Recommend emulators for cab

[Loafmeister]

Hey everyone,

I'm just about to get my mame/multi-system cab up and running and need advice/help.  For emulators, it doesn't take a genius to figure out Mame is a requirement.  Same for Visual Pinball/VPinmame.  I think this is more to impress some gamer friends but I want the cab to have the ability to run at least a few games from different systems, including some of the older computers (like the C64).  So the systems arefine, what I'd like to know is the recommendation of which emulator I should use, as I know some systems have multiple emulators out there, some performing better than others (thus my question to you).

Thus, if you could provide me with either a link to an old thread I just can't find, or a list of the emulators themselves, I'd really appreciate it.  I tried searching the forums for key strings like "list of emulators", but I didn't get any direct hits.

Systems I'd like to emulate, even if it's for just 2-3 games each:

Amiga, Atari ST, Atari 2600/5200/7800, Colecovision, TG16-PC Engine, C64, Apple II series, Vectrex, Lynx, Gameboy/Gameboy Advance, NES, SNES, Genesis, 3D0, SMS, GG ... and that's about it unless I'm forgetting something in particular.

A while back, I'd heard Mess was doing a good job of emulating many systems, so maybe that's the answer right there, but before I get into configuring Mess, if there's a better emulator I'd like to know.  If I'm forgetting an obvious system let me know.

Thanks again,

Loaf

[unclet]

Here is what I recommend:

system                     emulator(s)
3DO                      = freedo
AdventureVision     = MESS
Arcadia                 = MESS
Astrocade             = MESS
Atari2600             = stella, z26
Atari5200             = atari800WinPlus, jum52, MESS
Atari7800               = MESS
Atari800XL             = atari800WinPlus
AtariJaguar            = virtualJaguar
AtariLynx                = handy
ChannelF                = MESS
Colecovision            = MESS
Commodore 64        = ccs64
Commodore 128       = WinVice
Commodore vic20    = WinVice
Commodore Amiga   = WinUAE (make sure to use headkaze's new application)
Daphne                    = daphne
Gameboy                 = visualBoyAdvance
GameboyColor           = visualBoyAdvance
GameboyAdvance      = visualBoyAdvance
Intellivision                 = nostalgia
NeoGeoPocketColor   = neoPop
NeoGeoPocketMono   = neoPop
Nintendo(NES)           = fceUltra
Nintendo64                = project64
Odyssey2                  = o2em
PassigarScumm         = scummVm
Sega32x                    = Kega Fusion
SegaCD                      = Kega Fusion
SegaDreamcast          = nullDC, chankast
SegaGamegear          = Kega Fusion
SegaGenesis              = Kega Fusion, Gens
SegaMasterSystem    = Kega Fusion
SegaSC3000              = Kega Fusion
SegaSG1000              = Kega Fusion
SuperNintendo           = zsNes, Snes9x
SuperVision               = MESS
Vectrex                     = MESS
Virtualboy                 = realityBoy
Wonderboy               = osWan

[Loafmeister]

Holy cow, thanks for the complete list good sir!!!

Something I didn't specify (Sorry... ), I have a desire to run everything from Mala.  Are all these front end friendly?

[Nologic]

Well here are my picks...that I run through GameEx...but should work just fine with Mala or Atomic along with MameWah or any other FE for that matter...but you may need to snag on some loaders from the GX forum...but your kind of on your own getting stuff to work with other FE than GX.

[Arcade] AAE
[Arcade] CPS-3
[Arcade] FB Alpha
[Arcade] Model 2
[Arcade] ZiNc
[Console] Amiga CD32 (WinUAE)
[Console] Atari 2600 (Stella)
[Console] Atari 5200 (Jum52)
[Console] Atari 7800 (ProSystem)
[Console] Atari Jaguar (Project Tempest)
[Console] Bally Astrocade (MESS)
[Console] Coleco Vision (Meka)
[Console] Emerson Arcadia 2001 (WinArcadia)
[Console] Fairchild Channel F (MESS)
[Console] Fujitsu FM-Towns Marty (UNZ)
[Console] GCE Vectrex (ParaJVE)
[Console] Magnavox Odyssey 2 (02EM)
[Console] Mattel Intellivision (Bliss)
[Console] NEC PC-FX (MagicEngine-FX)
[Console] NEC SuperGrafx (Mednafen)
[Console] NEC TurboGrafx 16 (MagicEngine)
[Console] NEC TurboGrafx CD (MagicEngine)
[Console] Nintendo Famicom Disk System (Mednafen)
[Console] Nintendo N64 (1964)
[Console] Nintendo NES (Nestopia)
[Console] Nintendo SNES (ZSNES)
[Console] Panasonic 3DO (FreeDo)
[Console] RCA Studio II (MESS)
[Console] Sega 32x (Fusion)
[Console] Sega CD (Fusion)
[Console] Sega Dreamcast (Makaron)
[Console] Sega Genesis (Fusion)
[Console] Sega Master System (Fusion)
[Console] Sega Saturn (SSF)
[Console] Sega SG-1000 (Meka)
[Console] SNK Neo-Geo AES (WinKawaks)
[Console] SNK Neo-Geo CD (NeoRaine)
[Console] Sony Playstation (pSX)
[HandHeld] Atari Lynx (Mednafen)
[HandHeld] Bandai Wonderswan (Mednafen)
[HandHeld] Bandai Wonderswan Color (Mednafen)
[HandHeld] Entex Adventure Vision (MESS)
[HandHeld] Nintendo GameBoy (VisualBoyAdvance)
[HandHeld] Nintendo GameBoy Advance (VisualBoyAdvance)
[HandHeld] Nintendo GameBoy Color (VisualBoyAdvance)
[HandHeld] Sega Game Gear (Fusion)
[HandHeld] SNK Neo-Geo Pocket (Mednafen)
[HandHeld] SNK Neo-Geo Pocket Color (Mednafen)
[HandHeld] Watara Supervision (MESS)
[PC] Amstrad CPC (WinApe)
[PC] Commodore 64 (WinVice)
[PC] Commodore 128 (WinVice)
[PC] Commodore Amiga (WinUAE)
[PC] Dragon 64 (MESS)
[PC] Microsoft DOS (DOSBox)
[PC] Microsoft MSX (blueMSX)
[PC] SAM Coupe (SimCoupe)

[Loafmeister]

Another nice list.  I don't see GameEx mentioned as often as Mamewah or Mala, but I have see a demo video of GameEx in action and it certainly looked darn good!  Is it difficult to setup?  Is there a repository of pre-made skins available where one would only have to point the emu to the roms paths, etc.?

[Nologic]

Well there is a reason GX isn't mentioned as much...it costs money...well at lest to get rid of the launch nag. My advise is that if you like the look of GX...buy it out right if your willing to spend money...if not...then I'd start working with one of the other FE's...the nag is a real killer when your just setting up GX...after setup is done...the nag is no big thing.

My thoughts anyways.

Oh and yes over all its very easy to setup...one of the easier if not the easiest...but snags are still hit as can be seen in GX's forums.

[headkaze]

Well there is a reason GX isn't mentioned as much...it costs money...well at lest to get rid of the launch nag.

I thought it was because GameEx has it's own forums  I see GameEx mentioned all the time here but I see very few support questions, as they all seem to be directed at the official forum.

[Nologic]

Well thats also true...but  I see freeware fe's discussed more often.

I still view GX more of a matter of money...its worth while and easy to setup...but the boot nag makes it a ---smurfette--- when first trying it out. hehe hell thats what prompted me into buying it earlier than planned as if you recall I wasn't fully sure if I was really going to get into emulation...heh my how things have changed.

I'm just being honest from my perspective...to me if it looks like what you want from a FE then buy it and save your self some hassle...if your not willing to part with cash...then probably should look at some thing else.

Well at least in the context of setting up a lot of emulators...if mame is all thats  getting setup...the nag is no big deal...and GX is worth while to use with the nag...but if a lot of emulators are coming into play...buy it or move on.

Course with the 9.12 release GX will be supporting over 170 emu\system combinations...70+ emu's downloadable through the setup wizard...so GX will support more stuff out of the box than any other FE...but now I'm sounding like a sells rep

[Nologic]

Oh forgot to mention yeah there are a number of skins available for it...some geared towards HTPC some Arcade Cab's so there is a selection for different tastes.

[loadman]

Holy cow, thanks for the complete list good sir!!!

Something I didn't specify (Sorry... ), I have a desire to run everything from Mala.  Are all these front end friendly?

I would assume so as that is what UncleT is running

[Nologic]

Actually you want all those listed above to work with Mala....you ---gosh-darn--- got it...hell I'll even see about putting together a PDF for you.

My support has just gone to every thing BUT GameEx.

So Mala will soon support over 170 emu\system combinations as well...matter fact it'll likely dwarf GameEx in short order...now.

[Loafmeister]

Well, the cab is all setup so the configuration of the front end is starting. I got a hold of a DVD of 3darcade pre-configured.  It certainly is nice but boy the configuration is something else.   Time to test out the other FE's.

[unclet]

Sorry ... I just rediscovered this thread .....

All of the emulators I have mentioned work in MALA for me. 

Actually any application which can be launched from a command line or from a BAT file can be used in MALA.


Also .... this might help you:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=56010.0

[Loafmeister]

Many thanks, it's bookmarked and will be studied appropriately.

[massive88]

Any particular reason for Kega Fusion over Gens+?  I use Gens but for no real reason other than I probably tried it first and havent had any problems.

In my cab I run:

Arcade: Mame
N64: Project64
SNES: zsnes
NES: Nestopia
Jaguar: VirtualJaguar (may switch to mess, neither works well)
7800: Mess
5200: Mess
2600: Stella
Lynx: Mednafen
Dreamcast: NullDC
Genesis: Gens+
SMS: Gens+
Gamegear: Gens+
PC Engine: Mednafen
Pinball: Future Pinball

All work just fine out of Mamewah, so I assume they would be fine out of Mala as well.

[Nologic]

Well for me originally I had a LOT of issues with any build of Gens...however since I've found a driver from AMD for their 64bit multi core cpu's that corrects some timing issues...this solved my Gens issue. So there is from my perspective no reason to pick one over the other...but I think Fusion supports a few more platforms...but don't quote me.

[Zobeid]

I'm very skeptical about the whole idea of running old console games or computer games on my MAME cabinet.  That's not what it's designed for, and I can see some possible problems. . . .

Some old consoles (I'm thinking ColecoVision and Vectrex) depended heavily on arcade ports that can be played better in their original versions using MAME.

With old computer systems (Atari, Amiga) and many consoles you need keyboard or keypad inputs, or perhaps large numbers of controller buttons that could be hard -- or at least awkward -- to handle with a MAME cabinet.

A lot of console and computer games were designed for long-and-involved game sessions that might get pretty uncomfortable standing in front of an upright cabinet.

Having said all that, here are a few oldies that I would *lurv* to play on my MAME cabinet:

1. Tempest 2000 (Jaguar)   . . . with spinner support if at all possible!
2. Turrican II (Amiga)   . . . best Amiga action game ever
3. Oids (Atari ST)   . . . insanely great Gravitar-Choplifter mashup
4. NY Warriors (Amiga)   . . . best attract mode ever, and an excellent game
5. Terminal Velocity (DOS)   . . . U360s were made for this

[Ginsu Victim]

Since I'm using an older computer, I can't run stuff like Killer Instinct or Mortal Kombat, so having SNES or Genesis on my cabinet is a reasonable substitute.