New Frontend Announcement - "Yamfe"

[astgl]

Since it's getting closer to prime time, I wanted to see if there was any interest in from anyone in another Multigame frontend.

Yamfe (Yet-Another Multigame Frontend) is an OpenGL based mutigame frontend with what I think are some very nice features. It's primarily targeted at Presentation monitors, plasma screens, lcds and other large format screens, but runs as a full screen overlay at any resolution from 640x480 to 2048x1536. It is now at "Beta Quality" and I will be releasing it as soon as I get a few fixes in and some sort of list config program written.

Features:
* Multiple game lists or "Panels" since I am using removeable panels on my cabinet.
* Complete "Non Windows" GUI, that can be ported at a later date to OSX and Linux.
* Ability to have any type of game per displayed list, from PC to mame to console in the same game list.  It uses "registered" exe's to find each game and run it with the correct options.
* Ability to run multiple pre and post programs, for example to download ultrastick map files, or run just about anything.
* Can have an infinite number of mame versions to allow you to run older "over emulated" games with other versions of mame.
* Currently runs every emu that I have thrown at it correctly, including my own unreleased AAE, ZINC, DAPHNE, MAME (all versions) GENS, Visualboy Advance, Z26, etc....
* Supports 4 concurrent joysticks, multiple mice, and a per-panel key configuration.

ToDo's before release:

Minor cleanups and bugfixes.
Currently all exe's have to be registered with the program so it can identify and locate them. This is a config file, and I need a little frontend to make editing this easier.
Add an additional "Artwork based" theme.
Make a list generator tool.

I would really like some help with the opening screen. The theme sucks, I am not an artist and I really need someone to make better panel icons that what I have thrown in as placeholders. If anyone would want to help, I could use some. !!!!!

Screenshots attached, I will try to have a releaseable version later this month.

[astgl]

More Pictures:

[astgl]

One More picture, Menu root.

[hakan]

Since it's getting closer to prime time, I wanted to see if there was any interest in from anyone in another Multigame frontend.

Yes, as soon as it can run on Linux 

Features:
* Multiple game lists or "Panels" since I am using removeable panels on my cabinet.

I modified my cabinet for removable (modular) panels, too (seems to be the new "in" thing to to  )

Do you have any method to detect which panel has been installed on your cabinet or do you select this via the frontend?

I'm still looking for a good idea to make my frontend show me only the trackball games as if the trackball panel module is available.

Regards,
Hakan

[squirrellydw]

I am always looking for a new FE but what will make this any better than the other ones out there?  Such as GameEX, Atomic, Mamewah.  Will it be free, support the LEDwiz, show screen shots or video snap shots?  What does the configuration look like?  Sorry for all the questions.

[astgl]

hakan,

I would love to be able to detect when a panel changed as well. I have looked into it, and it would be possible with tying into the parallel port for input, but difficult.

squirrellydw,

I KNOW i could not make something as nice as Gameex, but I think I can give the other a run for their money. Seriously, I just want something that I can fire up and run games on, and I had a lot of trouble with that on others. That is what prompted me to write my own. Just make sure you have a decent video card and run it. This is just supposed a nice, light arcade style, frontend. An arcade machine should NOT look like Windows.

 It will be free, run (just about) everything, and I am currently adding a theme using screenshots and hires flyer artwork. My problem is that I am graphically challenged. 

The final hurdle is getting the config screens done. Right now I am hand editing a 2 page config file, and i KNOW no one wants to do that. I'm looking into having a friend write a custom wizard tool to hold people by the hand through registering exe's and building the panel lists.

My main reason for posting this was to get an idea of what people really wanted, and mix that in with what "I" want.

For example:
Do people really want to play mp3 audio in the background? Should it be different for each panel?
Do people really want to spend hours making custom layouts, how about just giving them a few to pick from, and let them make custom backgrounds for them if they want?

It seems a lot of people just want an updated GameLauncher, I already have that, and more?

Just answering questions with more questions,

THANKS!
Tim

[squirrellydw]

ok cool.  For me I need U360 and LEDwiz support.  I will also have to work with a 3 sided cocktail table.

by the way, I don't like GameEX I prefer Atomic and MA.  GameEX is to windowish to me

[Buddabing]

Will you be releasing source? I'm interested in OpenGL programming.

[gonzo90017]

Sounds great. I really like the ability to have all systems in one list. That's a feature alot of people have been asking for. Arcade.exe does this also but it doesn't look that great in full screen mode. Background mp3's is a must. Not everyone is great at making custom backgrounds so you should include some. What kind of machine will I need to run it? One great thing about most fes is that they run great on low end pc's.

[youki]

I really like the ability to have all systems in one list. That's a feature alot of people have been asking for

Atomic is able to do that since his really first version.     But  no "user friendly" tool are yet available to make this specific type of configuration.

Anyway, i'm looking foward to see your Fe released, it looks very cool. 

In what language did you made it?  What development tools did you use?   Why did you choose openGL?  Do you plan to do some 3D ?

[Havok]

Make sure to add a search feature for the games! When you literally have thousands of ROMs, this is a must...

Youki!!!

 

[youki]

Make sure to add a search feature for the games! When you literally have thousands of ROMs, this is a must...

Youki!!!

Your Desires are orders...   I promised to you and  it is already done on my dev version !  ..in fact done since yesterday!

[Havok]

 

[MYX]

 

[youki]

others things has been done for you MYX... 

[Space Fractal]

It may look like it have developed using a basic language like Pure Basic or BlitzMax. Is im wrong?

Personly I'm using BlitzMax, wich is a 2d Language that using OpenGL, and it can create both Linux, Windows and Mac executables. It very easy to doing OpenGL programmering on these language, and BlitzMax support alpha very well.

If Yamfe is coded in one of these language, and diddent use any dll or ocx, it should been very easy to port to Linux as well. This is the very big advances when using one of these language.