Got a computer...now need MAME and FE recommendation

[billpa]

I picked up a used pc off of the buy/sell forum. Its a P4 2.5ghz Compaq Evo with 1GB RAM and an integrated video card (perhaps the only thing I might switch out). Im a big fan of beat'um games (Simpsons, TMNT, SF, MK etc.) and I am planning on dedicating my machine to these types of games. I would also like to play some of the Midway sports games ala NBA Jam and Open Ice. I am wondering what version of MAME I should be looking at running. I have seen others using Mala and it looks pretty user-friendly so thats what I am leaning towards for a FE. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Bill

[specialmoose]

I run Maximus Arcade (http://www.maximusarcade.com/) as my frontend and MAME 0120b (command-line http://mamedev.org/release.html). Maximus Arcade says it supports MAME32 (the windows gui version?) but I haven't screwed with that yet.

Maximus Arcade is pretty damn user friendly. Only downside is that it costs $25.

In the past day or so I've been messing with MaLa using Organic Jerk's layout (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=72576.0) and been very impressed with it. Thing I hated about MaLa was it's built in layout wasn't what I wanted and couldn't find any layouts available on the web. MaLa lets you create your own but I didn't want to take the time to learn and create my own.

Check out Organic Jerk's layout. It's pretty damn close to what I wanted. If not, Maximus Arcade is decent and easy to use but will set you back $25.

[ha-Y-n]

I use MaLa with mame32 and have had no problems, so far.

MaLa also has a program (Layout converter)  that you can run that will convert mamewah layouts to mala format. download here http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/layouts.html

the good thing about mala, it is so damn easy to use. 

[Green Giant]

With your computer, set it up to run the latest version of mame with the latest version of Mala.  It is really easy to setup.  Follow the guide on the mala wiki, http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Mala_Wiki .

You don't need mame32 either.  Mala takes complete control of mame, and there could be problems with mame32.

Thing I hated about MaLa was it's built in layout wasn't what I wanted and couldn't find any layouts available on the web.

There are quite a few layouts on the mala site, http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/layouts.html

[SGT]

Youki in 5...4...3...2...

[loadman]

I like Command Prompt:

C:\> mame pacman

 

Old Joke but a good one

Yes Check Mr Wiki....

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Front-Ends

YOUKI!!!   Send out a search party      He can't be far away

[SGT]

C:\> mame pacman

Nope, that's too much BLING.

[Havok]

You guys are too much - I never see a FE recommend thread without SGT and Loadman...

 

[SGT]

You guys are too much - I never see a FE recommend thread without SGT and Loadman...

Well I hope you noticed that I did not recommend my favority FE, MALA.

And...I hope you noticed that Loadman did not recommend his favorite FE, MALA, but instead recommended the C PROMPT... 


Oh...oops!

[loadman]

You guys are too much - I never see a FE recommend thread without SGT and Loadman...

 

C.mon   ...  Just having a giggle 

But i usually point to the wiki: http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Front-Ends

Then if pressed I recommend trying the popular three (Mala, GameEx and Atomic)

And then C Prompt