ArcadeFX is a Windows based front end for MAME. This project was started in July of 2000. I was only able to spend about a month on it before dropping it due to limited time. Around Christmas season 2001 I picked the project back up and have been continuing the development.
ArcadeFX was my interpretation of almost everything I want in a MAME front-end that runs under Windows with a PC monitor. I wanted something that looked as good, if not better, than any game. I did not want it to look like a standard Windows application develped with C++ or VB at the time. I wanted it to be functional eye candy. It must also lock the user out of the window environment as much as possible. I wanted the UI to be skinable so I can change the interface when I got bored with it. I wanted it to be almost entirely controlled with a joystick or trackball and only the ESC and ENTER buttons. For the most part, these are the requirements when I started this project in July of 2001. Was I asking too much? I did not think so. So with a good friend of mine we began the path of creating our perfect MAME front-end that runs under Windows.
Dan Clinger also did a lot of work on this project. Without this mad Authorware skills it would not have been possible.
Please note that my interpretation of perfect is not the same as everyone elses. Some people don’t go for the bells and whistles. I did. Some just want to lauch their favorite roms and be done with it. I want a total experience when it comes to my MAMA cabinet. If this is similar to what you are looking for then ArcadeFX just might be what you have been searching for in MAME front-end. If not, then there are many choices out there. I did not build this the masses only for a small nitch of people like myself who want something more in their MAME cabinet.
To run ArcadeFX you will need the following:
• 640 x 480 minimum resolution.
• Microsoft Windows 9x, 2000, NT, XP.
• Normal Mame Win32 binary any version
• Not sure about min PC hardware yet. The lowest I have tested on is 300p with 128MB Ram.
• 16 bit color minimum is recommended.
• Optional: QuickTime plugin to play Dave Dries arcade movies
Please note that this project has not been updated or maintained since around 2002 or 2003. You will need both the first two links to use this ArcadeFX. The Skin Template is only needed if you want to create your own custom skins.
Download: ArcadeFX
Download: ArcadeFX Database
Download: ArcadeFX Skin Template
Blogging geek Dad that loves to do long runs, ride his bikes, partake in frosty beverages, listen to live music, watch movies, hike high into the mountains, and hang out with his family doing any of the above. Oh, and write code late into the wee hours of the morning.
Any chance giving out the Authorware source code? It would be an interesting project to Port to AIR or FLASH+Zinc now that Adobe announced EOD on Authorware.