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FE reccomendations with Multi Emus and Johnny5/CPviewer
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Czapala:
Greetings all,

     I tried to search for this but didn't find exactly what I was looking for.  Of course I may just have insanely bad search skills  :-[

I am starting my first Cabinet.  I bought the monitor and some MDF to start.  But I was thinking of the computer and going ahead and building that since the woodshop I am using is on someone else's time table.

My plans were to run MameWah as the frontend.  Although AtomicFE looks cool.  The starting emu's are going to be Mame(32?), Daphne, and snes9x(?).  I also wanted to utilize  Johnny5 or CPviewer.  I have only run Mame32 so far on my home/office machines.  I read that using Mame(instead of Mame32)  was better for Johnny5 because of the way MameWah gets info (or something like that).  I will be using Win XP sp2.

finally a question ... :P

1) Considering the above info which would be the better FE? I am looking for ease of operation but stability is more important.

2) Since I am definitely going to be using a FE,  should I use Mame instead of Mame32?

3) Which is easier and more reliable, Johnny5 or CPviewer? and can either be integrated into the FE?(as in not having to push a button so that it shows the controls when you pick the game)

Thank you for any info you can give me and I apologize if I have repeated something that was already covered.
unclet:
1) MALA - http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/.  It is extremely easy to set up.  I switched to it from MameWah since I got tired of manipulating INI files manually.   Also it has many more features which I required.   I have not tried AtomicFE.

2) use command line MAME (not Mame32) ... Mame32 is simply command line Mame with a built in GUI I believe.  Since you are going to use a frontend for the GUI part, no need to use Mame32.    also, I think you are right .... Johnny5 might require command line Mame anyway .... wait for Howard to verify this (or perhaps this is in his FAQ at his site)

3) I believe Johnny5 is the only control panel viewer which will display key mappings for Mame correctly when you remap the keys (ie: do not use the Mame default key mappings).  I would think Johnny5 is the most advanced control panel viewer so far.
Czapala:
Are there Links to Johnny5?  I did a google search and got some crazy stuff.  I will try again in this forum.

Also If I get everything setup without my control panel built, is it easy to configure it once the CP is finished?

I will be using IPac4 and a Spinner/trackball/+3 buttons on a seperate USB port.

I was avoiding building the CP till the end to make sure I finish the cab and not just play games the whole time.
unclet:

Howard's homepage (includes Johnny5 link):
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/lazarus/

Johnny5 forum (under FE/viewer section):
http://fe.donkeyfly.com/forum/index.php


Johnny5 review:
http://www.mameworld.net/tigerheli/johnny/


I would simply get everything configured on the PC first how you like it, then simply wire up your buttons and configure the IPAC correctly.   This way you already know the games\emulators work fine before wiring occurs
Czapala:
Great !!

Thank you! :notworthy:

I will start reading.
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