Author Topic: Riddle me this GameEX users... (Read 2625 times)

EnderWiggen22 · « **on:** October 11, 2006, 03:52:01 am »

The FE is great (at least so it looks), but what would be the point of spending all this time and money to build an arcade and have the FE make you (and your friends) realize that it's just a computer. It completely destroys the user experience. I saw the video and it showed that you can change the background images, but it still has those very WINXP buttons and features.

Question: Has anyone created a "skin" for GameEX so that it doesn't look like Windows XP, but you still get to keep all of its great features OR is there a better FE for keeping the experience semi-authentic? (no one seemed to really use Game Launcher)...

youki · « **Reply #1 on:** October 11, 2006, 04:03:50 am »

What ever the FE you use, you can hide windows.

I guess some skin exists for GameEX less "windows" like.

But , correct me if i'm wrong, GameEX is more a Media center than a Front End. As Media center it is doing more thing than a Gaming Dedicated Front end , but on the other end the "gaming" part is may be less optimized for a Cab.

If you don't care about the Media center feature and just want a game frontend. You have lot of other alternative. (MameWah, Mala , Dk , AtomicFe ..etc) (see the Wiki on this board for that. )

And of course, i suggest you to have a look to my FE. (AtomicFe)

headkaze · « **Reply #2 on:** October 11, 2006, 04:20:15 am »

Quote from: youki on October 11, 2006, 04:03:50 am

What ever the FE you use, you can hide windows.

I guess some skin exists for GameEX less "windows" like.

But , correct me if i'm wrong, GameEX is more a Media center than a Front End. As Media center it is doing more thing than a Gaming Dedicated Front end , but on the other end the "gaming" part is may be less optimized for a Cab.

If you don't care about the Media center feature and just want a game frontend. You have lot of other alternative. (MameWah, Mala , Dk , AtomicFe ..etc) (see the Wiki on this board for that. )

And of course, i suggest you to have a look to my FE. (AtomicFe)

That is completely wrong, and I thought you would know a bit more about GameEx than that considering how many Front End related threads you hijack to recommend your own.

You can turn every Media Center option off if you want to run it as a pure Front End. Personally I run it as a hybrid because I like the HTPC features on my cab.

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Question: Has anyone created a "skin" for GameEX so that it doesn't look like Windows XP, but you still get to keep all of its great features OR is there a better FE for keeping the experience semi-authentic? (no one seemed to really use Game Launcher)...

There are plenty of themes for GameEx that completely hide it's tool bar and buttons etc. You can check out some of the themes at http://themes.gameex.net/. When you run the Setup Wizard of GameEx you can select which themes to download.

youki · « **Reply #3 on:** October 11, 2006, 04:39:52 am »

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That is completely wrong, and I thought you would know a bit more about GameEx than that considering how many Front End related threads you hijack to recommend your own.

I don't hijack this thread , he asked for alternative. i give it some.

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is there a better FE for keeping the experience semi-authentic?

headkaze · « **Reply #4 on:** October 11, 2006, 04:59:21 am »

Quote from: youki on October 11, 2006, 04:39:52 am

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That is completely wrong, and I thought you would know a bit more about GameEx than that considering how many Front End related threads you hijack to recommend your own.

I don't hijack this thread , he asked for alternative. i give it some.

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is there a better FE for keeping the experience semi-authentic?

There is nothing wrong with recommending other FE's (including your own), I would just expect your knowledge of GameEx to be better considering the number of threads you post about Atomic. I guess you don't read what other people are posting because calling GameEx a Media Center application is ignorant to say the least.

Be proud of your own FE and recommend it all you wan't but telling people false information about other FE's just shows your lack of knowlege about other FE development going on.

youki · « **Reply #5 on:** October 11, 2006, 05:10:54 am »

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because calling GameEx a Media Center application is ignorant to say the least.

Sorry, for my mistake, but if you go on the GAMEEX web site, there is a big comparison table where GAMEEX is compared only with MEdia Centers software. (home theatre sofware).

headkaze · « **Reply #6 on:** October 11, 2006, 05:37:38 am »

Quote from: youki on October 11, 2006, 05:10:54 am

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because calling GameEx a Media Center application is ignorant to say the least.

Sorry, for my mistake, but if you go on the GAMEEX web site, there is a big comparison table where GAMEEX is compared only with MEdia Centers software. (home theatre sofware).

Hey it's cool, I really don't mind other's recommending other FE's, but I get a little agitated when GameEx gets "pigeon holed" as being a Media Center application when it is not.

GameEx was originally intended as an MCE addon, but it ended up being as much a stand-alone FE. I guess Tom hasn't bothered updating to compare with other FE's because the wiki already does that.

But GameEx was a Front End (albeit for MCE) first before it was HTPC software (AFAIK). GameEx stands for Game Extender, names after an "MCE Extender". So it's origin is there, but it's moved away to be a standalone FE as well.

Incidently the HTPC features are written for non-MCE users like cab users because if you had an MCE machine I can't imagine why you would want to use those features in GameEx. So I consider the HTPC stuff as a bonus to have on a cab, not a negative. And having an arcade related theme like I do, it's still well hidden from the MCE or Windows look.

Havok · « **Reply #7 on:** October 12, 2006, 12:08:52 am »

I think the main reason most people write off GameEx as a MCE app is the default skin. Some people don't take the time to look at other skins, and that's the first impression. You've got a great front end, so don't sweat it!

psst...

(Don't let Headkaze or Tom hear me say this, but there are a buttload of themes for AtomicFE)

loadman · « **Reply #8 on:** October 12, 2006, 12:22:02 am »

You Guys

headkaze · « **Reply #9 on:** October 12, 2006, 12:28:56 am »

Well, it's pretty obvious youki and havok are dark about the poll results

Hey havok, don't drink the coolaid if youki does! (Ring a bell?)

Havok · « **Reply #10 on:** October 12, 2006, 01:13:20 am »

I just mentioned themes, brother... (And gave you a compliment!)

No koolaid here - I didn't get my minions to come over here and vote in a poll...

Seriously though, it's all just in fun - didn't mean to offend and am definitely not offended!

headkaze · « **Reply #11 on:** October 12, 2006, 01:38:05 am »

We need a hippy smiley face doing a peace sign

I really just thought the poll was for a bit of fun. I never took it seriously, and I never thought making a post about the poll on the GameEx forum would upset you guys. I really don't see many GameEx users posting GameEx related stuff here because it's done on the official forums. With Atomic's forums being in French I assumed you would get more of your English users posting here. That was my assumption, I guess I was wrong.

Anyway, hope you liked my koolaid joke, it was a come back when you told people not to drink the koolaid if I did!

Ahhh sweet lyrical revenge

EnderWiggen22 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 12, 2006, 01:54:21 am »

Thanx for the help guys (albeit a little confusing). I'm looking for some better GameEX themes, but I'm not finding anything to my liking (maybe I'm just too picky). They are all too specific (either show the console they are emulating, or look like a media center). Oh well, guess I just wanted something non-conspicuous. I'll just keep looking. Let me know if you find some better themes (or why not many people use Game Launcher).

headkaze · « **Reply #13 on:** October 12, 2006, 02:05:28 am »

Sorry about all the confusing rantings bestowed upon your thread! It happens occationally around here when people ask things like "what is the best FE".

If your not happy with the current themes available for GameEx, then I would recommend Atomic FE, MameWah or Mala, or make your own theme using the GameEx Theme Editor. The Theme Editor for GameEx is relatively new so there are only a few dozen themes available right now.

BTW GameEx would be able to import AtomicFE's layouts if youki didn't encrypt them! But it's not difficult to import the image and create a new layout for them.

loadman · « **Reply #14 on:** October 12, 2006, 02:10:32 am »

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(or why not many people use Game Launcher .

If you have a half decent PC then you would be better off with the new bunch of FE's. My last FE was Gamelauncher

If it is a skin that looks like gamelauncher you want you could try the one I use It's a Gamelauncher skin for MaLa. Be sure to copy the supplied font to the windows/font directory

http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/layouts.html#gamelauncher

Havok · « **Reply #15 on:** October 12, 2006, 02:35:03 am »

Quote from: headkaze on October 12, 2006, 01:38:05 am

We need a hippy smiley face doing a peace sign

A hippie smiley would be cool!

Quote

I really just thought the poll was for a bit of fun. I never took it seriously, and I never thought making a post about the poll on the GameEx forum would upset you guys. I really don't see many GameEx users posting GameEx related stuff here because it's done on the official forums. With Atomic's forums being in French I assumed you would get more of your English users posting here. That was my assumption, I guess I was wrong.

Most of Atomic's support is on Mame-univers.net - I'm there too. It's good to see my high school french is getting some use! There is also another English support board as well (besides here).

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Anyway, hope you liked my koolaid joke, it was a come back when you told people not to drink the koolaid if I did! Ahhh sweet lyrical revenge

Touche!

So anyways, OP... The best thing for you to do is check out the Wiki and see what other front ends you like. Mamewah and Atomic have the most themes, but Mala has a Mamewah theme converter, so the skies the limit!

BamBam · « **Reply #16 on:** October 12, 2006, 06:29:55 pm »

I have Mala and GameEx, but like my Mala better, because I can't figure out how to make GameEx not look WinXP MCEish.
How do we make it look like all of the other great FE out there?
I am in for the peace sign smiley too.

headkaze · « **Reply #17 on:** October 13, 2006, 12:30:25 am »

Quote from: BamBam on October 12, 2006, 06:29:55 pm

I have Mala and GameEx, but like my Mala better, because I can't figure out how to make GameEx not look WinXP MCEish.
How do we make it look like all of the other great FE out there?
I am in for the peace sign smiley too.

After you change the background image, layout and selector bar the only thing I can imagine that makes you feel it still looks like MCE is the buttons and toolbar at the top. Those are two options you can turn off. If that still looks like MCE to you please do a screenshot and post it here, then explain to me why it still looks MCEish.

Havok · « **Reply #18 on:** October 13, 2006, 08:26:34 am »

Quote from: BamBam on October 12, 2006, 06:29:55 pm

I have Mala and GameEx, but like my Mala better, because I can't figure out how to make GameEx not look WinXP MCEish.

Oh geez, Headkaze is gonna blow...

headkaze · « **Reply #19 on:** October 13, 2006, 08:39:32 am »

Quote from: Havok on October 13, 2006, 08:26:34 am

Quote from: BamBam on October 12, 2006, 06:29:55 pm
I have Mala and GameEx, but like my Mala better, because I can't figure out how to make GameEx not look WinXP MCEish.

Oh geez, Headkaze is gonna blow...

Oh give it a rest Havok

Havok · « **Reply #20 on:** October 13, 2006, 11:24:43 am »

Let me state for the record, if you download other themes for GameEx, which are especially easily available due to the incredible programming prowess of Headkaze (and his new setup program...) Yes you can remove the XP\MCE look to it...


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