Author Topic: What's a good front end for MAME for a non-computer guy? (Read 3240 times)

2PacMan · « **on:** May 12, 2005, 12:09:26 pm »

I just downloaded the latest version of MAME, and i can run it through the DOS prompt. It works great with my keyboard, but i'm ready to put it in my cab.

I'm looking for the best/most simple front end way to play my roms through windows and just using my joystick and buttons to select games.

I'm not real computer savy, so i just need something that's simple and easy to maintain. Any suggestions???

Fat_Trucker · « **Reply #1 on:** May 12, 2005, 12:36:27 pm »

I use MameWah.

I think i'm of a similar skill level to you and tried a few different FE's to begin with.
MameWah was the easiest to understand, set up and modify by some margin. It also supports any other command line emu's so you can run them all from the same FE.
It includes menu options to exit to windows or exit and shut down so is ideal for a dedicated cab. You can also configure it to play movie clips and sounds on start up and exit and it can play your favourite mp3's in the background while you browse.

You could also try Mame32 that comes with a built in FE and can be configured to be operated with Joystick control via windows like drop down menu's.

Sasquatch! · « **Reply #2 on:** May 12, 2005, 12:37:45 pm »

I think Game Launcher fits your requirements well. There is a bit of configuration that you'll have to do, but IMO it is one of the simpler FEs to set up.

DreamArcades · « **Reply #3 on:** May 12, 2005, 02:21:23 pm »

Personally, I think MAME32 is the easiest to use. It doesn

quarterback · « **Reply #4 on:** May 12, 2005, 05:03:20 pm »

Quote from: DreamArcades on May 12, 2005, 02:21:23 pm

Personally, I think MAME32 is the easiest to use. It doesn

AlanS17 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 12, 2005, 05:18:08 pm »

If you're just playing the games on a PC, sitting at a desk, and have a mouse available to switch around games, then MAME32 is the easiest. If you want something to put in an actual arcade macine, GameLauncher was the easiest for me. It's clean and professional, too.

MAME32 in a cabinet would look VERY unprofessional IMO. Who wants to see Windows running on the cabinet? If MAME32 has a cabinet mode, I've never seen it.

paigeoliver · « **Reply #6 on:** May 12, 2005, 06:58:53 pm »

Quote from: AlanS17 on May 12, 2005, 05:18:08 pm

If you're just playing the games on a PC, sitting at a desk, and have a mouse available to switch around games, then MAME32 is the easiest. If you want something to put in an actual arcade macine, GameLauncher was the easiest for me. It's clean and professional, too.

MAME32 in a cabinet would look VERY unprofessional IMO. Who wants to see Windows running on the cabinet? If MAME32 has a cabinet mode, I've never seen it.

I am actually using Mame32 in my Frankencab at the moment. I never quite go around to customizing Mamewah the way I want it.

screaming · « **Reply #7 on:** May 12, 2005, 09:11:51 pm »

MAMEWAH is probably the majority favorite these days unless you have some special reason not to use it, for example, if you want a virtual arcade to "walk" through, you could try 3D Arcade.

If you're considering MAMEWAH and don't mind installing the .NET Framework (if you don't already have it), check out MAMEWAH Config.

There's a list of front ends on myarcade.org, or another (kind of stale, but extensive) list is available on Zophar's Domain.

-sab

daywane · « **Reply #8 on:** May 12, 2005, 09:42:41 pm »

I like Mame 32. works just fine in a cab.

most people are used to a windows look. especially children nowadays.
born into it. Think about it for a second. Windows fits into there lives like a microwave. Never knew life with out it.

Atomic FE is becoming my favorite ( looks good and only a few steps more then Mame 32 .

danny_galaga · « **Reply #9 on:** May 12, 2005, 10:25:15 pm »

if you can use DOS im guessing you will be able to use many of the front ends available. im absolutely hopeless with any of that stuff so im one of those sinners who has mame32 in a cab.
ive found that ULTRASTYLE seems to be ok to set up but ive had issues with my setup so i never quite got it to work properly. but it looks great! on my XP pc it will freeze when i first open it and then it works when i ctrl-alt-del and open again. but on a pc who cares what it looks like, might as well use mame32. on my cab which is win98 i cant make it run at all

having said that most people seem to make it work ok.

dphirschler · « **Reply #10 on:** May 13, 2005, 09:38:01 am »

I'll second the nomination for Game Launcher. It's very easy to set up in a DOS only cabinet. And it's not bloatware.

Darryl

UndeadMeat · « **Reply #11 on:** May 13, 2005, 10:02:00 am »

My vote goes for MAMEWAH. I'm very new to MAME and I had no problem in setting it up to have background music, different layouts for MAME, ZSNES, GENS and other emulators, an intro movie, and more. I will agree that the documentation can be a little confusing, but the MAMEWAH Config program at http://www.bluecamel.org/2005/02/26/mamewah-config-1611 really helped.

rdagger · « **Reply #12 on:** May 13, 2005, 11:36:27 am »

Game Launcher is easy, but it seems to crash often in Windows XP.

Franco · « **Reply #13 on:** May 13, 2005, 12:07:58 pm »

You definitely have to try Ultrastyle

I personally found it the easiest to set up and think it looks the dogs wobblies!!

It also offers a fairly high amount of customisation for a FE that is so easy to configure.

Give it a shot!

markrvp · « **Reply #14 on:** May 13, 2005, 01:03:32 pm »

Quote from: Franco on May 13, 2005, 12:07:58 pm

. . . it looks the dogs wobblies!!

We've got to get more sayings like this in the U.S.

Franco · « **Reply #15 on:** May 13, 2005, 01:29:11 pm »

Ha ha, well the true saying is the dogs b*ll*cks, but I was just tryin to be forum friendly. Ooops, done it now!

The mutts nuts is a variation on the theme too!

Veinman · « **Reply #16 on:** May 13, 2005, 04:16:03 pm »

Is Ultrastyle friendly with other emulators as well? I know their site talks about Daphne, but I would guess any command-line driven emu would work?

SOAPboy · « **Reply #17 on:** May 13, 2005, 04:20:08 pm »

Quote from: Franco on May 13, 2005, 12:07:58 pm

You definitely have to try Ultrastyle

I personally found it the easiest to set up and think it looks the dogs wobblies!!

It also offers a fairly high amount of customisation for a FE that is so easy to configure.

Give it a shot!

Tried it.. took a large performance hit for it too..
$:-\$

markrvp · « **Reply #18 on:** May 13, 2005, 05:34:13 pm »

Quote from: SOAPboy on May 13, 2005, 04:20:08 pm

Quote from: Franco on May 13, 2005, 12:07:58 pm
You definitely have to try Ultrastyle

I personally found it the easiest to set up and think it looks the dogs wobblies!!

It also offers a fairly high amount of customisation for a FE that is so easy to configure.

Give it a shot!

Tried it.. took a large performance hit for it too..
$:-\$

Please elaborate.

Dire Radiant · « **Reply #19 on:** May 13, 2005, 05:40:49 pm »

If you want to run other emulators you can't do much better than Mamewah. Screaming's Mamewah Config in conjunction with JCrouse's INI files makes it a snap to set up most of the popular emulators.

Franco · « **Reply #20 on:** May 13, 2005, 05:50:01 pm »

Quote from: markrvp on May 13, 2005, 05:34:13 pm

Quote from: SOAPboy on May 13, 2005, 04:20:08 pm
Quote from: Franco on May 13, 2005, 12:07:58 pm
You definitely have to try Ultrastyle

I personally found it the easiest to set up and think it looks the dogs wobblies!!

It also offers a fairly high amount of customisation for a FE that is so easy to configure.

Give it a shot!

Tried it.. took a large performance hit for it too..
$:-\$

Please elaborate.

2nd'd


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