New to GameEx, have a few questions

[MydknyteStyrm]

Hello Everyone,

I have spent the last month researching frontends, Mame, roms, building cabs, and looking for monitors online. Everything is moving along smoothly to get my first cab up and running, but the FrontEnds are giving me a bit of a quandary.

I have used Maximus Arcade, with no satisfaction, and HyperSpin, with some satisfactory results. Everywhere I look I hear that GameEx is the best FE to use for Mame, and so far I am excited to put it together. I downloaded it today, and am anxious to get started.

However...

1) I am very anal about the listing of the games, and in Hyperspin all I had to do was edit the XML file. I have spent countless hours selecting the precise roms for Mame that I want to use by creating a new "roms" folder in the Mame root, and only putting in the roms I want. Therefore, when I look on the list, I want to see Street Fighter, then SF2, SF3, and so forth. Most FE's use the rom name to put the list together. In GameEx, can I design the list as I see fit, as far as putting sequels and Super versions next to each other? It's really nice to put the Pac Man family together.

2) I want to install a intro video for the system. What format works for GameEx? AVI, FLV or mp4? I suppose this question works for the downloads from EmuMovies as well. Whats the required format that wont bog the system down?

3) Background music. MaximusArcade had a great setup where I could put in a few mp3's, and they would play randomly whilst I was selecting games. Is that an option in GameEx? It wasnt in Hyperspin. Ideally I would love to have the music play as I select games, but not sacrificing the sound from the Game preview. Is this even an option?

4) What is the best LED software to use with GameEx? I definitely intend to have the buttons light up pertaining to each game, and want to ensure that this FE is the best to have it done before I start wiring LEDs

I am sure I will have a million other questions, but if anyone can point me in the right direction, it will be appreciated. Thanks again!

[Draco1962]

First, welcome to the GameEx forums! I think you will be pleased overall with GameEx. The best general advice I can give you is to get familiar with the Setup Wizard (where 90% of your GameEx paths, command lines, and programs will be setup).

While I am an admin here, I am not a programmer, developer, power user, or anything else. Just a user for the most part. That being said, I will attempt to answer one or two of your questions.

2) I want to install a intro video for the system. What format works for GameEx? AVI, FLV or mp4? I suppose this question works for the downloads from EmuMovies as well. Whats the required format that wont bog the system down?

mp4 by far is the most popular as of late, however, GameEx will play all 3 formats. There is no required format, however, since emphasis as of late has been in the mp4 direction and away from FLV and AVI, I would say go with that.

3) Background music. MaximusArcade had a great setup where I could put in a few mp3's, and they would play randomly whilst I was selecting games. Is that an option in GameEx? It wasnt in Hyperspin. Ideally I would love to have the music play as I select games, but not sacrificing the sound from the Game preview. Is this even an option?

GameEx has a full on jukebox option from which you can play your mp3's, setup a play list and they will play while you are selecting a game or navigating through other options. It will pause, however, as you enter the game play and resume once you exit your game.