Low res layout released, with website.

[Stormrider]

I've just finished the website where I introduce my layout for MaLa: http://www.alvarezeninternet.com/malalayout/ Its main advantage and what makes it different from the majority of available layouts lies in the fact that it's made for low resolution. This makes it perfect for cabinets with 15khz monitors. Moreover, my layout also offers two versions: for horizontal and vertical monitor orientation. Both versiones have the same style and functions. Even the size of the pictures (shots and cabinets) is almost the same in both of them.

Whilst most of high res frontends pay a lot of attention to decoration, I'd rather focused my attention in making good use of the reduced free room provided by the 320x240 screen resolution. I've tried to make the layout clear and easy to use. Everything is set up with precision and tidiness, displaying as much useful information as possible, both textual and graphic. As you can see, even with big images, there's room for a wide gamelist in 7 rows, several lines of game information and even control description with icons. It was helpful to use very small fonts. Actually, the font used in the controls description is the smallest readable pixel font ever made, and the buttons are pixels! Mi initial idea was to arrange everything in just one screen, without using menus. That's why I've discarded the idea of game filtering and sorting. Those tasks are more suitable for EmuLoader.

As you can see in the shots I've used in my webpage, I've also customized the rest of the screens: loading, screensaver, quit dialogue... I've used the feature provided by Mala for displaying a video file at Mala's start. Actually, you will not notice it's a video, because it's just a short sequence with the same logo picture, like a splash screen. Apart from this, I created a custom picture for the unavailable snapshot, and generic cabinets (both horizontal and vertical) for all those games which haven't a specific image available.

Apart from the layout design, I've also spent some time configuring the ini file, and writing an exhaustive document in which I explain how to install and configure my layout. Everything is described step by step, so nothing can go wrong. Let me clarify that the linked zip doesn't include MaLa, which you will have to download from the official website.

There's something that worries me about how my layout will work in other machines: overscan. I've left margins (10 pixels), but I don't know if that will be enough for those who have not adjusted their tvs or monitors and therefore have overscan. Apart from this, there's the controls layout. I've designed this layout with my CP in mind. Maybe others who have their buttons set up in a different manner may find my configuration uncomfortable. You can always change controls, but the icons descriptions won't match. If that's a problem, you can edit the backgrounds and paint the pixels. Finally, some people could complain about the lack of marquees, flyers, control panels, etc. I've never used such supplements in MAME. I'm more interested in the in-game shots (they tell you a lot about the selected game), and cabinets, because, despite the fact that hundreds of games lack a specific cabinet photo, it's cool to see how the original cabinets looked like.

I hope you like it and enjoy as much as I do. And if you try it and find any problem, please tell me. Oh, and forgive any mistakes in my English.