[New Feature] Load save states from command-line or playlist

[asciibeats]

Apologies for posting here. I would like to discuss more on the Libretro forums, especially about what needs to be done to make the following work for everybody, but i just created an account there and i am not allowed yet. If somebody with magical powers reads this, i would appreciate if you gave me access. My username there is "Tilla".

I added a feature to be able to autoload save states via cli or playlist. I call them entry states. My motivation is to get quickly into a preset game when playing with friends. For example: It takes AT LEAST two and a half minutes to get a 4-player game of "Winter Games" for the C64 going. It loads slowly and you have to enter your names every time. With entry states i can prepare those games in advance and then get into them instantly. I have now created a few fun playlists that contain small single-player challenges like "get to the end of the level" having x lives, short duels (directly load into a penalty shootout of a soccer game), the aforementioned sports-game descipline selection and a lot more. For me it's a game changer ;)

From command-line:

$ retroarch -L <core> -e 42 <rom>

From playlist:

{
   "path": "<rom>",
   "entry_slot": 42,
   ...
   "core_path": "<core>",
   ...
} 

Entry states have to be located alongside your other save states and named like rom_name.state42.entry.

If you like to try it, clone my fork and compile the branch "entrystates":

$ git clone https://github.com/asciibeats/RetroArch.git
$ cd RetroArch
$ git checkout entrystates
$ ./configure
$ make -j4

Cheers!

[asciibeats]

I thought it was maybe too early and i might break stuff i don't know about. Any guidance is very much appreciated. Thanks for your work!

[sonninnos]

Cool. I have a similar thing planned in my TODO, but with state slots instead of paths.

[hizzlekizzle]

Re: forum, you just have to read a few posts, but I went ahead and bumped you up to a regular user so you should be able to post now.

I don't think anyone's too worried about the old playlist format. We knew a breaking change would happen at some point.

I think a PR would be the best way to get some eyes on this, esp from jdgleaver, who isn't active on the forum.

[asciibeats]

Cool. I have a similar thing planned in my TODO, but with state slots instead of paths.

I could do that. Like <savestate_dir>/Vice 64/Winter Games.state42.entry. Fits right in. I like it!

[asciibeats]

Re: forum, you just have to read a few posts, but I went ahead and bumped you up to a regular user so you should be able to post now.

I don't think anyone's too worried about the old playlist format. We knew a breaking change would happen at some point.

I think a PR would be the best way to get some eyes on this, esp from jdgleaver, who isn't active on the forum.

I did a PR. Thanks for the forum bump! Will open a thread and post here.

[sonninnos]

BTW load warping and also cartridge versions of Winter Games exist, so that loading times are not really an issue anymore. Autoloadwarp pretty much makes disk versions load almost like a cartridge when TDE is required.

But that is beside the point, since savestates are still important, and luckily in this case they should not affect hiscore savings either.

[asciibeats]

BTW load warping and also cartridge versions of Winter Games exist, so that loading times are not really an issue anymore. Autoloadwarp pretty much makes disk versions load almost like a cartridge when TDE is required.

But that is beside the point, since savestates are still important, and luckily in this case they should not affect hiscore savings either.

I have autoloadwarping and tde enabled. Without tde my Winter Games does not run. Did not know there was a cartridge. Thanks for the tip!

BTW entry states are now working with slot indices. I updated my post above.

[asciibeats]

The forum post is now live so i am closing this thread. The pull request is ongoing. Thank you for reading and again, for your work. Have a good one!