Author Topic: So what's everyone using for a frontend ?? (Read 20488 times)

DeLuSioNal29 · « **Reply #40 on:** February 19, 2015, 04:41:29 pm »

Quote from: mgb on February 19, 2015, 03:53:45 pm

I'm contemplating changing my vertical arcade cab over to Maximus also.

Just a word of caution, Maximus rotates vertically only one way. So your monitor needs to be rotate left (with the bottom facing the right side) in order for it to work. If your monitor is rotated left it will be upside down and you'll need to remove and re-seat your monitor (since there is not option to rotate left in the Front end's software).

D

keilmillerjr · « **Reply #41 on:** February 19, 2015, 05:00:49 pm »

Quote from: DeLuSioNal29 on February 19, 2015, 12:04:52 pm

The big question I'm concerned with is: Which Frontend EASILY supports PC games? With the explosion of Steam Arcade Games I'm looking for a front end that is compatible with Steam's proprietary method of launching games in addition to MAME and consoles.

Anyone?

D

Attract-Mode

mgb · « **Reply #42 on:** February 19, 2015, 06:18:03 pm »

Quote from: DeLuSioNal29 on February 19, 2015, 04:41:29 pm

Quote from: mgb on February 19, 2015, 03:53:45 pm
I'm contemplating changing my vertical arcade cab over to Maximus also.
Just a word of caution, Maximus rotates vertically only one way. So your monitor needs to be rotate left (with the bottom facing the right side) in order for it to work. If your monitor is rotated left it will be upside down and you'll need to remove and re-seat your monitor (since there is not option to rotate left in the Front end's software).

D

thanks for the heads up. My monitor is set up with the bottom to the right so I should be good there.
last year, I messed with Maximus on this cab but ended up going back to Mala. I can't for the life of me, remember why. I guess I'll try again.

danny_galaga · « **Reply #43 on:** February 20, 2015, 06:16:09 am »

Quote from: keilmillerjr on February 18, 2015, 10:22:36 pm

Quote from: Fursphere on February 18, 2015, 09:27:19 pm
Its hard to pass up the incredible amount of content and effort that's been put into HyperSpin.

Yeah, but hyperspin makes my head spin. It's like a vw, over engineered.

You're obviously not talking about MY VW

Le Chuck · « **Reply #44 on:** February 20, 2015, 06:30:16 am »

I'm not entirely sure which end is the front

mgb · « **Reply #45 on:** February 20, 2015, 08:01:39 am »

Quote from: danny_galaga on February 20, 2015, 06:16:09 am

Quote from: keilmillerjr on February 18, 2015, 10:22:36 pm
Quote from: Fursphere on February 18, 2015, 09:27:19 pm
Its hard to pass up the incredible amount of content and effort that's been put into HyperSpin.

Yeah, but hyperspin makes my head spin. It's like a vw, over engineered.

You're obviously not talking about MY VW

Nice notchback

AzureKnight · « **Reply #46 on:** February 20, 2015, 10:32:26 am »

Quote from: Le Chuck on February 20, 2015, 06:30:16 am

I'm not entirely sure which end is the front

So now we get to the real point of this thread, he must not know either...
"So what's everyone using for a frontend ??"

markc74 · « **Reply #47 on:** February 20, 2015, 05:18:32 pm »

Previously I would have said MALA but since getting my head around Attract Mode I'm a convert - it rocks. With patience and a rough concept of how to program the layouts you can make it do whatever you like.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=attract+mode+frontend

I had an ideal frontend layout in my head where rather than pick from a list you had a row of arcades next to each other and you scrolled left and right to 'walk' down the row to pick to the game you wanted to play while still seeing the games on either side (rather than scrolling through a text list) and Attract mode lets me create that*

I think if attract mode gets more popular we'll start to see themes that can pretty much do what most other frontends do anyway (except maybe hyperspin which is not my cup of cha anyway)

*Disclaimer - I've been a programmer for 20 years so it wasn't a massive jump to learn it.

bfauska · « **Reply #48 on:** February 20, 2015, 07:36:10 pm »

Quote from: markc74 on February 20, 2015, 05:18:32 pm

Previously I would have said MALA but since getting my head around Attract Mode I'm a convert - it rocks. With patience and a rough concept of how to program the layouts you can make it do whatever you like.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=attract+mode+frontend

I had an ideal frontend layout in my head where rather than pick from a list you had a row of arcades next to each other and you scrolled left and right to 'walk' down the row to pick to the game you wanted to play while still seeing the games on either side (rather than scrolling through a text list) and Attract mode lets me create that*

I think if attract mode gets more popular we'll start to see themes that can pretty much do what most other frontends do anyway (except maybe hyperspin which is not my cup of cha anyway)

*Disclaimer - I've been a programmer for 20 years so it wasn't a massive jump to learn it.

Yours is one of the most promising ones in the results of that youtube link. Of course since you didn't link directly to it I'm only guessing but since the cabinet is Blip and the games are laid out the way you describe I'm pretty sure it's the one.

I've been using Mamewah in my cabinet for years but since I'm planning on doing a PC upgrade (to a still used but less used computer) I am probably going to switch to something more win7 compatible.

I've been playing with Hyperspin on a different computer but it is pretty resource hungry, how's Attract Mode compare in that regard?

ChanceKJ · « **Reply #49 on:** February 20, 2015, 07:49:55 pm »

Richardgregory · « **Reply #50 on:** February 21, 2015, 05:14:49 am »

Still setting up Hyperspin, but for most part MAME portion is almost done, but not quite. Also, have Maximus Arcade as well on the same PC. I'm using Hyperspin because of the attractiveness of the graphical interface, but then again, simple is not necessary a bad thing such as with Maximus.

bulbousbeard · « **Reply #51 on:** February 21, 2015, 10:14:03 am »

It's really hard to justify using Hyperspin when we know it interferes with the behavior of MAME.

What's the point of a frontend that can't even run programs properly?

bulbousbeard · « **Reply #52 on:** February 21, 2015, 10:27:17 am »

Quote from: Fursphere on February 18, 2015, 09:27:19 pm

Its hard to pass up the incredible amount of content and effort that's been put into HyperSpin.

There's an incredible amount of bad content. I'm not sure how much good content there is. Really, if you're even somewhat discerning, most of the Hyperspin themes are flat out BAD. The only reason Hyperspin's so popular is because most people have poor taste and can't distinguish good aesthetics from tacky crap. 9 out of 10 themes mix multiple completely different art styles from games made years apart from each other. It's a complete mess.

yotsuya · « **Reply #53 on:** February 21, 2015, 10:29:24 am »

Quote from: bulbousbeard on February 21, 2015, 10:14:03 am

It's really hard to justify using Hyperspin when we know it interferes with the behavior of MAME.

What's the point of a frontend that can't even run programs properly?

We "know" that? How so? I haven't had any issues with it running games in MAME.

bulbousbeard · « **Reply #54 on:** February 21, 2015, 10:44:14 am »

Quote from: yotsuya on February 21, 2015, 10:29:24 am

Quote from: bulbousbeard on February 21, 2015, 10:14:03 am
It's really hard to justify using Hyperspin when we know it interferes with the behavior of MAME.

What's the point of a frontend that can't even run programs properly?

We "know" that? How so? I haven't had any issues with it running games in MAME.

Look at the GroovyMAME forums. You can't even run MAME with triplebuffering and multithreading with it. It's untrustworthy software.

yotsuya · « **Reply #55 on:** February 21, 2015, 10:45:13 am »

Well there's your first problem: I don't run GroovyMAME....

DeLuSioNal29 · « **Reply #56 on:** February 21, 2015, 10:55:38 am »

I run GroovyMAME and it works fine with Hyperspin.

bulbousbeard · « **Reply #57 on:** February 21, 2015, 11:03:45 am »

Quote from: yotsuya on February 21, 2015, 10:45:13 am

Well there's your first problem: I don't run GroovyMAME....

Even standard MAME has the same problem. Really, people have such a high tolerance for poor performance, it wouldn't surprise me if the people who "have no problems" are actually experiencing them but are just clueless.

yotsuya · « **Reply #58 on:** February 21, 2015, 11:10:58 am »

Well, if a problem isn't perceived, is it really a problem?

bulbousbeard · « **Reply #59 on:** February 21, 2015, 11:18:23 am »

Quote from: yotsuya on February 21, 2015, 11:10:58 am

Well, if a problem isn't perceived, is it really a problem?

Yes. I mean, there are people in this forum (whom you'd expect to be a little bit savvier) who actually make the argument that running games at the wrong refresh rate is unnoticeable.

yotsuya · « **Reply #60 on:** February 21, 2015, 11:42:12 am »

bulbousbeard · « **Reply #61 on:** February 21, 2015, 11:57:22 am »

I think it's more like:

Vigo · « **Reply #62 on:** February 21, 2015, 12:04:47 pm »

jukingeo · « **Reply #63 on:** February 21, 2015, 12:34:44 pm »

Ok, in Windows, my favorite overall front end is currently Mala.

I do like the overall look of Hyperspin, but the need to have a larger machine just for the front end just didn't justify it. Otherwise if I did have a more powerful machine I would revisit that.

Before Mala, I had MameWah for the longest time.

I Linux I like to use MameWah's cousin, Wah Cade.

Malenko · « **Reply #64 on:** February 21, 2015, 12:45:15 pm »

I currently use MaLa, havent really updated MAME or Roms in a while, and MaLa is cray cray easy to make skins for.

I looked at attract mode but I glanced at what it takes to make a skin, and I dont have that kind of time. I looked at big blue, but Its not skinable (yet?) and I dont want the built in game.

MTPPC · « **Reply #65 on:** February 21, 2015, 12:50:15 pm »

Quote from: DeLuSioNal29 on February 19, 2015, 04:41:29 pm

Quote from: mgb on February 19, 2015, 03:53:45 pm
I'm contemplating changing my vertical arcade cab over to Maximus also.
Just a word of caution, Maximus rotates vertically only one way. So your monitor needs to be rotate left (with the bottom facing the right side) in order for it to work. If your monitor is rotated left it will be upside down and you'll need to remove and re-seat your monitor (since there is not option to rotate left in the Front end's software).

D

You can always flip your yoke wires to get the right orientation.

mgb · « **Reply #66 on:** February 21, 2015, 01:50:40 pm »

Just a quick question on Maximus.
Are unlock codes still being generated

DeLuSioNal29 · « **Reply #67 on:** February 21, 2015, 05:20:48 pm »

MGB - depends who you ask. It's hit or miss. But now that the author has partnered with XArcade he may have gotten his act together. YMMV.

otsep · « **Reply #68 on:** February 21, 2015, 05:33:48 pm »

Quote from: danny_galaga on February 20, 2015, 06:16:09 am

You're obviously not talking about MY VW

I'm a HUGE VW fan and that is beautiful.

knightrdrx · « **Reply #69 on:** February 21, 2015, 09:14:03 pm »

I've been working on Maximus Arcade for almost a year. I keep changing my mind about stuff..adding new games etc...but I'm going to wrap it up this week so I can just relax and play.
When I add new games the game lists get messed up. It's annoying but I won't change to anything else at this point.
And I like that I can leave it on the main menu and not have a video running while I leave the room.
It supports everything I want.

DeLuSioNal29 · « **Reply #70 on:** February 21, 2015, 10:25:24 pm »

I abandoned Maximus ages ago. But how do you get Steam games to work with their proprietary URL shortcuts?

WindDrake · « **Reply #71 on:** February 22, 2015, 04:26:11 pm »

I've been using GameEx for the last couple years. Works great.

Fursphere · « **Reply #72 on:** February 22, 2015, 05:12:49 pm »

Quote from: DeLuSioNal29 on February 21, 2015, 10:25:24 pm

I abandoned Maximus ages ago. But how do you get Steam games to work with their proprietary URL shortcuts?

Just point to the game EXE instead.

DeLuSioNal29 · « **Reply #73 on:** February 22, 2015, 05:25:04 pm »

Quote from: Fursphere on February 22, 2015, 05:12:49 pm

Quote from: DeLuSioNal29 on February 21, 2015, 10:25:24 pm
I abandoned Maximus ages ago. But how do you get Steam games to work with their proprietary URL shortcuts?

Just point to the game EXE instead.

That doesn't work with some Steam Games.

bulbousbeard · « **Reply #74 on:** February 22, 2015, 06:25:39 pm »

As far as I know, Big Blue will run anything that can be run from the command line. Haven't encountered any program that it can't run.

Yup, works perfectly in Big Blue without any batch files or ---That which is odiferous and causeth plants to grow---.

Big Blue doesn't care what the program is. It will run anything.

Fursphere · « **Reply #75 on:** February 22, 2015, 10:30:56 pm »

Quote from: DeLuSioNal29 on February 22, 2015, 05:25:04 pm

Quote from: Fursphere on February 22, 2015, 05:12:49 pm
Quote from: DeLuSioNal29 on February 21, 2015, 10:25:24 pm
I abandoned Maximus ages ago. But how do you get Steam games to work with their proprietary URL shortcuts?

Just point to the game EXE instead.
That doesn't work with some Steam Games.

Ok, I figured this out for ya.

Step 1 - Right click on game in Steam and "create shortcut on desktop"
It should look something like "steam://rungameid/282440"
Step 2 - Create a batch file (plain text) called something like "game.bat"
Step 3 - In the batch file put "explorer.exe steam://rungameid/282440"
Step 4 - Point front end at the batch file you created.

If Steam isn't running, but is registered properly, it'll start Steam then start your game.

(steam://rungameid/282440 is Quake Live on my system - don't know if that's universal or not)

Enjoy!

ahofle · « **Reply #76 on:** February 23, 2015, 12:31:48 am »

Quote from: bulbousbeard on February 21, 2015, 11:03:45 am

Quote from: yotsuya on February 21, 2015, 10:45:13 am
Well there's your first problem: I don't run GroovyMAME....

Even standard MAME has the same problem. Really, people have such a high tolerance for poor performance, it wouldn't surprise me if the people who "have no problems" are actually experiencing them but are just clueless.

Can you elaborate on the issues with refresh rates with GroovyMAME and hyperspin? I run that configuration with correct refresh rates, resolutions, etc using MAME's ini files.

danny_galaga · « **Reply #77 on:** February 23, 2015, 02:53:26 am »

Quote from: AzureKnight on February 20, 2015, 10:32:26 am

Quote from: Le Chuck on February 20, 2015, 06:30:16 am
I'm not entirely sure which end is the front

So now we get to the real point of this thread, he must not know either...
"So what's everyone using for a frontend ??"

BCThunder · « **Reply #78 on:** February 28, 2015, 08:03:15 pm »

I recently put together a computer for my 8 year old, and found a great front end called Launch Box. It has some great features like importing box art from thegamesdb.net, and the ability to import games from your Steam Library.

mgb · « **Reply #79 on:** February 28, 2015, 08:47:08 pm »

Quote from: BCThunder on February 28, 2015, 08:03:15 pm

I recently put together a computer for my 8 year old, and found a great front end called Launch Box. It has some great features like importing box art from thegamesdb.net, and the ability to import games from your Steam Library.

I was just recently trying that one out too. Very nice for consoles


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