SimpleTouch FE

2009-02-07T03:30:04Z

Wbuschman:

[[Image:SimpleTouch_Thumb.jpg|thumb|SimpleTouchFE Screenshot|300px|right]]

Front end designed to run on a touch screen, but can be used with a mouse as well.
 
* Support for animated GIF images as well as BMP, JPG and PNG
* Support for video previews
* Can play music in the background while browsing games
* Supports 10 different configurations and the option to drag and drop games between them
* Supports skins for each individual config page
* Supports both delayed shutdown and a pincode protected shutdown
* Optional shutdown screen with quit, shutdown, reboot, standby and hibernate
* Take screenshots of games and add automatically to the FE
* Run a selectable program at shutdown
* Select between 172 different image transitions when browsing the games
* Easily skinnable. Available skins

SimpleTouchFE is a great frond end for touch screen systems, although it can be used with a mouse as well. It works very well as a front end for a kiosk system as it completely hides the windows environment and can prevent users from getting to windows with a pin-code system.

Optionally, SimpleTouchFE allows you to close any program it has launched with either a hot-key or a click pattern. i.e. tapping the upper-left corner of the screen 4 times will close the current application. This feature allows you to close applications such as MAME which usually requires keyboard input (ESC) to close.

SimpleTouchFE is still being developed and its developer, Lave Laar, is an active member of the forums and is very responsive to suggestions and comments.

Download SimpleTouchFE from http://home.online.no/~llindga/

{{FrontEnd}}
[[Category:Software]]

SimpleTouch FE

2009-02-04T15:57:49Z

Wbuschman:

[[Image:SimpleTouch_Thumb.jpg|thumb|SimpleTouchFE Screenshot|300px|right]]

Front end designed to run on a touch screen, but can be used with a mouse as well.
 
* Support for animated GIF images as well as BMP, JPG and PNG
* Support for video previews
* Can play music in the background while browsing games
* Supports 10 different configurations and the option to drag and drop games between them
* Supports skins for each individual config page
* Supports both delayed shutdown and a pincode protected shutdown
* Optional shutdown screen with quit, shutdown, reboot, standby and hibernate
* Take screenshots of games and add automatically to the FE
* Run a selectable program at shutdown
* Select between 172 different image transitions when browsing the games
* Easily skinnable. Available skins

SimpleTouchFE is a great frond end for touch screen systems, although it can be used with a mouse as well. It works very well as a front end for a kiosk system as it completely hides the windows environment and can prevent users from getting to windows with a pin-code system.

Optionally, SimpleTouchFE allows you to close any program it has launched with either a hot-key or a click pattern. i.e. tapping the upper-right corner of the screen 4 times will close the current application. This feature allows you to close applications such as MAME which usually requires keyboard input (ESC) to close.

SimpleTouchFE is still being developed and its developer, Lave Laar, is an active member of the forums and is very responsive to suggestions and comments.

Download SimpleTouchFE from http://home.online.no/~llindga/

{{FrontEnd}}
[[Category:Software]]

File:SimpleTouch Thumb.jpg

2009-02-04T15:45:52Z

Wbuschman: Thumbnail-size screenshot of SimpleTouch FE snagged from STFE's homepage.

Thumbnail-size screenshot of SimpleTouch FE snagged from STFE's homepage.

Front-Ends

2009-02-04T15:43:00Z

Wbuschman: /* Front-end Software */

== 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).'''

{| Width="100%" valign="top" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" style="background:white; color:black; border:1px solid silver;"
|- style="background:navy; color:white"
| '''Software'''
| '''BYOAC User'''
| '''OS'''
| '''Type1'''
| '''Monitor Orientation 2'''
| '''Emulators3'''
| '''Other Features4'''

|- style="background:gray; color:white"
|colspan="7"|'''<center>Typical recommended frontends by BYOAC users:</center>'''

|-
| [[AtomicFE]]
| Youki
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD PC
| CAB JB LED LR MR ST TOU VID

|-
| [[GameEx]]
| TSpeirs
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Shareware ($22)
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD PC
| CAB JB LCD LED LR MR ST SW TOU VID

|-
| [[HyperSpin]]
| BadBoyBill
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
| CMD PC
| CAB DEV LR MR ST SW VID

|-
| [[MaLa]]
| Loadman (previously Swindus)
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD PC
| CAB JB LCD LED LR MR ST SW VID

|-
| [[Mamewah]]
| Minwah
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD PC
| CAB DEV LCD LED LR MR ST VID

|-
| [[Maximus Arcade]]
| %
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Shareware ($25)
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| 39+ arcade and console emulators
| CAB JB LED MR ST VID

|- style="background:gray; color:white"
|colspan="7"|'''<center>Recommended for Linux (both active and discounted):</center>'''

|-
| [[AdvanceMenu]]
| %
| [[Image:OS linux icon.gif]][[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 VID

|-
| [[Wah!Cade]]
| Balki
| [[Image:OS linux icon.gif]]
| Open Source
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD
| DEV CAB LR MR ST VID

|- style="background:gray; color:white"
|colspan="7"|'''<center>Other cabinet friendly frontends:</center>'''

|-
| [[Emulaxian/3D Arcade]]
| )p(
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD
| CAB MR SW

|-
| [[Fronty]]
| FrontyDev
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD PC
| CAB DEV LCD MR ST

|-
| [[Khameleon]]
| Cakemeister
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Open Source
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
| CMD
| CAB DEV LR MR SW VID

|-
| [[MAMELOAD TNG]]
| Tafoid
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD (MAME-BASED, Including MESS), M1, Final Burn Alpha
| CAB DEV MR SW

|-
| [[MultiFE]]
| Space Fractal
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| Mame, CMD (Includning MESS) & PC Games
| CAB DEV JB MR TOU

|-
| [[UltraMame]]
| r.cade
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Open Source
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
| MAME only
| CAB DEV MR VID

|- style="background:gray; color:white"
|colspan="7"|'''<center>Mouse based frontends:</center>'''

|-
| [[EmuLaunch]]
| %
| [[Image:OS_apple_icon.gif]]
| Freeware for personal use
| Emulator dependent
| Uses Finder to open ROMS in 15 arcade and console emulators
| CAB SW

|-
| [[MAME32]]
| %
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
| MAME only
| DEV MR

|- style="background:gray; color:white"
|colspan="7"|'''<center>Touch screen based frontends:</center>'''

|-
| [[SimpleTouch FE]]
| Lave Laar
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| Application dependent
| CMD
| DEV ST TOU VID

|- style="background:gray; color:white"
|colspan="7"|'''<center>Discontinued and/or unsupported frontends5:</center>'''

|-
| [[ArcadeOS]]
| %
| [[Image:OS DOS icon.gif]]
| Open Source
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD
| AM CAB LCD LR MR

|-
| [[ArcadEpic]]
| chowny
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
| CMD
| CAB JB MR VID

|-
| [[Dragon King]]
| Howard_Casto
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]]
| Freeware
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]]
| CMD
| CAB LR MR SW VID

|-
| [[GameLauncher]]
| Dave Dribin
| [[Image:OS windows icon.gif]][[Image:OS DOS icon.gif]]
| Open Source
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD
| 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''

|}

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

* ''[[Arcade.EXE]] - Windows-only MAME front-end''
* ''[[ArcadeFE]] - Windows-only MAME front-end''
* ''[[ArcadeFX]] - Windows-only MAME front-end''

'''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.

BYOAC OLD Wiki - User contributions [en]

SimpleTouch FE

SimpleTouch FE

File:SimpleTouch Thumb.jpg

Front-Ends