minor fixes

src/core/Settings.cpp

@@ -21,7 +21,11 @@ std::string Settings::getSettingsPath() {
 bool Settings::load() {
     std::ifstream file(getSettingsPath());
     if (!file.is_open()) {
-        SDL_LogInfo(SDL_LOG_CATEGORY_APPLICATION, "Settings file not found, using defaults");
+        SDL_LogInfo(SDL_LOG_CATEGORY_APPLICATION, "Settings file not found, using defaults. Creating settings file with defaults.");
+        // Persist defaults so next run has an explicit settings.ini
+        try {
+            save();
+        } catch (...) {}
         return false;
     }
     

src/core/Settings.h

@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ private:
     Settings& operator=(const Settings&) = delete;
     
     // Settings values
-    bool m_fullscreen = false;
+    // Default to fullscreen on first run when no settings.ini exists
+    bool m_fullscreen = true;
     bool m_musicEnabled = true;
     bool m_soundEnabled = true;
     bool m_debugEnabled = false;

src/states/MenuState.cpp

@@ -1241,11 +1241,15 @@ void MenuState::render(SDL_Renderer* renderer, float logicalScale, SDL_Rect logi
     }
     static const std::vector<ScoreEntry> EMPTY_SCORES;
     const auto& hs = ctx.scores ? ctx.scores->all() : EMPTY_SCORES;
-    // Choose which game_type to show based on current menu selection
+    // Choose which game_type to show based on current menu selection or mouse hover.
+    // Prefer `hoveredButton` (mouse-over) when available so the TOP PLAYER panel
+    // updates responsively while the user moves the pointer over the bottom menu.
+    int activeBtn = (ctx.hoveredButton ? *ctx.hoveredButton : -1);
+    if (activeBtn < 0) activeBtn = selectedButton;
     std::string wantedType = "classic";
-    if (selectedButton == 0) wantedType = "classic"; // Play / Endless
+    if (activeBtn == 0) wantedType = "classic"; // Play / Endless
-    else if (selectedButton == 1) wantedType = "cooperate"; // Coop
+    else if (activeBtn == 1) wantedType = "cooperate"; // Coop
-    else if (selectedButton == 2) wantedType = "challenge"; // Challenge
+    else if (activeBtn == 2) wantedType = "challenge"; // Challenge
     // Filter highscores to the desired game type
     std::vector<ScoreEntry> filtered;
     filtered.reserve(hs.size());
@@ -1581,16 +1585,19 @@ void MenuState::render(SDL_Renderer* renderer, float logicalScale, SDL_Rect logi
         float alphaFactor = static_cast<float>(coopSetupTransition);
         if (alphaFactor < 0.0f) alphaFactor = 0.0f;
         if (alphaFactor > 1.0f) alphaFactor = 1.0f;
+        // Compute coop info image placement (draw as background for both ChoosePartner and Network steps)
+        float imgX = 0.0f, imgY = 0.0f, targetW = 0.0f, targetH = 0.0f;
+        bool hasCoopImg = false;
         if (coopInfoTexture && coopInfoTexW > 0 && coopInfoTexH > 0) {
             float totalW = totalChoiceW;
-            // Increase allowed image width by ~15% (was 0.75 of totalW)
+            // Keep coop info image slightly smaller than the button row.
-            const float scaleFactor = 0.75f * 1.25f; // ~0.8625
+            // Use a modest scale so it doesn't dominate the UI.
-            float maxImgW = totalW * scaleFactor;
+            float maxImgW = totalW * 0.65f;
-            float targetW = std::min(maxImgW, static_cast<float>(coopInfoTexW));
+            targetW = std::min(maxImgW, static_cast<float>(coopInfoTexW));
             float scale = targetW / static_cast<float>(coopInfoTexW);
-            float targetH = static_cast<float>(coopInfoTexH) * scale;
+            targetH = static_cast<float>(coopInfoTexH) * scale;
-            float imgX = bx + (totalW - targetW) * 0.5f;
+            imgX = bx + (totalW - targetW) * 0.5f;
-            float imgY = by - targetH - 8.0f; // keep the small gap above buttons
+            imgY = by - targetH - 8.0f; // keep the small gap above buttons
             float minY = panelBaseY + 6.0f;
             if (imgY < minY) imgY = minY;
             SDL_FRect dst{ imgX, imgY, targetW, targetH };
@@ -1598,8 +1605,10 @@ void MenuState::render(SDL_Renderer* renderer, float logicalScale, SDL_Rect logi
             // Make the coop info image slightly transparent scaled by transition
             SDL_SetTextureAlphaMod(coopInfoTexture, static_cast<Uint8>(std::round(200.0f * alphaFactor)));
             SDL_RenderTexture(renderer, coopInfoTexture, nullptr, &dst);
+            hasCoopImg = true;
 
-            // Draw cooperative instructions inside the panel area (overlayed on the panel background)
+            // Only draw the instructional overlay text when choosing partner.
+            if (coopSetupStep == CoopSetupStep::ChoosePartner) {
                 FontAtlas* f = ctx.font ? ctx.font : ctx.pixelFont;
                 if (f) {
                     const float pad = 38.0f;
@@ -1654,6 +1663,7 @@ void MenuState::render(SDL_Renderer* renderer, float logicalScale, SDL_Rect logi
                 f->draw(renderer, goalX, textY, goalText, 0.86f, goalTextCol);
             }
         }
+        }
 
         // Delay + eased fade specifically for the two coop buttons so they appear after the image/text.
         const float btnDelay = 0.25f; // fraction of transition to wait before buttons start fading
@@ -1694,7 +1704,7 @@ void MenuState::render(SDL_Renderer* renderer, float logicalScale, SDL_Rect logi
                 coopSetupBtnRects[2].x + btnW2 * 0.5f,
                 coopSetupBtnRects[2].y + btnH2 * 0.5f,
                 btnW2, btnH2,
-                "2 PLAYER (NETWORK)",
+                "2 PLAYER (NET)",
                 false,
                 coopSetupSelected == 2,
                 bgA,
@@ -1710,7 +1720,9 @@ void MenuState::render(SDL_Renderer* renderer, float logicalScale, SDL_Rect logi
             const float roleGap = 48.0f;
             const float roleTotalW = roleBtnW * 2.0f + roleGap;
             const float roleX = panelBaseX + (panelW - roleTotalW) * 0.5f + shiftX;
-            const float roleY = by + btnH2 + 18.0f;
+            // Move the host/join buttons down from the previous higher position.
+            // Shift down by one button height plus half a button (effectively lower them):
+            const float roleY = by + (btnH2 * 0.5f) - 18.0f;
 
             SDL_FRect hostRect{ roleX, roleY, roleBtnW, btnH2 };
             SDL_FRect joinRect{ roleX + roleBtnW + roleGap, roleY, roleBtnW, btnH2 };
@@ -1744,23 +1756,48 @@ void MenuState::render(SDL_Renderer* renderer, float logicalScale, SDL_Rect logi
             FontAtlas* f = ctx.font ? ctx.font : ctx.pixelFont;
             if (f) {
                 SDL_Color infoCol{200, 220, 230, static_cast<Uint8>(std::round(220.0f * buttonFade))};
-                char endpoint[256];
+                // Draw connection info on separate lines and shift right by ~200px
-                std::snprintf(endpoint, sizeof(endpoint), "PORT %u   HOST IP %s   JOIN IP %s",
+                char portLine[64];
-                              (unsigned)coopNetworkPort,
+                std::snprintf(portLine, sizeof(portLine), "PORT %u", (unsigned)coopNetworkPort);
-                              coopNetworkBindAddress.c_str(),
+                char hostLine[128];
-                              coopNetworkJoinAddress.c_str());
+                std::snprintf(hostLine, sizeof(hostLine), "HOST IP %s", coopNetworkBindAddress.c_str());
-                f->draw(renderer, panelBaseX + 60.0f, roleY + btnH2 + 12.0f, endpoint, 0.90f, infoCol);
+                char joinLine[128];
+                std::snprintf(joinLine, sizeof(joinLine), "JOIN IP %s", coopNetworkJoinAddress.c_str());
 
+                const float textShiftX = 200.0f;
+                const float textX = panelBaseX + 60.0f + textShiftX;
+                const float endpointY = (hasCoopImg ? (imgY + targetH * 0.62f) : (roleY + btnH2 + 12.0f));
+                const float lineSpacing = 28.0f;
+                // Show only the minimal info needed for the selected role.
+                f->draw(renderer, textX, endpointY, portLine, 0.90f, infoCol);
+                if (coopNetworkRoleSelected == 0) {
+                    // Host: show bind address only
+                    f->draw(renderer, textX, endpointY + lineSpacing, hostLine, 0.90f, infoCol);
+                } else {
+                    // Client: show join target only
+                    f->draw(renderer, textX, endpointY + lineSpacing, joinLine, 0.90f, infoCol);
+                }
+
+                float hintY = endpointY + lineSpacing * 2.0f + 6.0f;
+
+                // Bottom helper prompt: show a compact instruction under the image window
+                float bottomY = hasCoopImg ? (imgY + targetH + 18.0f) : (hintY + 36.0f);
+                SDL_Color bottomCol{180,200,210,200};
+                if (coopNetworkRoleSelected == 0) {
+                    f->draw(renderer, textX, bottomY, "HOST: press ENTER to edit bind IP, then press ENTER to confirm", 0.82f, bottomCol);
+                } else {
+                    f->draw(renderer, textX, bottomY, "JOIN: press ENTER to type server IP, then press ENTER to connect", 0.82f, bottomCol);
+                }
                 if (coopSetupStep == CoopSetupStep::NetworkWaiting && !coopNetworkStatusText.empty()) {
                     SDL_Color statusCol{255, 215, 80, static_cast<Uint8>(std::round(240.0f * buttonFade))};
-                    f->draw(renderer, panelBaseX + 60.0f, roleY + btnH2 + 44.0f, coopNetworkStatusText, 1.00f, statusCol);
+                    f->draw(renderer, textX, hintY, coopNetworkStatusText, 1.00f, statusCol);
                 } else if (coopSetupStep == CoopSetupStep::NetworkEnterAddress) {
                     SDL_Color hintCol{160, 190, 210, static_cast<Uint8>(std::round(200.0f * buttonFade))};
                     const char* label = (coopNetworkRoleSelected == 0) ? "TYPE HOST IP (BIND) THEN ENTER" : "TYPE JOIN IP THEN ENTER";
-                    f->draw(renderer, panelBaseX + 60.0f, roleY + btnH2 + 44.0f, label, 0.82f, hintCol);
+                    f->draw(renderer, textX, hintY, label, 0.82f, hintCol);
                 } else {
                     SDL_Color hintCol{160, 190, 210, static_cast<Uint8>(std::round(200.0f * buttonFade))};
-                    f->draw(renderer, panelBaseX + 60.0f, roleY + btnH2 + 44.0f, "PRESS ENTER TO EDIT/CONFIRM   ESC TO GO BACK", 0.82f, hintCol);
+                    f->draw(renderer, textX, hintY, "PRESS ENTER TO EDIT/CONFIRM   ESC TO GO BACK", 0.82f, hintCol);
                 }
             }
         }