Attract-Mode vs GameEx
Attract-Mode
attractmode.org
GameEx
gameex.comSide by side
| Figure | Attract-Mode | GameEx |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 3 |
| Spec score · Game Library Managers | 9.1 (#2) | 9.1 (#3) |
| Spec score · Emulation Frontends | 9.1 (#2) | 9.1 (#3) |
| Spec score · Game launchers | 8.9 (#11) | 9.3 (#4) |
| Controls | Frontend actions can be mapped to joystick, keyboard or mouse inputs, including combinations. | It supports arcade controls including X-Arcade, Slik-Stik, JPAC and IPAC, as well as remotes and gamepads. |
| Documentation depth | Official documentation includes a readme, compilation guide, layouts manual, project wiki and an online layout editor. | The official setup guide covers 39 configuration sections, including emulator setup, MAME, plugins, media, controls and performance. |
| Praise: customization | Unstore says the Squirrel-based scripting is flexible enough for marquee displays, side art, lighting controls and other cabinet hardware. | Arcade DIY praised the Windows Media Center-style interface, clear menus and extensive customization. |
| 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. | GameEx is an arcade and emulator front end for MAME, GameBase, Daphne, PC games and command-line emulators, and also offers HTPC features. |
| Support | The official site links to a community forum and provides documentation, compile instructions, a layouts manual and a project wiki. | The maker says commercial support and customizations are available and in many cases provided free of charge. |
| What it does | Attract-Mode is a graphical launcher for command-line emulators, designed for joystick or gamepad controlled arcade cabinets. | GameEx is a Windows front end for MAME, GameBase, Daphne, PC games, command-line emulators and home-theater media. |
Plans
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.
GameEx
GameEx is an arcade and emulator front end for MAME, GameBase, Daphne, PC games and command-line emulators, with HTPC features. The site lists original GameEx, GameEx Arcade Edition and GameEx Evolution. Its feature list describes support for nearly any emulator, with advanced MAME support, and compatibility with arcade controls such as X-Arcade, Slik-Stik, JPAC and IPAC, as well as remotes and gamepads. Media features include video and DVD playback, picture viewing, internet radio, a jukebox, a news reader and a YouTube module. Named integrations include Steam, EA Origin, Uplay, iTunes, Windows Media Player, GameBase, GameEx Arcade and the TMDb API. GameEx Online and GameExtender add networked display, remote control and online game statistics. Its listed free plan costs nothing, but commercial use requires each copy to be registered or purchased. The listing includes Android, Linux, macOS and Windows; the maker describes Linux or Mac use through WINE as experimental, while the multiplatform alpha builds may lack features.