Difference between revisions of "Front-Ends"

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m (→‎Front-end Software: - Wah!Cade is for Linux only)
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Line 11: Line 11:
 
| '''OS'''
 
| '''OS'''
 
| '''Type<sup>1</sup>'''
 
| '''Type<sup>1</sup>'''
−
| '''Monitor Orientation'''
+
| '''Monitor Orientation <sup>2</sup>'''
 
| '''Emulators<sup>3</sup>'''
 
| '''Emulators<sup>3</sup>'''
 
| '''Other Features<sup>4</sup>'''
 
| '''Other Features<sup>4</sup>'''
Line 25: Line 25:
 
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
 
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
 
| CMD PC
 
| CMD PC
−
| CAB JB LED LR MR ST VID
+
| CAB JB LED LR MR ST TOU VID DEV
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
| [[GameEx]]
 +
| TSpeirs
 +
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
 +
| Shareware ($25)
 +
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
 +
| CMD PC
 +
| CAB JB LCD LED LR MR ST SW TOU VID DEV
 +
 
 +
|-
 +
| [[HyperSpin]]
 +
| BadBoyBill
 +
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
 +
| Freeware
 +
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
 +
| CMD PC
 +
| CAB DEV LR MR ST SW VID LED
  
 
|-
 
|-
Line 41: Line 59:
 
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
 
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
 
| Freeware
 
| Freeware
−
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
+
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
 
| CMD PC
 
| CMD PC
−
| CAB LR MR ST VID  
+
| CAB DEV LCD LED LR MR ST VID
  
 
|-
 
|-
Line 52: Line 70:
 
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
 
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
 
| 39+ arcade and console emulators
 
| 39+ arcade and console emulators
−
| CAB JB MR ST VID
+
| CAB JB LED MR ST VID  
−
 
 
−
|-
 
−
| [[GameEx]]
 
−
| TSpeirs
 
−
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
 
−
| Shareware ($25)
 
−
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
 
−
| CMD PC
 
−
| CAB JB LCD LED LR MR ST SW VID
 
  
 
|- style="background:gray; color:white"
 
|- style="background:gray; color:white"
Line 80: Line 89:
 
| [[Image:OS linux icon.gif]]
 
| [[Image:OS linux icon.gif]]
 
| Open Source
 
| Open Source
−
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
+
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
 
| CMD
 
| CMD
 
| DEV CAB LR MR ST VID
 
| DEV CAB LR MR ST VID
Line 86: Line 95:
 
|- style="background:gray; color:white"
 
|- style="background:gray; color:white"
 
|colspan="7"|'''<center>Other cabinet friendly frontends:</center>'''
 
|colspan="7"|'''<center>Other cabinet friendly frontends:</center>'''
 +
 +
|-
 +
| [[Cabrio]]
 +
| Cosam
 +
| [[Image:OS linux icon.gif]]
 +
| Open Source
 +
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
 +
| CMD
 +
| CAB DEV LR MR SW VID
  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[Emulaxian/3D Arcade]]
 
| [[Emulaxian/3D Arcade]]
−
| %
+
| )p(
 
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
 
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
 
| Freeware
 
| Freeware
Line 98: Line 116:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[Fronty]]
 
| [[Fronty]]
−
| %
+
| FrontyDev
 
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
 
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
 
| Freeware
 
| Freeware
Line 104: Line 122:
 
| CMD PC
 
| CMD PC
 
| CAB DEV LCD MR ST
 
| CAB DEV LCD MR ST
−
 
−
|-
 
−
| [[HyperSpin]]
 
−
| BadBoyBill
 
−
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
 
−
| Not released yet
 
−
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
 
−
| CMD PC
 
−
| CAB DEV SW VID
 
  
 
|-
 
|-
Line 124: Line 133:
  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[Kymaera]]
+
| [[MAMELOAD TNG]]
−
| PacManFan
+
| Tafoid
−
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]][[Image:OS linux icon.gif]][[Image:OS DOS icon.gif]]
+
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
−
| Open Source
+
| Freeware
 
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
 
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
−
| CMD
+
| CMD (MAME-BASED, Including MESS), M1, Final Burn Alpha
−
| AM CAB LR MR ST SW VID
+
| CAB DEV MR SW  
  
−
|-
+
|-  
−
| [[MAMELOAD TNG]]
+
| [[MultiFE]]
−
| %
+
| Space Fractal
 
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
 
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
 
| Freeware
 
| Freeware
 
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
 
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
−
| CMD (MAME-BASED), M1, Final Burn Alpha
+
| Mame, CMD (Includning MESS) & PC Games
−
| CAB DEV MR SW
+
| CAB DEV JB MR TOU
  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[UltraMAME]]
+
| [[UltraMame]]
−
| %
+
| r.cade
 
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
 
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
 
| Open Source
 
| Open Source
Line 150: Line 159:
 
| CAB DEV MR VID
 
| CAB DEV MR VID
  
−
|-
 
−
| [[Ultrastyle]]
 
−
| %
 
−
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
 
−
| Open Source
 
−
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
 
−
| MAME only
 
−
| CAB DEV MR SW VID
 
  
 
|- style="background:gray; color:white"
 
|- style="background:gray; color:white"
Line 169: Line 170:
 
| Emulator dependent
 
| Emulator dependent
 
| Uses Finder to open ROMS in 15 arcade and console emulators
 
| Uses Finder to open ROMS in 15 arcade and console emulators
−
| SW
+
| CAB SW
  
 
|-
 
|-
Line 179: Line 180:
 
| MAME only
 
| MAME only
 
| DEV MR  
 
| DEV MR  
−
 
  
 
|- style="background:gray; color:white"
 
|- style="background:gray; color:white"
−
|colspan="7"|'''<center>Frontends with missing "other features" tab:</center>'''
+
|colspan="7"|'''<center>Touch screen based frontends:</center>'''
  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| [[CabFE]]
+
| [[SimpleTouch FE]]
−
| %
+
| Lave Laar
−
| [[Image:OS linux icon.gif]]
+
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
−
| Open Source
+
| Freeware
−
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
+
| Application dependent
 
| CMD
 
| CMD
−
| ''Placeholder''
+
| DEV ST TOU VID
−
 
 
−
|-
 
−
| [[PyreCade]]
 
−
| %
 
−
| [[Image:OS linux icon.gif]][[Image:OS windows icon.gif]][[Image:OS_apple_icon.gif]]
 
−
| OpenSource
 
−
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
 
−
| Mame <.106uq2
 
−
| ''Placeholder''
 
−
 
 
−
|-
 
−
| [[XMAME-GUI]]
 
−
| %
 
−
| [[Image:Java.gif]]
 
−
| Open Source
 
−
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
 
−
| SDL-MAME Only
 
−
| ''Placeholder''
 
  
 
|- style="background:gray; color:white"
 
|- style="background:gray; color:white"
−
|colspan="7"|'''<center>No longer active frontends:</center>'''
+
|colspan="7"|'''<center>Discontinued and/or unsupported frontends<sup>5</sup>:</center>'''
  
 
|-
 
|-
Line 225: Line 207:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[ArcadEpic]]
 
| [[ArcadEpic]]
−
| %
+
| chowny
 
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
 
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
 
| Freeware
 
| Freeware
Line 243: Line 225:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| [[GameLauncher]]
 
| [[GameLauncher]]
−
| %
+
| Dave Dribin
 
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]][[Image:OS DOS icon.gif]]
 
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]][[Image:OS DOS icon.gif]]
 
| Open Source
 
| Open Source
Line 249: Line 231:
 
| CMD
 
| CMD
 
| CAB LR MR
 
| CAB LR MR
 +
 +
|-
 +
| [[Kymaera]]
 +
| PacManFan
 +
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]][[Image:OS DOS icon.gif]]
 +
| Open Source
 +
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
 +
| CMD
 +
| AM CAB LR MR ST SW VID
 +
 +
|-
 +
| [[Ultrastyle]]
 +
| ultrastyle
 +
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
 +
| Open Source
 +
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
 +
| MAME only
 +
| CAB MR SW VID
 +
 +
|- style="background:gray; color:white"
 +
|colspan="7"|'''<center>Frontends with missing "other features" tab:</center>'''
 +
 +
|-
 +
| [[CabFE]]
 +
| %
 +
| [[Image:OS linux icon.gif]]
 +
| Open Source
 +
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
 +
| CMD
 +
| ''Placeholder''
 +
 +
|-
 +
| [[PyreCade]]
 +
| flemming
 +
| [[Image:OS linux icon.gif]][[Image:OS windows icon.gif]][[Image:OS_apple_icon.gif]]
 +
| OpenSource
 +
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
 +
| Mame <.106uq2
 +
| ''Placeholder''
 +
 +
|-
 +
| [[XMAME-GUI]]
 +
| %
 +
| [[Image:Java.gif]]
 +
| Open Source
 +
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
 +
| SDL-MAME Only
 +
| ''Placeholder''
  
  
Line 264: Line 294:
 
* '''Open Source:''' is fully functional software with source code included.
 
* '''Open Source:''' is fully functional software with source code included.
 
* '''Freeware:''' is fully functional without payment and without nag screens and ads.
 
* '''Freeware:''' is fully functional without payment and without nag screens and ads.
−
* '''Shareware:''' has limited functionality (or have nags) until payment is made.  
+
* '''Shareware:''' has limited functionality (or has nags) until payment is made.  
 
* '''Commercial:''' software is fully functional for a limited time, after which payment must be made.
 
* '''Commercial:''' software is fully functional for a limited time, after which payment must be made.
  
−
'''2)''' Skinnable:  
+
'''2)''' About software and hardware rotation:
−
* '''Basic:  ''' change only the background, and maybe text size and/or color
+
 
−
* '''Advanced:  ''' change all artwork. The interface elements are locked in place, although buttons may be able to be resized
+
Most Frontends with vertical support typical require Windows to been rotated as well. Some frontends, such like Mamewah, MultiFE and others support software rotation as well.
−
* '''Full:  ''' change all artwork, all interface elements can be changed (resize, moveable and resolution).
 
  
 
'''3)''' Emulators:
 
'''3)''' Emulators:
Line 277: Line 306:
  
 
'''4)''' Other Features:
 
'''4)''' Other Features:
 +
*'''DEV''' - Still in developing for fixing bugs or/and supported.
 
*'''AM''' - Native arcade monitor support without ArcadeVGA card
 
*'''AM''' - Native arcade monitor support without ArcadeVGA card
 
*'''CAB''' - Mouse and keyboard-free operation (for cabinets)
 
*'''CAB''' - Mouse and keyboard-free operation (for cabinets)
Line 286: Line 316:
 
*'''ST''' - Skin tool included
 
*'''ST''' - Skin tool included
 
*'''SW''' - Skinnable without tool
 
*'''SW''' - Skinnable without tool
 +
*'''TOU''' - Touchscreen Support
 
*'''VID''' - Video snapshots (movies)
 
*'''VID''' - Video snapshots (movies)
 +
 +
 +
Howover Mamewah and MultiFE (in realtime) have software rotation as well.
 +
 +
 +
 +
Just because a frontend is discontinued does not mean that it is a bad frontend.
 +
Either there is no more need to update it, or the author just left the project.
 +
Discontinued frontends are still used in cabinets today, and most run on both older and newer machines, though some may have some issues with newer versions of MAME.
 +
So check these out as well.

Latest revision as of 09:59, 1 June 2010

Front-end Software

Below is the front-end software comparison table. Click on the software's name for detailed information about that software. Please be aware that this may be incomplete! The individual pages will have the software's homepage for you to verify any information or questions you may have!

Note: Any unknown information in the table is filled with placeholders (placeholders are shown in italics). Note: To be listed as Cabinet friendly, it needs to be able to be used with joysticks and buttons only (CAB).'

Software BYOAC User OS Type1 Monitor Orientation 2 Emulators3 Other Features4
Typical recommended frontends by BYOAC users:
AtomicFE Youki OS windows icon.gif Freeware Monitor horizontal icon.gifMonitor vertical icon.gif CMD PC CAB JB LED LR MR ST TOU VID DEV
GameEx TSpeirs OS windows icon.gif Shareware ($25) Monitor horizontal icon.gifMonitor vertical icon.gif CMD PC CAB JB LCD LED LR MR ST SW TOU VID DEV
HyperSpin BadBoyBill OS windows icon.gif Freeware Monitor horizontal icon.gif CMD PC CAB DEV LR MR ST SW VID LED
MaLa Loadman (previously Swindus) OS windows icon.gif Freeware Monitor horizontal icon.gifMonitor vertical icon.gif CMD PC CAB JB LCD LED LR MR ST SW VID
Mamewah Minwah OS windows icon.gif Freeware Monitor horizontal icon.gifMonitor vertical icon.gif CMD PC CAB DEV LCD LED LR MR ST VID
Maximus Arcade % OS windows icon.gif Shareware ($25) Monitor horizontal icon.gifMonitor vertical icon.gif 39+ arcade and console emulators CAB JB LED MR ST VID
Recommended for Linux (both active and discounted):
AdvanceMenu % OS linux icon.gifOS windows icon.gifOS DOS icon.gif Open Source Monitor horizontal icon.gifMonitor vertical icon.gif CMD AM CAB LR MR VID
Wah!Cade Balki OS linux icon.gif Open Source Monitor horizontal icon.gifMonitor vertical icon.gif CMD DEV CAB LR MR ST VID
Other cabinet friendly frontends:
Cabrio Cosam OS linux icon.gif Open Source Monitor horizontal icon.gifMonitor vertical icon.gif CMD CAB DEV LR MR SW VID
Emulaxian/3D Arcade )p( OS windows icon.gif Freeware Monitor horizontal icon.gifMonitor vertical icon.gif CMD CAB MR SW
Fronty FrontyDev OS windows icon.gif Freeware Monitor horizontal icon.gifMonitor vertical icon.gif CMD PC CAB DEV LCD MR ST
Khameleon Cakemeister OS windows icon.gif Open Source Monitor horizontal icon.gif CMD CAB DEV LR MR SW VID
MAMELOAD TNG Tafoid OS windows icon.gif Freeware Monitor horizontal icon.gifMonitor vertical icon.gif CMD (MAME-BASED, Including MESS), M1, Final Burn Alpha CAB DEV MR SW
MultiFE Space Fractal OS windows icon.gif Freeware Monitor horizontal icon.gifMonitor vertical icon.gif Mame, CMD (Includning MESS) & PC Games CAB DEV JB MR TOU
UltraMame r.cade OS windows icon.gif Open Source Monitor horizontal icon.gif MAME only CAB DEV MR VID


Mouse based frontends:
EmuLaunch % OS apple icon.gif Freeware for personal use Emulator dependent Uses Finder to open ROMS in 15 arcade and console emulators CAB SW
MAME32 % OS windows icon.gif Freeware Monitor horizontal icon.gif MAME only DEV MR
Touch screen based frontends:
SimpleTouch FE Lave Laar OS windows icon.gif Freeware Application dependent CMD DEV ST TOU VID
Discontinued and/or unsupported frontends5:
ArcadeOS % OS DOS icon.gif Open Source Monitor horizontal icon.gifMonitor vertical icon.gif CMD AM CAB LCD LR MR
ArcadEpic chowny OS windows icon.gif Freeware Monitor horizontal icon.gif CMD CAB JB MR VID
Dragon King Howard_Casto OS windows icon.gif Freeware Monitor horizontal icon.gif CMD CAB LR MR SW VID
GameLauncher Dave Dribin OS windows icon.gifOS DOS icon.gif Open Source Monitor horizontal icon.gifMonitor vertical icon.gif CMD CAB LR MR
Kymaera PacManFan OS windows icon.gifOS DOS icon.gif Open Source Monitor horizontal icon.gifMonitor vertical icon.gif CMD AM CAB LR MR ST SW VID
Ultrastyle ultrastyle OS windows icon.gif Open Source Monitor horizontal icon.gif MAME only CAB MR SW VID
Frontends with missing "other features" tab:
CabFE % OS linux icon.gif Open Source Monitor horizontal icon.gif CMD Placeholder
PyreCade flemming OS linux icon.gifOS windows icon.gifOS apple icon.gif OpenSource Monitor horizontal icon.gif Mame <.106uq2 Placeholder
XMAME-GUI % Java.gif Open Source Monitor horizontal icon.gif SDL-MAME Only Placeholder



Homepages for these FEs are gone, and are (might?) not active anymore:


1) Type:

  • Open Source: is fully functional software with source code included.
  • Freeware: is fully functional without payment and without nag screens and ads.
  • Shareware: has limited functionality (or has nags) until payment is made.
  • Commercial: software is fully functional for a limited time, after which payment must be made.

2) About software and hardware rotation:

Most Frontends with vertical support typical require Windows to been rotated as well. Some frontends, such like Mamewah, MultiFE and others support software rotation as well.

3) Emulators:

  • If CMD is shown, this front-end can run all command line based emulators.
  • If PC is shown, it can run PC games as well (using bat and/or shortcuts files).

4) Other Features:

  • DEV - Still in developing for fixing bugs or/and supported.
  • AM - Native arcade monitor support without ArcadeVGA card
  • CAB - Mouse and keyboard-free operation (for cabinets)
  • JB - Integrated jukebox
  • LCD - LCD screen, such as those found at http://www.seetron.com/
  • LED - Front-end can control a LED controller
  • LR - Low Resolutions (below 640 pixels wide)
  • MR - Multiple Resolutions
  • ST - Skin tool included
  • SW - Skinnable without tool
  • TOU - Touchscreen Support
  • VID - Video snapshots (movies)


Howover Mamewah and MultiFE (in realtime) have software rotation as well.


Just because a frontend is discontinued does not mean that it is a bad frontend. Either there is no more need to update it, or the author just left the project. Discontinued frontends are still used in cabinets today, and most run on both older and newer machines, though some may have some issues with newer versions of MAME. So check these out as well.

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