What's your preferred front-end?

[Jeff AMN]

Right now I'm using Mamewah and I've really liked it. I know that MaLa is growing in popularity as well, and quite a few people are still happy with MAME32. So what's everybody using? Are you happy with it, or do you plan to change sometime in the future?

[Congui]

At first, like many, I strarted using Mame32.  But because Mame32 is limited to just running mame, I switch to Mamewah 1.61, and since then I've been very happy.  Recently upgraded to Mamewah 1.62b12 and I'm even happier; the game specific feature is simply great.

Cheers,
Congui.

[Hoopz]

GameEx

[Kaytrim]

I am currently using GameEx but as I have time I will be trying others.  Mala, Mamewah and AtomicFE are on my list of Front Ends to try.

BTW this poll has been posted several times over and it always ends up being some kind of flame war between developers of the various front ends.

ATTENTION DEVELOPERS AND USERS OF FRONT END SOFTWARE.

Please do not turn this poll into a flame war.  Let the users answer this poll honestly and constructively.  Users if you have a question regarding the features of one FE vrs another please search these forums, look at the Wiki, and look at the various sites for the FE and post any questions separate from this poll.


Arcade Controls Front End Wiki page
http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Front-Ends

GameEX
http://www.tomspeirs.com/gameex/

AtomicFE
http://www.atomicfe.com/EN2/

MameWah
http://mamewah.mameworld.net/

Mala
http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/

[NemX2]

GameEx FTW!  I also have been using GameEx for quite sometime.  I plan on giving AtomicFE a try next, maybe some others just to see if there is a reason to switch.

One feature that a FE has to have besides supporting multiple emulators is some sort of jukebox.  Looks like AtomicFE has one, but Mala has not added one to their feature list.  Any input on which FEs have a jukebox feature?

[loadman]

Right now I'm using Mamewah and I've really liked it. I know that MaLa is growing in popularity as well, and quite a few people are still happy with MAME32. So what's everybody using? Are you happy with it, or do you plan to change sometime in the future?

I think you should add GameEX and Atomic to your list

They are very popular too...

Mame32 on a cab is not so good. The idea is to hide windows on a cab

On a PC mame32 rocks

[sphetr2]

GameLauncher. I like the simplicity and low system requirements.

[FrizzleFried]

My two stand up cabinets that use arcade monitors use Mamewah and the cocktail I am working on that uses a 15" PC monitor uses Mala (currently).   I tried GameEX and liked it for the most part.   I tried AtomicFE and liked it too.  When I tried Mala,  it just "fit" for the cabinet,  but I am still not 100% sure if it will be my "final" front end.   I like AtomicFE's new alpha blending feature a lot.

[horseboy]

I think you should add GameEX and Atomic to your list

They are very popular too...

I totally agree. In fact, just based on forum talk for the past several months, I would think along with MALA they are the most popular. Mamewah talk has significantly died down for some reason.

[Havok]

AtomicFE, of course...

 

[horseboy]

AtomicFE, of course...

 

Atomic whore. 

[headkaze]

What kind of poll doesn't even have the top 4 FE's from the last poll?

I'm not flaming here, but if your gonna create a poll at least have the main FE's in list so the poll actually means something.

 

[Havok]

Atomic whore. 

And this coming from the guy with a name of Whore's Boy?

Are you my beyotch?

 

[headkaze]

Atomic whore. 

And this coming from the guy with a name of Whore's Boy?

Are you my beyotch?

 

Go Havok, it's your birthday, go Havok, it's your birthday...

[ErikRuud]

I used Gamelauncher for a long time, then I switched to Kymaera. 

As far as I know, Kymeara is the only front end that lets you assign more than one button to a function.  It may seem odd to many but it is an important feature for me.  It allows me to make navigating the front end a lot more user friendly.

Pretty much every newer front end has all the other features I would want.

1. Multiple emulator support.
2. Custom game lists
3. Ability to mix emulators within a list.

[2600]

As far as I know, Kymeara is the only front end that lets you assign more than one button to a function.  It may seem odd to many but it is an important feature for me.  It allows me to make navigating the front end a lot more user friendly.

I know recent versions of MAMEWAH (>1.60?) let you do this.  I'd be happy if the all of the top FE's allowed you to at least MAP every function instead of hard coding it.

[youki]

I'd be happy if the all of the top FE's allowed you to at least MAP every function instead of hard coding it.

What you mean by that?  I think most of FE allows you to map your controls and key as you want?

[2600]

What you mean by that?  I think most of FE allows you to map your controls and key as you want?

Most, but not all and it's leading this poll.

[andiamo-racing]

Atomic

[SirPeale]

ArcadeOS, because it can output to a standard res arcade monitor using it's built-in driver.

[loadman]

What you mean by that?  I think most of FE allows you to map your controls and key as you want?

Most, but not all and it's leading this poll.

All controls are configurable other than Right click to bring up options...

 I believe this is being looked at :

http://www.arcadezentrum.com/forum/thread.php?threadid=4984

[mabu]

I have been using MameWah, but the problem is, the version I have keeps the configuration file open and it crashes under Win98.  When it crashes, it trashes the config file and will no longer run.    I am going to try some other front ends to see if they're more stable.

[Bobbler]

I use GameEx personally.

After trying the demo version out decided straight away it was right for me and is pretty straightforward to setup with going and faffing around with ini/cfg files all the time.

[Dustin Mustangs]

What's the point of replying if you don't vote people!  22 responses and only 4 votes as of when I made mine.   

I've tried Mame32, Mamewah, Atomic, and MaLa (in that order).  I think it's a toss up between the last three but I guess MaLa's UI has kept me around for now and I'll probably stay.


Here's to all our FE devs out there that give us so many great options to choose from!!

 

[Havok]

Looks like the OP deleted the original poll (without a few of the more popular FEs), hence all the posts with hardly any votes...

[loadman]

Looks like the OP deleted the original poll (without a few of the more popular FEs), hence all the posts with hardly any votes...

You can blame me for that I guess.

 I PM'd the post author to please 'add' some more FE's to the list.

 I didn't expect it to be reset 

[youki]

My FE is not in the list yet...

AtomeFE is a new one??? 

[swindus]

My FE is not in the list yet...

AtomeFE is a new one??? 

I noticed this too. But the 'new' FE has already 4 users. 

[MYX]

Atomic by far. It is SUPER basic if you want super basic. If you can download a file and understand how to click an executable, your golden. But, If you want to dive under the hood, This is where the real power comes in to play. There is not much it can't do. If you take the time to really look around you will keep finding little gizmos and gadgets that are everywhere. Really innovative stuff that I have not seen in other emulators. (and if you guys remember my silly rant while I was on the hunt for emu's I tried a LOT of them. )

LEDWizzard...Say no more. 

Plus the layout editor. This thing is a killer. On the surface it may not look like much, but that is ok. The effort has been spent on making it a kick --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules-- app. It is the Photoshop of the FE world. With total alpha control (for control freaks like me) and color based transparency, and overall object transparency you can make some wicked effects. If you use the trajectory settings you can make things move all over the place. I made a totally silly layout, just to test and I had stuff flying all over the place. Plus object scrolling and text scrolling and layer stacking manipulation (similar to photoshop) and text layout control and reflection settings with gradiated alpha (insert sound of Homer slobbering at a Duffs(or donut)) and background sounds for most actions.

And now, Plug ins...Yeeeeeaaah boyyyyeeeeeee.

Oh...and it runs MAME and a brazillion other emulators. (Funny that this has become the least talked about part of the FE arguments.)

I will write more, I have to go to work.

[arcadefever]

ATOMIC FE 

[gonzobrian]

Atomic by far. It is SUPER basic if you want super basic. If you can download a file and understand how to click an executable, your golden. But, If you want to dive under the hood, This is where the real power comes in to play. There is not much it can't do. If you take the time to really look around you will keep finding little gizmos and gadgets that are everywhere. Really innovative stuff that I have not seen in other emulators. (and if you guys remember my silly rant while I was on the hunt for emu's I tried a LOT of them. )

LEDWizzard...Say no more. 

Plus the layout editor. This thing is a killer. On the surface it may not look like much, but that is ok. The effort has been spent on making it a kick --I'm attempting to get by the auto-censor and should be beaten after I re-read the rules-- app. It is the Photoshop of the FE world. With total alpha control (for control freaks like me) and color based transparency, and overall object transparency you can make some wicked effects. If you use the trajectory settings you can make things move all over the place. I made a totally silly layout, just to test and I had stuff flying all over the place. Plus object scrolling and text scrolling and layer stacking manipulation (similar to photoshop) and text layout control and reflection settings with gradiated alpha (insert sound of Homer slobbering at a Duffs(or donut)) and background sounds for most actions.

And now, Plug ins...Yeeeeeaaah boyyyyeeeeeee.

Oh...and it runs MAME and a brazillion other emulators. (Funny that this has become the least talked about part of the FE arguments.)

I will write more, I have to go to work.

Well put!  I agree with you.  My vote goes to Atomic FE.  Plus I honestly believe that Youki would consider any request that an Atomic user may have.  There are constant improvements being made to this front end.  Thanks Youki.   

[blueshadow]

ATOMIC FE power !!!!!!!

I mean that atomic fe is the best because there is live in this frontend 
If you have a questions, a little problem you can contact youki and he give's an answer very fast and doesn't close the file if he haden'tfound a god solution for the user
Thank's Youki for your great job, for "your" time, you are giving to all the user of atomic and for all the news you are creating everytime with listening the wishes of the user

THANKS A LOT YOUKI AND LONG LIFE FOR ATOMIC FE

[Pastaga13]

AtomicFE ! 

[danny_galaga]

i can vouch for youki being right on it if you have queries (",)

[SGT]

Does AtomicFE have a plugin or feature similar to Mala which programs the Ultrastik at game start-up?

[loadman]

What you mean by that?  I think most of FE allows you to map your controls and key as you want?

Most, but not all and it's leading this poll.

Well it was leading until it got reset 

anyway

Have a look at http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/wip.html
This isssue has been fixed 

[SGT]

Hey Loadman,

Stupid question, but I notice Swindus's WIP items all appear to be in the "past tense" as though they are completed instead of being worked on. Does that mean they are incorporated into the latest download, or will it be a while to get all the additions/changes since October of last year?

Thanks,
SGT

[rdowdy95]

I am using MameWah.  The reason...well there really is no reason.  It was pretty much setup for Mame in the first place.  I use 1.62b12 I think or maybe b11.  I don't know it is not the newest version but the 1.62b version before the b12.  It does everything I want it.  I have about 450 mame games w/ mame 110 installed.  I also have Daphne running as well as all the American laser Games, and HOTD2 and 3.  Runs great.  Had to learn the ini file things, but its all good.

I do like the Atomic FE style and also MALA looks cool too.  I think they are all good really, but for my cab I use Mamewah.

Haven't used the other ones so I don't know about them.

[loadman]

Hey Loadman,

Stupid question, but I notice Swindus's WIP items all appear to be in the "past tense" as though they are completed instead of being worked on. Does that mean they are incorporated into the latest download, or will it be a while to get all the additions/changes since October of last year?

Thanks,
SGT

It's not good practice to release a version every time you make a small change. It's a nightmare for bug-finding and version control and support.

But....   

I get the impression that it won't be long before the next release with the new features added . I can feel it in my bones
 

[Havok]

Does AtomicFE have a plugin or feature similar to Mala which programs the Ultrastik at game start-up?

Not yet, but hopefully we can twist Youki's arm for this functionality. You can certainly make it work even without this, it would just have to be setup with a run before and after game statement, under options. I'm going to be purchasing a U360 very soon, so I will be testing how to get this working. With the latest version 019, Youki has plugin functionality, so perhaps even that way we can get it working...