UseOfflineGameDescriptions

How to use offline game descriptions

If you want to use local (offline) game descriptions you will need description files. Local game descriptions are added as offline scrapers in Edit Rom Collection dialog or with the config wizard on Add Rom Collection. Just select the offline scraper type (see list of available types below) and the path to the game description. Once configured, offline scrapers can be used in Edit Rom Collection dialog or in Import Options dialog just the same way as online scrapers.

Available offline scraper types

Game-database-info

You can grab xml game descriptions for a lot of platforms from billyc999s github account: link. You can get the single files or download the complete archive with the green download button on the start page. RCB only supports the xml files, so you can ignore all other formats.

MAME

RCB can parse the history.dat file provided by arcade-history.com. Get the latest file here: link

Add artwork

Get artwork from emumovies

• Register at http://emumovies.com (paid subscription is only required to download videos)
• Download and install the Emumovies Download Service Utility
• Launch the Download Service Utility
• Enter your emumovies account information
• Select System, Path to your rom files and the path where the tool should store the downloaded artwork (and videos)
• In "Available Media" dropdown list select "- All Artwork"
• Go! -> This will start to download all available information found on emumovies for your roms. The download tool will automatically rename the downloaded files, so that RCB can easily match the media files with your available rom files.
• optional: If you also want to use game videos select your favourite video type in "Available Media" dropdown list and download again.

Note: RCB does not support all artwork types out of the box. If you want to save download time and traffic just get the supported artwork types one by one.

Map emumovies artwork types to RCB artwork types

You can add the paths to your artwork folders in RCBs config wizard or later in Edit Rom Collection dialog. Here is how to map emumovies artwork types to RCBs artwork types:

emumovies	RCB
Advert	boxfront (only for MAME)
Background	fanart
Box	boxfront
Cabinet	cabinet
Cart	cartridge
Logos	clearlogo
Marquee	marquee
Snap	action
Title	title
Video_MP4	gameplay (video)

Other sources for downloading artwork

You can also grab some artwork packs from libretro-thumbnails.

If you know any other good sources for artwork packs, please let us know and we will add it here.