Creating this thread based on some posts from the shmup questions that don't deserve a thread thread. Basically, my question still stands unanswered:
heisenbergman wrote:If I downloaded an INP file which was recorded using shmupmame 2.2, do I also have to play it back using the exact same mame build and version?
Because I downloaded an INP recorded with shmupmame 2.2 and I can't play it back using shmupmame42ui_64bit.
Then I decided to create this thread because of these posts:
dunpeal2064 wrote:^ On that note, is there some sort of "Dummies guide to recording INPs"?
I've never really attempted it, but I would like to start archiving some of my plays, and have no idea where to start.
AntiFritz wrote:Seconded. I've always wondered the best way to record a demo, like do I restart the recording when starting a new credit?
Mere minutes into your recording, you break the chain or fly into a wall or something, and you need to start the replay anew. You don't have to exit the emulator and go to File -> Record Input again--rather, while in-game you can hard reset with Shift + F3 (any new version of MAME supports hard resetting). Then when you playback, the INP will only have your gameplay after the last hard reset.
For your INP to playback properly without desyncing, you need to run it with the exact same version of MAME that was used to record the replay. If there was a NV file for the game in the nvram subdirectory when you started the recording, the same file should be in nvram when you playback. Pausing during a recording doesn't lead to desyncs, though some emus (WolfMAME) don't let you pause while recording.
A few roms have INP playback issues. For example, several versions of MAME ago, Raiden INPs had a really high chance of desyncing.
I once tried to record inputs for Raiden Fighters. Usually I was able to play them back providing I didn't pause (because for some reason pausing either on record or playback caused desync), and was careful to set my stage layout.
saucykobold wrote:For your INP to playback properly without desyncing, you need to run it with the exact same version of MAME that was used to record the replay.
So in other words, if someone uploads a recording of, say, DoDonPachi recorded with shmupmame 2.2... for me to play that INP file, I would have to find a copy of shmupmame 2.2 and download it just to watch the replay?
Yeah, you can't view replays made in one version of MAME using a different version, it'll likely desynch the replay. Also, it's wise to generally record and playback .INPs with the NVRAM cleared, this generally helps to keep it from desynching.
This is of course annoying for DDP because clearing DDP's nvram resets C button auto to OFF, and it takes forever for the warning screen to go away.
