Attract-Mode vs ES-DE Frontend
Attract-Mode
attractmode.org
ES-DE Frontend
es-de.orgSide by side
| Figure | Attract-Mode | ES-DE Frontend |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 4 |
| Spec score · Game Library Managers | 9.1 (#2) | 9.2 (#1) |
| Spec score · Emulation Frontends | 9.1 (#2) | 9.2 (#1) |
| Spec score · Game launchers | 8.9 (#11) | 9.3 (#3) |
| Documentation depth | Official documentation includes a readme, compilation guide, layouts manual, project wiki and an online layout editor. | The repository publishes a user guide, Android documentation, build instructions, theme-development documentation, FAQs and a detailed changelog. |
| Praise: customization | Unstore says the Squirrel-based scripting is flexible enough for marquee displays, side art, lighting controls and other cabinet hardware. | Android Authority highlighted the large theme selection and options such as changing layouts and font sizes. |
| Purpose | Attract-Mode is a graphical frontend for command-line emulators such as MAME, MESS and Nestopia, intended for joystick, gamepad or spin-dial control and arcade cabinet setups. | ES-DE browses and launches games from a multi-platform collection and can also run locally installed games and applications. |
| Support | The official site links to a community forum and provides documentation, compile instructions, a layouts manual and a project wiki. | The official installation page directs users to the user guide, FAQs and Discord for support. |
| Supported systems | The project says it runs on Windows, OS X and Linux, including Raspberry Pi and Odroid. | The official site says ES-DE supports more than 150 game systems. |
| Themes | Layouts are scriptable in Squirrel and can be customized with themes, animations and GLSL shaders. | Users can download themes through a built-in theme downloader and customize the interface extensively. |
| What it does | Attract-Mode is a graphical launcher for command-line emulators, designed for joystick or gamepad controlled arcade cabinets. | ES-DE is a frontend for browsing and launching games from a multi-platform collection. |
Plans
ES-DE Frontend
- Windows, macOS and LinuxFree
- Windows, macOS and Linux desktopFree
- Android (Samsung Galaxy Store)$6.50, paid once
- AndroidPrice not published
In their own words
Attract-Mode
Attract-Mode is a graphical frontend for command-line emulators such as MAME, MESS, and Nestopia. It is intended for arcade cabinets and control by joystick, gamepad, or spin dial, and runs on Windows, OS X, and Linux, including Raspberry Pi and Odroid. Users can import game lists, generate lists from emulator directories, and set launch commands for individual games. The frontend can retrieve missing game details and artwork from TheGamesDB, Progetto-Snaps, and adb.arcadeitalia.net. Controls can be assigned to joystick, keyboard, or mouse inputs, including combinations. A built-in configuration menu has on-screen help, and settings are stored in text files. Layouts can be scripted in Squirrel and customized with themes, animations, and GLSL shaders. It supports media formats supported by FFmpeg and SWF files through gameswf. The feature list also names Steam support and plug-ins for extensions or integration with external programs. Attract-Mode is free and open source under the GNU General Public License v3. Pause functionality for returning to the frontend and resuming an emulator is listed only for Linux and Windows versions.
ES-DE Frontend
ES-DE Frontend browses and launches games from a multi-platform collection and can also run locally installed games and applications. It supports more than 150 game systems and comes configured for a large selection of emulators, game engines, game managers, and gaming services. Its built-in scraper downloads game details and media, including images, videos, and manuals. Users can adjust configuration options and themes, and download additional themes through the built-in theme downloader. The interface supports full controller navigation. Windows, macOS, and Linux editions are free to download and use, fully open source, and may be distributed freely. The Android release is a paid, partially closed-source app, and no price is listed. It is available through Patreon, Samsung Galaxy Store, and Huawei AppGallery. The Android FAQ gives 64-bit Android 10 or later as the basic requirement and says one purchase can be used on all of the buyer’s devices without a subscription or additional costs. Support links include a user guide, FAQs, and Discord.