The OS (Operating System) is Windows XP.
On bootup, after Windows loads, a program called "KeyWiz Uploader2" starts.
This uploads the key map to the KeyWiz keyboard encoder. This is only necessary because I am changing one of the default keys to F7 for the Load and Save buttons.
Once the keywiz is programmed (about 10 seconds), the Uploader2 starts The Launcher.
The Launcher then starts GLaunch.
From GLaunch, Mame games can be run.
Also from GLaunch, MenuMaker, WinCab Jukebox, RomMan, and GLaunchMan can be run.
When the blue button is pressed while in GLaunch, GLaunch exits and The Launcher gives you the chance to go into Windows to do housekeeping, or it will shutdown the machine.
Here is a description of each program listed above:
Windows XP: Operating system that came with the computer.
KeyWiz Uploader2: Programming utility for KeyWiz keyboard encoder.
The Launcher: a utility program written by me.
GLaunch: A Front End menu program to list all your games.
MAME: Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator. This program runs the arcade games.
MenuMaker: This is a program I wrote to allow me to create Favorite Games lists for GLaunch.
WinCab Jukebox: A pretty neat little program that will play your MP3 music like a jukebox.
RomMan: This is a program I wrote that allows me to test a rom before adding it to my collection. I haven't got this program ready for downloading yet, so it's not available to the public, YET.
GLaunchMan: This is another program I wrote to allow me to manage GLaunch game lists.
It allows me to test the rom in question, remove it from the list if it is bad, change the roms description displayed by GLaunch, or add new roms to the GLaunch list.
It is not ready for download yet.
Roms: You might ask what are Roms? Roms are the actual game files. Mame runs a game by opening the games rom. The rom contains all the files needed to emulate and run the game.
The rom is in zipped form. Example: Pacman.zip.
The roms are stored in a folder called ROMS, located in the MAME folder.
Although all the programs I have listed above (except WinXP), are free downloads, most of the Mame Roms are not. Someone most likely owns the copyright to the game rom.
I think the rule is that if you own the actual circuit board to a game, then it is ok to have the rom of that game.
That being said, I will not post any places where you can get the roms, and please don't ask me to. But you can probably find sites that offer free downloads on the internet, I just wont be able to help you find them.
Note: The above links are to websites that are not managed by me. I cannot be held responsible for any mis-information or content on the sites, or if the sites are updated or maintained.
The MenuMaker and The Launcher sites are maintained by me, so any questions about those sites should be addressed to me.
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4 comments:
Hey nice machine.
Here are some pics of mine.
I appreciate the pointers to the jukebox apps, as thats something I really needed.
http://s206.photobucket.com/albums/bb45/amigoid/Thousand%20Dollar%20Joystick/
Cool machine!! Looks like a LOT of work went into it..
How did you come to choose glaunch over some of the other available front ends, like Mala, GameEx, or Maximus Arcade just to name a few. What were some of your deciding factors?
What is your background in? Are you just handy with electricity and are you self taught?
Hello rothecreations..
Sorry about the delay in answering your post.
I chose Glaunch because of it's simplicity of use, and the way it feels.
I think a front end should be simple.
I think the arcade is for playing games, and the front end is just a menu. But that's just my opinion.
My background is 32 years as an electrician.
2 years Industrial Electricity Vocational School.
2 years residential and commercial wiring.
28 years industrial electrician.
My current job is electrician in an aluminum rolling mill, where I work with electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic controls.
I also work with computers and PLC's (programmable logic controllers).
Most of my computer skills are self-taught.
Electronics has been a hobby of mine since about 10 years old.
I also like programming in VB6, which I have self taught myself.
Recently I got into the home arcade hobby, and it is a fun hobby.
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