I need a software recommendation!

[danr4483]

On my first cabinet I used GameEx and it turned out great.  Now I'm making a much simpler cabinet and am looking for something a little more streamlined.  I'm looking for something that's very simple, just a couple of arcade games (no need for menu or any advanced user options).

What I'll be using is a nice computer I found in a basement!      1.7 GHZ, 256 mb ram

Any ideas?  The main thing I'm wanting is the user to be able to easily go from game to game, get back to the menu when needed, and hopefully find something that can save high scores for each game.  Any ideas?

[danr4483]

I've been checking out different options and am thinking about going with Hyperspin...the art is really fantastic.  Does anybody know what the minimum requirements are to not experience lag while selecting?  Also, if anybody is using this FE...is there a way to set it up to keep all high scores?

[NOP]

I'd say Mala for a front-end.
It's pretty easy to configure, and once it's done, you can make the front end very simple.
Here's a pic of my machine running a modified retro skin:
http://waste.org/~winkles/winterMAME/pix/winterMALA.jpg

Once configured, you can pretty much lock down the user interface so that all you can do is select and launch games.  It works really well for parties and for people who don't quite understand what's going on under the hood.

Hyperspin might need a faster machine that your 1.7G to operate smoothly.  It's really graphics intensive, but I don't know the minimum specs for it.

The high score keeping is a function of MAME itself, not your FE.  You just need to compile your own with the high score patches.  (check the stickied topics in this forum)

[danr4483]

Thank you, NOP!

[youki]

If you like Hyperspin and with that machine :

   1.7 GHZ, 256 mb ram

You should try AtomicFE.

AtomicFE website :

http://www.atomicfe.com

AtomicFE tutorial :

http://www.atomicfe.com/EN2/doc/English/index.html

The AtomicFE's HypersKin layout can be found here :

http://www.mamedata.com/atomic/index.htm

[danr4483]

If you like Hyperspin and with that machine :

   1.7 GHZ, 256 mb ram

You should try AtomicFE.

AtomicFE website :

http://www.atomicfe.com

AtomicFE tutorial :

http://www.atomicfe.com/EN2/doc/English/index.html

The AtomicFE's HypersKin layout can be found here :

http://www.mamedata.com/atomic/index.htm

That looks really nice.  One thing I haven't found is how to put the Hyperspin images on the game selections.  Any ideas?

[youki]

What you mean by that?

you want the spin ?  Atomic does not support the spin , i let that to Hyperspin. 

But you can have Picture List instead of Text List. And you can place each item of the list where you want on screen.  But you have to modify layouts yourself. 

[danr4483]

What you mean by that?

you want the spin ?  Atomic does not support the spin , i let that to Hyperspin. 

But you can have Picture List instead of Text List. And you can place each item of the list where you want on screen.  But you have to modify layouts yourself. 

Is there a tutorial on how to do this?  I don't see anything about changing individual game options.

[youki]

Unfortunaly i have no tutorial that shows that specific point.

But i have a tutorial in english that explain how to create an hypersKin layout .  If you do it , it will give you at least the basis for the layout editor ,  and then i could explain you how to do the specific things you want do.

http://www.atomicfe.com/EN2/doc/HyperSpin_AtomicLayoutEditor.htm

FYI : if you want place  a list item where you want on screen, you have to put the list in "Free mode"  that is an option on the palette when a List object is selectionned.

[Space Fractal]

Hyperspin might require a very fast machine, due its use Flash.... And Flash have allways used very much resource.

There is also mamewah as well my own little FE, MultiFE. Mamewah can been quite hard to configurere, but bery pleased when first got it configured and run....

Mala should also run decent on that machine too.

[southpaw13]

How about MameUI or I thought that Mame itself has a menu feature built in now?

[Havok]

How about MameUI or I thought that Mame itself has a menu feature built in now?

Mame has a menu feature, but it is keyboard driven; you type the name of the game to have it come up. MameUI is a Windows app, and it looks like a Windows app. If you want it to look like an arcade cabinet, use one of the front ends discussed previously. I would recommend AtomicFE...