Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Software Forum => Topic started by: NoBonus on June 13, 2005, 11:40:17 am

Title: Easy safe frontend help needed
Post by: NoBonus on June 13, 2005, 11:40:17 am

My brother wants MAME on his home computer.  However, he is completely useless for setting up software (and he lives 500 miles away).  Further, his computer is being used by about 6 kids ranging in age from 4 to 12.  So here is what I am after.  I am looking for an emulator that can be installed and setup EXTREMELY easily and quickly (I will be having to write all of the setup instructions so he will understand them) and can have a password protect mode or something so the kids cannot a. change the settings and b. exit the program into windows.

Any ideas?  I had him running MAME off of an AdvanceCD, but his new computer is not compatible with AdvanceCD.

Thanks!

Title: Re: Easy safe frontend help needed
Post by: Navmaxlp on June 13, 2005, 11:44:02 am

Just have him setup MAME32. It's a snap and it has its own FE built in. I run GameEx with it and that was pretty much a snap as well. Basically, if I can run it, it's gotta be somewhat self explanatory hehe.

Title: Re: Easy safe frontend help needed
Post by: NoBonus on June 13, 2005, 11:48:06 am

Where can I find more info on MAME32?

Title: Re: Easy safe frontend help needed
Post by: youki on June 13, 2005, 02:40:49 pm

You can try mine . AtomicFE  (www.atomicfe.com).

It is easy to configure.  And you add Password  on Front End Exit.

Title: Re: Easy safe frontend help needed
Post by: pcb on June 14, 2005, 01:40:55 am

Quote from: NoBonus on June 13, 2005, 11:48:06 am

Where can I find more info on MAME32?

Here's the official MAME32 website:

http://www.classicgaming.com/mame32qa/

Title: Re: Easy safe frontend help needed
Post by: Sinner on June 17, 2005, 04:05:40 pm

Even with a password on the FE, you can still run MAME32...

If he doesn't want the kids to access it, he can setup MAME under his own profile, and the kids won't see it...

Title: Re: Easy safe frontend help needed
Post by: AlanS17 on June 17, 2005, 06:00:32 pm

Most front ends just run off of setup text files, anyways. You can basically install the whole thing on your machine and burn it onto a cd after it's set up. If all his files are in the same locations on his machine, it ought to run just fine by copy/pasting intothe same location.

Simple front ends that would work this way include:
Mamewah (Windows)
Game Launcher (Windows or DOS)

Heck, you could even create a bootable CD that loads straight into a front end like AdvanceMenu or Game Launcher that just points directly at his ROMs. Of course, that's assuming yall share the same stuff in the same places.

Did any of that make sense?

Title: Re: Easy safe frontend help needed
Post by: NoBonus on June 18, 2005, 06:15:28 pm

How can I make a bootable cd?  I tried AdvanceCD, but it is compatible with a flat screen monitor (like my brother has). Thanks!

Title: Re: Easy safe frontend help needed
Post by: M.A.M.E Power on June 19, 2005, 04:40:11 am

Your best and easiest bet is by far Mame32, I am not a big fan of it, but it could not be easier to configure. Everything is altered through windows style menus (i.e. controllers, sound etc) it is simple simple stuff.

I imagine it does not matter about the windows feel to Mame32 if himself and the kids are just going to play on it, if it does go for either Game Launcher or Mamewah as suggested by Alan as these are still relatively easy to set up.

Thanks