Program in the making need your thoughts!

[mmartin1212]

I have been working on a launcher for about a month so far. Here is a screenshot of the program in it's current stages.
(can't show you screen shots sorry due to forum rules)

Before we continue.
One, please don't say there is already an xx launcher why would I use yours. That is why I am here. To find out what you need.
Two, I wrote this as a pet project into learning AHK.

I take your ideas and feedback very seriously. This has been about 300 hours in the making. It means a lot to me. So do not bash without constructive criticism. I am open to everything from GUI improvements to feature ideas. I am open to anything really.

Current emulators that I have coded in with what systems I support.
NullDC - Dreamcast
Epsxe - Playstation 1
Mednafen - Atari Lynx, Neogeo Pocket, Wonderswan, Gameboy Color, Gameboy, Gameboy Advance, SNES, Virtual Boy, NES, TurboGrafx-16, Game Gear, Genesis, Megadrive, Master System.
Visual Boy Advance - Gameboy, Gameboy Advance, Gameboy Color
Visual Boy Advance M - Same as above.
Dolphin - Wii and Gamecube
Fusion - Game Gear, Genesis, Sega32, Sega CD, Master System
FCEUS - NES
Jnes - NES
Nestopia - NES
Snes9x - SNES
ZSNES - SNES
Project 64 - Nintendo 64
Project 64k - Nintendo 64
DeSmuME - Nintendo DS
PCSX2 - Playstation 2
PPSSPP - PSP
I have mame and SCUMMVM working. Just can't use my entire folder system but they will still work within my program. SCUMMVM is the most backwards but I think what I came up with will work.

The way my program will work and if your wondering why I support say 3 NES emulators, is because I want to support YOUR favorite emulator.

The program will go through your emulator folders looking for specific folder names. (The only static thing I had to do was to require emulators in a specific spot named a specific thing.) For example, EpsxE has to be in Playstation 1 Emulators Folder and the exe must be named EpsxE.exe (Not case sensitive).

I am open for any and all requests/suggestions. The release date is Christmas day. I am a diligent coder so nothing is off the table.

For the Forum Moderators here. On release day I think it would be easiest to just give my entire emulators folder with the release. I would LOVE to include all the bios I had to crawl the web to find to make this work. (That way I have a controlled set of bios that I can attest work.) Are you against the sharing of BIOS files on this forum? If you are it is fine I will just provide links or what to google to find each one.

I also wrote a built in function to auto make memory cards with the game name and a backup for PS1 and PS2. If you would like me to try another system that uses memory cards or a similar feature let me know!

Thanks and let me know what you guys think!

[ulaoulao]

For the Forum Moderators here. On release day I think it would be easiest to just give my entire emulators folder with the release. I would LOVE to include all the bios I had to crawl the web to find to make this work. (That way I have a controlled set of bios that I can attest work.) Are you against the sharing of BIOS files on this forum? If you are it is fine I will just provide links or what to google to find each one.

If you included the bios(or a link) you will not be welcome back as its illegal and against the rules. Plus forums are not for hosting files, just link to your site.

Including emulators is not a good way to do things anyways as most people already have them configure and placed where they want them. I get the idea and it sounds like the same thinking of the MAC world but for the IBM/PC world people like there own configs. Some front ends have emu finders, so if you are concerned about set ups, maybe see how they do it.

Front ends are like pickup lines, everyone has one they use. Nothing wrong with making another but asking for what people want and saying "please don't say there is already an xx launcher why would I use yours" Is sort of tricky. Because its the best way to ask for what we want. For example I use QuickPlay. I'd like to see another FE come anywhere close to what it can do. Honestly I would but that is not what everyone wants.

so for starters:

Use 7zip browsing like QP does.
Use an emu finder like QP does.
Allow for a more data base drive layout like QP does.
Allow for screen shots of the game and other info like QP does.
Allow for bat files to run before and after a game is run like QP does.
Writing it in c# or C++ like QP does NOT.

Have fun with it, best of luck.

[Mupen64 Man]

Well said Ulao. Im interested in how this new front end will play out, I am willing to test if you get far enough. :)

[peterjones0021]

well thank you guys for this valuable information...