I've been using MAME for almost 7 years now, and MAME32 for the last 3 years. Now that I'm finally building my cabinet and doing tons of research, I learn that there are seemingly dozens of graphical front ends for MAME and it seems that MAME32 is the least popular with cabinet builders!! I understand that some purists only want to use DOS, so that's the most compelling reason for not using MAME32, but what are the other reasons? MAME323 seems so easy to use (trackball/mouse compatible), and easy to configure (checkbox options per game!) So here are my questions:
1) What do front ends like MAMEWAH, Emulaxian, and other give you that MAME32 doesn't??
2) Why doesn't someone create a new ultimate front end that combines the best of all of the current front ends???
This has prolly been talked about before, but I couldn't find anythin with the search utility, so feel free to direct me to any previous threads!
Ok I've been quiet enough, time to respond.
Before I start, purists do NOT necessarily like to use dos anymore, at least not the majority. They used to before xp came out and quality fes and emulators weren't available on windows. They used to use dos because all the good fes were for dos, not the other way around. Times have changed. The majority of cabinets run some flavor of windows at this point. Even with that being said, that was never the most compelling reason. Up until the last 2 or 3 years mame32 didn't even let you navigate by joystick or keyboard, so how are you supposed to run that on a mame cab? Besides that, the majority of fes are windows based, so how did you come to this brilliant conclusion?
Now back to your questions:
1)A nice interface and the ability to display more than one peice of artwork at a time. The ability to run more than mame (mame isn't the end and beginning of emulation you know). The magical transformation of the question "How did you get a computer in that arcade machine?" into "How did you get all of those cool games to run on a single machine?" It's a subtle difference but believe me, it's a HUGE one. Assuming your cabinet doesn't look like a hacked-up p.o.s., having the proper interface tranforms your end product from a cheap hack job into a nice, polished, system. A lot of people don't get this, but software is 70% of your mame project. Having a bad interface on a good cab ruins the effect. If you don't see that then you don't "get it" anyway and shouldn't bother with a mame cab at all imho.
2) I should smack you down for even asking. First off this whole software development thing isn't easy. Even the smallest of companies have a well-paid team of dozens, working for months, full time, on the simplest of programs. We have one guy (ourselves) that gets to work in our spare time, when we feel like it, for free, out of the kindness of our hearts.
Secondly, what features are best? Do you know? Do I know? Should I go by your opinon or mine? If you ask ANY of the fe developers they will say that they started their fe to take the best of the fes already out at the time and add to them. Their difference of opinion on what is best results in the diference of features between each fe. This is probably obvious to everyone, except you. Man I bet you feel bright by now.
Ok pasqualz, I'm done with you. The following comment is for everyone else so don't peak.
So what do you think guys, was I too harsh? Personally I think I showed a great deal of restraint. I could have crucified the poor lad for asking such a blatently disrespectful question.
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Topic: Why not just use MAME32?? (Read 2593 times)
