well, I can safely say GameEx has far exceeded every expectation.... not many computer-related things do that :)
not only is the front end a true MASTERPIECE of it's genre... but the community plugins just put it completely over the top.
THANK YOU TOM FOR YOUR WORK
YOU ARE BRINGING YOUR USERS SHEER JOY
its a tough but really fun hobby...
where many of us just wish to dream about our 'ultimate' creation ...
and gameex is able to help bridge the gap from a dream to reality...
without it, a lot of things would just stay on the drawing board and never make it to production....
things would just get 'left out' to avoid further hassle after devoting a certain amount of time to the project....
but gameex is just the .... the elixir for the poison of integrating so many disparate and complex pieces of software.
I have been in the IT/PC tech field for about 12 years, I am pretty young (late 20's) but have seen OS's Applications, and Ideas come and go.
Even when I was 15 and working at a local ISP I realised how horribly programmed most software was. It basically never did what it was intended to do, and if it did, it was a huge headache getting it to work. not to mention the fact that it was always expensive, and was lacking tons of basic, or needed features.
I have got into the habbit of "Trying" software, only to erase it off my HDD, feeling relief that I didn't pay for it, yet feeling bad for everyone who had paid for it. ( DOn't condone Piracy, but, I don't blame most pirates! Argggg!)
Fast forward to 2007, SOftware still sucks (Except a few open source projects here and there) I wanted to build a Killer HTPC. I wanted the Tivo-ish features, but most of all I wanted an arcade machine built in. As if it weren;t hard enough to get MCE 2005 working properly, getting Emulators to integrate into the interface was all buy impossible. MCE only allows 2 entries for 3rd party applications, pretty much useless. Then I ran across GameEX via Google search at 5am while at work (Network Operations=crazy hours) and needless to say I was blown away.
The features set was astounding, almost everything that MCE could do, GameEX could do, with the added Bonus of being able to seemlessly integrate almost every emulator/application, filling the huge gap that MCE left in my HTPC setup. Here are my main reasons for LOVING this software, and appreciating the time that has been put into it:
1) Setup: The Installation was insanely simple, but with all of the options to let us nerds install it with advanced configuration/features. (I appreciate that it doesn't assume we're all idiots, but makes it simple enough so if we were, it'd be no problem) Additionally I love how the installation does not clog my registry with useless garbage, I hate bloated software. Also the integrated download option for emulators, & themes etc is such a simple, & practical idea. It is a shame this idea is never used in other applications.
2)The Support, and website: The ammount of information available is a sharp contrast to most retail applications, I'm not saying that there is not a lot of information available, there is actually more valuable information on these few pages than most retail applications have across the whole internet. This program may not have a huge following or insane multi-website information bank, but It is a testament to the minimal issues that occur when using the software. Take any other program and google it and you will find tens, or even hundreds of forums, and message boards offering help, and documenting complaints, that often take hours to sift through. You have provided a huge ammount of information for users, and if some information is not here, you have provided the tools necesary for us to help eachother.
3)The Features: This is where I was so impressed, and sincerely felt hopeful for the future of software. The options available regarding configuration are laid out extremely well. The program definitely "rivals retail applications" and provides quick access to media, applications, and emulators. It intuitively gives you the ability to incorporate pretty much any Emulator you can imagine by making use of the command line-run (for launching the Emu's) I can't wait for the TV support to be integrated, I would gladly let GameEX take over my HTPC.
Okay, so yeah i spent sooo much time in the arcade as a kid in the 80's and what you have done with Gameex is simply incredible. I've been using Mame32 for a couple of years now in my cabinet. I stumbled across your beautiful work recently as I'm building another cab out for my little nephews. Gameex is everything I wished Mame32 was in an interface and SO much more. I'll be donating some money to a very nice product. I simply love the fact that you took the time to make that ambiance for the theme. I really felt like I was taken back to my youth with all the subtle sounds (helps with the surround sound speakers I've got hooked up to the cabinet). Anyway I'm sure you have too many emails like this but I just had to heap some praise upon you.
Thanks for the hours of fun that me, my kids, and my nephews will now be able to enjoy with a truly wonderful interface for our cabinets.�
Thank you so much for this excellent piece of software, it really compliments Windows MCE well. So well in fact I hardly need to resort to the keyboard and mouse now. This meant I could finally get rid of my moniter and desk from the living room!
Thank you for this fine piece of software, which is well worth the donation, and keep up the good work!
T-Jay
Just thought Id give this beauty of a piece of software a pimp. At its basic hear its a graphical front end for Mame.... but its so much more! Its a mini OS in itself and it works incredibly well.
If you've got any setup like mine with PC going to TV and you have the problem of getting up and using the keyboard to load up crap... this eliminates all that and once you set it up you can basicly do anything you need to via a joystick.
It supports any emulator that uses command line (Zsnes for example), full mame support, along with DVD playback, RSS newsfeeds, radio stations (you can have it play them automaticly behind the menus or behind the games of whatever). It'll also launch any PC app too....
I purchased a copy of GameEx from you the other day and am just writing to say I am absolutely amazed. It is for me, one of the most awesome programs I have ever seen.
I'm very much into emulation and Videos etc as a hobby and have had quite a few attempts at writing front ends for my stuff using VB and Access, but to be frank they all pale into insignificance compared to GameEx.
Absolutely stunning. Every time I look at it I'm amazed at what you have built into it.
I cannot fault it.
Posted by rfranklin on February 22nd 2005 to
Just when I think I’ve seen it all and scoured the web for every tidbit of gaming emulator knowledge I come across GameEx and get knocked completely on my tail. You know those hours you’ve spent trying to find the ultimate EMU app that can access all of your emulators from one interface? Well look no more.
This is a surprisingly complete system, if you have an old 400 Mhz PC or above laying around, slap this software on it and you got yourself a full blown arcade. The interface is superb, the configuration is easy, and what do you know, it even has a media center type dealio when you set up access to your MP3 and video collections. Anyone big into emulators needs to check this out.
http://www.dailyfranklin.com/?cat=8
I just want to toss in my 2 bits and say thank you, for creating
such a nice front end!
I've been involved in the mame scene for some time, and have played
with just about every EMu out there, and most seem to be aimed at
the "I have a 486 and I want a powerful frontend that does
everything!!!" crowd, or the others that support every EMU out
there, but are usually too convoluted and twisted in their
configuration files to get anything to work without hours of effort.
You have come out with a beautiful tie in, as my cab's running a
nice, cheap P4 2.8, and XPMCE, that brings the whole thing together.
I just put the new PC in the cab last night, and have a older
version of gamex (before Daphne Enu support) and loved it from the
simplicity to set it up, to the nice interface that blends the
transition from MCE to mame without any bumps.
Sound Doc
I was about to go to bed last night and then I stumbled on your app. Needless to say I was up until 4am messing with it. It totally rocks! Thanks for your quality work and support. Now off to continue tweeking my media center...
Thanks for the great app. Its gonna be in my cab for :)
Again, love GameEx and long may it continue :)
Brian
Hi!! Tom I install your GameEx on my PC and let me tell you I am very
impress!! Good work and hats off for you.
With your permission can I provide a link to your site from the forume
that I moderate. www.betaone.net
Shawn
Thanks tom.
Update here we come...
May I also add that this is the best support I have ever had with a software product - hats off to you Tom.
I really enjoy your GameEx !
I've been waiting for this for a while, thank you.
Bjarne Lindqvist / Sweden
First of all I want to say I love this front end!!
It's the most functional and easiest to use. Also the
mp3 support is way cool!
First - I love this front end. Best one ever for what I want!
Thanks again for GameEx - it's fantastic!
Kevin
Hi Tom - first and foremost AMAZING front end. I love everything
about GameEx and its been running beautifully in my cab.
THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!!!
Simply put, GameEx is amazing! You've done a fine job on this frontend,
and I appreciate your continued work and dedication on this project!
Jason :)
Thanks for the time you spent making this program. Its the program I've been imagining, so happy to have stumbled upon it. My dream machine will be realized because of this program. Kudos, and thanks again.
....then I thought to myself… there has to be a way to play MAME games thru the MCE interface (I don’t ever want to drop down to the XP interface). Lo and behold, it exists! GameEX was my answer. It was a breeze to install and setup and once I moved over my roms, I was up and playing all the classics.
http://www.mavromatic.com/archives/000404
First off, thanks for the best MAME front-end I've found! I really