files you might added in the past. This release includes the latest Serum.

 

 

Edited November 8, 2024 by freezy
Update link to latest ZeDMD firmware

[PastorLUL]

Thanks Mr. freezy!

[Cliffy]

Wow wow wow! Thanks for your tireless dedication, @freezy! @PastorLUL work showcases YOUR work incredibly well. This is a huge leap forward and you've really opened new doors for Serum authors. THANKS!

[diablo]

when install  tron colorisation  and launch the table  the application  close ?

[diablo]

i updated dmdext

[Cliffy]

57 minutes ago, diablo said:

when install  tron colorisation  and launch the table  the application  close ?

delete ANY and all serum.dll's in your vpinmame folder

[MauiPunter]

I copied the contents of the x64 zip file into my VPinMAME directory and removed the serum files.  The latest colorizations for Tron and STNG are working great.  However, when  I try to run one of my other tables with PAC or VNI they aren't showing color.   Weird.   I wonder what I did wrong.  I assume this release is backward compatible?

[MauiPunter]

For example this Medival Madness pac file.  

mm_109c_2.0.pac

 

 

And, yes, I did hit F1 and turn on 4-color and restart.   Its showing the funky four color instead of the colorized version.

[freezy]

 

Working fine here... Can you submit a bug at GitHub and include a log please?

[lucky1]

11 hours ago, freezy said:

On the topic of new features, I'll be accepting PRs for other devices, specially PIN2DMD. @lucky1, if you’re interested in adding RGB565 mode to the PIN2DMD firmware, it would help reduce lag for PIN2DMD users, as RGB565 currently has to be converted to RGB24.

 

Since RGB565 to RGB24 conversion is done by dmdext I don´t expect any noticable lags for pin2dmd users or any advantage by adding RGB565 to the firmware.

[LordTheRon]

Wow, amazing! Looking forward to play TNG (one of my all time favorite tables) with a serum 2.o display! Thanks for you hard work @freezy @PastorLUL and all others involved. 

[KrakenByte]

Thanks, sir!!! 🤩

[KRAKEN]

4 hours ago, MauiPunter said:

I copied the contents of the x64 zip file into my VPinMAME directory and removed the serum files.  The latest colorizations for Tron and STNG are working great.  However, when  I try to run one of my other tables with PAC or VNI they aren't showing color.   Weird.   I wonder what I did wrong.  I assume this release is backward compatible?

Maybe you overwrote your DMDDEVICE.INI and lost your vni key?

[studly_do_right]

Curious about us PinDMD3 users, does this mean we should not update?

" While it’s not yet in a fully usable state, our goal is to improve and maintain it as new Serum features are added (currently, two frame formats are missing, which causes lag for PinDMD3 users)"

[freezy]

Nah you should be fine. Basically you have the choice between "doesn't work at all" (don't upgrade), or "works with some lag" (upgrade).

[Spacegoogie]

7 hours ago, freezy said:

 

Working fine here... Can you submit a bug at GitHub and include a log please?

Just tried mine, it works as well! 🍻

[onedevotee]

Thanks for the update

[studly_do_right]

Yep, working well thanks 👍  Still can't use  Serum for alphanumeric like Diner though....far too laggy.

[diablo]

13 hours ago, Cliffy said:

delete ANY and all serum.dll's in your vpinmame folder

problem solved thank you for your help  i found that i didnt update the  serum colorisation   nice work using  broken  glasses lol

[MauiPunter]

.

[MauiPunter]

6 hours ago, KRAKEN said:

Maybe you overwrote your DMDDEVICE.INI and lost your vni key?

What does your VNI key look like?  I will check for that.

[arcadefreak]

11 hours ago, MauiPunter said:

For example this Medival Madness pac file.  

mm_109c_2.0.pac 931.08 kB · 3 downloads

 

 

And, yes, I did hit F1 and turn on 4-color and restart.   Its showing the funky four color instead of the colorized version.

I have the same problems with many other colourRoms. Many roms work fine but for example Medieval Madness, Bram Stoker's Dracula, CactusCanyon dosen´t work for me now, after the update to version "dmdext-v2.3.0"... 😞

The serum files  i have removed. And a backup from my DMDDEVICE.INI is in use...

[Tikimaster]

1 hour ago, MauiPunter said:

What does your VNI key look like?  I will check for that.

This is, how a key looks like.

 

; the key to decrypt PAC files, in hex.
vni.key =f0ad135937ffa111c60b24d88ebb2e59

 

No key - no Pac files. I took my key from the old ini in my backup.

I have compared my old ini file with the new one in a text editor. The new ini contains some changes and new entries. So I thought it was safer to just copy my old styles and table-settings into the new ini. Afterwards I was careful to compare the old settings with the new ones. I set all settings I use in the new one. There weren't many, but it took some time, at the end everything works for me now. Serum, Pac files, medieval madness, vni-pal, I have not yet found a colorization that does not work properly.

 

 

Edited November 8, 2024 by Tikimaster

[freezy]

At anyone reporting errors: Logfile or it didn't happen.

[jrrobin]

16 hours ago, diablo said:

when install  tron colorisation  and launch the table  the application  close ?

I had this happen using ZeDMD until I saw the note about having to upgrade its firmware to 4.0.0.