No-Intro Screenshot Archive (NISA)

[xuom2]

NISA site is down and I am not able to extract .PAK update files

[geezup]

I restored access to it last night. Check again.

While i sort out my life a bit, there will be no updates... actually i decided to take it down, but thought a little bit more about it and all the work done must be kept there, available for anybody. Since the host is mine, it will stay there, no worries about it dissapearing

BTW x2, i'll get in touch with you one of these days

Cheers.

[kazumi213]

Thanks geezup. Please, keep it online. It is a very useful reference for me

[xuom2]

i downloaded the public packs and asked DOM a report about the missing things (see attachment).

@ all lurkers reading this: please put your hands on your favourite emu, find some free minutes, take screenshots and submit me the stuff thanks

EDIT 2010-01-04: ALEXIAN sent GG and SMS. thanks!
EDIT 2010-01-06: DWEEZLEDAP sent VB. thanks!
EDIT 2010-02-14: XUOM2 sent WS, WSC, NGP, NGPC, GB, GBC, GG, SMS, S32X. thanks!

[alexian]

I'll second the issue with the .PAK files.

Why is NSIA taking sides in the OS wars? .zip files are fine, and everyone can extract from that format. But why use a compression format where we then provide an extractor for only a single platform? Why not provide all the files under .zip, or other non-platform-dependent formats?

Since all the naming is based on the crc value, I think we can all figure out that, if replacements are necessary, then the files in the later dated archives are the more accurate.

A possible better option would be to allow the update packs to be accessible to all by making them zip files. But inside the packs, having an update routine that could be created for only a single platform that would make any corrections -- overwriting and deleting as necessary. That way, Linux, Unix, Mac, and other platforms could all still make use of the screenshots, even if they couldn't run the little update tool. Of course, if you wrote the tool in some kind of human-readable batch script, then the other platforms could figure out what to do pretty easily...

[Macarro]

I think I have some unreleased material, Geezup, I have to pass it to you. It's mainly scanned manuals in cbr format (wich should be converted to cbz wich is not a propietary format I think).

Regards to everybody, lately I didn't have much free time to follow the no-intro project.

[geezup]

I wrote the tools, and i don't take part in any OS war. If i had to choose i'll stand by the linux side, but since i coded most of it at work i had no choice... .NET only at work

I started porting the renamer to Java, but due to a hard drive crash and little help with the project i decided not to continue with that (this was long time ago anyway, and didn't feel to start it all over again).

FYI, we started with simple and easy to use ZIP files, but due to human stupidity i decided to do this cause i was sick of assholes who can only click on download buttons, having problems to update their packs. The Update Unpacker tool will do all the work for those people: rename and delete previous or unused screenshots, and extract new ones. So no, not everyone can figure that out for some reason. This was the easiest way.

File structure is simply, maybe if you had digged into it instead of criticize other people work you could have find out, mate.

Just grab this .pak file, since it has the full structure, including the actions to perform over previous updates.

Nintendo_Game_Boy_Update_Pack_20070324.pak


I wrote here what to do, but i guess you can figure it out... if you can't just reply here and i'll give you step by step instructions on what to do.

For now i will only say: Check .pak file header.

OS wars ? Yeah, right. Just because the file extension is not familiar to you.


The project is only half-dead... we'll be back sooner or later (more sooner than later i would say), and i keep my packs more or less updated, quite messy but more or less updated... i don't understand this rush for screenshots now. Maybe a little help in the past wouldn't have lead into this break. If you send me the new update packs, i'll add them to the site for download, maybe that will shorten the break time.

BTW.. criticism is no good. Anybody could have started a project like this, but no one did until we showed up. So for those who don't like how things are/were done, you had the choice to join us, and have the chance to give some fresh ideas (i got tired of asking for help here and there, and just got a few extra hands, which i really appreciate BTW), so only criticism from those who helped is welcome, others is simply ignored. I remember someone in our forums saying something similar about .pak files, saying he was a linux programming master and similar shit. When i asked to port it, he simply vanished.

No downloadable packs, please. We'll be back

EDIT: btw, is there a ClrMame or RomCenter for Linux, Unix, Mac or any other platform ? OS wars ?

I'll second the issue with the .PAK files.

Why is NSIA taking sides in the OS wars? .zip files are fine, and everyone can extract from that format. But why use a compression format where we then provide an extractor for only a single platform? Why not provide all the files under .zip, or other non-platform-dependent formats?

Since all the naming is based on the crc value, I think we can all figure out that, if replacements are necessary, then the files in the later dated archives are the more accurate.

A possible better option would be to allow the update packs to be accessible to all by making them zip files. But inside the packs, having an update routine that could be created for only a single platform that would make any corrections -- overwriting and deleting as necessary. That way, Linux, Unix, Mac, and other platforms could all still make use of the screenshots, even if they couldn't run the little update tool. Of course, if you wrote the tool in some kind of human-readable batch script, then the other platforms could figure out what to do pretty easily...

[alexian]

As it turns out, ClrMamePro works like a charm under wine. No problems there. I believe RomCenter does too, but its been awhile since I tested, since only cmp allows for 1G1R functionality (or did RC update their software finally?)

As for the NISA updater, wine chokes on .NET, at least the default wine install does. Haven't really explored yet how to add .net to wine. Haven't had much other need for it.

I'll see what I can do with the .pak files sometime when I'm back on my home machine.

I didn't mean to hit such a tender point. Just got a bit frustrated when I found that the NISA archive is set up with files that are only naturally accessible in newer versions of Windows ("newer" being a relative term -- since I typically only use Linux now, my Windows version is still stuck at ME). It wasn't so much that I was unfamiliar with the extension, as it was that the NISA team built a new file type, then only provided support on a single platform for that file type, thus creating frustration among the 10% of the population that uses other O/S, and might want to utilize these files.

Honestly, I became aware of the NISA project when a link was posted on the DoM asking for screenshots for new roms. After pitching in with contributing screenshots, I wanted to check out the project as it stood so far. So, really, my awareness of the project only came about in the last couple months. Not helpful to criticize people for not helping years ago when they only really became aware of the project in recent days.

[xuom2]

I want to stand apart from this little flame, I only posted in this thread because I was searching for the unpacker tool and the site was down.
In my opinion, the unpacker tool is useless when we have CM or RC that can remove and manage things. And the image renamer is useless too, when you have a database with the items and you can export a CM/RC datfile with the desired naming options.
Said this, the efforts shown from NISA people are so great that any critic has no reason.
About all this recent interest on screenshots.. from me.. there is no reason: simply, now I have time to dedicate to them.
I can do all the remaining shots, like I'm doing with NDS, but I want to see how long it takes to see some collaboration from community.
It's taking long, and I understand the discourage you've felt in the past.

[geezup]

They are useless just somehow Not completely useless

The renamer was born first, and actually, not with this project in mind (the N.I.S.A. project was more like a derived project). The renamer initially was just used to rename the screenshots from Offlinelist, into something more readable, to be used in arcade cabinets. Then we realized most of those screenshots quality sucked, and the N.I.S.A. was born. There was another project in WIP form that actually was planned as a substitute for OL... with rom renaming and flashing capabilities, rom launching, artwork browser, etc.... an all in one solution for things i do quite often (still working on that from time to time).

Everything was coded from scratch but a preliminary version of an own CMS, being just me and macarro working on it, since we were the only interested between the very few clean rom fanatics in the forum were all this started (the now defunct marcianitos.org). The last thing we did was choosing the name. Lots of hours where put into it, a full systems/images manager was created parting from the DAT files, among many, many other things, to handle every game individually or grouped into a system.

The renamer was done so a new DAT file wasn't need and anybody could contribute apart from that, many people is simply useless trying to use ClrMame or Romcenter (that's the part where it is not useless )... but at the end, very few people helped out. As always, we tried to make things simply to use, and fool proof. If there are critics for doing it that way, i can't imagine what would have happened for doing it the hard way. They would have probably sent George Bush to hunt down my ass or something xD

As for collaboration... well as you see in the NDS thread, it is quite discouraging.

Tell me where you are at capturing, and i'll give you a hand in my spare time (which is not that much atm). NDS is waaaay too big for one single person. That's why i asked for volunteers. We had a couple more in another forum before our break, tell me where you are right now and will talk to them.

Cheers

I want to stand apart from this little flame, I only posted in this thread because I was searching for the unpacker tool and the site was down.
In my opinion, the unpacker tool is useless when we have CM or RC that can remove and manage things. And the image renamer is useless too, when you have a database with the items and you can export a CM/RC datfile with the desired naming options.
Said this, the efforts shown from NISA people are so great that any critic has no reason.
About all this recent interest on screenshots.. from me.. there is no reason: simply, now I have time to dedicate to them.
I can do all the remaining shots, like I'm doing with NDS, but I want to see how long it takes to see some collaboration from community.
It's taking long, and I understand the discourage you've felt in the past.

[geezup]

As you will see when you take a look at the .pak files, it is not a new file type... just a new extension, cause the contents are useless the way they are in the .pak file (at least for most people). As i said, there are instructions inside so the Unpacker will take care of everything else.

I can honestly say there will be no linux port coming from me, so if you feel like doing it, your help will be welcome, and credit given as we always did. When you see what's inside, it should be pretty straight forward to unpack it. But check the suggested file above, otherwise some of the others might not have the full structure. I just picked that up randomly, and checked it confirm it contains the instrucions file for renaming/deleting images over previous packs.

Cheers.

As it turns out, ClrMamePro works like a charm under wine. No problems there. I believe RomCenter does too, but its been awhile since I tested, since only cmp allows for 1G1R functionality (or did RC update their software finally?)

As for the NISA updater, wine chokes on .NET, at least the default wine install does. Haven't really explored yet how to add .net to wine. Haven't had much other need for it.

I'll see what I can do with the .pak files sometime when I'm back on my home machine.

I didn't mean to hit such a tender point. Just got a bit frustrated when I found that the NISA archive is set up with files that are only naturally accessible in newer versions of Windows ("newer" being a relative term -- since I typically only use Linux now, my Windows version is still stuck at ME). It wasn't so much that I was unfamiliar with the extension, as it was that the NISA team built a new file type, then only provided support on a single platform for that file type, thus creating frustration among the 10% of the population that uses other O/S, and might want to utilize these files.

Honestly, I became aware of the NISA project when a link was posted on the DoM asking for screenshots for new roms. After pitching in with contributing screenshots, I wanted to check out the project as it stood so far. So, really, my awareness of the project only came about in the last couple months. Not helpful to criticize people for not helping years ago when they only really became aware of the project in recent days.

[Connie]

I can fully understand your reasoning behind your own tools.

As a reference, if you take xuom2's reply regarding RC or CM ROM managers being able to sort these files (not a personal dig at you x2), then you realise how 'ROM/Information' sites assume how easy these tools are to use. I spent many hours just learning what RC actually did and why it was needed before realising the 'real world' of ROM dump collecting.
Then I became prolific in using RC - but only because CM had big nasty windows and lots of scary settings boxes - and no nice Green, Amber, Red colours (synonymous with traffic light signals.)
So now I venture into CM territory. Oh boy, it's hell here (...HellBoy..Good hey?...No?....OK), but RTFM (Read the F**king Manual), visit Roman's Forum and all this 'sh*t' starts to make real sense. And before long, I know how to use CM too!

So back to point in question, do you want to segregate all those users not willing to do the above? These users that might love 'artwork' but not know a thing about a ROM manager because they don't use them (they just know where to find a few ROM dumps and an emulator), would definately up 'n leave.

In terms of what tools should be used/platforms catered for, then you've just got to draw the line (and this is a personnal line between your level of thinking/inteligence and that of what you would consider a 'clueless' visitor). If you can't use a batch file (and by that I mean at least EDIT it to see what it does B4 you run it), then you're Ma & Pa should never have mated.

You don't go poking your fingers in moving parts unless you've a good understanding of what might happen next. © Connie

Regarding cross platform (alexian's points in question), Wine is OK for running programs in, but can't you create a real Virtual Console from boot - so you are truely running a Windows O/S? No offense to yourself, but you can't get an apple computer and expect people to bend over backwards or rebuild programs just to suit your 'lifestyle'. If you buy a MAC, then know that shit ain't going to work with it in the 'black market'. I say this because I'm considering spending almost £2,000 on the new "27" iMAC purely for number crunching - video rendering and audio creation (just got Reason 4). While I could get a PC dual-core eqivalent, I want a MAC for the 'finesse' and clean program running , while the PC and that 'dirty' Windows runs all that 'underground' stuff.

[geezup]

Thank you Connie

That line you talk about is what i call "fool proof" xD CM and RC are definetly not "fool proof" as you explained.

[Elfish]

heya i'm new to this .
i know that the pak files carry all the screenshots etc but..... how to view them?:/
sorry to disturb your discussion with that kind of newbie questions heh.

[geezup]

how to view the images ??

Double click on them. That's not OS especific xD