Retro Theme and STV for SageMC

[gplasky]

You can get it here for now:
Sage Retro
It looks like this:












Instructions
1) Download zip file from the link above.
2) Extract the zip file in the root folder of your sageTV installation (....Program Files\SageTv\SageTv)-or just make sure the retro folder ends up in C:\Program Files\SageTV\SageTV\STVs\SageTV3\SageMCE folder.
3) While SageTV (and service if used) are not running open the sage.properties or sageclient.properties.
4) Find the lines with ui/themes/... and add the following 2 lines (replace the 5 with the next theme index, might be 7 or 8?):
ui/themes/5/image_root=retro
ui/themes/5/title=Retro

5) Start Sage and go to Detailed Settings->Select theme and apply the Retro selection.
6) Load the retro_22.xml in the detailed setup screen where "Load SageTV Application Package (*.xml) is found. (Just like you would load up SageMC169.)

To get the full effect please modify some of your default settings:
Turn off all of the animations. This is not built for that.
Change the clock to Date and Time
You may have to adjust the "Left Menu Width" in the SageMC Visual settings to stop the menu buttons from overlapping.

Morgan111's iTV package for SageMC inspired me to finally put this together. It is a work in progress so you will find some things not consistent or not completely finished or just plain broken. Creating a completely seperate STV would provides more flexability in the look I was going for.

This was created with Flachbars SageMC16x9 6.13a STV for Sage 6. I would expect incompatabilites with much older versions or the last mlbdude SageMC.

This is based on an xmbc theme that the author has released the graphics for free use. Original graphics by me.

Let me know what you think. It's on the Sage download site...twice...and I think there is an issue with the file upload. Get it here for now.

version retro_33.xml
Under TV
Movies and Search seem to be missing the shadow box.
Both screens now have shadow box.
Live TV playback header and timeline is blue, should it be gray?
Should be gray-and now it is.
Under Music
Music playback header and timline is blue
It is now gray,
Under DVD Playback
No DVD in drive message is blue (I am testing via place shifter)
Dialog box now gray and shows correct button style.
Under Videos
IMDB searches are missing shadow box
Shadow box is now there.

Couple other changes based on Morgan111 suggestions
Removed no-focus boxes for Videos, Music and Pictures.
Also tried to enlarge covers.
System info now indicates version of SageMC and Retro.
FIle now linked at the SagTV Downloads forum.here

Gerry

[CanadianEh]

Very cool looking.... I like it!

[Naylia]

Gerry,

Mind if I bum the graphics for a matching XLobby skin? I'm trying to make available some more matching skin options for folks.

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by Naylia

Gerry,

Mind if I bum the graphics for a matching XLobby skin? I'm trying to make available some more matching skin options for folks.

Be my guest. Just in case it comes into question, here is the post from the author.

Hello Mediaportalskinners

I've decided to give away all original gfx for the skin Retro I made for xboxmediacenter way back. Beeing that there are so many talented people out there I'm hoping this can be a push to get started on a skin.

As you can tell from this thread MrMario64 has done some initial work on it a long time ago. I have never personally seen the result of his work but I'm sure it has the quality it needs.

Anyone willing to take it and rip it apart or create a new skin from it, feel free . If so, a credit would be fun but absolutely not required. Do whatever you want with it as long as you don't hurt anyone and If you really get in to it I could try to dig up the original Illustrator/Photoshop files aswell.

The ~6.7Mb file containg all the uncompressed graphics an all the old xbmc xml-files (which are of little or no use in mediaportal i know) I could find can be downloaded here: http://rapidshare.de/files/29536853/...Combo.rar.html (It's a bit of a hassle, but it free) and you can find some really old previews above in theis thread.

If the file at rapidshare isn't available just pm me here and I'll up it again.

--floink

Other than the xmbc skin that was created nothing else was ever released. Based on this post I am using the graphics. Based on this post I don't see an issue with anyone else using it. I tried PM'ing the author to get an actual email response from him but I have not received anything.

If you look at any of the xmbc screenshots you'll see many obvious differences and some of my own graphics being used. Feel free to use any or all. As a work in progress more changes will happen. If you need some of the .psd's from mine let me know. I am also working on 2 more concepts different from this, so, more to come.

Gerry

[Morgan111]

Nice! That looks pretty cool! The negatives fpr pictures adds a nice touch too. You should try removing the nofocus image for the pictures (and maybe even movies) so that the negatives don't have an extra border around them when not highlighted. Something to try, you may or may not like that.

[Jesse]

WOW!

Man, you really are "Big Gerr."

This will be on my machines tonight.

Thanks for your efforts.

Jesse

[Naylia]

Thanks Gerry, now I just need a few free hours

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by Naylia

Thanks Gerry, now I just need a few free hours

Ain't nothing free......



Gerry

[PGPfan]

Hi Gerry,

I really like what you've done here! Very nice!

One question, (I suppose it'd be for SageMC in general, but...) does this STV support the new Sage features like the Google video stuff? I haven't seen it mentioned on the SageMC thread or this one.

-PGPfan

[Mark SS]

Looks fantastic, very well done! I've not been tempted to use an alternative STV before, I might have to give this a shot though.

[VikingCrown]

Gplasky, this looks amazing, i will be doing an install of this tomorrow! And as a fellow Pug owner/enthusiast great job on this one!

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by PGPfan

Hi Gerry,

I really like what you've done here! Very nice!

One question, (I suppose it'd be for SageMC in general, but...) does this STV support the new Sage features like the Google video stuff? I haven't seen it mentioned on the SageMC thread or this one.

-PGPfan

The latest SageMC 6.13 a does support Sage 6 and you can add Google to the menu.


Gerry

[bcjenkins]

Hi Gerry,

I love the theme. The Play DVD graphic on the main menu seems to be squished down, or is it my poor eyesight?

Thanks!

B

[bcjenkins]

Gerry,

I'll say it again. I love this theme! I hope you take the comments below in the spirit intended. I went through all the menus looking for what I thought were inconsistencies in the experience. I did not go through all the Settings menu because it isn't what is used every day.

Under TV
Movies and Search seem to be missing the shadow box. Right term?
Live TV playback header and timeline is blue, should it be gray?
Under Music
Music playback header and timline is blue
Under DVD Playback
No DVD in drive message is blue (I am testing via place shifter)
Under Videos
IMDB searches are missing shadow box

Thanks again,

B

[dagar]

Very cool theme! Nice work Gerr, I look forward to trying this out!

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by bcjenkins

Gerry,

I'll say it again. I love this theme! I hope you take the comments below in the spirit intended. I went through all the menus looking for what I thought were inconsistencies in the experience. I did not go through all the Settings menu because it isn't what is used every day.

Under TV
Movies and Search seem to be missing the shadow box. Right term?
Live TV playback header and timeline is blue, should it be gray?
Under Music
Music playback header and timline is blue
Under DVD Playback
No DVD in drive message is blue (I am testing via place shifter)
Under Videos
IMDB searches are missing shadow box

Thanks again,

B

Thanks for the comments. This is what I'm looking for. I'm working on a couple of other ones so my time is limited. I haven't worked much on any of the OSDs and I'm sure there might be more dialog boxes I missed. Hopefully I'll have most of the glaring misses fixed by end of week.

The "play DVD" graphic may indeed be squished. I may be creating another new one for that.


Gerry

[m0ng00se30]

I don't see the same main menu screen as the examples show. My Graphics are to the right hand side with the menu being down the middle. Not an issue.. still looks very nice.

I am also not seeing a "selection" box around the preview windows, and that can be a little annoying at times, but otherwise this is my households new favorite theme!

THANKS GP!

--Mike

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by m0ng00se30

I don't see the same main menu screen as the examples show. My Graphics are to the right hand side with the menu being down the middle. Not an issue.. still looks very nice.

I am also not seeing a "selection" box around the preview windows, and that can be a little annoying at times, but otherwise this is my households new favorite theme!

THANKS GP!

--Mike

That's where the next part of the instructions come into play.

From the first post:
Load the retro_22.xml in the detailed setup screen where "Load SageTV Application Package (*.xml) is found. (Just like you would load up SageMC169.)

Just like you would choose a new SageMC STV you need to choose retro_22.xml for your STV.

Gerry

[heffe2001]

Definitely like this SageMC derivitive. Got it running on my local client in my PC room, and plan on putting it on our MVP in the study and see how the WAF is with it...

[m0ng00se30]

GP,

I tried this.. and the stv never loaded. I had to go back to my normal SageMC and it looked like it had worked. SO I didn't question much. Then I started noticing the couple of difference, but it looks like that most of the functionality is there!

I would love to load the retro_22.xml file, but if I try to load it it goes back to SageTV3.xml stv. Or if I try to load it via studio it reverts back to SageTV3.xml. It doesn't like something in my system.

--Mike