Attract-Mode

2013-12-15T05:48:29Z

Raygun: Created page

Attract-Mode is a graphical front-end for command line emulators such as MAME, MESS and Nestopia. It hides the underlying operating system and is intended to be controlled with a joystick, gamepad or spin dial, making it ideal for use in arcade cabinet setups. Attract-Mode is open source and runs on Linux, OS X and Windows.

= Features =

*Configuration menu for easy configuration of most settings.
*Fully scriptable display layouts written in the Squirrel programming language.
*Includes the "Attrac-Man" layout, a playable Pacman-inspired game that unfolds around the edges of your game menu.
*Frontend controls can be mapped to any joystick, keyboard or mouse input.
*User configurable sounds and ambient music.
*Display images, videos and information related to specific games.
*Supports screen rotation and flipping (including auto-rotation).
*Filter game lists based on specific attributes.
*Automatically generate game lists from directory contents.
*Import game information from MAME/MESS -listxml and -listsoftware commands.
*Catver.ini and nplayers.ini file support.
*Unicode character (UTF-8) support.
*Configurable screensaver.

= Links =

*More information and downloads: http://attractmode.org
*Github repository: https://github.com/mickelson/attract

Front-Ends

2013-12-15T05:41:17Z

Raygun: Added Attract-Mode frontend

== 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 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

|-
| [[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>'''

|-
| [[Attract-Mode]]
| Raygun
| [[Image:OS linux icon.gif]][[Image:OS windows icon.gif]][[Image:OS_apple_icon.gif]]
| Open Source
| [[Image:Monitor horizontal icon.gif]][[Image:Monitor vertical icon.gif]]
| CMD PC
| CAB DEV LR MR SW VID

|-
| [[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]]
| )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 New Wiki - User contributions [en]

Attract-Mode

Front-Ends