Next Step

[BROKENARCADE]

Hey guys need a little help with the next step. I downloaded mame32, downloaded a rom, got that to work, but no screen image preview or antyhing like that. I really dont like the program, I would like something that looks like an  arcade game, I turn on the game and the menu pops up with all the games. Also I have no idea what kind or where to get the controler board to hook up the joysticks and the buttons, so some help there as well. Basically whats the next step after learning only how to get mame 32 to work. Thanks for the help in walking me through.

[bfauska]

I am new too, but since the only way to get forums to work well is to share knowledge whenever you have it I'll give it a shot.

For your prety interface you're going to want a "frontend" do a search for this and you should get fairly good results, probably too many.  I have been looking at MameWah, it seems really cool, I also see lots of posts about Mala, but I haven't looked into it yet.

For the control board you have lots of choices to research, but some good places to look are www.groovygamegear.com (I just ordered from there today and have since had some informative and helpful email conversations w/ Randy) and www.ultimarc.com.  Both places are very popular around here and people rave about both dealers customer service.

As far as screen images (I assume you mean screen captures from the game or "snaps") you can either create your own using a command built into mame32 (one of the f-keys, I forget which one) or you can find a complete download with shots of all the games supported to date.  I think one such download is listed at the top of this section of the forum.

I am sure some of the old-timers may chime in with some usefull info, and virutally positive that one will advise reading the WIKI WIKI WIKI http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Main_Page, so I suppose that suggesting that is also a good idea.  You could also read some folks project threads. 


Good luck and be sure to share the info you find with others looking for it later.

Later,
Brian

[youki]

I really dont like the program, I would like something that looks like an  arcade game

You may want to try AtomicHouba distribution.

Houba is a special mame build based on mamep  0.109  , Atomic is my FrontEnd.

AtomicHouba is plugnplay distribution done to ba as easy to use than mame32  but with an arcade look.

You can download it from here :

http://houba.pitufo.org/build/AtomicHouba_ExtraPack.zip

The website is here , but It is only in French.

http://houba.pitufo.org/

I'm not the author of this distribution , i just helped the author with Atomic. So i can not really support it , but if the question concerns the Atomic part, i guess i can help.

The distribution is not done to be used with other emulators.  (like mame32).

[Congui]

Hi there.

In order to get the "screen image preview or antyhing like that" you need get the corresponding images for each rom in each of the following folders:
artwork = monitor bezels, cabinets = pic of the game's cabinet, cpanel = pic of the game's control panel, pic of the game's flyers, pic of the game's marquees,  snaps = screen shot of the game.  These images can be downloaded from various sites in the web: google is your friend.

This images are not just for mame32, but for all mame versions and are a big plus in any frontend.

Cheers,
Congui