launcher: hide pcbid when -cmdoverride specified (#420)

## Link to GitHub Issue, if one exists
Fixes #419 

## Description of change
-cmdoverride caused pcbid to be logged in plain text

## Testing

src/spice2x/avs/core.cpp

@@ -1503,7 +1503,8 @@ namespace avs {
                         "    * Do NOT copy over random DLLs from another game installation; DLL must match game version\n"
                         "\n"
                     , DLL_NAME, MODULE_PATH.string()) };
-                    log_fatal("avs-ea3", "{}", info_str);
+                    log_warning("avs-ea3", "{}", info_str);
+                    log_fatal("avs-ea3", "Failed to find critical avs DLL on disk (avs2-core.dll OR {})", DLL_NAME);
                 }
             }
 

src/spice2x/avs/ea3.cpp

@@ -150,7 +150,9 @@ namespace avs {
                         "    * Do NOT copy over random DLLs from another game installation; DLL must match game version\n"
                         "\n"
                     , DLL_NAME, MODULE_PATH.string()) };
-                    log_fatal("avs-ea3", "{}", info_str);
+                    
+                    log_warning("avs-ea3", "{}", info_str);
+                    log_fatal("avs-ea3", "Failed to find critical ea3 DLL on disk (avs2-ea3.dll OR {})", DLL_NAME);
                 }
             }
 

src/spice2x/avs/game.cpp

@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ namespace avs {
 
             // ddr gamemdx.dll user error
             if (avs::game::is_model("MDX") && DLL_NAME == "gamemdx.dll") {
-                log_fatal(
+                log_warning(
                     "ddr",
                     "BAD GAME DLL ERROR\n\n"
                     "!!!                                                            !!!\n"
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ namespace avs {
                     "!!! remove -exec argument and try again.                       !!!\n"
                     "!!!                                                            !!!\n"
                     );
+                log_fatal("ddr", "BAD GAME DLL ERROR (don't use -exec gamemdx.dll, that's the wrong DLL)");
             }
 
             // file not found on disk

src/spice2x/build_all.sh

@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ BUILDDIR_64_RELEASE="./cmake-build-release-64"
 BUILDDIR_64_DEBUG="./cmake-build-debug-64"
 DEBUG=0
 OUTDIR="./bin/spice2x"
-OUTDIR_EXTRAS="./bin/spice2x_extras"
+OUTDIR_EXTRAS="./bin/spice2x/extras"
 
 # disabled UPX since it tends to falsely trigger malware detection
 UPX_ENABLE=0
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ INCLUDE_SRC=1
 DIST_ENABLE=1
 DIST_FOLDER="./dist"
 DIST_NAME="spice2x-$(date +%y)-$(date +%m)-$(date +%d).zip"
+DIST_NAME_EXTRAS="spice2x-$(date +%y)-$(date +%m)-$(date +%d)-full.zip"
 DIST_COMMENT=${DIST_NAME}$'\n'"$GIT_BRANCH - $GIT_HEAD"$'\nThank you for playing.'
-DIST_NAME_EXTRAS="spice2x-$(date +%y)-$(date +%m)-$(date +%d)-extras.zip"
 TARGETS_32="spicetools_stubs_kbt spicetools_stubs_kld spicetools_cfg spicetools_cfg_linux spicetools_spice spicetools_spice_laa spicetools_spice_linux spicetools_stubs_cpusbxpkm"
 TARGETS_64="spicetools_stubs_kbt64 spicetools_stubs_kld64 spicetools_stubs_nvEncodeAPI64 spicetools_stubs_nvcuvid spicetools_stubs_nvcuda spicetools_spice64 spicetools_spice64_linux"
 
@@ -231,14 +231,11 @@ fi
 # pack source files to output directory
 rm -rf ${OUTDIR}/src
 mkdir -p ${OUTDIR}/src
-rm -rf ${OUTDIR_EXTRAS}/src
-mkdir -p ${OUTDIR_EXTRAS}/src
 if ((INCLUDE_SRC > 0))
 then
 	echo "Generating source file archive..."
 	git archive --format tar.gz --prefix=spice2x/ HEAD ./ > ${OUTDIR}/src/spice2x-${GIT_BRANCH}.tar.gz 2>/dev/null || \
 		echo "WARNING: Couldn't get git to create the archive. Is this a git repository?"
-	cp -r ${OUTDIR}/src/* ${OUTDIR_EXTRAS}/src
 fi
 
 # copy resources
@@ -254,11 +251,9 @@ then
 	mkdir -p ${DIST_FOLDER}
 	rm -rf ${DIST_FOLDER}/${DIST_NAME}
 	pushd ${OUTDIR}/.. > /dev/null
-	zip -qrXT9 $OLDPWD/${DIST_FOLDER}/${DIST_NAME} spice2x -z <<< "$DIST_COMMENT"
+	zip -qrXT9 $OLDPWD/${DIST_FOLDER}/${DIST_NAME} spice2x -x "spice2x/extras/*" -z <<< "$DIST_COMMENT"
-	popd > /dev/null
 	echo "Building extras..."
-	pushd ${OUTDIR_EXTRAS}/.. > /dev/null
+	zip -qrXT9 $OLDPWD/${DIST_FOLDER}/${DIST_NAME_EXTRAS} spice2x -z <<< "$DIST_COMMENT"
-	zip -qrXT9 $OLDPWD/${DIST_FOLDER}/${DIST_NAME_EXTRAS} spice2x_extras -z <<< "$DIST_COMMENT"
 	popd > /dev/null
 fi
 

src/spice2x/build_release.bat

@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 del /s /q .ccache
+del /s /q dist
 call build_docker.bat

src/spice2x/games/ddr/ddr.cpp

@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ namespace games::ddr {
 
     void DDRGame::pre_attach() {
         if (!cfg::CONFIGURATOR_STANDALONE && avs::game::is_model("TDX")) {
-            log_fatal(
+            log_warning(
                 "ddr",
                 "BAD MODEL NAME ERROR\n\n\n"
                 "!!! model name set to TDX, this is WRONG and will break your game !!!\n"
@@ -136,6 +136,8 @@ namespace games::ddr {
                 "!!!                                                               !!!\n"
                 "!!! model name set to TDX, this is WRONG and will break your game !!!\n\n\n"
                 );
+
+            log_fatal("ddr", "BAD MODEL NAME ERROR - TDX specified, should be MDX instead");
         }
 
         if (!cfg::CONFIGURATOR_STANDALONE && avs::game::DEST[0] == 'U') {

src/spice2x/games/iidx/iidx.cpp

@@ -405,14 +405,6 @@ namespace games::iidx {
 
         // init cfgmgr32 hooks
         cfgmgr32hook_init(avs::game::DLL_INSTANCE);
-
-        // report common errors on iidx31 and above
-        if (avs::game::is_ext(2023091500, MAXINT) && GRAPHICS_9_ON_12_STATE == DX9ON12_FORCE_ON) {
-            deferredlogs::defer_error_messages({
-                "common incompatibility with DX 9on12 + IIDX 31 and above",
-                "    IIDX31+ is known to be incompatible with DX 9on12, leading to blank screen or crashes"
-            });
-        }
     }
 
     void IIDXGame::pre_attach() {
@@ -436,7 +428,7 @@ namespace games::iidx {
 
         // check bad model name
         if (!cfg::CONFIGURATOR_STANDALONE && avs::game::is_model("TDJ")) {
-            log_fatal(
+            log_warning(
                 "iidx",
                 "BAD MODEL NAME ERROR\n\n\n"
                 "!!! model name set to TDJ, this is WRONG and will break your game !!!\n"
@@ -454,6 +446,8 @@ namespace games::iidx {
                 "!!!                                                               !!!\n"
                 "!!! model name set to TDJ, this is WRONG and will break your game !!!\n\n\n"
                 );
+
+            log_fatal("iidx", "BAD MODEL NAME ERROR - TDJ specified, must be LDJ instead");
         }
     }
 

src/spice2x/games/jb/jb.cpp

@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ namespace games::jb {
             const auto current_path = std::filesystem::current_path();
             log_misc("jubeat", "current working directory: {}", current_path.string());
             if (current_path.parent_path() == current_path.root_path()) {
-                log_fatal(
+                log_warning(
                     "jubeat",
                     "\n\nInvalid path error; jubeat cannot run from a directory in the drive root\n"
                     "The game will overflow the stack and silently fail to boot\n\n"
@@ -179,6 +179,10 @@ namespace games::jb {
                     "To fix this, create a new directory and move ALL game files there.\n\n"
                     "Your current working directory: {}\n",
                     current_path.string());
+
+                log_fatal(
+                    "jubeat",
+                    "Invalid path error; jubeat cannot run from a directory in the drive root");
             }
         }
     }

src/spice2x/games/mfc/mfc.cpp

@@ -288,6 +288,21 @@ namespace games::mfc {
     MFCGame::MFCGame() : Game("Mahjong Fight Club") {
     }
 
+    static bool spam_remover(void *user, const std::string &data, logger::Style style, std::string &out) {
+        if (data.empty() || data[0] != '[') {
+            return false;
+        }
+        if (data.find("W:mutex: lock: mid 00000000 != AVS_DTYPE_MUTEX") != std::string::npos) {
+            out = "";
+            return true;
+        }
+        if (data.find("W:mutex: unlock: mid 00000000 != AVS_DTYPE_MUTEX") != std::string::npos) {
+            out = "";
+            return true;
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
     void MFCGame::attach() {
         Game::attach();
 
@@ -308,6 +323,13 @@ namespace games::mfc {
         auto allinone_module = libutils::try_module("allinone.dll");
         auto system_module = libutils::try_module("system.dll");
 
+        // Mahjong Fight Club - 2025?
+        // they removed allinone.dll and moved i/o into system.dll
+        if (allinone_module == nullptr) {
+            log_misc("mfc", "using system.dll instead of allinone.dll for i/o hooks");
+            allinone_module = system_module;
+        }
+
         // network fix
         detour::iat_try("?nic_dhcp_maybe_exist@@YAEXZ", nic_dhcp_maybe_exist, system_module);
 
@@ -378,5 +400,7 @@ namespace games::mfc {
             detour::inline_hook((void *) mouse_utl_step, libutils::try_proc(
                     allinone_module, "?mouse_utl_step@@YAXXZ"));
         }
+
+        logger::hook_add(spam_remover, nullptr);
     }
 }

src/spice2x/games/sdvx/sdvx.cpp

@@ -215,6 +215,15 @@ namespace games::sdvx {
             deferredlogs::defer_error_messages(deferredlogs::SUPERSTEP_SOUND_ERROR_MESSAGE);
             return false;
         }
+        if (data.find("W:ea3-pos: ea3_report_posev: no such node:") != std::string::npos) {
+            deferredlogs::defer_error_messages({
+                "bad prop\\ea3-config.xml detected by game",
+                std::string("    ") +  data,
+                "    this will most likely cause Server Busy errors in certain conditions",
+                "    follow the FAQ to fix your ea3-config.xml and try again"
+            });
+            return false;
+        }
         return false;
     }
 
@@ -268,7 +277,7 @@ namespace games::sdvx {
         AUTO_INSERT_CARD_COOLDOWN = 15.f;
         // check bad model name
         if (!cfg::CONFIGURATOR_STANDALONE && avs::game::is_model("UFC")) {
-            log_fatal(
+            log_warning(
                 "sdvx",
                 "BAD MODEL NAME ERROR\n\n\n"
                 "!!! model name set to UFC, this is WRONG and will break your game !!!\n"
@@ -278,6 +287,9 @@ namespace games::sdvx {
                 "!!!                                                               !!!\n"
                 "!!! model name set to UFC, this is WRONG and will break your game !!!\n\n\n"
                 );
+            log_fatal(
+                "sdvx",
+                "BAD MODEL NAME ERROR - model name set to UFC, must be KFC instead");
         }   
     }
 

src/spice2x/hooks/graphics/backends/d3d9/d3d9_backend.cpp

@@ -238,14 +238,17 @@ static void log_create_device_failure(HRESULT hresult) {
 }
 
 static bool is_dx9_on_12_enabled() {
+    bool result = false;
     switch (GRAPHICS_9_ON_12_STATE) {
         case DX9ON12_FORCE_OFF:
             log_info("graphics::d3d9", "DirectX 9on12: forced OFF by user (-dx9on12)");
-            return false;
+            result = false;
+            break;
 
         case DX9ON12_FORCE_ON:
             log_info("graphics::d3d9", "DirectX 9on12: forced ON by user (-9on12 or -dx9on12)");
-            return true;
+            result = true;
+            break;
 
         case DX9ON12_AUTO:
         default:
@@ -253,14 +256,33 @@ static bool is_dx9_on_12_enabled() {
                 log_info(
                     "graphics::d3d9",
                     "DirectX 9on12: enabled automatically for current game (tip: use -dx9on12 to force on or off)");
-                return true;
+                result = true;
             } else {
                 log_info(
                     "graphics::d3d9",
                     "DirectX 9on12: disabled by default, using DX9 (tip: use -dx9on12 to force on or off)");
-                return false;
+                result = false;
             }
+            break;
     }
+
+    if (GRAPHICS_9_ON_12_STATE == DX9ON12_FORCE_ON) {
+        if (avs::game::is_model("LDJ") && avs::game::is_ext(2023091500, MAXINT)) {
+            deferredlogs::defer_error_messages({
+                "dx9on12 was force enabled by user (-dx9on12)",
+                "    IIDX31+ is known to be incompatible with DX 9on12, leading to blank screen or crashes",
+                "    try again with -dx9on12 option set to default value"
+            });
+        } else {
+            deferredlogs::defer_error_messages({
+                "dx9on12 was force enabled by user (-dx9on12)",
+                "    not very game is compatible with this, and can lead to crashes",
+                "    try without force enabling this if you are seeing issues"
+            });
+        }
+    }
+
+    return result;
 }
 
 static IDirect3D9 *WINAPI Direct3DCreate9_hook(UINT SDKVersion) {

src/spice2x/launcher/launcher.cpp

@@ -299,22 +299,6 @@ int main_implementation(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         cfg::CONFIGURATOR_TYPE = cfg::ConfigType::Config;
         cfg_run = true;
     }
-
-    if (options[launcher::Options::EAmusementEmulation].value_bool() &&
-        options[launcher::Options::ServiceURL].is_active() &&
-        !cfg::CONFIGURATOR_STANDALONE) {
-        log_fatal(
-            "launcher",
-            "BAD EAMUSE SETTINGS ERROR\n\n\n"
-            "-------------------------------------------------------------------\n"
-            "WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING\n"
-            "!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!\n"
-            "A service URL is set **AND** E-Amusement emulation is enabled.\n"
-            "Either remove the service URL, or disable E-Amusement emulation.\n"
-            "Otherwise you may experience problems logging in.\n"
-            "-------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n\n"
-            );
-    }
     if (options[launcher::Options::EAmusementEmulation].value_bool()) {
         avs::ea3::URL_SLASH = 1;
         easrv_port = 8080;
@@ -946,6 +930,11 @@ int main_implementation(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     }
     if (options[launcher::Options::DisableAudioHooks].value_bool()) {
         hooks::audio::ENABLED = false;
+        deferredlogs::defer_error_messages({
+            "audio hooks are forcibly disabled by user (-audiohookdisable)",
+            "    having hooks disabled means some required audio fixes are not being applied",
+            "    if you have audio-related crashes, you should try again after clearing this option"
+            });
     }
     if (options[launcher::Options::spice2x_DisableVolumeHook].value_bool()) {
         hooks::audio::VOLUME_HOOK_ENABLED = false;
@@ -1226,6 +1215,10 @@ int main_implementation(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 
     log_info("launcher", "{}", VERSION_STRING);
 
+    // note: distribution of modified version of this software without providing source is GPLv3 license violation.
+    log_info("launcher", "spice2x is free & open source; if you paid money for it, you got scammed");
+    log_info("launcher", "visit https://spice2x.github.io to download the latest version for free");
+
     // log command line arguments
     std::ostringstream arguments;
     for (auto &root_option : options) {
@@ -1269,18 +1262,19 @@ int main_implementation(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     for (const auto &option : options) {
         if (option.conflicting && option.get_definition().type != OptionType::Bool) {
             conflicts += 1;
+            const auto& value = option.get_definition().sensitive ? "*****" : option.value;
             if (launcher::USE_CMD_OVERRIDE) {
                 log_warning(
                     "launcher",
                     "multiple values for -{}, command line args take precedence: {}",
                     option.get_definition().name, 
-                    option.value);
+                    value);
             } else {
                 log_warning(
                     "launcher",
                     "multiple values for -{}, spicecfg values take precedence: {}",
                     option.get_definition().name,
-                    option.value);
+                    value);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -1309,6 +1303,25 @@ int main_implementation(int argc, char *argv[]) {
             );
     }
 
+    if (options[launcher::Options::EAmusementEmulation].value_bool() &&
+        options[launcher::Options::ServiceURL].is_active() &&
+        !cfg::CONFIGURATOR_STANDALONE) {
+        log_warning(
+            "launcher",
+            "BAD EAMUSE SETTINGS ERROR\n\n\n"
+            "-------------------------------------------------------------------\n"
+            "WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING\n"
+            "!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!\n"
+            "A service URL is set **AND** E-Amusement emulation is enabled.\n"
+            "Either remove the service URL, or disable E-Amusement emulation.\n"
+            "Otherwise you may experience problems logging in.\n"
+            "-------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n\n"
+            );
+        log_fatal(
+            "launcher",
+            "BAD EAMUSE SETTINGS ERROR: both -ea and -url are set");
+    }
+
     if (options[launcher::Options::FullscreenResolution].is_active()) {
         std::pair<uint32_t, uint32_t> result;
         if (parse_width_height(options[launcher::Options::FullscreenResolution].value_text(), result)) {
@@ -1664,6 +1677,14 @@ int main_implementation(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                 attach_io = true;
                 attach_mfc = true;
                 break;
+
+            // Mahjong Fight Club - 2025?
+            // they removed allinone.dll and moved i/o into system.dll
+            } else if (check_dll("system.dll") && fileutils::file_exists("data/mfc.ini")) {
+                avs::game::DLL_NAME = "system.dll";
+                attach_io = true;
+                attach_mfc = true;
+                break;
             }
 
             // FutureTomTom
@@ -1808,7 +1829,7 @@ int main_implementation(int argc, char *argv[]) {
             // usage error
             if (!cfg::CONFIGURATOR_STANDALONE
             && (!CHECK_DLL_IGNORE_ARCH)) {
-                log_fatal(
+                log_warning(
                     "launcher",
                     "module auto detection failed!\n\n"
                     "This usually means one of the following:\n\n"
@@ -1816,6 +1837,8 @@ int main_implementation(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                     "  2. XML files in prop directory are malformed or missing, or\n"
                     "  3. You passed in invalid options (usually, path overrides like -exec)\n\n"
                 );
+
+                log_fatal("launcher", "module auto detection failed, see log.txt for troubleshooting");
             }
             break;
 

src/spice2x/launcher/signal.cpp

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "signal.h"
 
+#include <future>
 #include <exception>
 
 #include <windows.h>
@@ -174,6 +175,9 @@ static LONG WINAPI TopLevelExceptionFilter(struct _EXCEPTION_POINTERS *Exception
             log_warning("signal", "minidump creation function not available, skipping");
         }
 
+        // this will stall all UI threads for this process
+        show_popup_for_crash();
+
         log_fatal("signal", "end");
     }
 

src/spice2x/overlay/overlay.cpp

@@ -270,13 +270,14 @@ void overlay::SpiceOverlay::init() {
     ImFontConfig config {};
     config.MergeMode = true;
 
+    log_misc("overlay", "loading fonts, failures are not fatal");
     add_font("simsun.ttc", &config, io.Fonts->GetGlyphRangesChineseSimplifiedCommon());
-    add_font("arial.ttc", &config, io.Fonts->GetGlyphRangesCyrillic());
+    add_font("arial.ttf", &config, io.Fonts->GetGlyphRangesCyrillic());
     add_font("meiryu.ttc", &config, io.Fonts->GetGlyphRangesJapanese());
     add_font("meiryo.ttc", &config, io.Fonts->GetGlyphRangesJapanese());
     add_font("gulim.ttc", &config, io.Fonts->GetGlyphRangesKorean());
-    add_font("cordia.ttc", &config, io.Fonts->GetGlyphRangesThai());
+    add_font("cordia.ttf", &config, io.Fonts->GetGlyphRangesThai());
-    add_font("arial.ttc", &config, io.Fonts->GetGlyphRangesVietnamese());
+    add_font("arial.ttf", &config, io.Fonts->GetGlyphRangesVietnamese());
 
     // add special font
     if (avs::game::is_model("LDJ")) {

src/spice2x/overlay/windows/config.cpp

@@ -556,9 +556,16 @@ namespace overlay::windows {
         }
 
         // disclaimer
+        // note: distribution of modified version of this software without providing source is GPLv3 license violation.
         ImGui::TextColored(
                 ImVec4(1, 0.5f, 0.5f, 1.f),
-                "Do NOT stream or upload game data anywhere public! Support arcades when you can. Thanks.");
+                "spice2x is free & open source; if you paid money for it, you got scammed.");
+        if (cfg::CONFIGURATOR_STANDALONE) {
+            ImGui::SameLine();
+            if (ImGui::TextLink(PROJECT_URL)) {
+                launch_shell(PROJECT_URL);
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     void Config::build_buttons(const std::string &name, std::vector<Button> *buttons, int min, int max) {
@@ -2917,7 +2924,7 @@ namespace overlay::windows {
 #endif
 
         ImGui::TextUnformatted("");
-        if (ImGui::Button(PROJECT_URL)) {
+        if (ImGui::TextLink(PROJECT_URL)) {
             launch_shell(PROJECT_URL);
         }
         
@@ -2978,6 +2985,7 @@ namespace overlay::windows {
 
     void Config::build_menu(int *game_selected) {
         bool about_popup = false;
+        ImGui::PushStyleColor(ImGuiCol_PopupBg, ImVec4(0.14f, 0.14f, 0.14f, 1.0f));
         if (ImGui::BeginMenuBar()) {
 
             // [spice2x]
@@ -3038,6 +3046,8 @@ namespace overlay::windows {
             ImGui::EndMenuBar();
         }
 
+        ImGui::PopStyleColor(); // ImGuiCol_PopupBg
+
         // workaround for popups triggered by menu, see https://github.com/ocornut/imgui/issues/331
         if (about_popup) {
             ImGui::OpenPopup("About##topbarpopup");

src/spice2x/readme.txt

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ developers when you can. Sources should be included, have fun!
 
 spice2x fork maintainers:
 * sp2xdev team
+* the lab
 
 SpiceTools original contributors:
 * cube, felix, dinsfire, nolm, s2, crazyredmachine (jotaro44), mon, nibs

src/spice2x/util/libutils.cpp

@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ static inline void load_library_fail(const std::string &file_name, bool fatal) {
         "     b. http://www.dependencywalker.com/ (for old OS) \n"
     , file_name) };
     if (fatal) {
-        log_fatal("libutils", "{}", info_str);
+        log_warning("libutils", "{}", info_str);
+        log_fatal("libutils", "DLL failed to load: {}, see log.txt for troubleshooting", file_name);
     } else {
         log_warning("libutils", "{}", info_str);
     }

src/spice2x/util/logging.cpp

@@ -1,4 +1,10 @@
+#include <atomic>
+#include <chrono>
+#include <future>
+
 #include "logging.h"
+#include "build/defs.h"
+#include "hooks/graphics/graphics.h"
 
 std::string_view log_get_datetime() {
     return log_get_datetime(time(nullptr));
@@ -12,3 +18,66 @@ std::string_view log_get_datetime(std::time_t now) {
 
     return buf;
 }
+
+static void show_popup(const std::string text) {
+    static std::once_flag shown;
+    std::call_once(shown, [text]() {
+
+        // minimize all windows
+        // only needed because in multi-monitor full screen games, MessageBox fails to show above the game
+        for (auto &hwnd : GRAPHICS_WINDOWS) {
+            ShowWindow(hwnd, SW_FORCEMINIMIZE); 
+        }
+
+        // schedule a worker to terminate the game in 30 seconds in case user can't dismiss UI
+        std::atomic_bool cancel_popup = false;
+        auto worker = std::async(std::launch::async, [&cancel_popup]{
+            for (int ms = 300; ms > 0; ms--) {
+                std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(100));
+                if (cancel_popup) {
+                    return;
+                }
+            }
+            launcher::stop_subsystems();
+            launcher::kill();
+            std::terminate();
+        });
+
+        // MessageBox will block until user presses OK
+        const std::string title = "spice2x (" + to_string(VERSION_STRING_CFG) + ")";
+        MessageBox(
+            nullptr,
+            text.c_str(),
+            title.c_str(),
+            MB_OK | MB_ICONERROR | MB_TASKMODAL | MB_SETFOREGROUND | MB_TOPMOST);
+
+        // cancel the worker since the user acknowledged the popup
+        cancel_popup = true;
+    });
+}
+
+void show_popup_for_crash() {
+    std::string text;
+    text += "Game has crashed.\n\n";
+    text += "Check log.txt and look for error messages near the end of file.\n\n";
+    text += "Unsure what to do next?\n";
+    text += "  * update spice2x to the latest version\n";
+    text += "  * check the FAQ on spice2x github wiki\n";
+    text += "  * do NOT screenshot this, instead, share log.txt with someone and ask for help\n\n";
+    text += "Press Enter, Esc, Alt+F4, or click OK to exit. Otherwise, game will close in 30 seconds.";
+    show_popup(text);
+}
+
+void show_popup_for_fatal_error(std::string message) {
+    std::string text;
+    text += "A fatal error was encountered. For details, check log.txt.\n\n";
+    text += "----------------------------------------------------------\n";
+    text += message;
+    text += "----------------------------------------------------------\n\n";
+    text += "Unsure what to do next?\n";
+    text += "  * update spice2x to the latest version\n";
+    text += "  * check the FAQ on spice2x github wiki\n";
+    text += "  * do NOT screenshot this, instead, share log.txt with someone and ask for help\n\n";
+    text += "Press Enter, Esc, Alt+F4, or click OK to exit. Otherwise, game will close in 30 seconds.";
+    show_popup(text);
+}

src/spice2x/util/logging.h

@@ -71,20 +71,28 @@ struct fmt::formatter<fmt_hresult> {
     }
 };
 
+void show_popup_for_crash();
+void show_popup_for_fatal_error(std::string message);
+
 // misc log
 #define LOG_FORMAT(level, module, fmt_str, ...) fmt::format(FMT_COMPILE("{}" fmt_str "\n"), \
     fmt_log { std::time(nullptr), level, module }, ## __VA_ARGS__)
+   
+#define LOG_FORMAT_POPUP(module, fmt_str, ...) fmt::format(FMT_COMPILE("{}: " fmt_str "\n"), module, ## __VA_ARGS__)
+
 #define log_misc(module, format_str, ...) logger::push( \
     LOG_FORMAT("M", module, format_str, ## __VA_ARGS__), logger::Style::GREY)
+
 #define log_info(module, format_str, ...) logger::push( \
     LOG_FORMAT("I", module, format_str, ## __VA_ARGS__), logger::Style::DEFAULT)
+
 #define log_warning(module, format_str, ...) logger::push( \
     LOG_FORMAT("W", module, format_str, ## __VA_ARGS__), logger::Style::YELLOW)
+
 #define log_fatal(module, format_str, ...) { \
     logger::push(LOG_FORMAT("F", module, format_str, ## __VA_ARGS__), logger::Style::RED); \
-    logger::push(LOG_FORMAT("F", "spice", "encountered a fatal error, you can close the window or press ctrl + c"), logger::Style::RED); \
+    show_popup_for_fatal_error(LOG_FORMAT_POPUP(module, format_str, ## __VA_ARGS__)); \
     launcher::stop_subsystems(); \
-    Sleep(10000); \
     launcher::kill(); \
     std::terminate(); \
 } ((void) 0 )