Hey Tom

[Brian Hoffman]

Your software is obviously a labor of love..

My question is what do you use it for? What games/emus do you run and when your not developing it what do you use with it for fun?

[Adultery]

Your software is obviously a labor of love..

My question is what do you use it for? What games/emus do you run and when your not developing it what do you use with it for fun?

Ohhh... Good question!!! We all wanna know how 'into' GameEx you are!

[Tom Speirs]

To be honest, when Im not developing GameEx (which I love), I normally use it for the non gaming features such as DVDs on disk and Jukebox.

I spent most of my young childhood in the arcades as a kid, back when noone worried about there kids going out so much like they do now. To be honest I think I got a little burnt out with it. Also I think partly due to getting older. I spent probably years of my life around video games, and from a very young age. I've lived near a sea side resort all my life, and from the age of about 8 to 18 spent near on at least 1 day a week down there. Even on my own sometimes when my mates had spent there pocket money (US = allowance). From the age of 9 when I got a ZX Spectrum I wanted to be a games programmer. I ended up a programmer at least so Im pretty lucky.

Although I love the nostalgia of the old games, and am interested in the new games and consoles from a technical perspective I dont play games too much now, and if I do it will be a classic. Maybe a blast at Joust with my cousin. I do like showing off GameEx both on my cab and HTPC, but I more get a kick out of people like friends kids using and enjoying it.. I mean I get a kick out of other people getting pleasure from GameEx.

To me video games are a form of artwork and culture that needs to be cherished. So Im well in favour of MAME as a project etc. I think people forget sometimes just how incredibly awesome MAME is.

Im really keen on the emulation/mame scene becoming more legitimate for the classic games. If it was possible to buy the classic roms I certainly would. If I had a goal outside of GameEx it would be to see that happen..

[one2three]

Wow, great question! Tom, your answer was enjoyable to read. Although I have no programming skills or knowledge, I too enjoy seeing other people having fun playing games on the arcade cab. I think I spend more time configing GameEx than I do using it. I really appreciate all your had work in not only developing this great software, but supporting it as well. You are a gentleman and a scholar (and a great programmer to boot), keep up the great work!

[Brian Hoffman]

Well you defenatly have good reson to be proud of your software.

Thanks for taking the time to awenser the post.

I too find myself spending more time configuring the perfect setup than playing it. But my cousins come over and they get to enjoy it and I enjoy seeing them enjoy it.

MAME is awesome and I love street fighter II I was 11 when it came out to the arcade and I remember walking to the nearest donut shop to play it with my friends.

I'd save my lunch money just to play it. I always wanted my own SFII arcade...Now I got one..essentailly

Three cheers for Tom

[iano]

Wow, great question! Tom, your answer was enjoyable to read. Although I have no programming skills or knowledge, I too enjoy seeing other people having fun playing games on the arcade cab. I think I spend more time configing GameEx than I do using it. I really appreciate all your had work in not only developing this great software, but supporting it as well. You are a gentleman and a scholar (and a great programmer to boot), keep up the great work!

I have to agree here, definitely an enjoyable read ! I think it could be made into a series (The Man Behind GameEX). Seriously though, it's nice to know a little about the developer behind GameEX as it's unlikely any of us will ever get to meet Tom.

Keep up the good work !

[fattmarrell]

it's nice to know a little about the developer behind GameEX as it's unlikely any of us will ever get to meet Tom.

Every time you win a free credit in pinmame, that will be Tom. Every time you get clobbered by a ridiculously tough enemy, that will be Tom. Every time you feel a breeze of air at your cheek, that will be Tom, LOL jk

Thanks for all the hard work and giving me such a fun project to work on

[katuuuz]

Every time you win a free credit in pinmame, that will be Tom. Every time you get clobbered by a ridiculously tough enemy, that will be Tom. Every time you feel a breeze of air at your cheek, that will be Tom, LOL jk

Thanks for all the hard work and giving me such a fun project to work on

yeah tom, your drive/talent in creating GameEx really benefited me. (if that makes it worth it to you lol). Seriously though, i've been an avid game player since i was a youngster, always buying the consoles as soon as possible upon their release, and trying to be the best at all the games that came along with it. From Atari, to Wii i've enjoyed relaxing with a few beers and having a go at them. I've also been into the emulation scene as soon as i found out about it (about 4-5 years ago) and your front end basically sealed the deal. I never would have imagined playing games like i do now in an arcade cabinet, and not having to call up each emulator and open individual roms. you've definitely made classic gaming a lot better looking and easier for me and my pals to get drunk to. even playing the latest up-to-date xbox 360 game has no comparison to spiking my buddy in the head in super dodge ball. thanks for the hard work, and if i ever run into anyone from this site in a bar, drinks are on me for the night.

CHEERS to gameex

Queers to mamewah!

[Adultery]

I love this forum! It's like we're a totally disfunctional family... We're all here for GameEx but each of us for a different reason.

Liked the reply, and like most of you I have been into consoles from back in my Intellevision days and I have tried to stay ahead on gaming ever since... I got a PS3 as soon as I could because I get ill knowing there's some great new technology out that I don't have yet.... Even though I spent too much on one through Ebay. Crazy? Yes, probably. But games have always been my life... Right down to the Super MArio Bros back piece* I got a few years ago (that my girlfriend HATES!!!).

Crazy to me is that I never really use the DVD or jukebox features (but it's nice to know they're there). I know I'm with you all on the fact that I spend more time tweaking and tinkering than playing... Although that will change once I have completed Project: AVI Snaps. That is... until the next feature is implimented in GameEx. Too bad I can't afford a LEDWiz setup... It's just too much money at this point in my already three year old cab project (which may never truly be finished anyway).

Enough babble... Great work and keep it up Tom! You could start your own religion like L Ron Hubard. GameEx-ology?

*For the ink illiterate: A back piece is a full back tattoo.

[jthompson]

*For the ink illiterate: A back piece is a full back tattoo.

Now that, I'd like to see!

Jay T