Third Monitor Support for Game Instructions & Move Lists in Big Box

Overview

Big Box currently supports multiple monitors for marquees and gameplay, but an additional third monitor dedicated to displaying game instructions, move lists, and control layouts would greatly enhance the user experience—especially for arcade setups and fighting game enthusiasts.

This feature would allow users to display custom instruction images for each game, with the ability to cycle through multiple images if a game has multiple character move lists or control schemes.

🖥️ Proposed Functionality

1️⃣ Third Monitor Support for Instructions & Move Lists

• Big Box would recognize a third display and allow users to assign it for game instruction images.

• Users could place custom instruction images in a designated folder, similar to how marquee images are handled.

• When launching a game, Big Box will display the corresponding move list or control layout on the third monitor.

2️⃣ Cycling Between Multiple Instruction Images

• Since many games (especially fighting games) have multiple characters with unique move lists, users should be able to:

• Press a hotkey or button to cycle through different images associated with the game.

• Automatically cycle images at a set interval (configurable in settings).

3️⃣ Alternative Option: Marquee & Instructions Image Cycling

• Instead of using a dedicated third monitor, users could opt for a feature where the marquee monitor cycles between marquee images and move lists.

• This would allow for dynamic marquee displays that alternate between game artwork and instructions.

⚙️ Customization & Settings

• Enable/disable third monitor for instructions (for users who prefer a two-screen setup).

• Set image cycling interval (automatic cycling between multiple move lists).

• Custom folder support to store instruction images per game (similar to marquees).

• Toggle key/button assignment for manual cycling between move lists.

🎯 Use Cases

✅ Arcade cabinets – Players can reference game move lists without pausing gameplay.

✅ Fighting games – Easily cycle through different character move lists for reference.

✅ Classic arcade games – Show original arcade instruction cards alongside gameplay.

✅ Pinball emulation – Display pinball rule sheets and control guides.

🚀 Why This Matters

✅ Enhances arcade-style setups with a fully immersive experience.

✅ Makes it easier for players to access move lists & controls without using external devices.

✅ Flexible implementation allows either a third monitor or marquee cycling based on user preference.