Front-Ends
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 | Emulators3 | Other Features4 |
| AtomicFE | Youki | 
|
Freeware |  
|
CMD PC | CAB JB LED LR MR ST VID |
| MaLa | Loadman (previously Swindus) |
|
Freeware |
|
CMD PC | CAB JB LCD LED LR MR ST SW VID |
| Mamewah | Minwah |
|
Freeware |
|
CMD PC | CAB LR MR ST VID |
| Maximus Arcade | % |
|
Shareware ($25) |
|
39+ arcade and console emulators | CAB JB MR ST VID |
| GameEx | TSpeirs |
|
Shareware ($25) |
|
CMD PC | CAB JB LCD LED LR MR ST SW VID |
| AdvanceMenu | % |  
|
Open Source |
|
CMD | AM CAB LR MR VID |
| Wah!Cade | Balki |
|
Open Source |
|
CMD | DEV CAB LR MR ST VID |
| Emulaxian/3D Arcade | )p( |
|
Freeware |
|
CMD | CAB MR SW |
| HyperSpin | BadBoyBill |
|
Not released yet |
|
CMD PC | CAB DEV LR MR ST SW VID |
| Khameleon | Cakemeister |
|
Open Source |
|
CMD | CAB DEV LR MR SW VID |
| MAMELOAD TNG | % |
|
Freeware |
|
CMD (MAME-BASED), M1, Final Burn Alpha | CAB DEV MR SW |
| UltraMame | r.cade |
|
Open Source |
|
MAME only | CAB DEV MR VID |
| EmuLaunch | % | 
|
Freeware for personal use | Emulator dependent | Uses Finder to open ROMS in 15 arcade and console emulators | SW |
| MAME32 | % |
|
Freeware |
|
MAME only | DEV MR |
| ArcadeOS | % |
|
Open Source |
|
CMD | AM CAB LCD LR MR |
| ArcadEpic | chowny |
|
Freeware |
|
CMD | CAB JB MR VID |
| Dragon King | Howard_Casto |
|
Freeware |
|
CMD | CAB LR MR SW VID |
| Fronty | % |
|
Freeware |
|
CMD PC | CAB DEV LCD MR ST |
| GameLauncher | Dave Dribin |
|
Open Source |
|
CMD | CAB LR MR |
| Kymaera | PacManFan |
|
Open Source |
|
CMD | AM CAB LR MR ST SW VID |
| Ultrastyle | ultrastyle |
|
Open Source |
|
MAME only | CAB MR SW VID |
| CabFE | % |
|
Open Source |
|
CMD | Placeholder |
| PyreCade | flemming |
|
OpenSource |
|
Mame <.106uq2 | Placeholder |
| XMAME-GUI | % | 
|
Open Source |
|
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) Skinnable:
- 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
- Full: change all artwork, all interface elements can be changed (resize, moveable and resolution).
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
- VID - Video snapshots (movies)
5) About Discontinued Frontends (no DEV in the Other Features list):
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.
