How To Add Games To Exodos Launchbox

How to Add Games to Exodos LaunchBox

Alright, let’s dive into the exciting world of adding games to your LaunchBox setup using the wonderful Exodos collection! If you’re new to this, don’t worry, it’s easier than you might think. Think of LaunchBox as your awesome digital library and Exodos as a giant box of amazing retro games just waiting to be played. This guide will walk you through every step, ensuring you get your game on in no time.

Understanding Exodos and LaunchBox

Before we start adding games, it’s helpful to know what these two pieces of software are all about. LaunchBox is a fantastic gaming frontend – that’s a fancy way of saying it’s a program that organizes all your games in one place. It lets you see box art, read descriptions, and launch games with a click of a button. It’s like having a beautiful video game library right on your computer. Exodos, on the other hand, is a huge collection of DOS games. These are the games from the old days, from the 80s and 90s, the ones that ran on MS-DOS. Exodos makes it easier to find and play these classic games.

So, LaunchBox helps you manage your games, and Exodos gives you the games to play. Together, they are a dynamic duo for retro gaming joy.

Preparing Your Exodos Games for LaunchBox

Okay, you’ve got Exodos and LaunchBox installed, fantastic! Now we need to get the games ready for LaunchBox. Here’s the lowdown:

Finding Your Exodos Games

Exodos usually comes as a big archive, like a ZIP or 7z file. You will need to extract it. This means you’ll need a program like 7-Zip or WinRAR, which are free and easy to use. After extracting, you’ll see a folder filled with many more folders, each representing a different DOS game. You might find subfolders for different games inside of a single main folder. It depends on how you have downloaded the Exodos collection, so explore to make sure you have the games you are looking for. It is recommended that you create a separate folder just for all your Exodos games, which we’ll call your ‘Exodos games folder’.

Organizing Your Games (Optional but Recommended)

Having all of your Exodos games in one big, disorganized folder can become confusing real quick. A good way to keep them in order is to create folders for each game. This is really recommended to avoid future confusion. Each game’s folder should contain all the files it needs to run, including the .EXE file. This is usually the file that starts the game. For example, for a game called “Doom” you can create a folder in your “Exodos games folder” called “Doom”, and then copy all of the files for Doom there. When it comes time to point launchbox to a game you will now know exactly where it is.

Adding Games Individually to LaunchBox

Now, let’s add some games! There are several ways to do it, but we will start with individual games:

Using the “Add” Button

This method is great for adding just one or two games at a time. Here’s how it goes:

1. Open LaunchBox: Launch the LaunchBox program on your computer.
2. Go to the Games Tab: If you are not already, make sure you are on the “Games” tab.
3. Click “Add”: You will see an “Add” button somewhere. This button can be in the toolbar, or within the main games screen area. Click on it. Then, choose “Add File” from the dropdown menu.
4. Navigate to Your Game: A file explorer window will open. Go to your ‘Exodos games folder’. Now find the folder that contains the game you want to add.
5. Select the EXE File: Inside the game’s folder, click on the file that starts the game, this is usually an .EXE file, but it could be a .BAT file, or something else. Select it, and press “open”.
6. Follow the Prompts: LaunchBox will ask you a few questions, such as the game’s name and platform. Usually, LaunchBox will guess the game name and platform correctly. If it doesn’t, you can always edit it yourself. Be sure to pick the right game platform. If it is a DOS game, pick “DOS”.
7. Import MetaData: After picking your platform, you can import meta data, which is art for your game. You can customize it, or you can use the search feature to find the art you like. Press import, and you are almost done.
8. Finish: Press finish, and your game is all set. You should see it in your game list.

That’s it! You’ve added your first game. Now you can go back to the games list and run it. Do this again for any other games you want to add this way. This method is good for adding just a couple of games.

Adding Multiple Games to LaunchBox (Batch Import)

If you have lots of Exodos games to add, doing it one by one will take forever! Fortunately, LaunchBox has a feature for adding multiple games at once. This is called a ‘batch import’.

Using the Batch Import Feature

Here’s how to import many games at the same time:

1. Open LaunchBox: Start LaunchBox on your computer.
2. Click “Tools”: In the top menu, find the “Tools” button, and click on it.
3. Select “Import”: Click the “Import” option, then select “Import ROM Files” from the dropdown menu.
4. Choose Your Platform: Select “DOS” for the platform. This makes sure LaunchBox knows we’re adding DOS games. Press next.
5. Choose Your Game Folder: LaunchBox will ask for the game directory. Click the “add folder” button, and navigate to the folder that contains all of your individual game folders. It could be your “Exodos games folder”. Do not pick a specific game folder, only the parent folder that contains all of them. Press next.
6. Set Search Filters (Optional): You can use the filters to filter for specific file extensions. Typically you don’t have to change anything here. Press next.
7. Import MetaData: Now Launchbox will begin searching your games, and it will show all of them in the list below. You can see the names, and how many files were found. Press next. Then it will begin searching online for the meta data (game art, etc). You can customize these if you like, then press “import”.
8. Finish: Press finish, and LaunchBox will add all of the games to your game list!

Now, all of your games will be in LaunchBox. You can filter through them by game name, game platform, etc. This method is great for adding lots of games at once. However, sometimes LaunchBox will not be able to find the meta data for some of the games, which is something you can add manually later.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, adding games doesn’t go as smoothly as planned. Here are a few common issues and how to handle them:

Game Doesn’t Start

• Check the File Path: Make sure LaunchBox is pointed at the correct .EXE or .BAT file. Sometimes you may have accidentally picked the wrong file, and your game will not start if it cannot find the appropriate file.
• Try a Different Emulator: For DOS games, LaunchBox will often use DOSBox by default. There are other DOS emulators that you can try, so test another to see if it works.
• Check for Required Files: Some DOS games need more than just the .EXE file to run. Check the game’s folder for other files that might be needed. Sometimes there might be a read me, or other kind of manual which can be useful to determine how to run the game.

Incorrect Game Name or Information

• Edit Game Information: Right-click on the game in LaunchBox and choose “Edit.” Here, you can change the name, platform, and other information as needed.
• Search for Better Metadata: In the game edit window, use the search functionality to look for alternate game information and art.

No Game Art

• Use the Metadata Search: In the game edit window, you can use the search function to get game art. There is a chance that the data base that LaunchBox is using does not have all of the game art available.
• Add Art Manually: You can also add your own art files by downloading them from different websites, or making them yourself! If you want to manually add the art, go to the game edit screen, and go to the “media” tab. Then you can add the images there.

Tips and Tricks for a Better Experience

Want to really get the most out of your Exodos and LaunchBox setup? Here are a few extra tips:

Using Filters to Organize Games

LaunchBox allows you to filter your game list by many different criteria, such as date, genre, platform and more. You can combine filters to create more specific searches. This makes it easier to find the game you want when you have a large collection. For example you can find only fighting games, or only games you added in the past month.

Customizing LaunchBox’s Appearance

LaunchBox has many customization settings available. You can change the main theme, font colors, and more to better fit your preferences. You can change the main theme in the top menu, under “View” then “Theme”.

Using a Gamepad

Many retro games play better with a gamepad instead of a keyboard. LaunchBox is very compatible with many gamepads. When you plug in a gamepad, launchbox will automatically find it. You can also customize what buttons map to what commands within the options. Make sure that the gamepad is selected in the options menu.

Adding games to LaunchBox from Exodos is a straightforward process once you understand the basics. With the right setup and a little practice, you’ll be enjoying your favorite DOS games in no time. Have fun exploring the rich world of retro gaming!