Made game launching on Windows much more seamless.

Also added an option to hide the taskbar.

INSTALL.md

@@ -357,6 +357,7 @@ audio_output\libwaveout_plugin.dll
 codec\libavcodec_plugin.dll
 codec\libx264_plugin.dll
 codec\libx265_plugin.dll
+logger\libconsole_logger_plugin.dll
 text_renderer\libfreetype_plugin.dll
 video_chroma\libswscale_plugin.dll
 video_output\libvmem_plugin.dll
@@ -550,7 +551,9 @@ The new configuration will be added to the `~/.emulationstation/es_input.cfg` fi
 Command line arguments
 ======================
 
-You can use `--help` or `-h` to view a list of command line options. Briefly outlined here:
+You can use `--help` or `-h` to view a list of command line options, as shown here.
+
+### Unix:
 
 ```
 --resolution [width] [height]   Try to force a particular resolution
@@ -574,6 +577,27 @@ You can use `--help` or `-h` to view a list of command line options. Briefly out
 --help, -h                      Summon a sentient, angry tuba
 ```
 
+### Windows:
+
+```
+--resolution [width] [height]   Try to force a particular resolution
+--gamelist-only                 Skip automatic game ROM search, only read from gamelist.xml
+--ignore-gamelist               Ignore the gamelist files (useful for troubleshooting)
+--draw-framerate                Display the framerate
+--no-exit                       Don't show the exit option in the menu
+--no-splash                     Don't show the splash screen
+--debug                         Print debug information
+--vsync [1/on or 0/off]         Turn vsync on or off (default is on)
+--max-vram [size]               Max VRAM to use in Mb before swapping
+                                Set to at least 20 to avoid unpredictable behavior
+--force-kid                     Force the UI mode to Kid
+--force-kiosk                   Force the UI mode to Kiosk
+--force-disable-filters         Force the UI to ignore applied filters in gamelist
+--home [path]                   Directory to use as home path
+--version, -v                   Displays version information
+--help, -h                      Summon a sentient, angry tuba
+```
+
 As long as ES hasn't frozen, you can always press F4 to close the application.
 
 As you can see above, you can override the home directory path using the `--home` flag. So by running for instance the command `emulationstation --home ~/games/emulation`, ES will use `~/games/emulation/.emulationstation` as its base directory.

es-app/src/EmulationStation.rc

@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ BEGIN
         BLOCK "040904E4"
         BEGIN
             VALUE "Comments", "\0"
-            VALUE "FileDescription", "EmulationStation - emulator frontend\0"
+            VALUE "FileDescription", "EmulationStation - Emulator Front-end\0"
             VALUE "FileVersion", RESOURCE_VERSION_STRING
             VALUE "InternalName", "emulationstation.exe\0"
             VALUE "LegalCopyright", "\0"

es-app/src/FileData.cpp

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 #include "FileData.h"
 
+#include "guis/GuiInfoPopup.h"
 #include "utils/FileSystemUtil.h"
 #include "utils/StringUtil.h"
 #include "utils/TimeUtil.h"
@@ -435,15 +436,6 @@ void FileData::launchGame(Window* window)
 {
     LOG(LogInfo) << "Attempting to launch game...";
 
-    AudioManager::getInstance()->deinit();
-    VolumeControl::getInstance()->deinit();
-
-    // TEMPORARY - Windows does not like it at all if you launch a game without
-    // first doing a deinit(). Need to fix this properly at a later date.
-    #ifdef _WIN64
-	window->deinit();
-    #endif
-
     std::string command = "";
 
     // Check if there is a launch command override for the game
@@ -544,21 +536,21 @@ void FileData::launchGame(Window* window)
     exitCode = launchEmulatorUnix(command);
     #endif
 
+    // Notify the user in case of a failed game launch using a popup window.
     if (exitCode != 0) {
         LOG(LogWarning) << "...launch terminated with nonzero exit code " << exitCode << "!";
+
+        GuiInfoPopup* s = new GuiInfoPopup(window, "ERROR LAUNCHING GAME '" +
+                Utils::String::toUpper(metadata.get("name")) + "' (EXIT CODE " +
+                Utils::String::toUpper(std::to_string(exitCode) + ")"), 4000);
+        window->setInfoPopup(s);
+    }
+    else {
+        window->setLaunchedGame();
     }
 
     Scripting::fireEvent("game-end");
 
-    // TEMPORARY - Windows does not like it at all if you launch a game without
-    // first doing a deinit(). Need to fix this properly at a later date.
-    #ifdef _WIN64
-	window->init();
-    #endif
-
-    VolumeControl::getInstance()->init();
-    window->normalizeNextUpdate();
-
     // Update number of times the game has been launched.
     FileData* gameToUpdate = getSourceFileData();
 

es-app/src/guis/GuiMenu.cpp

@@ -485,6 +485,7 @@ void GuiMenu::openOtherSettings()
     s->addSaveFunc([max_vram] { Settings::getInstance()->setInt("MaxVRAM",
             (int)Math::round(max_vram->getValue())); });
 
+    #ifdef __unix__
     // Fullscreen mode.
     auto fullscreen_mode = std::make_shared<OptionListComponent<std::string>>
             (mWindow, getHelpStyle(), "FULLSCREEN MODE", false);
@@ -502,6 +503,7 @@ void GuiMenu::openOtherSettings()
         }
         Settings::getInstance()->setString("FullscreenMode", fullscreen_mode->getSelected());
     });
+    #endif
 
     // Power saver.
     auto power_saver = std::make_shared<OptionListComponent<std::string>>
@@ -541,7 +543,6 @@ void GuiMenu::openOtherSettings()
         if (needReload)
             ViewController::get()->reloadAll();
     });
-
     #endif
 
     // When to save game metadata.
@@ -593,6 +594,15 @@ void GuiMenu::openOtherSettings()
     });
     s->addRow(row);
 
+    #ifdef _WIN64
+    // Hide taskbar during ES program session.
+    auto hide_taskbar = std::make_shared<SwitchComponent>(mWindow);
+    hide_taskbar->setState(Settings::getInstance()->getBool("HideTaskbar"));
+    s->addWithLabel("HIDE TASKBAR (REQUIRES RESTART)", hide_taskbar);
+    s->addSaveFunc([hide_taskbar] { Settings::getInstance()->
+            setBool("HideTaskbar", hide_taskbar->getState()); });
+    #endif
+
     // Allow overriding of the launch command per game (the option to disable this is
     // intended primarily for testing purposes).
     auto launchcommand_override = std::make_shared<SwitchComponent>(mWindow);

es-app/src/main.cpp

@@ -245,6 +245,8 @@ bool parseArgs(int argc, char* argv[])
             Settings::getInstance()->setBool("Debug", true);
             Log::setReportingLevel(LogDebug);
         }
+        // Windowed mode is always selected on Windows.
+        #ifndef _WIN64
         else if (strcmp(argv[i], "--fullscreen-normal") == 0) {
             Settings::getInstance()->setString("FullscreenMode", "normal");
         }
@@ -254,6 +256,7 @@ bool parseArgs(int argc, char* argv[])
         else if (strcmp(argv[i], "--windowed") == 0) {
             Settings::getInstance()->setBool("Windowed", true);
         }
+        #endif
         else if (strcmp(argv[i], "--vsync") == 0) {
             bool vsync = (strcmp(argv[i + 1], "on") == 0 ||
                     strcmp(argv[i + 1], "1") == 0) ? true : false;
@@ -286,9 +289,11 @@ bool parseArgs(int argc, char* argv[])
 "  --no-exit                       Don't show the exit option in the menu\n"
 "  --no-splash                     Don't show the splash screen\n"
 "  --debug                         Print debug information\n"
+#ifndef _WIN64
 "  --windowed                      Windowed mode, should be combined with --resolution\n"
 "  --fullscreen-normal             Normal fullscreen mode\n"
 "  --fullscreen-borderless         Borderless fullscreen mode (always on top)\n"
+#endif
 "  --vsync [1/on or 0/off]         Turn vsync on or off (default is on)\n"
 "  --max-vram [size]               Max VRAM to use in Mb before swapping\n"
 "                                  Set to at least 20 to avoid unpredictable behavior\n"
@@ -348,8 +353,8 @@ bool loadSystemConfigFile(std::string& errorMsg)
                 "(Check that the file extensions are supported.)";
         errorMsg = "THE SYSTEMS CONFIGURATION FILE EXISTS, BUT NO\n"
                 "GAME FILES WERE FOUND. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT\n"
-                "THE 'ROMDIRECTORY' SETTING IN ES_SETTINGS.CFG IS\n"
+                "THE \"ROMDIRECTORY\" SETTING IN ES_SETTINGS.CFG\n"
-                "POINTING TO YOUR ROM DIRECTORY AND THAT YOUR\n"
+                "IS POINTING TO YOUR ROM DIRECTORY AND THAT YOUR\n"
                 "GAME FILES ARE USING SUPPORTED FILE EXTENSIONS.\n"
                 "THE GAME SYSTEMS SUBDIRECTORIES ALSO NEED TO\n"
                 "MATCH THE PLATFORM TAGS IN ES_SYSTEMS.CFG.\n"
@@ -391,6 +396,18 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
         outputToConsole(true);
     #endif
 
+    #ifdef _WIN64
+    // Hide taskbar if the setting for this is enabled.
+    bool taskbarStateChanged = false;
+    unsigned int taskbarState;
+
+    if (Settings::getInstance()->getBool("HideTaskbar")) {
+        taskbarStateChanged = true;
+        taskbarState = getTaskbarState();
+        hideTaskbar();
+    }
+    #endif
+
     // Call this ONLY when linking with FreeImage as a static library.
     #ifdef FREEIMAGE_LIB
     FreeImage_Initialise();
@@ -586,6 +603,12 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     FreeImage_DeInitialise();
     #endif
 
+    #ifdef _WIN64
+    // If the taskbar state was changed (taskbar was hidden), then revert it.
+    if (taskbarStateChanged)
+        revertTaskbarState(taskbarState);
+    #endif
+
     processQuitMode();
 
     LOG(LogInfo) << "EmulationStation cleanly shutting down.";

es-app/src/views/ViewController.cpp

@@ -408,6 +408,13 @@ bool ViewController::input(InputConfig* config, Input input)
     if (mLockInput)
         return true;
 
+    // If we have previously launched a game and there is now input registered, it means
+    // the user is back in ES, so unset the flag to indicate that a game has been launched
+    // and update all the GUI components to reflect this.
+    if (mWindow->getGameLaunchedState()) {
+        mWindow->unsetLaunchedGame();
+    }
+
     // Open menu.
     if (!(UIModeController::getInstance()->isUIModeKid() &&
             !Settings::getInstance()->getBool("ShowKidStartMenu")) &&
@@ -531,6 +538,11 @@ void ViewController::reloadGameListView(IGameListView* view, bool reloadTheme)
             break;
         }
     }
+
+    // If a game has been launched, then update all the GUI components to reflect this.
+    if (mWindow->getGameLaunchedState())
+        mWindow->setLaunchedGame();
+
     // Redisplay the current view.
     if (mCurrentView)
         mCurrentView->onShow();

es-app/src/views/gamelist/VideoGameListView.h

@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@ private:
     TextComponent mDescription;
 
     bool mVideoPlaying;
-
 };
 
 #endif // ES_APP_VIEWS_GAME_LIST_VIDEO_GAME_LIST_VIEW_H

es-core/src/GuiComponent.cpp

@@ -511,6 +511,18 @@ void GuiComponent::onScreenSaverDeactivate()
         getChild(i)->onScreenSaverDeactivate();
 }
 
+void GuiComponent::onGameLaunchedActivate()
+{
+    for (unsigned int i = 0; i < getChildCount(); i++)
+        getChild(i)->onGameLaunchedActivate();
+}
+
+void GuiComponent::onGameLaunchedDeactivate()
+{
+    for (unsigned int i = 0; i < getChildCount(); i++)
+        getChild(i)->onGameLaunchedDeactivate();
+}
+
 void GuiComponent::topWindow(bool isTop)
 {
     for (unsigned int i = 0; i < getChildCount(); i++)

es-core/src/GuiComponent.h

@@ -157,6 +157,8 @@ public:
 
     virtual void onScreenSaverActivate();
     virtual void onScreenSaverDeactivate();
+    virtual void onGameLaunchedActivate();
+    virtual void onGameLaunchedDeactivate();
     virtual void topWindow(bool isTop);
 
     // Default implementation just handles <pos> and <size> tags as normalized float pairs.

es-core/src/Platform.cpp

@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ int runSystemCommand(const std::wstring& cmd_utf16)
 
 int launchEmulatorUnix(const std::string& cmd_utf8)
 {
+    // TODO, replace with proper child process execution.
     #ifdef __unix__
     return system(cmd_utf8.c_str());
     #else
@@ -97,10 +98,6 @@ int launchEmulatorWindows(const std::wstring& cmd_utf16)
             &si,                            // Pointer to the STARTUPINFOW structure.
             &pi);                           // Pointer to the PROCESS_INFORMATION structure.
 
-    // Wait for the child process to exit.
-    WaitForSingleObject(pi.hThread, INFINITE);
-    WaitForSingleObject(pi.hProcess, INFINITE);
-
     // If the return value is false, then something failed.
     if (!processReturnValue) {
         LPWSTR pBuffer = nullptr;
@@ -132,6 +129,37 @@ int launchEmulatorWindows(const std::wstring& cmd_utf16)
     #endif
 }
 
+unsigned int getTaskbarState()
+{
+    #ifdef _WIN64
+    APPBARDATA barData;
+    barData.cbSize = sizeof(APPBARDATA);
+    return (UINT) SHAppBarMessage(ABM_GETSTATE, &barData);
+    #else
+    return 0;
+    #endif
+}
+
+void hideTaskbar()
+{
+    #ifdef _WIN64
+    APPBARDATA barData;
+    barData.cbSize = sizeof(APPBARDATA);
+    barData.lParam = ABS_AUTOHIDE;
+    SHAppBarMessage(ABM_SETSTATE, &barData);
+    #endif
+}
+
+void revertTaskbarState(unsigned int& state)
+{
+    #ifdef _WIN64
+    APPBARDATA barData;
+    barData.cbSize = sizeof(APPBARDATA);
+    barData.lParam = state;
+    SHAppBarMessage(ABM_SETSTATE, &barData);
+    #endif
+}
+
 QuitMode quitMode = QuitMode::QUIT;
 
 int quitES(QuitMode mode)

es-core/src/Platform.h

@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ int runSystemCommand(const std::wstring& cmd_utf16);
 int launchEmulatorUnix(const std::string& cmd_utf8);
 int launchEmulatorWindows(const std::wstring& cmd_utf16);
 
+unsigned int getTaskbarState();
+void hideTaskbar();
+void revertTaskbarState(unsigned int& state);
+
 // Clean, normal shutdown.
 int quitES(QuitMode mode = QuitMode::QUIT);
 // Immediately shut down the application as cleanly as possible.

es-core/src/Settings.cpp

@@ -32,7 +32,9 @@ std::vector<const char*> settings_dont_save {
     "ShowExit",             // --no-exit
     "SplashScreen",         // --no-splash
     "VSync",                // --vsync [1/on or 0/off]
+    #ifndef _WIN64
     "Windowed",             // --windowed
+    #endif
     "WindowWidth",          // Set via --resolution [width] [height]
     "WindowHeight",         // set via --resolution [width] [height]
 
@@ -164,7 +166,9 @@ void Settings::setDefaults()
     #else
         mIntMap["MaxVRAM"] = 100;
     #endif
+    #ifdef __unix__
     mStringMap["FullscreenMode"] = "normal";
+    #endif
     mStringMap["PowerSaverMode"] = "disabled";
     // This setting only applies to raspberry pi but set it for all platforms so
     // we don't get a warning if we encounter it on a different platform.
@@ -181,6 +185,9 @@ void Settings::setDefaults()
     mBoolMap["ScreenSaverOmxPlayer"] = false;
     #endif
     mStringMap["SaveGamelistsMode"] = "always";
+    #ifdef _WIN64
+    mBoolMap["HideTaskbar"] = false;
+    #endif
     mStringMap["MediaDirectory"] = "";
     mBoolMap["LaunchCommandOverride"] = true;
     mBoolMap["CustomEventScripts"] = false;
@@ -203,7 +210,9 @@ void Settings::setDefaults()
     mBoolMap["ShowExit"] = true;
     mBoolMap["SplashScreen"] = true;
     mBoolMap["VSync"] = true;
+    #ifndef _WIN64
     mBoolMap["Windowed"] = false;
+    #endif
     mIntMap["WindowWidth"]   = 0;
     mIntMap["WindowHeight"]  = 0;
     mIntMap["ScreenWidth"]   = 0;

es-core/src/Window.cpp

@@ -56,12 +56,12 @@ void Window::pushGui(GuiComponent* gui)
 
 void Window::removeGui(GuiComponent* gui)
 {
-    for (auto i = mGuiStack.cbegin(); i != mGuiStack.cend(); i++) {
+    for (auto it = mGuiStack.cbegin(); it != mGuiStack.cend(); it++) {
-        if (*i == gui) {
+        if (*it == gui) {
-            i = mGuiStack.erase(i);
+            it = mGuiStack.erase(it);
 
             // We just popped the stack and the stack is not empty.
-            if (i == mGuiStack.cend() && mGuiStack.size()) {
+            if (it == mGuiStack.cend() && mGuiStack.size()) {
                 mGuiStack.back()->updateHelpPrompts();
                 mGuiStack.back()->topWindow(true);
             }
@@ -111,8 +111,8 @@ bool Window::init()
 void Window::deinit()
 {
     // Hide all GUI elements on uninitialisation - this disable.
-    for (auto i = mGuiStack.cbegin(); i != mGuiStack.cend(); i++)
+    for (auto it = mGuiStack.cbegin(); it != mGuiStack.cend(); it++)
-        (*i)->onHide();
+        (*it)->onHide();
 
     InputManager::getInstance()->deinit();
     ResourceManager::getInstance()->unloadAll();
@@ -266,8 +266,14 @@ void Window::render()
     }
 
     unsigned int screensaverTime = (unsigned int)Settings::getInstance()->getInt("ScreenSaverTime");
-    if (mTimeSinceLastInput >= screensaverTime && screensaverTime != 0)
+    // If a game has been launched, reset the screensaver timer when it's been reached as we
+    // don't want to start the screensaver in the background when running a game.
+    if (mTimeSinceLastInput >= screensaverTime && screensaverTime != 0) {
+        if (mGameLaunchedState)
+            mTimeSinceLastInput = 0;
+        else
             startScreenSaver();
+    }
 
     // Always call the screensaver render function regardless of whether the screensaver is active
     // or not because it may perform a fade on transition.
@@ -420,12 +426,30 @@ bool Window::isProcessing()
             [](GuiComponent* c) { return c->isProcessing(); }) > 0;
 }
 
+void Window::setLaunchedGame()
+{
+    // Tell the GUI components that a game has been launched.
+    for (auto it = mGuiStack.cbegin(); it != mGuiStack.cend(); it++)
+        (*it)->onGameLaunchedActivate();
+
+    mGameLaunchedState = true;
+}
+
+void Window::unsetLaunchedGame()
+{
+    // Tell the GUI components that the user is back in ES again.
+    for (auto it = mGuiStack.cbegin(); it != mGuiStack.cend(); it++)
+        (*it)->onGameLaunchedDeactivate();
+
+    mGameLaunchedState = false;
+}
+
 void Window::startScreenSaver()
 {
     if (mScreenSaver && !mRenderScreenSaver) {
         // Tell the GUI components the screensaver is starting.
-        for (auto i = mGuiStack.cbegin(); i != mGuiStack.cend(); i++)
+        for (auto it = mGuiStack.cbegin(); it != mGuiStack.cend(); it++)
-            (*i)->onScreenSaverActivate();
+            (*it)->onScreenSaverActivate();
 
         mScreenSaver->startScreenSaver();
         mRenderScreenSaver = true;
@@ -440,8 +464,8 @@ bool Window::cancelScreenSaver()
         mScreenSaver->resetCounts();
 
         // Tell the GUI components the screensaver has stopped.
-        for (auto i = mGuiStack.cbegin(); i != mGuiStack.cend(); i++)
+        for (auto it = mGuiStack.cbegin(); it != mGuiStack.cend(); it++)
-            (*i)->onScreenSaverDeactivate();
+            (*it)->onScreenSaverDeactivate();
 
         return true;
     }

es-core/src/Window.h

@@ -86,6 +86,10 @@ public:
     void renderScreenSaver();
     bool isScreenSaverActive() { return mRenderScreenSaver; };
 
+    void setLaunchedGame();
+    void unsetLaunchedGame();
+    bool getGameLaunchedState() { return mGameLaunchedState; };
+
 private:
     void onSleep();
     void onWake();
@@ -98,6 +102,7 @@ private:
     ScreenSaver* mScreenSaver;
     InfoPopup* mInfoPopup;
     bool mRenderScreenSaver;
+    bool mGameLaunchedState;
 
     std::vector<GuiComponent*> mGuiStack;
 

es-core/src/components/VideoComponent.cpp

@@ -67,8 +67,10 @@ VideoComponent::VideoComponent(
     mVideoWidth(0),
     mStartDelayed(false),
     mIsPlaying(false),
+    mPause(false),
     mShowing(false),
     mScreensaverActive(false),
+    mGameLaunched(false),
     mDisable(false),
     mScreensaverMode(false),
     mTargetIsMax(false),
@@ -174,6 +176,9 @@ void VideoComponent::render(const Transform4x4f& parentTrans)
 
     // Handle looping of the video.
     handleLooping();
+
+    // Pause video in case a game has been launched.
+    pauseVideo();
 }
 
 void VideoComponent::renderSnapshot(const Transform4x4f& parentTrans)
@@ -253,6 +258,8 @@ void VideoComponent::handleLooping()
 
 void VideoComponent::startVideoWithDelay()
 {
+    mPause = false;
+
     // If not playing then either start the video or initiate the delay.
     if (!mIsPlaying) {
         // Set the video that we are going to be playing so we don't attempt to restart it.
@@ -300,7 +307,7 @@ void VideoComponent::update(int deltaTime)
 
 void VideoComponent::manageState()
 {
-    // We will only show if the component is on display and the screensaver
+    // We will only show the video if the component is on display and the screensaver
     // is not active.
     bool show = mShowing && !mScreensaverActive && !mDisable;
 
@@ -324,6 +331,12 @@ void VideoComponent::manageState()
         if (show && !mVideoPath.empty())
             startVideoWithDelay();
     }
+
+    // If a game has just been launched and a video is actually shown, then request a
+    // pause of the video so it doesn't continue to play in the background while the
+    // game is running.
+    if (mGameLaunched && show && !mPause)
+        mPause = true;
 }
 
 void VideoComponent::onShow()
@@ -350,6 +363,19 @@ void VideoComponent::onScreenSaverDeactivate()
     manageState();
 }
 
+void VideoComponent::onGameLaunchedActivate()
+{
+    mGameLaunched = true;
+    manageState();
+}
+
+void VideoComponent::onGameLaunchedDeactivate()
+{
+    mGameLaunched = false;
+    stopVideo();
+    manageState();
+}
+
 void VideoComponent::topWindow(bool isTop)
 {
     mDisable = !isTop;

es-core/src/components/VideoComponent.h

@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ public:
     virtual void onHide() override;
     virtual void onScreenSaverActivate() override;
     virtual void onScreenSaverDeactivate() override;
+    virtual void onGameLaunchedActivate() override;
+    virtual void onGameLaunchedDeactivate() override;
     virtual void topWindow(bool isTop) override;
 
     void onOriginChanged() override;
@@ -83,6 +85,8 @@ private:
     virtual void startVideo() = 0;
     // Stop the video.
     virtual void stopVideo() {};
+    // Pause the video when a game has been launched.
+    virtual void pauseVideo() {};
     // Handle looping the video. Must be called periodically.
     virtual void handleLooping();
 
@@ -109,10 +113,12 @@ protected:
     bool mStartDelayed;
     unsigned mStartTime;
     bool mIsPlaying;
+    bool mPause;
     bool mShowing;
     bool mDisable;
     bool mScreensaverActive;
     bool mScreensaverMode;
+    bool mGameLaunched;
     bool mTargetIsMax;
 
     Configuration mConfig;

es-core/src/components/VideoVlcComponent.cpp

@@ -231,13 +231,25 @@ void VideoVlcComponent::handleLooping()
                 (Settings::getInstance()->getBool("ScreenSaverVideoMute") && mScreensaverMode))
                 libvlc_audio_set_mute(mMediaPlayer, 1);
 
-            //libvlc_media_player_set_position(mMediaPlayer, 0.0f);
             libvlc_media_player_set_media(mMediaPlayer, mMedia);
             libvlc_media_player_play(mMediaPlayer);
         }
     }
 }
 
+void VideoVlcComponent::pauseVideo()
+{
+    // If a game has been launched and the flag to pause the video has been
+    // set, then rewind and pause.
+    if (!mPause || !mMediaPlayer)
+        return;
+
+    if (libvlc_media_player_get_state(mMediaPlayer) == libvlc_Playing) {
+        libvlc_media_player_set_position(mMediaPlayer, 0.0f);
+        libvlc_media_player_pause(mMediaPlayer);
+    }
+}
+
 void VideoVlcComponent::startVideo()
 {
     if (!mIsPlaying) {
@@ -336,6 +348,7 @@ void VideoVlcComponent::stopVideo()
 {
     mIsPlaying = false;
     mStartDelayed = false;
+    mPause = false;
     // Release the media player so it stops calling back to us.
     if (mMediaPlayer) {
         libvlc_media_player_stop(mMediaPlayer);

es-core/src/components/VideoVlcComponent.h

@@ -57,10 +57,13 @@ private:
     // Calculates the correct mSize from our resizing information (set by setResize/setMaxSize).
     // Used internally whenever the resizing parameters or texture change.
     void resize();
+
     // Start the video immediately.
     virtual void startVideo() override;
     // Stop the video.
     virtual void stopVideo() override;
+    // Pause the video when a game has been launched.
+    virtual void pauseVideo() override;
     // Handle looping the video. Must be called periodically.
     virtual void handleLooping() override;
 

es-core/src/renderers/Renderer.cpp

@@ -104,12 +104,20 @@ namespace Renderer
 
         unsigned int windowFlags;
 
+        #ifdef _WIN64
+        // For Windows, always set the mode to windowed, as full screen mode seems to
+        // behave quite erratic. There may be a proper fix for this, but for now windowed
+        // mode seems to behave well and it's almost completely seamless, especially with
+        // a hidden taskbar.
+        windowFlags = getWindowFlags();
+        #else
         if (Settings::getInstance()->getBool("Windowed"))
             windowFlags = getWindowFlags();
         else if (Settings::getInstance()->getString("FullscreenMode") == "borderless")
             windowFlags = SDL_WINDOW_BORDERLESS | SDL_WINDOW_ALWAYS_ON_TOP | getWindowFlags();
         else
             windowFlags = SDL_WINDOW_FULLSCREEN | getWindowFlags();
+        #endif
 
         if ((sdlWindow = SDL_CreateWindow("EmulationStation", SDL_WINDOWPOS_UNDEFINED,
                 SDL_WINDOWPOS_UNDEFINED, windowWidth, windowHeight, windowFlags)) == nullptr) {