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Improved Support for Low-Resolution and Unconventional Displays 🖥️📺

📋Summary

Add better support for low-resolution and non-standard displays—such as 800×600 CRTs or small-format screens—by optimizing the LaunchBox interface to scale appropriately and ensure full UI accessibility at smaller resolutions.


❗Problem

Currently, LaunchBox’s desktop mode doesn’t scale well on lower resolutions. On displays like 800×600, key interface elements—such as the close and maximize buttons, or “OK” and “Cancel” buttons in dialogs—can be partially or fully cut off. The game list view also becomes impractically small, showing only a few entries at a time, even with thumbnail scaling reduced.

This creates usability challenges for users running LaunchBox on CRTs, low-res handhelds, or embedded systems where 1080p isn’t an option.


💡Proposal

Improve UI responsiveness and layout behavior for lower resolutions by:

  • Ensuring all buttons and dialogs are visible and accessible at resolutions as low as 800×600

  • Making UI panels and text scale more fluidly to smaller screens

  • Optionally offering a compact or low-res layout mode optimized for CRTs and small displays


✅Benefits

  • Expands LaunchBox usability to retro setups, CRT-based cabinets, and portable PCs

  • Reduces UI frustration for users with accessibility or space constraints

  • Makes the app feel more polished and inclusive across a wider range of hardware configurations

  • Supports creative and nostalgic builds that benefit from vintage displays or minimalist setups 🕹️🧳

Status: Open To Community2 comments

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Comments2

  • AstroBob changed status to Open To Community
    Team•

    Apr 17, 2025

    Pinned

    Hi there!

    Thanks so much for submitting this request and for taking the time to explain your use-case — that context is always super helpful. I’ve gone ahead and fleshed out the main idea using the info you provided, but also made it a bit more generic to support unconventional displays, rather than your specific resolution. I’m also opening it up to the community for further discussion and feedback.

    Feel free to chime in with any extra thoughts, examples, or edge cases you think might be relevant!

    Cheers,
    The LaunchBox team

  • Gashers

    •

    Apr 17, 2025

    800x600 desktop app resolution

    I use Launchbox on a CRT TV and I would love to see an 800×600 option for desktop mode. Currently on a 800×600 desktop resolution, all the commands won’t fit in my CRT window. The X to close the app, the maximize button are cut off. Also, in some dialogue windows, the “Okay” and “cancel” buttons are cut off at the bottom. Also, only ~4 games ever show up the games list, even when thumbnail size is turned all the way down.