BatRun

Launcher for RetroBat supporting XInput/DInput gamepads, with the hotkey "Select + Start". Can also be started directly with Windows startup in "custom shell" mode, replacing the Windows Explorer (Explorer.exe).

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peek_1.mp4

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V2.0.Feature_.mp4

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✨ (BatRun 3.1.0)

• Plugin Management & Integration: Introduces a dedicated Plugin Management interface inside BatRun. Users can directly browse, download, install, configure (⚙️ CONFIG), reveal files (📁 REVEAL), or uninstall plugins fetched dynamically from the GitHub releases API.
• Wallpaper default configuration & video choice: For demonstration purposes of this pre-existing feature, it is now activated by default on fresh installations and during configuration migration from v3.0.0 and below (configures a default loading video, enables with Windows Explorer, enables audio, and loops video).
• Wallpaper Loop Video Mute: Audio of loop videos is now muted starting from the second loop to avoid audio repetition annoyance. An informative comment has been added in the UI.
• Updater robustness: Proactively kills BatRunGuardian.exe and BatRun.exe before updating, and implements backup/cleanup for BatRunGuardian.exe and BatRunGuardian.dll to prevent Windows file lock issues. (⚠️ Note for upgrading from v3.0.0 or lower: If the updater gets stuck or loops infinitely, please manually stop the BatRunGuardian.exe process via the Windows Task Manager to allow the script to complete. From v3.1.0 onwards, this termination is handled automatically.)
• Collapsible Sections: Header sections ("MAIN PROJECTS" and "EXPERIMENTAL") in the plugins list are now collapsible with header indicators (▶ / ▼) and are collapsed by default at startup.
• Releases Versioning: Groups GitHub releases to display only the single latest version of each plugin (handling 📥 INSTALL, 🔄 UPDATE or ✅ INSTALLED dynamically).
• Dynamic Plugin Configuration Editor (⚙️ CONFIG): Launches plugin executable to generate .ini if missing before opening the editing form, and preserves original file formatting/comments.
• Uninstall Paths: Cleans leading slashes in relative paths to fix Path.Combine ignoring target directories during uninstallation.

(BatRun 3.0.0)

• Arcade Mode (A silly idea, but I'm sharing it ^^ as it's part of BatRun) This mode originally started as a personal project to simply lock my arcade cabinet without my authorization. It eventually evolved into an alternative credit management system to control front-end usage... If the cabinet is set to freeplay on all games, added credits are managed as gameplay time. A web page is also available to administer it from a browser, where you can see the live game in progress, as well as game history and play time.

Warning - This special mode is very intrusive...

Information: The arcade mode settings also include a "moonlight" setting. This is a very unstable function (its development is experimental, and I'm not sure I'll continue fixing the problems). It allows you to run games remotely from a web browser via "moonlight-web-stream" (Sunshine must be installed on the machine) through a portal that lists games. I've made some modifications to the settings and web display. The "streamer.exe" and "web-server.exe" applications have not been modified and are not included. I believe the latest updates should remain compatible. "streamer.exe" and "web-server.exe" must be placed in the ".moonlight-web-stream" folder. This is unstable; you can test it, but don't expect reliable use. Furthermore, to access it remotely, you need to open the Sunshine and Moonlight web server access points... there is a proxy function to redirect port 8080 to port 4321 of the portal... which adds even more instability.

• Credit Management: Time-based countdown per credit, automatic locking at zero.

• Dedicated Hardware: Assign a unique device authorized to add credits (e.g., RP2040-Zero emulating a keyboard key connected to a coin acceptor).

• Process Control: Pause (NtSuspendProcess) and Termination (WM_CLOSE/Kill) of executables.

• Operator Mode: Accessible universally via the 9 key (or NumPad9). Features a password interface (default: admin if not set) to unlock without credits, Free Play mode, manual credit addition, and a floating mini-overlay to quickly relock the cabinet after maintenance.

• Crash Recovery & Guardian: A background watchdog (BatrunGuardian) monitors BatRun for crashes or UI freezes. If an issue occurs, it restarts the system and utilizes a session_state to seamlessly restore current credits, game time, and Free Play status. You can manually call the Guardian overlay at any time by pressing the 0 key (or NumPad0) to manually force a restart.

• Dashboard & Network: Web Dashboard, remote control API and monitoring via UDP Discovery.

• Security & Focus Management: Blocks dangerous Windows shortcuts (Win, Ctrl+Esc, Alt+F4, Alt+Esc) via a Low-Level Keyboard Hook to prevent players from reaching the desktop.

• Safe Task Switcher (Alt+Tab): Controlled Alt+Tab mode displaying a custom dedicated UI, which strictly authorizes switching only to a predefined whitelist of applications.

• Core Engine Upgrade: Migration to .NET 10.0.

• Code Refactoring: Structural project reorganization (UI, Core, Input, Models, Utils) following modern .NET standards.

• fix Splashtop stuck start RetroBat (enable by default)

• fix stuck boot ESLoadingPlayer vidéo alternative

• Misc

fix (BatRun 2.2.5)

• Enhanced ESLoadingPlayer to add detailed logging for video selection and file existence, improved timeout handling to avoid blocking RetroBAT launch

fix (BatRun 2.2.4)

• Added a combined function with RetroBat.exe (starting with version 7.5.0.1) so that Batrun does not compete for focus
• Lock DPI scaling

Automatic Launch game (BatRun 2.2.0)

• System selection: Choose a system (console, arcade, etc.) and BatRun will directly launch a game from that system.
• Random mode (optional): Enable the option to have a game randomly selected from the chosen system.

• fix / Refactoring code

Requirement: .NET Desktop Runtime 10.0.x must be installed on your system.

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2.1.0

New "Hide ES during loading" option

• 🎬 Hide EmulationStation during loading with customizable video (RetroBat intro alternative / waits for ES loading completion / early video stop possible with Start)

Enabling this option automatically disables:

• BatRun splash screen on startup (available without "Hide ES during loading")
• BatRun splash screen when launching RetroBat (available without "Hide ES during loading")
• Active windows minimization
• RetroBat intro video

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2.0

A launcher for RetroBat that allows you to use a controller button combination (Hotkey + Start) to launch RetroBat.

Custom Shell

• Configuration as custom Windows shell
• Command and application execution
• Auto-Hide Applications

Dynamic Wallpaper

• Video wallpaper support (MP4)
• Animated GIF support
• Movable floating menu
• Automatic wallpaper pause when launching EmulationStation
• Audio volume control for video wallpapers

Shortcuts System

• Custom shortcuts management interface
• Quick access menu for shortcuts from floating menu
• Ability to add/edit/delete shortcuts

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1.3

• 🚀 Added controller vibration when pressing Hotkey + Start (works with XInput, DirectInput not tested, potential incompatibility with some Bluetooth controllers).
• 🖥 Automatic startup via scheduled task (works if explorer.exe is not the default Shell on Windows startup).

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CPU Load Notes:

• On a processor like the i5-9600 (Win11) : CPU load is below 1%.
• Tested on an i7-3770K (Win10) : load varies between 2% and 5%.
• No immediate solution to optimize this; additional tests may be required.

Features

• 🎮 Support for XInput and DirectInput controllers.
• 🔄 Customizable button mapping.
• 🪟 Optional automatic window minimization.
• 🚀 Automatic startup with Windows (via Registry, shortcut, or scheduled task).
• 📝 Logging system for troubleshooting.

Installation

1. Download the latest version from the Releases page.
2. Extract the archive.
3. Run BatRun.exe.

Configuration

General Settings

• Focus Duration: Duration for which the focus process remains active (starts after the configured video duration from BatGui, if enabled).
• Focus Interval: Interval between focus attempts for EmulationStation.
• Start with Windows: Automatic startup (via Registry, shortcut, or scheduled task).
• Enable controller vibration : Enables/disable rumblee (if supported by your controller).
• Minimize Windows: Enables/disables window minimization.
• Enable Logging: Enables/disables logging.

Controller Configuration

1. Open BatRun.
2. Go to Configuration > Controller Mappings.
3. Select your controller.
4. Configure the Hotkey and Start buttons.
5. Save.

Auto Startup Configuration

1. Launch BatRun.exe.
2. Go to Configuration > Startup Settings.
3. Select your choice.
4. Save.

Usage

1. Launch BatRun (an icon will appear in the taskbar).
2. Simultaneously press the Hotkey + Start buttons on your controller.
3. RetroBat will automatically launch with a confirmation vibration (if supported by your controller).

Support

• Discord RetroBat “Aynshe”
• Source Code

Credits

Developed by AI for Aynshe