Frontend with How To Play instructions?

[BillytheGoat]

Marquees, snapshots, videos, text history of the game... all of these are nice enough features, but is there a front end feature that brings up an image showing you how to play the game?  Or perhaps just an image of the console showing the controls?  For some of these older games I have no idea how many buttons are used or what they do so I end up looking online or doing trial and error.   If not, is there a common work around to discovering the controls other than tabbing out and looking at the key assignments?

Although I've only used the free version so far, I think I'll eventually end up with the "big box" version of Launch Box so I'd be particularly interested to know if this launcher would have this feature.

Thanks!

[bperkins01]

Not necessarily how to play - But LEDBlinky will show you the controls for a game you select (MAME Games)
It will light the buttons, etc..  and when you hit pause - it will re-announce them.
So at  least you have a starting point..
Its pretty useful.. 

[BillytheGoat]

bperkins,

That's actually pretty cool but not so much what I'm looking for.  Besides me wanting a non-led more traditional look with my (future) cabinet, I don't think I'd want the extra setup hassle.   
thanks 4 the post.

[Mike A]

Have you seen CPwizard. I know nothing about it, but it seems to be what you are looking for.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,74091.0.html

[bperkins01]

it works w/o LED's too..  and you can try it for free..
It just announces the controls - but you are correct - it does not provide 'directions'

[keilmillerjr]

History.dat has instructions on how to play the game - in text format, not image. Attractmode has a plug-in to display this info. Not sure where you would even find images of how to play the game for most games.

[BillytheGoat]

Great info here guys.  Thanks. 

bperkins,
I see, so LEDBlinkly would SPEAK the controls to me.  Good suggestion, but not the way I'd want to go.

Mike A,
Yes that CPWizard would be exactly what I'm looking for, but almost too much of it. lol.  I'll check it out.  Maybe there's a way I can use it in a limited simplified form.

keilmillerjr,
What is "History.dat"?  I'm guessing it's part of what Launch Box offers is the description of the game?


These are all good suggestions.   Even mame without a front end has a way to display "consoles" and "how to" in the right hand column.  Although, as keilmillerjr says, there don't seem to be images readily available.  Ideally, that's what I would want with launch box. Some sort of image that comes up automatically with the game that shows a snapshot of the console so you at least know how many buttons the game uses.   My thing is I'd like to have my future cabinet be very user friendly and uncomplicated such that a child could navigate it very easily without having to run back to me and ask how to change games or how to navigate to a section of the launcher that explains which buttons to use.   

Thanks to you guys, I think I have enough to work with.   

[keilmillerjr]

Great info here guys.  Thanks. 

bperkins,
I see, so LEDBlinkly would SPEAK the controls to me.  Good suggestion, but not the way I'd want to go.

Mike A,
Yes that CPWizard would be exactly what I'm looking for, but almost too much of it. lol.  I'll check it out.  Maybe there's a way I can use it in a limited simplified form.

keilmillerjr,
What is "History.dat"?  I'm guessing it's part of what Launch Box offers is the description of the game?


These are all good suggestions.   Even mame without a front end has a way to display "consoles" and "how to" in the right hand column.  Although, as keilmillerjr says, there don't seem to be images readily available.  Ideally, that's what I would want with launch box. Some sort of image that comes up automatically with the game that shows a snapshot of the console so you at least know how many buttons the game uses.   My thing is I'd like to have my future cabinet be very user friendly and uncomplicated such that a child could navigate it very easily without having to run back to me and ask how to change games or how to navigate to a section of the launcher that explains which buttons to use.   

Thanks to you guys, I think I have enough to work with.

One button to exit. Choose a game and press A. Insert a quarter. Press player 1. Press buttons to figure out the game. Don’t over complicate it. My daughter had it totally figured out at 4 years old.

[BillytheGoat]

Actually, if there was a way to "push button" and bring up an image of the console or an otherwise very simple explanation of the controls, that would be perfect.  Maybe even "push and hold", then let go to resume.

[PL1]

What is "History.dat"?

It has the history of the game and often has gameplay info.

You can submit updates/corrections and download the file here.

https://www.arcade-history.com/


Scott

[B2K24]

Regular MAME can do this without a frontend. Simply launch a game then pause emulation (P key) then TAB into External DAT view. If a game is listed in command.dat it will show you the buttons and special moves ---> https://imgur.com/a/1OgMdCR

Otherwise GameEX shows you the controls before it launches a game.

[Thenasty]

if you want to put work on your Front end and emulator, it could be done.

Here is a screen shot of my Front End "HELP" when a Dedicated Button is pressed labeled "Help" on the CP.

and the Second Screen shot if the In GAME HELP image when the same button is pressed during the game.

Emulator: Advmame V106 only
FE: Advmenu

[tony.silveira]

If you use rocket Launcher, it has an excellent pause feature that will display instructions, manuals, game cards, whatever you throw at it.

[BillytheGoat]

Lot to think about and experiment with.  So much good info. 

Thanks everyone for all the friendly helpful input.

[jangelj]

Thanks to the OP for this topic as it is literally EXACTLY what I’d like to do. OP, what did you finally settle on?  I’ve tried LaunchBox, but don’t love it. It also does not have Instructions and button requirements.

I plan on trying some of the above suggestions.