jzIntv Launcher v1.2 ==================== ©Copyright 2006, Rich „Weeds„ Nagel - All rights reserved Overview -------- The jzIntv Launcher is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) frontend utility for the Windows version of Joe Zbiciak's EXCELLENT "jzIntv" Intellivision emulator. Find out more about this great freeware Intellivision emulator at http://spatula-city.org/~im14u2c/intv on the Internet, and experience some of yesterday's best console gaming that the Mattel Intellivision had to offer! Visit the Blue Sky Rangers at http://www.intellivisionlives.com on the Internet to learn more about the original Mattel Intellivision game console. What is this "jzIntv Launcher" thing anyways? --------------------------------------------- The jzIntv Intellivision emulator is strictly a command-line program that requires numerous command-line parameters that must be manually typed in order to run it. Using the jzIntv Launcher with this emulator makes it extremely easy to run any Intellivision game cartridge ROM files, with your choice of any of the emulator's options... all from within the jzIntv Launcher's user-friendly interface and menus. The jzIntv Launcher is also a fully-featured document browser of sorts for your PC-based collection of Intellivision game cartridge manuals, game cartridge product box pictures, and controller overlay pictures. You can view any of these types of Intellivision related documents and images, as well as print any of them from within this user-friendly utility. Installation ------------ To install the jzIntv Launcher, unzip jzIntv_Launcher.zip to any directory or subdirectory on your hard drive (i.e. C:\jzIntv Launcher", "C:\jzIntv\jzIntv Launcher", or "C:\Intellivision\jzIntv Launcher"). To upgrade the jzIntv Launcher from any previous versions, simply overwrite the existing files within the original installation directory. Pre-Usage Notes --------------- In addition to the actual jzIntv Intellivision emulator (and any Intellivision game cartridge ROM files that you may have), optionally you will also need a collection of Intellivision documents and images (i.e. Intellivision game cartridge manuals, game cartridge product box pictures, and controller overlay pictures). These documents and images will be displayed within the "Game Cartridge ROM Document Browser" portion of the jzIntv Launcher (the screen displayed when first starting the jzIntv Launcher). An excellent source for these Intellivision documents and images is the "Image and Manual Packs" available for download on the Internet at http://www.shiny-technologies.com/downloads.php. In order to use these documents and images with the document browser portion of the jzIntv Launcher, the game cartridge ROM files, text file manuals, product box images, and controller overlay images MUST have similar filenames. Note that you will probably have to rename some of the files in order for the images and manuals to be displayed with the game cartridge ROM files from within the document browser properly. Also note that even if the filenames are NOT similar (or you do not have the image and manual files to begin with), you STILL can select and play any of the game cartridge ROM files with the jzIntv Intellivision emulator using the jzIntv Launcher. Correct Filename Syntax ----------------------- The following are examples of the correct filename syntax, and are examples of how the files must be similarly named (minus the quotes) to be displayed properly from within the document browser. This is the filename for the game cartridge ROM file, and the file can have any of the following file extensions as listed below: "Excellent Intellivision Game.bin" "Excellent Intellivision Game.int" "Excellent Intellivision Game.itv" "Excellent Intellivision Game.rom" This is the filename for the game cartridge product box image (JPG format image): "Excellent Intellivision Game.jpg" This is the filename for the game cartridge controller overlay image (JPG format image). Note the underscore and additional text appended to the end of the filename ("_Overlay"): "Excellent Intellivision Game_Overlay.jpg" Lastly, this is the filename for the game cartridge text manual (plain-text format document): "Excellent Intellivision Game.txt" Incorrect Filename Syntax ------------------------- The following are examples of INCORRECT filename syntax, and images and text files that are named as such will NOT be displayed properly from within the document browser (refer to the file descriptions as listed in the "Correct Filename Syntax" section above): "Excellent Intellivision Game [Mattel] (1983).bin" "Excellent Intellivision Game [Mattel] (1983).int" "Excellent Intellivision Game [Mattel] (1983).itv" "Excellent Intellivision Game [Mattel] (1983).rom" "Excellent Intellivision Game.jpg" "Excellent Intellivision Game_Overlay.jpg" "Excellent Intellivision Game.txt" Correcting the Filenames ------------------------ The following are the incorrect filename examples above, but have been renamed to the proper filenames so that the images and text file manual will be displayed properly from within the document browser (again, refer to the file descriptions as listed in the "Correct Filename Syntax" section above): "Excellent Intellivision Game [Mattel] (1983).bin" "Excellent Intellivision Game [Mattel] (1983).int" "Excellent Intellivision Game [Mattel] (1983).itv" "Excellent Intellivision Game [Mattel] (1983).rom" "Excellent Intellivision Game [Mattel] (1983).jpg" "Excellent Intellivision Game [Mattel] (1983)_Overlay.jpg" "Excellent Intellivision Game [Mattel] (1983).txt" Anyhow, hopefully you get the idea... the filenames must follow the naming convention and filename syntax as shown in the example above. This is the only way that the images and manuals will even be displayed at all from within the document browser portion of the jzIntv Launcher. Although (as mentioned previously), you can still select and play any game cartridge ROM file using the launcher portion of the jzIntv launcher. Initial Setup ------------- Start the jzIntv Launcher by running "jzIntv Launcher.exe" from within the directory where you unzipped the files and installed the utility. Since this is the first time that you have ran the jzIntv Launcher, you must first set up all of the applicable file paths, options, and preferences by clicking the "Setup" button within the game cartridge ROM document browser portion of the jzIntv Launcher. When prompted, select the proper directories on your hard drive that contain the game cartridge ROM files, product box images, text file manuals, and controller overlay images, as well as the directory where the actual jzIntv Intellivision emulator (jzIntv.exe and SDL.dll) is located (i.e. "C:\Intellivision\jzIntv"). Lastly in the initial setup process, you will be given the choice of enabling the jzIntv Launcher's screensaver feature (which will automatically start after five minutes of inactivity anywhere within the utility), as well as your choice of two different screensaver types (if you choose to enable the screensaver). The first screensaver type is a simple slideshow consisting of the game cartridge product box and controller overlay images that you have installed on your hard drive (press the "ESCAPE" key on your keyboard to exit the slideshow screensaver when it is running), while the second screensaver type consists of the actual jzIntv Intellivision emulator running a custom game cartridge ROM file. You will then be given a choice to select any game cartridge ROM file to use with the jzIntv Intellivision emulator screensaver. Game cartridge ROM files that work well when used as a screensaver with the jzIntv Intellivision emulator are most any of the original Intellivision demo cartridge ROM files... they automatically start up by themselves, as well as loop back to the beginning when the demos are completed. To exit this type of screensaver when it is running, simply exit the jzIntv Intellivision emulator in the usual way (by pressing the "F1" key on your keyboard). jzIntv Intellivision Emulator Configuration ------------------------------------------- If you have the jzIntv Intellivision emulator installed on your hard drive, you must also configure the options and selections within the jzIntv Launcher portion of the utility. Click on the "jzIntv Launcher" button located within the game cartridge ROM document browser. Most selections located within the jzIntv Launcher portion of the utility are completely optional. Although note, in order to play any of your game cartridge ROM files, at the very least you must first select the filenames and paths of the main Intellivision game console system ROM files. These files are the "Executive" ROM file ("Exec.bin"), the "Graphics" ROM file ("GROM.bin"), and the "Entertainment Computer System" ROM file ("ECS.bin"), and are usually located within the directory where the jzIntv Intellivision emulator is installed on your hard drive (i.e. "C:\Intellivision\jzIntv"). Click any of the check boxes with the descriptions mentioned above to select the filenames and paths of the main Intellivision game console system ROM files. Usage ----- Usage of the jzIntv Launcher's various features and options is fairly easy and self-explanatory. All buttons, check boxes, dropdown boxes, list boxes, text-entry boxes, and windows have descriptive popup "tooltips" that will be displayed when hovering your mouse over them. Simply move your mouse cursor over any of these items anywhere within the utility, and a small box with detailed instructions will pop up! Note that almost all items within the utility have a shortcut "hotkey" (i.e. ), which is the underlined letter or number displayed on the specific item (the complete shortcut hotkeys will be displayed within the popup tooltips mentioned above). Within the the game cartridge ROM document browser portion of the jzIntv Launcher (the screen displayed when first starting the jzIntv Launcher), click on a ROM file that is located within the game cartridge ROM files list to select it and display the game cartridge's product box image, controller overlay image, and instruction manual. Click on the "jzIntv Launcher" button to jump to the jzIntv Launcher portion of the utility, which contains selections for all of the jzIntv Intellivision emulator options (as well as a button to actually run the emulator with your previously selected game cartridge ROM file). Click on the "Troubleshooting" button from anywhere in the utility to display various general jzIntv Intellivision emulator and jzIntv Launcher program troubleshooting options, as well as restoring the jzIntv Launcher's original program installation defaults. Detailed Usage -------------- A few sections of the jzIntv Launcher portion of the utility may require a little more explaination as to their functions. A few game cartridge ROM files may require enabling the Intellivision "Entertainment Computer System", or the "IntelliVoice" module. Simply click the respective check boxes to enable these features. Click the "Keyboard Hack File" check box to select and use a keyboard hack (key bindings) file when running the emulator. Refer to the "KbdHackFile.txt" file that is included with Joe Zbiciak's jzIntv Intellivision emulator for more information about using keyboard hack files. The "Filter" and "Buffer" slider controls are advanced options supported by the emulator, and are normally not modified or used. Set them all to "Automatic" (which are the defaults), or experiement with them if you wish. The "Rate Control" slider selects the speed at which the jzIntv Intellivision emulator actually runs while the screensaver is running. Slide the bar to 0/10 (0) to disable rate control, or to 10/10 (1) to enable automatic rate control. You can also adjust the rate control to force the emulator to run much faster (computer CPU speed permitting) than normal, which can be quite entertaining , depending on which game cartridge ROM file that you are playing. The "Additional Parameters" text-entry box is where you can type any other additional command-line parameters that you wish to be passed to the emulator when running it from the launcher. Refer to the "Joystick.txt" file that is included with Joe Zbiciak's jzIntv Intellivision emulator for more information about the various command-line parameters that his emulator supports for joysticks. These detailed command-line parameters can be typed in any of the "Joystick Configuration" text-entry boxes of the jzIntv Launcher, and will be passed to the emulator when running it from the launcher. For any of the other advanced features and options that are located within the jzIntv Launcher portion of the utility (such as "Intellicart Caching", and the Master Component and ESC Inputs dropdown boxes), refer to the various documents and help files that are included with the jzIntv Intellivision emulator. jzIntv Launcher Fullscreen and Windowed Modes --------------------------------------------- Due to popular demand, the jzIntv Launcher utility can be run in fullscreen mode (the program's installation default), as well as windowed mode. This is accomplished by two small programs that patch the utility's main executable program file ("jzIntv Launcher.exe"), and the patch program filenames are "jzIntv Launcher Fullscreen Mode Patch Utility.exe" and "jzIntv Launcher Windowed Mode Patch Utility.exe". Both of these patch programs can be run directly from the jzIntv Launcher itself, and these options are located within the "Troubleshooting" portion of the jzIntv Launcher. Note that I added the buttons to launch these patch programs within the "Troubleshooting" portion of the utility, simply because I ran out of room to place them most anywhere else within the launcher ! Click on either the "Fullscreen" button or the "Windowed" button to shut down the jzIntv Launcher and automatically run the appropriate patch program, and then simply follow the onscreen prompts. After the patch program has completed and exited, the jzIntv Launcher will run in the mode that you selected the next time that you start it. jzIntv Intellivision Emulator Default Keyboard Controls ------------------------------------------------------- Note that the following is direct from the jzIntv Intellivision emulator's "jzIntv.txt" file, and is included here simply for convenience (with minor corrections and editing): Function and Special keys, all keymaps: F1 Quit F4 Break into debugger F5 Switch to keymap 0 (default keymap) F6 Switch to keymap 1 (left controller, only for 1 player games) F7 Switch to keymap 2 (ECS keyboard keymap) F8 Shift to keymap 3 while held ("Command" keys) F9 Toggle fullscreen/windowed F10 Toggle movie recording F11 Take screen shot F12 Reset emulator Pause Pause the emulator PgUp Increase volume PgDn Decrease volume Numeric Keypad, keymap 0 and keymap 1: 1-9 Left controller 1 - 9 0 Left controller Clear . Left controller 0 Enter Left controller Enter Main Keyboard, keymap 0 (keymap 1 moves the right controller key mappings to the left controller): 0-9 Right controller 0 - 9 - Right controller Clear = Right controller Enter Left Shift Right controller top action buttons Left Alt Right controller bottom-left action button Left Control Right controller bottom-right action button Right Shift Left controller top action buttons Right Alt Left controller bottom-left action button Right Control Left controller bottom-right action button Up Arrow Left controller disc up Down Arrow Left controller disc down Left Arrow Left controller disc left Right Arrow Left controller disc right Fine-control directional pad inputs: U I O \ | / \|/ J --+-- K Left controller disc /|\ / | \ N M , W E R \ | / \|/ S --+-- D Right controller disc /|\ / | \ Z X C Keymap 2 configures the PC keyboard to function like an Intellivision "Entertainment Computer System" (ECS) keyboard attachment. Keymap 3 is for "Command" keys. If you press the "Command" key on a Macintosh, the "Windows" key on a PC, or the F8 key on most platforms, jzIntv will configured for keymap 3 until you release the key. The following Command key bindings are currently defined: Command+Q Quit Command+P Pause Command+M Movie Command+S Screen shot Command+R Reset Command+W Toggle windowed/full-screen mode Note that not all Command key bindings will work under Windows using the "Windows" key. This is because Windows itself captures these keystrokes. and are known to conflict with Windows' bindings. Programs and Utilities ---------------------- The jzIntv Launcher was programmed and created exclusively using NeoSoft's NeoBook for Windows v4.1.3a, and the fullscreen and windowed mode patch utilities were created using Clickteam's Patch Maker v1.2g. Jasc Software's Paint Shop Pro v7.02 and NeoSoft's NeoPaint for Windows v4.5a were used for all image editing. The MIDI music "BurgerTime Intro" was composed on a Casio CZ-1 keyboard (yeah, I know... it's as old as the original Intellivison game console, damn thing weighs a ton too ), and sequenced using Twelve Tone Systems' Cakewalk Professional v3.01. Greetings and Salutations ------------------------- Greetings and thanks go out to (in no particular order): Joe Zbiciak (the creator of the "jzIntv" Intellivision emulator) - MANY thanks for all of the help, and answering all of my mind-dulling emails and questions about jzIntv throughout the past few weeks ! David Harley (the creator and compiler of the "Image and Manual Packs" mentioned above) - Thanks for the beta testing, and prompting me to finish this beast in the first place -:) Arnauld Chevallier (the creator of the "jzIntv GUI" utility) - Arnauld's jzIntv GUI is what inspired me to create the jzIntv Launcher in the first place -:) Joe Fisher (the creator of the "Nostalgia" Intellivision emulator) - The internal image and text browser features of Joe's Nostalgia Intellivision emulator also inspired me to create the jzIntv Launcher -:) Intellivision Programmers Yahoo Group - A great and friendly bunch of folks! NeoSoft Forums (the official forums for NeoSoft products) - Many thanks to NeoSoft and all of the helpful folks in the forums, with their informative answers to all of my numerous "NeoBook" questions -:) Copyrights and Legalities ------------------------- jzIntv Launcher - ©Copyright 2006, Rich „Weeds„ Nagel - All rights reserved The jzIntv Launcher (jzIntv_Launcher.zip) may be freely distributed in it's whole and unmodified form, contained in it's original unmodified and unedited ZIP format archive, including all documents, text, and support files. Note that this utility is NOT endorsed nor condoned by the creator of the jzIntv Intellivision emulator (Joe Zbiciak), Mattel Electronics (the manufacturer of the original Intellivision game console), or the Blue Sky Rangers (the current trademark and copyright holder of the "Running Man" logo, and the "Intellivision" name). Void where prohibited, not available in all states, removing factory seal will void your warranty, removing information tag from pillow is a violation of federal law, does not include tax, tag, and title, your results may vary, supplies are limited, I'm not a real doctor, but I play one on TV, etc... etc... . Use the jzIntv Launcher at your own risk... I will not be held responsible for absolutely anything , and the like. Version History --------------- v1.0 Alpha - Initial personal Alpha experimental test version. (September 1, 2006) v1.0 Beta 1 - First private Beta test version. (September 5, 2006) - Removed the jzIntv Intellivision emulator launching features and options. - Programmed and recreated the game cartridge ROM document browser from scratch. - Numerous additions and changes to the game cartridge ROM document browser. v1.0 Beta 4 - First public Beta test release. (October 7, 2006) - Programmed and recreated the jzIntv Intellivision emulator launching features and options from scratch. v1.0 Beta 9 - Public Beta 5 (October 10, 2006) through Beta 9 (October 18, 2006) (October 18, 2006) test releases. - Windows XP compatability . - Numerous additions, changes, and bug fixes to the program... WAY too many to list here ! v1.10 - First official public release. (October 21, 2006) - More additions, changes, and bug fixes to the program. - FINALLY included the proper help and readme file (took me two days to type this confounded thing up )! v1.2 - Minor changes to the layout of the game cartridge ROM (November 3, 2006) document browser. - Minor changes to this help and readme file. - Reprogrammed the routines that populate the ROMs list box... populating the ROMs list box is almost INSTANT now! ENJOY! ------ Rich „Weeds„ Nagel richnagel@earthlink.net richnagel@simpilot.net rfnagel@juno.com rfnagel@racesimcentral.com http://www.richnagel.net http://home.earthlink.net/~richnagel http://www.geocities.com/rfnagel http://www.geocities.com/timessquare/metro/7256 http://www.simpilot.net/~richnagel http://snor.cmoo.com http://snor.cmoo.com/weeds http://snor.cmoo.com/weeds/Intellivision http://www.cmoo.com/~snor http://www.cmoo.com/~snor/weeds http://www.cmoo.com/~snor/weeds/Intellivision