Author Topic: One more plug for gameex (Read 15183 times)

divemaster127 · « **on:** January 15, 2006, 11:01:46 am »

Just a quick note for you mame32 guys who want a awesome frontend, mame32 works perfect with it, & at the gameex forum tom(the maker) is very helpful, i had two small issues & he helped me, turned out i had missed a setting pretty easy to setup, just use the avi movies & the tron background is awesome, im starting daphne today
thanks
divemaster

brophog · « **Reply #1 on:** January 16, 2006, 12:44:10 am »

It should work well, both look like Windows.

Bones · « **Reply #2 on:** January 16, 2006, 12:53:16 am »

Quote from: brophog on January 16, 2006, 12:44:10 am

It should work well, both look like Windows.

I disagree. Why do you say this?

brophog · « **Reply #3 on:** January 16, 2006, 12:57:13 am »

You disagree that it looks like windows?

Bones · « **Reply #4 on:** January 16, 2006, 12:58:39 am »

headkaze · « **Reply #5 on:** January 16, 2006, 07:42:22 am »

I just made another them for it, and it don't look like windows. It has theme support.

divemaster127 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 16, 2006, 10:03:53 am »

One it does not look like windows, in fact much better than mame32, the tron theme is awesome with all the movies & moving backgrounds, tom makes updates once a week, hes helpful, i think in time this will become the #1 frontend.
2. What new theme did you make, thats the only downfall is lack of themes but as more come out that will be taken care of
divemaster

southpaw13 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 16, 2006, 08:17:29 pm »

Question about GameEx. I tried it when it first came out and the only thing I didn't like is that you could not change the font color. Has this option been made available with recent releases?

Thanks,
Mark

JonnyBoy · « **Reply #8 on:** January 16, 2006, 09:08:50 pm »

Yeah, it comes with a pack of themes of all kinds, all of them really nice looking. The ability to make themes isn't as easy as skinning mamewah, but Tom plans on addind skinning when he gets all the features we toss at him done with. He truly is dedicated to his software and stands by it, and I've never seen anybody update as often as him. The 18 dollar donation is well worth it.

Brad · « **Reply #9 on:** January 17, 2006, 05:47:49 am »

I actually downloaded the latest version today and gave it a whirl. I hadn't tried since about version 1 or so from memory and found it reasonably impressive then. I have to say at the outset that I'm a mamewah user and will continue to be. Thats not to say I don't like GameEx, in fact I think it's a wonderful piece of software. I "personally" don't think it's that great for arcade cabs though. As a HTPC menu though I love it.

That being said I think the configuration is not intuitive and had difficulty finding some of the most obvious things but like others I've persevered. I've now decided that all the trialling in configuration etc is a waste of time and I've quit it. The 1 and only reason being this nag screen. I have to wait 30secs before I can see if my configuration changes made any difference and I have to say it's bloody damn annoying.

Don't get me wrong I don't begrudge anyone making an "honest" buck out of their hard work and if your a HTPC user than I highly recommend GameEx as a fantastic alternative to other commercial apps particularly at the relatively cheap price. For an emulation and jukebox frontend though, imo Mamewah and SKJukebox beat it hands down "without" any nag screens and much better performance.

Again no disrespect but I'll also now refrain from advertising any GameEx updates at www.emuchrist.org as I have faithfully done for years. It's not a grudge against Tom but a choice that was made years ago and that I've adhered to ever since. NO commercial emulation related software usually gets a mention. Afterall, I don't expect nor get paid for my over 5 years of news posting and I'm certainly not going to help anyone else get paid for my time.

Sure you can argue "nagware" vs "sharware" etc but the fact remains that the application stops you from using it until the ad has been displayed for a specified lengthy time period. I wouldn't mind so much even then if I could hit a button and have the bloody annoying thing disappear but either it's not there or I'm missing it. My guess it's not there as Tom's site states that people purchasing the software get to disable the nag screen, therefore call it what you will, it's still a commercial application in my view.

I've rambled a bit and probably got all the fan boys riled up but kinda had to vent after playing around with it. Like the original poster says, great app, just be aware of alternatives out there and make an informed decision.

Brad

Nailz · « **Reply #10 on:** January 17, 2006, 12:31:27 pm »

I'm sure your not advertising his updates is going to really kill the GameEx movement, but it's good that you have announced your new freedom from posting for it...

I am not a GameEx fanboy, as I use Mamewah as well, but GameEx is FAR easier to set up, not sure where you get that it isn't intuitive.

And a 30 second nag screen at startup is annoying? You can't wait 30 seconds when you fire up your machine? Go make a cup of coffee or something.

Your whole attitude of "I don't get paid so I am not helping anyone else get paid" sounds a bit like sour grapes to me. He coded a front end that tons of people use and enjoy, I have seen others on this site promote and sell things with no grief. Maybe Randy and Andy should start giving away their hardware?

The software Tom wrote works great, if you don't want to buy it, wait 30 frickin' seconds or go on to something else. Don't piss and moan about it here like you are on some moral high ground.

You'd better take away your link to BYOAC, as there is a donate link here as well.... And before you bring the argument of no nag screen, i'd wait 10 minutes to get onto this site if I had to, and yes, I have donated to sites in the past so please don't go there.

LJHalfbreed · « **Reply #11 on:** January 17, 2006, 05:34:37 pm »

I don't think him no longer 'posting' about updates will affect Gamex all that much.

I'm currently using mamewah, and enjoy it. I've used gamex, but it just doesn't fit my style. I haven't come across a front-end that fufills all my needs and wants, but mamewah comes pretty close (where's my animated gifs, Minwah???).

I see Gamex as probably the *perfect* frontend for an HTPC (Home theatre PC). Even moreso if you're used to the current versions of Windows Media Center (or whatever kitschy name they're calling it now). The best multi-emu frontend for every application? No.

Although I don't have any problems with the guy asking for donations, I've always had a personal problem with nag screens. I'd much rather deal with a time-limited install than nag screens, *especially* when I'm trying different configs to see if the thing will even work the way I want it to.

Gamex is a pretty nice frontend, and it's okay the guy wants to charge to get rid of a nagscreen. Personally, I don't charge for any work/help/advice/info I give when it comes to emulation just because I feel it goes against the whole idea of emulation in the first place, but hey! That's just me. Should we start charging each other for layouts/themes for these various frontends? Charge people for access to snaps/titles? Charge for every answer given in a forum?

(rant off)

Gamex is nice. However, the benefits to me outweigh the flaws (nagscreen). If I had use for it, I'd probably scoop it up in a heartbeat and pay the 18$ even if I didn't have it. But since I don't, and other frontends do what I need it to do (and, sometimes, even better) it's a moot point with me.

PS. In case it comes up, I'm sure if I posted my real name, more than a few sites around here would realize that I'm pretty good at donating to sites I use often or I feel deserve it, both in information *AND* donation links.

SirPoonga · « **Reply #12 on:** January 17, 2006, 05:49:04 pm »

Quote from: BrokenBones on January 16, 2006, 12:58:39 am

Yes.

Have you seen windows mce?

http://www.tomspeirs.com/gameex/Images/25.jpg
http://www.3dvelocity.com/articles/winmce/info/Windows%20Media%20Center%20Edition%202005%20(1)_files/image033.jpg

youki · « **Reply #13 on:** January 17, 2006, 06:15:23 pm »

Just my 2cts!

I don't like the idea to try to force somebody to pay by displaying a nagscreen.

And have to pay for a Front End is something that hurts me. A FrontEnd exists because there are emulators. So being paid for a front end is ,from my point of view, like have profit of others work without deserving it.
I could understand to have to pay for an emulator but not for a Front end.

In addition skills required to make a Front end are far lower than skills required to make an emulator. A Front end just display a list, few images or video and run an emulators , it consume time to do but it is not so hard at all.

Donation are great, if user likes your work it is a way to encourage you to continue. But try to "force" the donation i don't like the idea.

But the more motivating for me , is to have more and more users which appreciate my work.

That was my 2cts!

Nailz · « **Reply #14 on:** January 17, 2006, 08:06:55 pm »

How is me looking at a nag screen forcing me to pay for it in any way? The full functionality is all there, Tom answers questions and has a full forum for any topic with his front end. Forcing someone to pay for it would be having a nag screen and turning off key functions, or disabling it after 30 days. BIG difference...

LJHalfbreed · « **Reply #15 on:** January 17, 2006, 08:57:10 pm »

Nailz- I think it's just a matter of personal preference and standards.

Some people have no problem with pop-ups/pop-unders (advertising).

Some people have no problems with 'voting' for sites before gaining access.

Some people have no problems with installing adware or other similar programs along with another program.

Some people have no problems with limited functionality or limited lifespan.

Some people have no problems with downloading a program and never compensating the individual(s) that created it.

The point is, you value GamEx enough to where a nagscreen/donation request is a non-issue. I (and others) for *whatever* reason feel that GamEx doesn't offer enough to us to justify a nagscreen.

Again, I'm not knocking GamEx for having a nagscreen, I'm stating that GamEx doesn't offer enough to *me* to 'qualify' for the need for a nagscreen or any other reason to donate/buy/etc.

I'm also pointing out that there should be plenty of other people that would still find GamEx quite useful/perfect/etc. However, I'm pretty sure I've tried every front end I've come across, and right now, GamEx just doesn't offer what I want.

And no, looking at a nag screen doesn't force you to do anything. However, It can be *very* annoying... sort of like any other advert/commercial can be. I just think it's a bit magnified for me in this aspect because I don't feel it justifies a nagscreen, both in features and in how I feel the emulation scene works.

Nailz · « **Reply #16 on:** January 17, 2006, 09:05:44 pm »

I hear what you're saying, my comments weren't all directed at you, and we can all obviously choose whatever we want.

For me, my cab is dedicated, everything is in my startup folder, so I turn on my machine, walk away for a few minutes, come back, and no nag screen, just my FE ready to play me some games...

Brad · « **Reply #17 on:** January 17, 2006, 09:11:32 pm »

I agree with LJHalfbreed. HE got my point. YOU didn't. I was extremely complimentary about GameEx in my post.

My opinion still stands in that it's vastly more suited at a HTPC "for me" and the nag screen is annoying as hell, particularly when your trying to set everything up.

Brad

LJHalfbreed · « **Reply #18 on:** January 17, 2006, 09:46:38 pm »

yay! Everyone understands everyone! Follow me to the pub, drinks are on me!

Brad · « **Reply #19 on:** January 17, 2006, 09:59:02 pm »

Your on....but I drink decent aussie beer ;P Meetcha at The Pineapple in East Brisbane. Rumour has it that lunch is a 2 for deal today LOL!

Brad

Rio Rebel · « **Reply #20 on:** January 17, 2006, 11:07:55 pm »

I think several people hinted at this, but it's the LENGTH of the nag screen that got me.

I tried it one time, hit the 30 second nag screen, and moved on. I would pay $18 for a front end that was exactly what I wanted, but with the choices out there, I decided to see what else was out there.

And I am slowly beginning to get Mamewah set up the way I want, which means I'm having to learn things I would have wanted to learn anyway about mame directories and configuration files.

I would very possibly have stayed with gameex if the nag screen had been shorter, leaving me more motivated to try it out. But that's just me, and I hope he's successful with it.

Nailz · « **Reply #21 on:** January 18, 2006, 01:43:35 am »

Quote from: Brad on January 17, 2006, 09:59:02 pm

Your on....but I drink decent aussie beer ;P Meetcha at The Pineapple in East Brisbane. Rumour has it that lunch is a 2 for deal today LOL!

Brad

Ok, ok, I will get the first round...

valtane · « **Reply #22 on:** January 18, 2006, 02:12:37 am »

As of version 5.37 there is a new feature called GameExtender which only works with the registered version. So not only does it have a nag screen, but it is now crippled unless you "donate".

koolmoecraig · « **Reply #23 on:** January 18, 2006, 04:55:35 am »

Are you guys kidding me?

You didn't like the nag screen so you moved on? I think you might do better to have a little bit more patience here. This front end is being updated WEEKLY and it is soon to become fully skinable. It really is a great front end. Deal with the nag screen while you try it out. I bet you'll like it and gladly pay.

Oh, and this is not directed at anyone in particular but if you are too friggin' cheap to pay someone for their time and effort in putting together a front end that you use then you should really go F yourself.

It's $18 dollars. $18. If you can't afford that then maybe you should pick up one of those Jakks joysticks and hook it to your 13" Symphonic TV that is mounted on a shelf in the 500lb gutted, black JAMMA cabinet that you got out of the Recycler. Cheap As*.

markrvp · « **Reply #24 on:** January 18, 2006, 01:12:17 pm »

koolmoecraig:

How do you really feel? Your last post was vague.

brophog · « **Reply #25 on:** January 18, 2006, 01:20:49 pm »

And just remember psychotic boys and girls.........gameex is the only frontend on the planet.

LJHalfbreed · « **Reply #26 on:** January 18, 2006, 01:27:46 pm »

Crap... Does this mean that the FEAA (Front End Artists of America, sister company to RIAA and MPAA) is going to raid my PC???

*Quickly deletes Mamewah, AtomicFE, 3DArcade, Mame32, Raging Dragon,arcadeOS, advancemenu, arcade.exe, arcadepic, emuloader, easymame, GXMame, MAMED, Ultramame, Ultrastyle, Vertiwah, and over a dozen other non-FEAA authorized frontends from his PC...*

Brad · « **Reply #27 on:** January 18, 2006, 04:39:23 pm »

Hmm something about a fanboy and missing the point completely.

Next!

Brad

koolmoecraig · « **Reply #28 on:** January 18, 2006, 05:12:08 pm »

Quote from: LJHalfbreed on January 18, 2006, 01:27:46 pm

Crap... Does this mean that the FEAA (Front End Artists of America, sister company to RIAA and MPAA) is going to raid my PC???

*Quickly deletes Mamewah, AtomicFE, 3DArcade, Mame32, Raging Dragon,arcadeOS, advancemenu, arcade.exe, arcadepic, emuloader, easymame, GXMame, MAMED, Ultramame, Ultrastyle, Vertiwah, and over a dozen other non-FEAA authorized frontends from his PC...*

If you use any one of those and don't donate to the creators then you are pathetic.

I'm not some blind fanboy here. I use Ultrastyle on my Q*bert cabinet and the minute that I determined that it met my needs I donated to the author. Same thing with the author of my jukebox software.

WOW, FEAA. How brilliant. In your attempt at comedy(in which you failed miserably) you try to relate paying an individual for their work in putting a front end together with paying a recording union. Beleive it or not, some people actually do think that the right thing to do is pay people for their work. Imagine that.

The funny thing is that the front end STILL WORKS without paying. You just have to deal with a nag screen(Which you can even set to black so you wont even see it!)

I didn't miss the point. I understand that the whole thing with the Mame community is not to charge for it. The reason for that is because it would be ILLEGAL to charge for what is someone elses work(game companies) without them benefitting at all. You are donating to someone for their own work when donating for a front end.

Have any of you even donated to the MAME dumping project itself? I suspect not.

Cheap.

divemaster127 · « **Reply #29 on:** January 18, 2006, 05:31:54 pm »

I agree what 18.00 for a awesome piece of software, people are paying for cabs, controls, buttons etc, it all takes work, plus i have seen the amount of questions tom gets on his forum, he should be awarded for all the work he does
thanks
divemaster

brophog · « **Reply #30 on:** January 18, 2006, 05:41:34 pm »

Quote

In your attempt at comedy(in which you failed miserably)

You'd better get your sense of humor checked out.

koolmoecraig · « **Reply #31 on:** January 18, 2006, 05:44:05 pm »

Ha.

I have a tiny bit of experience in that industry.

Rio Rebel · « **Reply #32 on:** January 18, 2006, 09:03:07 pm »

Quote from: koolmoecraig on January 18, 2006, 04:55:35 am

Are you guys kidding me?

You didn't like the nag screen so you moved on? I think you might do better to have a little bit more patience here. This front end is being updated WEEKLY and it is soon to become fully skinable. It really is a great front end. Deal with the nag screen while you try it out. I bet you'll like it and gladly pay.

You come on a little strong, but you make a good point. I may check it out again, and if I do, I'd gladly pay.

LJHalfbreed · « **Reply #33 on:** January 18, 2006, 10:22:17 pm »

Quote from: koolmoecraig on January 18, 2006, 05:12:08 pm

(culled for emphasis)

I'm not some blind fanboy here. I use Ultrastyle on my Q*bert cabinet and the minute that I determined that it met my needs I donated to the author. Same thing with the author of my jukebox software.

That's all I'm trying to say here... I don't see what GameEx offers *me* to justify a nagscreen, which is basically an annoying request for a handout, imho.

On the other hand, I've donated to program creators, and even outright bought software (I dig me some zombie smashers x... great river-city-ransom/final fight add to a cab that can play pc games.... http://www.totallyscrewed.net/ for this and other great cab games).

I'm also pointing out that your senseless bashing of anyone who doesn't like GameEx is a bit extreme. And I'll say again... I see nothing that GameEx offers to me that is 'better' than anything out there, nor do I see anything within GameEx that justifies a nagscreen. I'm glad that you do, and you support him, but bashing me (or others) who don't care for it, whatever the reason, just makes you sound like an overly rabid fanboy.

Brad · « **Reply #34 on:** January 18, 2006, 10:59:11 pm »

Quote from: koolmoecraig on January 18, 2006, 05:12:08 pm

Have any of you even donated to the MAME dumping project itself? I suspect not.

Cheap.

The thing that gets me is all the assumptions. I don't want this to degrade into a flame war though. Simply put I've donated to the dumping project a number of times. I also donate server space to various projects and have purchased arcade parts from ultimarc etc.

I highly praised the application and even said it was highly recommended and cheap. It's just not for me and it irritated the bejesus out of me when I was toying around with configurations.

Brad

danny_galaga · « **Reply #35 on:** January 19, 2006, 08:32:42 am »

Quote from: Brad on January 17, 2006, 09:59:02 pm

Your on....but I drink decent aussie beer ;P Meetcha at The Pineapple in East Brisbane. Rumour has it that lunch is a 2 for deal today LOL!

Brad

huzzah! another brisbanite! i was supposed to go to the pine apple for christmas drinks but ended up reading these forums...

Brad · « **Reply #36 on:** January 19, 2006, 04:27:39 pm »

Quote from: danny_galaga on January 19, 2006, 08:32:42 am

Quote from: Brad on January 17, 2006, 09:59:02 pm
Your on....but I drink decent aussie beer ;P Meetcha at The Pineapple in East Brisbane. Rumour has it that lunch is a 2 for deal today LOL!

Brad

huzzah! another brisbanite! i was supposed to go to the pine apple for christmas drinks but ended up reading these forums...

We went there several times during the holiday break. It was dead so we had a few long lunches LOL!

Still I'm not a real queenslander. I've only been here 12 months and I brought by Blues Guernsey with me

Brad

danny_galaga · « **Reply #37 on:** January 20, 2006, 08:55:28 am »

Quote from: Brad on January 19, 2006, 04:27:39 pm

Quote from: danny_galaga on January 19, 2006, 08:32:42 am
Quote from: Brad on January 17, 2006, 09:59:02 pm
Your on....but I drink decent aussie beer ;P Meetcha at The Pineapple in East Brisbane. Rumour has it that lunch is a 2 for deal today LOL!

Brad

huzzah! another brisbanite! i was supposed to go to the pine apple for christmas drinks but ended up reading these forums...

We went there several times during the holiday break. It was dead so we had a few long lunches LOL!

Still I'm not a real queenslander. I've only been here 12 months and I brought by Blues Guernsey with me

Brad

six months for me, so you're a veteran

headkaze · « **Reply #38 on:** January 20, 2006, 10:04:54 am »

Quote

Yeah, it comes with a pack of themes of all kinds, all of them really nice looking. The ability to make themes isn't as easy as skinning mamewah, but Tom plans on addind skinning when he gets all the features we toss at him done with. He truly is dedicated to his software and stands by it, and I've never seen anybody update as often as him. The 18 dollar donation is well worth it.

Indeed, it's coming soon

tspeirs · « **Reply #39 on:** January 20, 2006, 12:52:22 pm »

Hi,

Freedom of choice, libertys and speach is a gift, so I don't want to get involved in the argument. Its your choice, take it or leave it, even though I strive for perfection of the product (almost daily).

All I would say in kind of a defence, as of yet I have made no significant profit from GameEx, due to 100GB bandwidth a month, and the fact that I have on various occasions paid my own money to other developers and artists to contribute to GameEx. For example DVD/Video player, MNG/AVI Preview, and the configuration application and GameEx artwork.

I'm not going to comment further, but if you need support and dont want to just chat about GameEx I would say your get much more help on GameEx forums (also paid for by me by the way).

If you want GameEx for free use an old version (yes old versions dont have the nag screen, because I did it for the scene, thought it was not worth paying for, and had not cost me anything), but don't bother me if you need anything fixed or improved in the code that can be fixed by upgrading.

Yes I say it how it is.

GameEx does have a small commercial element to it because of the nag screen, it seems, but I personally believe the application is of a quality of other decent commercial applications. However I am not funding or being a criminal by either offering or buying warez, roms etc. I am also not tricking people or making false claims about the software. I am also not slagging off other peoples front ends, or posting daily that mine is the best. I want GameEx to sell itself.

Until the whole world becomes anarchist or communist, or machines run our lifes and I dont need money to eat and live, Ill continue what I am doing.


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