Feature request: OSD rotation for vertical arcades

[jotego]

I’d like to request for the OSD to track screen orientation. The core could use a letter in the config screen to inform about the default orientation. The OSD should follow suit. If the user selects to rotate the screen, then both the game and the OSD should rotate together.
This is important for vertical arcade cores.

[the1ross]

If there's anyway to have this be supported via the analogue output as well, I'd be a very happy bunny.

[sorgelig]

rotation requires frame buffering which contradict the analog video which is supposed to output original video.
You may use vga_scaler option, so you will get HDMI video through VGA, and then you can have rotation.

[jotego]

Hi Sorgelig,

The OSD doesn't require a frame buffer to be rotated. You just have to switch H and V vectors on the scan register. This was originally done by Gyurco for MiST and I have used it for the MiST version of my cores since then. I have started modifying it for MiSter here in case you want to have a look (not finished yet). The next CAPCOM core update will feature rotated OSD.

Gyurco also proposed an option to rotate only the joystick inputs. This would serve people who want to use an analog screen but cannot rotate it, so they rotate the controls instead. I have not merged his pull request yet but I will.

To rotate the OSD means having a ROTATE signal (bus) going up from the emu module, as the OSD is one level up in MiSTer.

[eskwadrat]

I second this feature request. Putting so much team effort into implementing arcade cores where most of these natively use portrait mode display, while not having OSD rotation along with the core image rotation make not much sense, specially for those of us who build MISTer nano board into real arcade cabinet w/vertically positioned monitor.

[sorgelig]

After re-checking the OSD code and refreshing my memory i can tell, OSD rotation is NOT possible in its current state. The size of OSD 256x128 which is stretching at some extent. But after rotation the width 256 will become the height. Most arcades have height 200-224 pixels which obviously can't hold the 256 pixels. So it won't be a simple rotation. It will require complete OSD redesign on all levels in HPS and FPGA.

I close this issue as "impossible to fix."
In the future MiSTer may get some more advanced and more flexible OSD which will be able to rotate and accommodate smaller screen sizes. And that will be another story...

[eskwadrat]

Who says we need 256 pixels for it? Half of this is more than enough to navigate between arcade core names as for these the OSD rotation applies only. None of console cores users care nor will use rotation for OSD.

[sorgelig]

You didn't understand what i've wrote.
The WIDTH of OSD won't fit. So it will need to re-design the options in all menus to fit the narrower width.

[eskwadrat]

For the record, I did understanding what you're wrote. Thanks for all great work and more courtesy to contributors.

[jotego]

On my trials I found that too. I was loosing part of the OSD when rotating it. It’s a pity. El El dom, 29 sept 2019 a las 20:53, Steve <notifications@github.com> escribió:

…

For the record, I did understanding what you're wrote. Thanks for all great work and more courtesy to your sponsors. — You are receiving this because you modified the open/close state. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#59?email_source=notifications&email_token=AAOG27DF57QNQ2ABDAHCLIDQMD2RJA5CNFSM4G3JJ772YY3PNVWWK3TUL52HS4DFVREXG43VMVBW63LNMVXHJKTDN5WW2ZLOORPWSZGOD734A7Y#issuecomment-536330367>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAOG27DO7UO5UE3T4DIX6SDQMD2RJANCNFSM4G3JJ77Q> .

[eskwadrat]

I understand the arcade core low resolution limitation but all Mister arcade cores I tried are rescaled to fit the higher res screen with OSD centered occupying just part of it. This looks like OSD is already overlayed on top of rescaled arcade picture, so with that respect the reasoning behind not being able to fit OSD after rotation in unclear to me.

[sorgelig]

Convince all users using VGA output with native resolution and use only HDMI with at least 1280x720, then we will assume 1280x720 as lowest resolution. Then OSD will definitely fit ;)

[eskwadrat]

You're might be missing the point of this request. The OSD rotation is added value only to those who plan using monitor in vertical (portrait) orientation in multi arcade core setup. So there is no need to convince anyone else besides this group because everyone else keep using what is available today with their horizontal screen where OSD is oriented horizontally.

[sorgelig]

Nope, i'm not missing any point. Those who want to use vertical setup, usually also want to use VGA output with native resolution. So with vertical setup you have screen width 192-224 (depending on arcade) while OSD width is 256.

[eskwadrat]

Nobody wants to use vertical mode in a long run because of exactly OSD not being rotated, not mentioning serious color banding for VGA output in Vertical mode for most arcade cores. Both make this mode combination useless. And none has been addressed so far, not even acknowledged except one other MISTer user besides me, instead it became subject of debate which took it nowhere. So for vertical mode analog output arcade builders MISTer simply does not exist. That's the whole point.

[yxkalle]

I could make a vertical font, if it help anybody. ;) All text would be pillars, though.

[yxkalle]

Default Font rotated left (text will be read top to bottom)
Default Font rotated right (text will be read bottom to top :P)

[sorgelig]

Well, i think i will make rotated OSD. For low resolutions it will display every other pixel. It won't be nice looking in such mode, but at least readable. Probably with custom font it can look a little better.

[yxkalle]

Misc_4x8

Download

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[sorgelig]

implemented

[jotego]

How does it change the interface with the emu submodules? El El dom, 20 oct 2019 a las 9:56, sorgelig <notifications@github.com> escribió:

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Closed #59 <#59>. — You are receiving this because you modified the open/close state. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#59?email_source=notifications&email_token=AAOG27G2SBT3MV7B3TERJ73QPQFMBA5CNFSM4G3JJ772YY3PNVWWK3TUL52HS4DFWZEXG43VMVCXMZLOORHG65DJMZUWGYLUNFXW5KTDN5WW2ZLOORPWSZGOUKJJQKI#event-2727516201>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAOG27CJI6JWK4IANORQNSDQPQFMBANCNFSM4G3JJ77Q> .

[sorgelig]

no changes in emu. OSD rotation is defined in MiSTer.ini

[jotego]

Do you need to define it per-core in the MiSTer.ini file? I mean, is it possible to have some cores use the vertical OSD and some the horizontal OSD? El dom., 20 oct. 2019 a las 19:28, sorgelig (<notifications@github.com>) escribió:

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no changes in emu. OSD rotation is defined in MiSTer.ini — You are receiving this because you modified the open/close state. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#59?email_source=notifications&email_token=AAOG27CAGJKWFUKMTCC37FDQPSILHA5CNFSM4G3JJ772YY3PNVWWK3TUL52HS4DFVREXG43VMVBW63LNMVXHJKTDN5WW2ZLOORPWSZGOEBYPFOA#issuecomment-544273080>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAOG27FEWF462SNYMYZGY2TQPSILHANCNFSM4G3JJ77Q> .

[sorgelig]

Yes, ini allows to define either for all cores or per-core. It's basic ini functionality.

[sorgelig]

Primarily OSD rotation is designed for monitors fixed in vertical position, so defining it for all cores is original intention for this option.
Basically, if you want to use vertical mode, then you need to build a separate MiSTer just for vertical arcades and put it into specific cabinet/case with vertical display. And then you won't want to rotate the OSD per core.

[LuckyNES]

Use analog io board and have a second small HDMI display exclusively for picking games.