mame, xp, front ends...........................

[Mr.Ian]

Ok

So, Im asking a few questions in one post, and im sure that that have all been asked a million times before

I need to know how to go directly into Mame, or a front end from boot up

i have zero PC skills, so please make it simple !

Some Mame games end up flipping the screen, is there any way to avoid this ?

Also how do i add screenshots from mame to my front end ? And what is the go with samples ??



Thanks in advance, any help would really be fantastic


Mr.Ian

[Dazz]

Some of your questions are going to be determined on the front end you are using.

1.  Most front ends have an option that will go directly into your MAME game selection screen.  HyperSpin has this option.

2.  Zero PC Skills - for this hobby you really need basic PC skills.  You really need to know what a file path is for most front end setups.  HyperSpin isn't the easiest front end to setup.  If you really don't know anything then go with Maximus Arcade, as HyperSpin requires a bit of leg work to get setup and running perfectly. 

3.  Screen flipping - I've never had this issue.  If I recall there may be a setting in the mame.ini for flipping, but I am not sure.

4a.  Adding screenshots - depends on the front end that you are using.
4b.  Samples - Samples for MAME contain sounds and music for some games.

[Mr.Ian]

Thanks for the reply,

When i said zero PC skills, i really meant i can get by, just have no idea about set up and playing with windows etc

i have set up MAME on a stand alone PC, just want the PC i will be using to go straight into the front end from boot up

i have a feeling that the screen flipping thing will be solved by using my ipac

front end decision is still pending...........

[solidteezme]

The screen flipping sounds like an issue with onboard graphics, What PC do you have? and what graphics card if any?

If that is the case though should be as simple as, Right click on desktop, click properties, click on settings, then advanced, Thn find your card (will be intel extreme graphics or similar)  Click graphics properties, then display properties, and uncheck the box next to enable screen rotation, Should get you sorted.

Solid,

[shfifty]

mine is a dos set up with advancemame and advancemenu for the front end. Advancemenu is pretty basic but still has some nice features and has some good customization features. Both are a bit old and no longer updated, but still play most games apart from the newer 3d stuff like tekken etc. Advantages of running through dos is that Advmenu boots up without windows loading at all. So it takes like 10 seconds. And being dos based ive never seen it crash or freeze   

[solidteezme]

I think he will struggle with dos with zero pc skill,

Also to load straight into your front end i recommend using instant sheller, just make sure you have the .net framework 2 installed.

Sort out the screen rotation issue first, it will be a nightmare to sort out if it rotates with instant sheller running.

link to instant sheller program and guide: http://www.gameex.net/Community/InstantSheller/tabid/73/Default.aspx

link to .net 2 framework (x86): http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0856EACB-4362-4B0D-8EDD-AAB15C5E04F5&displaylang=en

Solid,

[spystyle]

I think the easiest "front end" is to simply use MAME32

And to get it to start with windows, place a shortcut to mame32.exe in the startup folder :

C:\Documents and Settings\name\Start Menu\Programs\startup

Any shortcut placed in that folder will launch the program at windows start.

Right click the shortcut and tell it to always run "maximized" (as opposed to in a window)

Like so :


(click for bigger)

I can't imagine an easier way to get MAME running than MAME32 and XP

Have fun!
Craig

[nickynooch]

I would recommend for a front end, maximus arcade.  Pretty easy to set up and it looks great.