Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Software Forum => Topic started by: robertsig on February 02, 2011, 12:13:09 pm

Title: Help me pick my front end!
Post by: robertsig on February 02, 2011, 12:13:09 pm

I've played with several of them, but I don't want to dedicate the time only to find out it won't work for me.  :dunno

Here are my requirements:

I am going to have a 3-sided cocktail cabinet.  All three sides are unique.  I will play horz and vert games both.  Depending on the controls needed, some vertical games will be on one side, some on the other.  Most horizontal & 2 player games will be on the long side.  For instance, one side is a 4-way joystick and a few buttons for classics, the other short side has a spinner and analog joystick for Tron or Tempest.  I would want the game rotated to the proper side for the controls I pre-choose.  I will not be playing any 2-player cocktail games in "cocktail mode", as I have no 2 sides with identical controls.  Screen flipping for those is not important.  Now, I know I can pre-pick the direction in MAMEUI and save it - it would be nice if a front end would honor my selection.  Or if the FE has a better way to do it, that is fine.

Niceties:

The FE can be used from any side  (might be hard to do since some joysticks will not all be player1-joy1)
Would show standard MAME panels, marquees, etc.
Videos showing the game in action (ala Hyperspin....probably others)

And here is the killer feature I would love:
Something that would show a JPG of my control panel before a game is played and "highlight" which joysticks and buttons are needed to play it.  This would be something useful for people who have guests over, or just have a Frankenpanel in general.

I realize most of my requirements probably eliminate the desire for it to be setup easily, but that is also a nice-to-have.

Don't care:
If it costs money.  I just want the right FE.

So what is my front end?

Title: Re: Help me pick my front end!
Post by: headkaze on February 02, 2011, 02:02:32 pm

A user recently posted on the GameEx forums about his 3-sided cocktail cabinet. Soon after this GameEx added a "split screen" cocktail mode. I'm not sure if that is what you're after but it also has some other rotation options including a plugin for rotation using various methods. The post is here (http://www.gameex.info/forums/index.php?showtopic=9035) if you want to read his experience.

Another feature built into GameEx is to display controls for games before you launch. If you need something a bit more indepth it also supports launching CPWizard (http://www.headsoft.com.au/index.php?category=cpwizard) before a game.

So GameEx is certainly an option for your needs.

Title: Re: Help me pick my front end!
Post by: robertsig on February 02, 2011, 03:08:51 pm

I've never heard of CPWizard.  That might do the trick.  Thanks.