Best Front End? Need advice....

[nick-g]

I am looking to run Mame 1.24 and emulators for SNES, NES, Genesis etc.  Is there a front end that stands out over the others?  Ease of configuration and use is my top priority....

[Games001]

I have been using GameEX.

Very simple Windows Media Center style configuration menus and tons of different Themes to download and enjoy.

[stan2323]

I use EasyMame.  It is similar to a windows program in the way it looks and operates but I have found it to be the simplest and easyest to set up for Mame.  I have not tried SNES, NES, or other emulators so I do not know if it does those or not. 

[Dazz]

I am looking to run Mame 1.24 and emulators for SNES, NES, Genesis etc.  Is there a front end that stands out over the others?  Ease of configuration and use is my top priority....

The best front end isn't out yet as it just entered beta... However, I highly suggest Maximus Arcade right now.  Personally, I don't think it gets any easier than Maximus as far as configuration is concerned...

[Red]

I am looking to run Mame 1.24 and emulators for SNES, NES, Genesis etc.  Is there a front end that stands out over the others?  Ease of configuration and use is my top priority....

The best front end isn't out yet as it just entered beta... However, I highly suggest Maximus Arcade right now.  Personally, I don't think it gets any easier than Maximus as far as configuration is concerned...

Why do you say it's the best FE?

[severdhed]

I've tried quite a few of them, and i prefer MALA.  it is very easy to get working, and very easy to customize.

[joebells]

I think as far as ease of configuration maximusarcade, its super easy. Its also pretty easy on the eyes but it takes a while to load(I realise most of you just boot into your frontend and call it good we run a media center) and it takes a bit to come back up after exiting a game.

MaLa I think is pretty nice and easy to use also but not quite as easy as maximusarcade, and it has a fault that really hurts it in my book. It doesn't support true transparent png's it actually has trouble with png's period, I have to export my pngs from illustrator to get them not to error. Any png saved from photoshop doesn't work for me. I also wish it had a bit better text list, when you are at the beginning or end of a text list it leaves the top or bottom of the text list empty creating a funny looking text list. Besides those two things though it does work really well and is pretty sold. Lots of options and plugin support. It runs fairly light too, starts up quick and such. I so wish it had true transparent png support that would put it over the top I think.

hyperspin is very nice though. It has alot of promise. Its still in beta but already it works really well on my system. Its wheel based and supports all sorts of animations. You can set up individualised animations for every single game if you want/have time/and or someone has already made it. And its easy to setup those animations with a few lines in an xml file. I would keep an eye out for it. I think it won't be too long till its released as its already pretty strong. Just needs a backend and some more artwork, plus a few features here and there. You can find a video showing it in action somewhere on this forum. It really does work the way that video shows.

[Havok]

Check the Wiki, that is your best source of information, but AtomicFE is a good choice, supports png files natively and is very graphically oriented. If you want an animated front end, it is a nice choice. Check out the sample themes Here

[Cero21]

I just started using GameEx and I'm enjoying it quite a bit.  The only thing is, it costs around 30 bucks to get rid of the nag screen which is pretty much a must when you are configuring it or you waste a lot of time.

[Games001]

Paying someone $26 USD to remove a nag is just one cost aspect of GameEX, there are many items that become active once you reg.

Even with the other functions that activate with a reg'd copy, we all know how important it is to support those people who create and maintain these FEs and other programs.

I had no issue paying the nag killer reg cost, nor did I have an issue paying EMUMovies to have FTP access to their avi snaps.  I am considering reging a Maximus Arcade FE, just to have a bit of difference in FEs when I build cabs.  Let the buyer have a choice is my rule.

[Ginsu Victim]

Mamewah isn't the easiest to set up at first, but once you read the wiki and read some answers to questions on these boards (and perhaps ask some of your own), it's really easy to use and configure.
I love it.

[arzoo]

I am looking to run Mame 1.24 and emulators for SNES, NES, Genesis etc.  Is there a front end that stands out over the others?  Ease of configuration and use is my top priority....

There you go - at least one user has chimed in on pretty much all the most popular FEs! This usually happens whenever someone asks Which is the best FE?

Check the WIKI. Try some out. Then pick the one you like the best with the features that meet your needs! 

[MustardTent]

Your choice of FE really rounds out the presence of your cab.  Look around and play with all the FEs that interest you -- this may take a while, but be patient.  People at this stage don't always know what's available, and you may find that a feature you wanted turns to be something that you actually wouldn't miss, while other features you haven't heard of turn out to be what you feel would really finish off the arcade experience.

Maybe it's just me, but I have loads of fun playing with FEs -- you may find that you feel the same way and this may be one of the best parts of building your cab.

[nick-g]

can you run multiple front ends?  Just keep them in a folder and open whichever one you choose on that particular day?  In which folder does the FE go? How does it attach itself to Roms etc?

[joebells]

yep thats definately possible, I have a few on here right now as I continue to play around with them. But you'll probably want to pick one and stick with it if you decide to use favorites features and most played games and such as if your using several frontends none of them will have a comprehensive most played list or favorites list.

And yeah just seperate folders for each is how I have it.

[protokatie]

I have mala and a few other FE's installed right into the MAME directory I use... (Yes, it IS a mess now, but I dont care since I rarely have to deal with the directory itself all that much) Oddly enough the only FE I have in its own directory is AtomicFE which is the one I decided to go with, but it is always nice to have a backup incase something goes wrong 30 minutes before a party or something...

IE, get 2 or 3 FEs and configure them. Focus most of the work on the primary one but keep the others intact just incase you end up bricking your primary FE. Besides it is fun to play around with the various FE's and this is also the best way to find the "right one". Its sorta like; "Noone can tell you the truth, you must find your own truth" things...