Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Arcade Collecting => Miscellaneous Arcade Talk => Topic started by: TNVols on June 02, 2011, 09:23:04 pm

Title: Easiest Frontend to operate???
Post by: TNVols on June 02, 2011, 09:23:04 pm
Looking for opinions on the easiest frontend out there to operate.  Is it maximus arcade or something else.  I am running Mame on XP with an xarcade tankstick.  I saw that there were some bugs with maximus arcade listed on the maximus arcade thread, but I think there is a work around posted.

The setup is mainly for younger kids so ease of use to navigate through the different emulators and games would be key...

Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Easiest Frontend to operate???
Post by: newmanfamilyvlogs on June 02, 2011, 09:38:42 pm
my 3 year old navigates hyperspin, including exiting games with a shifted quit button, and the 1 year old likes how animated it is.
Title: Re: Easiest Frontend to operate???
Post by: BobA on June 03, 2011, 08:43:36 am
I find Hyperspin too busy and distracting for little ones.   Maximus arcade has less video eye candy and is easy to use but support is GONE except for what you can get on BYOAC.  Gamex has lots of support and is fairly simple.   If you want to roll your own try mala.  It is a bit more work but is very customizable. 
Title: Re: Easiest Frontend to operate???
Post by: mgb on June 08, 2011, 12:21:55 am
I would think you can setup Mala to be simple to use.
Title: Re: Easiest Frontend to operate???
Post by: yotsuya on June 08, 2011, 12:23:07 am
AtomicFE for life, yo!
Title: Re: Easiest Frontend to operate???
Post by: Woodshop Flunky on June 08, 2011, 12:20:57 pm
If you want easy for kiddos, I think MALA is a good choice.  You can make it just about as simple as you want.  My goal was to make a super simple menu; scroll up and down on the left and see a preview on the right.  Can't get much more simple than that. :)

(http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=111377.0;attach=165437;image)
Title: Re: Easiest Frontend to operate???
Post by: Vigo on June 08, 2011, 12:42:08 pm
+1 on Mala. You can have Left/Right change emulators and up/down scroll through the games. I don't know what can be simpler than that.  8)
Title: Re: Easiest Frontend to operate???
Post by: madmatt on July 26, 2011, 01:29:57 pm
I enjoy M.A.  I understand that there is ( more or less) no support for it, but it's easy, clean and simply.
There are many bugs but there are many "work - a -rounds" too.  I found the best thing to do is add a
usb pad to your cab just to control M.A.  I know it's not the best look, but it work very well. :applaud:

MadMatt
Title: Re: Easiest Frontend to operate???
Post by: jimmy2x2x on July 26, 2011, 02:04:08 pm
I always have problems with MALA and its loss of focus issues, across multiple systems on multiple operating systems (after exiting a game, the front end displays but does not respond) this is a deal breaker for me.

Hyperspin is too busy for my liking.

Maximus Arcade is very clean looking and is rock solid, never had anything bad happen with it.

not tried any others.
Title: Re: Easiest Frontend to operate???
Post by: Woodshop Flunky on July 26, 2011, 02:13:28 pm
I always have problems with MALA and its loss of focus issues, across multiple systems on multiple operating systems (after exiting a game, the front end displays but does not respond) this is a deal breaker for me.

Hyperspin is too busy for my liking.

Maximus Arcade is very clean looking and is rock solid, never had anything bad happen with it.

not tried any others.


I've had the same loss of focus issues with MALA and I agree it's a deal breaker.  Lately though, I've been using the MALA beta version that tries to eliminate the loss of focus.  So far, I've played a ton of games on it, and I haven't had a loss of focus yet.
Title: Re: Easiest Frontend to operate???
Post by: mgb on July 26, 2011, 10:08:24 pm
Isn't there a fix on Mala's plugin page for the Loss of Focus problem?
Title: Re: Easiest Frontend to operate???
Post by: jimmy2x2x on July 26, 2011, 10:09:46 pm
The issue is still ongoing for some people.

Title: Re: Easiest Frontend to operate???
Post by: Kevin Mullins on July 28, 2011, 03:04:05 pm
When I want "simple" I use GameLauncher - http://www.dribin.org/dave/game_launcher/ (http://www.dribin.org/dave/game_launcher/)
Title: Re: Easiest Frontend to operate???
Post by: DCsegaDH on July 28, 2011, 09:35:59 pm
I like Maximus Arcade, it's really simple and easy to set up too. I'm not a fan of Hyperspin, it's too flashy for me.
Title: Re: Easiest Frontend to operate???
Post by: Nephasth on July 28, 2011, 10:10:23 pm
I like Hyperspin. Gotta get my bling on! :afro:
Title: Re: Easiest Frontend to operate???
Post by: rikprice on August 22, 2011, 09:19:15 am
I am no expert as I have only just finished my first build. Saying that I don't think you can go far wrong with mGalaxy 1.2
Title: Re: Easiest Frontend to operate???
Post by: BobA on August 22, 2011, 10:47:14 am
I would recommend Maximus Arcade but there have been treads about people not being able to get it registered or get a registration number if it was lost.