Author Topic: New FE - Coments Please (Read 3421 times)

Onid · « **on:** March 13, 2005, 01:18:34 pm »

Hello MAME community. I would like to introduce a new front end I am working on for MAME. It is in working condition currently, just want to finish the options menu and get a help doc before I release the download. Below you will find some features and screenshots displaying the GUI and some of the options currently being tweaked.

Features:
* Graphical display alowing you to select games with an animated wheel system.
* Can display screenshot or in game video in preview monitor.
* Can display more information about the selected game.
* Will display the button layout and controller type in the window below the preview monitor.
* Lists are created by parsing information gathered from the MAME.exe so the front end will adapt to new versions of MAME.
* MAME lists can easily be edited via the options screen.
* Other emulator lists can be created manually using notepad or excel.
* All lists can be exported to an excel file for editing and then imported back into the front end.
* Button layouts can be customized using any combination of a 3 row by 4 button layout. (See screenshot below)
* Keys can be configued to most any keyboard key of your choice. This way you can for example configure your spinner to rotate the menu.
* Uses Control.dat to display button usage.

- Going to add a graphical display to show # of players allowed for selected game.
- Adding a playlist feature for MP3 support.
- Not skinable, you wouldnt want to change it would you.

- May add saved game detection where it would detect a saved game when trying to load selected game. Give you the option to load/delete/cancel current save.

Requirements:
* Mid to High end system. This FE isnt the same DOS utility FE you have been using in the past. Animated menu, video capability, sound effects and a dynamic information display may take up a few more system resorces that your 386 can crank out.
* 800x600 only. The FE is a windows application that was only designed at 800x600. I know this is a big problrms for some, but to code and do graphics work for every resolution is a little to much for a free front end. I selected 800x600 because it seems to be one of the most used resolutions for TV's and still looks nice on a monitor, or it may just be that is the resolution I am using.
* Windows only. Hey 95% of us drones are using it, why not join the herd.

Current development time has been 4 days, but the boss is starting to wonder so it may take another 1-2 weeks before I can put my stamp on it and release the download.

What I need from you:
* A name - Currently I have a stupid nam WOG (Wheel Of Games). I know there is someone who can look at the screenshots and come up with something not as lame.
* A handful of BETA testers. Although I can test all day long myself and think I am perfect, we all know that there probably is a bug or two to be found. E-Mail me at onidmame@hotmail.com. Depending on the number of e-mail you may or may not get a response.

I will be checking this forum as much as I can within the next couple of weeks to hear your feedback. I will attempt to reply to all comments and apply changes or features as I hear them. (No promises

)

In case the images are shrunk here are the URL's
http://leagueofvillains.com/images/onids/fess1.gif
http://leagueofvillains.com/images/onids/fess2.gif
http://leagueofvillains.com/images/onids/fess3.gif
http://leagueofvillains.com/images/onids/fess4.gif
http://leagueofvillains.com/images/onids/fess5.gif
http://leagueofvillains.com/images/onids/fess6.gif

DaemonCollector · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2005, 01:21:32 pm »

800x600 will make it hard to use on many peoples arcade monitors. I know 800x600 looks like shite on mine because it needs to be interlaced. 640x480 should at least be added into it. But looks like it has some nice features, can't wait to give it a try.

Onid · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2005, 01:24:36 pm »

Quote from: DaemonCollector on March 13, 2005, 01:21:32 pm

800x600 will make it hard to use on many peoples arcade monitors. I know 800x600 looks like shite on mine because it needs to be interlaced. 640x480 should at least be added into it. But looks like it has some nice features, can't wait to give it a try.

I could go up but not down in the resolution. There is not enough room for all the information I need to diaplay when dealing with 640x480. Anthing less that 800x600 will not allow enough information to fit in labels, anything more than 800x600 is hard to read on a tv.

vibez · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2005, 02:09:10 pm »

looks nice. Shame it wont look any good on my arcade monitor because the res is too high

Looks impressive though

Mario · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2005, 02:15:44 pm »

Great work! You've got a lot of what I want in a FE, but like vibez, I won't be able to use it at the supported res. Shame; I really like it.

Mario

Buddabing · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2005, 02:19:26 pm »

Quote from: Onid on March 13, 2005, 01:24:36 pm

Quote from: DaemonCollector on March 13, 2005, 01:21:32 pm
800x600 will make it hard to use on many peoples arcade monitors. I know 800x600 looks like shite on mine because it needs to be interlaced. 640x480 should at least be added into it. But looks like it has some nice features, can't wait to give it a try.

I could go up but not down in the resolution. There is not enough room for all the information I need to diaplay when dealing with 640x480. Anthing less that 800x600 will not allow enough information to fit in labels, anything more than 800x600 is hard to read on a tv.

You've got some great features there. I really like the exportable/importable game lists. You've got support for videos and controls.dat, big plusses.

Unfortunately, it's useless to me on my cabinet without support for 640x480.

I hope that you have included cross-platform compatibility, and eliminated reliance on external DLL. That, and the slowness of Visual Basic, IMO, are the three biggest problems with today's front ends.

Onid · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2005, 02:24:51 pm »

Could I get some insight why everyone seams to be running 640x480? I thought Arcade Monitors support 800x600 including ArcadeVGA. The game will run at what ever resolution you tell it to in your config or command line. What is the configuration you have where 800x600 will not work?

bioart · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2005, 02:26:49 pm »

I'll give one vote for the higher res

I'll change monitors if I have to.

Looks very nice!

Art

Onid · « **Reply #8 on:** March 13, 2005, 02:27:56 pm »

Quote from: Buddabing on March 13, 2005, 02:19:26 pm

Quote from: Onid on March 13, 2005, 01:24:36 pm
Quote from: DaemonCollector on March 13, 2005, 01:21:32 pm
800x600 will make it hard to use on many peoples arcade monitors. I know 800x600 looks like shite on mine because it needs to be interlaced. 640x480 should at least be added into it. But looks like it has some nice features, can't wait to give it a try.

I could go up but not down in the resolution. There is not enough room for all the information I need to diaplay when dealing with 640x480. Anthing less that 800x600 will not allow enough information to fit in labels, anything more than 800x600 is hard to read on a tv.

You've got some great features there. I really like the exportable/importable game lists. You've got support for videos and controls.dat, big plusses.

Unfortunately, it's useless to me on my cabinet without support for 640x480.

I hope that you have included cross-platform compatibility, and eliminated reliance on external DLL. That, and the slowness of Visual Basic, IMO, are the three biggest problems with today's front ends.

Well the slowness is only there during the initial load and if you switch categories to a cat with 5000+ titles. To launch there is a 10-20 second load period. To switch to a cat with 5000+ titles theres is a 10 second delay. Other than those two everying else if almost instant. You can even bring up the more information screen and rotate the wheel as fast as you can and the data is presented in real time to the screen. The only DLL required is Windows Media Player 9 + to be installed. It is a Windows only FE read requirements section on first post for more information. Will develope to the needs of the FE not to the needs of 100% compatibility to all living creatures.

SpamMe · « **Reply #9 on:** March 13, 2005, 03:31:35 pm »

800x600 looks awful on my TV via svid out. Am I the only one?

DaemonCollector · « **Reply #10 on:** March 13, 2005, 04:29:52 pm »

Quote from: Onid on March 13, 2005, 02:24:51 pm

Could I get some insight why everyone seams to be running 640x480?

GGKoul · « **Reply #11 on:** March 14, 2005, 01:05:06 am »

Yep... On other FE's you're able to change the font size. So if your running 640x480, you can still increase the font to make it readable...

mccoy178 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 14, 2005, 04:39:08 am »

I like were the FE's are heading. Looks good.

Lilwolf · « **Reply #13 on:** March 14, 2005, 08:52:33 am »

btw, you ALWAYS have the room for 640x480. Room is based on the monitor size, not the resolution.

Try and change the screen to be based on a percentage of the viewable area... And allow for the fonts to be changed... and it will work at lower resolutions. But you usually need to tweek the fonts to make them look nice.

I love the look and feel. I REALLY love the button configuration. Is that area configurable? So people with different key layouts can use it?

I also like the extra info popup. Helps with a cluttered screen but still allows for you to read detailed info.

SirPoonga · « **Reply #14 on:** March 14, 2005, 01:36:15 pm »

Quote from: Buddabing on March 13, 2005, 02:19:26 pm

You've got some great features there. I really like the exportable/importable game lists. You've got support for videos and controls.dat, big plusses.

My question is, is he using controls.dat?

drunkatuw · « **Reply #15 on:** March 14, 2005, 05:31:10 pm »

I think the front end looks really cool. I especially like the control part. I was just curious if it was possible or if you plan on making it possible to have marquees on the wheel instead of the text with the name of the game. But if a marquee was missing, then the text would be displayed instead. Just a thought (and an option I'd like to see).

I'd prefer 640x480, but I'm willing to give it a shot at 800x600.

SirPeale · « **Reply #16 on:** March 14, 2005, 05:56:41 pm »

Do you think David Foley of Ultracade will like this? This can be used to play illegal games.

SirPoonga · « **Reply #17 on:** March 14, 2005, 08:06:56 pm »

* SirPoonga smacks Peale

JoyMonkey · « **Reply #18 on:** March 14, 2005, 08:20:22 pm »

I'm going to make a new frontend that will only allow people to play Poly-Play, Gridlee and Robby Roto. Then I'm going to submit it to Ultracade and get DF's approval to sell cabs on ebay that use my FE. I'll be a millionaire in no time!

Seriously though- nice looking frontend!

Onid · « **Reply #19 on:** March 14, 2005, 09:42:57 pm »

Tell ya what I am going to finish the 800x600 version and learn some XML for the next version. With the XML as my base it should be much easier to adapt differernt front ends with the same features (aka 640x480). I hope by this weekend to be in the final testing phase. I am trying to make it dummy friendly right now. Lucky for me I know a lot of dummies.

As for other coments about controls.dat - The program does allow you to path to the controls.ini file. If no data is found for the selected game in the controls.ini the information is pulled from MAME.

Peale - I will try and make a filter where only free (homemade) roms can be used. This may impact the # of MAME roms supported from 5400+ to 6.

How many users do not have Excel. The program has some nice Excel export/import features, but it is not a requirement. If you do not have Excel you can always spend hours in good old notepad.exe or edit.com.

Also I NEED A NAME. If I don;t get some good name suggestions it may saty called WOG (Wheel Of Games) and I so hate that name.

Sprucemoose · « **Reply #20 on:** March 15, 2005, 09:24:34 am »

Name..name..how about

Gamespinner
or
Gamespinner FE
or
ArcWheel
or
PlaySpin
or
Arcspin
or
Im done....

Buddabing · « **Reply #21 on:** March 15, 2005, 09:53:37 am »

Quote from: Onid on March 14, 2005, 09:42:57 pm

Also I NEED A NAME. If I don;t get some good name suggestions it may saty called WOG (Wheel Of Games) and I so hate that name.

Others may not like "WOG" either:

wog

n : an offensive slang term used by the British to refer to people of color from Africa or Asia

Why don't you just call it Onid?

What's in a name, anyway?

SirPeale · « **Reply #22 on:** March 15, 2005, 10:00:23 am »

Quote from: SirPoonga on March 14, 2005, 08:06:56 pm

* SirPoonga smacks Peale

* Peale squeals like a little girl.

NIVO · « **Reply #23 on:** March 15, 2005, 01:04:01 pm »

just a question here. Would it be possible for you to add an option during install or just inside the FE that would allow you to chekcmark an option "Use TV FONTS"?

Onid · « **Reply #24 on:** March 15, 2005, 05:22:58 pm »

Quote from: NIVO on March 15, 2005, 01:04:01 pm

just a question here. Would it be possible for you to add an option during install or just inside the FE that would allow you to chekcmark an option "Use TV FONTS"?

Onid · « **Reply #25 on:** March 15, 2005, 05:24:25 pm »

Quote from: Sprucemoose on March 15, 2005, 09:24:34 am

Name..name..how about

Gamespinner
or
Gamespinner FE
or
ArcWheel
or
PlaySpin
or
Arcspin
or
Im done....

Game Spinner does sound nice.

Buddabing are the British people ok with Game Spinner?

jcrouse · « **Reply #26 on:** March 15, 2005, 06:54:45 pm »

Quote

Game Spinner does sound nice.

Buddabing are the British people ok with Game Spinner?

cdbrown · « **Reply #27 on:** March 15, 2005, 11:33:47 pm »

Quote

wog

n : an offensive slang term used by the British to refer to people of color from Africa or Asia

I have never heard this before. But I have heard many people refer to Italians as wogs, even Italians themselves. And they called us Aussies skips.

)p( · « **Reply #28 on:** March 16, 2005, 06:18:41 am »

circlecade

rotorcade

bespinned

peter

JonnyBoy · « **Reply #29 on:** March 16, 2005, 07:33:16 am »

Hey cdbrown, I think you mean that Italians refer to each other as WOPS. It stands for With Out Papers. I hope not to offend anybody, I'm 100 percent italian myself.

nighthawk2099 · « **Reply #30 on:** March 16, 2005, 01:46:57 pm »

Will this FE have the ability to use the Attraction Videos or just screen shots?

Onid · « **Reply #31 on:** March 16, 2005, 05:21:20 pm »

Quote from: nighthawk2099 on March 16, 2005, 01:46:57 pm

Will this FE have the ability to use the Attraction Videos or just screen shots?

It can use avi, wmv, mpg, and mpeg files.


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