Derek Pascarella (ateam)

(6/6) Before wrapping up, I wanted to mention USB4MAPLE, which also supports per-game virtual VMUs with openMenu.

usb4maple.wikidot.com

It's a great, inexpensive solution with pre-built units readily available too!

(5/6) To purchase one pre-built, check out the official stores.

• www.tindie.com/products/clu...
• www.etsy.com/listing/4315...

PS: I'm told the Tindie shop may not restock, so keep an eye on Etsy!

(4/6) I've also added game ID support for the Pico2Maple in my openMenu build, so now you can enjoy virtual per-game VMUs!

(3/6) On top of that, all of these input modes are supported too...

(2/6) Check out all that it supports out of the box...

(1/6) If you're looking for a Dreamcast wireless controller solution and something like the DreamConn S is a bit too rich for your blood, and the Retro Fighters controllers have been unreliable for you, take a look at Pico2Maple.

github.com/cluoma/Pico2...

openMenu Virtual Folder Bundle is nearing ready for its v1.3 release!

See the current changelog below.

Well, since Retro Fighters' wireless controllers are such a hot mess, I thought this a good time to add support for saving/loading openMenu settings to/from the serial SD card adapter!

This is also useful for those who swap out VMUs frequently but want to retain their settings.

It doesn't interfere, it just doesn't work well for save/load of settings.

Update on this, after much testing and attempting to write fixes, I have determined that it is impossible, and nothing is reliable enough for me to put my name on it. I will not be bending over backwards to try to support these controllers while also risking breaking everything else.

Users of wireless Retro Fighters controllers, note that you will encounter issues with v1.2's new Save/Load manager.

I'm working on a fix because RF themselves have engineered out-of-spec products and will never fix them.

Track progress here:
github.com/DerekPascare...

(6/6) Lastly, If you're feeling generous and want to contribute to my ongoing efforts, head on over to DreamcastForever.com and click "Contact" for the donation link.

While I toil over my projects out of love and passion, every penny helps 🙂

(5/6) There are many other changes, so take a moment reading the changelog to get yourself up to speed.

I'm very proud of what I've accomplished with this release, and I sincerely hope all users out there are happy with not only this version, but where the project is going!

(4/6) In openMenu, one addition is the new Save/Load feature for settings. As seen below, you can save/load settings to/from any VMU, and virtual devices like VM2, VMUPro, USB4MAPLE, and Pico2Maple are identified and labeled.

Yes, Game ID added for Pico2Maple was added in v1.2!

(3/6) GDI shrinking has been moved to a new Disc Image Options window, and functions have been added there for VGA and region patching, useful for those who want to launch out-of-region games, or games that require a forced VGA flag, after selecting "Exit to BIOS" in openMenu.

(2/6) There's also a new DAT Tools function in Card Manager to help users import artwork from others, export their Games List artwork to PNG, and even totally clear out their DATs to start fresh.

(1/6) Version 1.2 of the openMenu Virtual Folder Bundle is here!

This release packs tons of updates and fixes, which you can read all about in the changelog on GitHub.

DOWNLOAD:
github.com/DerekPascare...

One of the biggest new features is streamlined artwork management 👇

billymonks just released the first iteration of their English translation patch of the "Nekketsu Nikki" mode in the Japanese version of Project Justice (Moero! Justice Gakuen) on the SEGA Dreamcast.

www.dreamcast-talk.com/forum/viewto...

One of those old Saturn games I played in my youth that I was very proud to develop a translation patch for back in 2024.

If you haven't tried it already, I strongly suggest you do! It's full of plenty of charm and good jams 😉

github.com/DerekPascare...

This is all thanks to darc's redump2cdi tool (dreamcast.wiki/Redump2CDI), which thankfully is cross-platform, and gdidrop by feyris-tan (github.com/feyris-tan/g...). I was able to implement gdidrop's C# into the application natively, so no external helper utility for that functionality.

A user requested I do automatic conversion of Redump images to formats supported by GDEMU whenever someone tries to add them to their SD card.

I'm happy to report that in v1.2, Redump CD-ROM rips *and* GD-ROM rips are both auto-converted to CDI and GDI, respectively!

github.com/DerekPascare...

In the upcoming v1.2 release of the openMenu Virtual Folder Bundle, not only is artwork assignment a breeze, but you can even import is artwork from other people's DAT files with just a few clicks.

Stay tuned!

Ever had a file or folder on your GDEMU SD card accidentally open in another program while you clicked 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 in GD MENU Card Manager, and then wreaked havoc?

With the upcoming v1.2 openMenu Virtual Folder Bundle, a "lock check" process executes before even trying to touch your files!

(4/4) For now though, the next release will at least see a very streamlined artwork management workflow, and I'm thrilled out it.

Stay tuned!

(3/4) Any and all artwork can be removed, assigned, edited, etc. Upon saving changes to the SD card, the DAT files will be automatically updated.

In the future, I want to add a new META.DAT format just for my new Folders mode, but that's still a heavy work in progress!

(2/4 I've even got it so that when you make a change to the cell under the Serial column, it will re-scan the in-memory DATs and change these button labels depending on whether that Serial ID was found!

(1/4) Your BOX.DAT and ICON.DAT files will be automatically read in upon launching Card Manager (or the default ones that ship with teh package). If artwork is assigned to a specific Serial ID, the "Art" column will show a Manage button. If there is no artwork assigned, you'll see Assign instead.

I want to say that I am not developing any of this so that you have to throw things away each time. Every update builds upon the last, and no reconfigurations are required each time whatsoever.

Doing it any other way would be dick, haha.

Ver. 1.1 is very stable and polished. Upgrading is extremely easy, and you honestly stand nothing to gain by waiting. All you have to do each time is download the new package, open GD MENU Card Manager while your SD card is inserted, then click Save Changes.

Start enjoying the new openMenu *now* 😎