GameEx is a graphical DirectX based front-end for MAME, Zinc, Daphne, PC Games, and all command line based emulators, along with being a good HTPC solution when gaming is a priority or important. The original goal was for it to be used on Windows XP Media Center and also Arcade Cabinets . It will run on any version of Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, and XP. You don't need Windows Media Center to run GameEx.
It has support for Ultimarcs J-PAC and ArcadeVGA, LCD\VFD Displays, the MCE remote control, Gamepads, full Mouse control, Widescreen displays, volume control, Music playlists (ogg, mp3, wma, m4a), has a fully functional Jukebox including visualisations, Video Player, Internet Radio tuner (asx, pl, m3u, wma), Picture and Slide show viewer, News Reader (RSS 1 & 2), and should work with HotRod and X-Arcade, SlikStik/IPAC controllers. It has support for playing MAME and other emulator game videos (avi, mpg, mng) for the selected game while navigating the lists. GameEx also features a multi process based attract mode, that keeps launching different games. It supports multiple languages, and themes including the ability to have animated backgrounds using avi or mpeg files. The application is highly configurable via the use of an included configuration tool with help and explanations for most settings, although GameEx can also be up and running within a few minutes.
With Version 4 GameEx now features a DVD Player (complete menu and chapter navigation) with support for FFDSHOW, and an all formats Video Player. These features have an on screen display, have support for various aspect ratios, and can be controlled with a Gamepad, Arcade controls, remote control and keyboard (you can navigate a DVD's menu and chapters with all devices) The Video module can also play DVR-MS using FFDSHOW (on Windows XP). Videos and DVD's can also show at ArcadeVGA resolutions on an Arcade Monitor at the correct aspect ratios. NOTE: DVD Software, Codecs/FFDSHOW required. Snap shots can also be taken for all of your videos/movies, and this is now stable with version 4 and above.
GameEx can also be used as a standalone DVD player via a command line option (-DVD)
It was primarily written to provide a MAME front end for Windows XP Media Center edition, integrating with the application, the remote control, and having a similar look and feel. In addition it was developed for Arcade cabinets, and has good support for Ultimarc's ArcadeVGA card, automatically launching games at the ideal resolution. As new versions are released GameEx is also becoming a good HTPC solution in its own right, especially for arcade cabinets, and MAME machines.
GameEx supports all recent official versions of DOS MAME, Windows MAME, MAME32, MAMEPlus, MAME32Plus, MAME32FX, AdvanceMAME DOS, and AdvanceMAME Windows. In addition the latest versions of Daphne and Zinc are supported. Zinc can be used seamlessly for launching games based on Playstation hardware instead of MAME. The Playstation based games appear as normal in the list and can be navigated by Year, Category, and Manufacturer, but when launched, Zinc can be used instead of MAME. It can also run PC games and just about all other command line emulators or applications.
A filtered list of Multiplayer Simultaneous play games can also be listed via the use of nplayers.ini.
Game information and selectable recommended games are shown when navigating the front end via the use of history.dat and mameinfo.dat. Category information is also provided thanks to catver.ini. A dynamic control panel viewer is also incorporated which utilises controls.ini. GameEx also utilises controls.ini to integrate with control panel switching hardware and software such as the GP-49.
The way the GameEx user interface is designed, it should also work very well with Touch Screen displays.
I really like Game Launcher by Dave Dribin, and wanted to create something similar, but with support for Media Center.
The application uses DirectX 9 extensively and requires the .net framework 1.1 (but don't let that put you off!).
Here is a review of GameEx, and here are some nice comments I have received.
Download
Screenshots
Support
Documentation
Support Files
NOTE: GameEx is completely free for non-commercial use. For commercial use please contact me to discuss pricing, options and possible coding enhancements if required. Commercial use includes running GameEx on a PC in a gaming center or Arcade (only if payment is required to use the PC or machine). It also includes bundling GameEx with new PC's or Arcade machines, or if GameEx relates either directly or indirectly to your company receiving a profit (companies may link to this site). If you are running GameEx on a PC at a commercial location, but purely as entertainment and not for profit this is fine.
To support continued development and availability of GameEx you can make a most welcome donation by clicking below:
here are my screenshots below
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my goes threw windows media center pretty nice uh you can download all the roms threw romcenter