MA will currently manage the following emulators and executables below. The following emulators listed have been successfully tested with MA, although other emulators may be substituted with varying degrees of success.

* Currently configured to only run with the emulator listed.

It's recommended that you first setup the emulators preferences before opening them through MA. From the emulators' interface, setup the keys/gamepad buttons and set the fullscreen settings, resolutions, etc. The emulator will save its preferences so the next time it is opened (with MA), it will use the settings you provided.

Most times you will need to setup the emulator with from its own interface before you have MA launch it. Some emulators can be sent commands through the command line field in the MA preferences (like MESS & MAME), but other emulators need to be setup ahead of time from its own interface.

Upon initially launching MA you will be prompted with the trial version notice. Users are given 30 days of evaluation before a registration code is necessary. There are no restrictions placed upon the trial version. It is the complete version for only 30 days of use.

If you have purchased a registration code and you are ready to register, click the "Yes" button. You will then be prompted to enter the registration code into the three fields. Clicking the "No" button will continue opening MA.

After the registration notice you may be prompted to setup the locations for a number of emulators and executables. Clicking the "Yes" button will open the preferences panel so that you may begin the setup process. Clicking the "No" button will continue opening MA but will only allow access to those items that have been configured correctly.

The opening preferences panel will gives an overview of the command keys available.

Ctrl+P - Preferences
Ctrl+R - Register
Ctrl+Q - Quit

The preferences panel allows access to all configurable items within MA.

The registration dialog allows the input of your registration code.

Quit exits the MA executable.

Click on the tabs at the top of the window to view all of the configuration options.

(1) Use the pulldown menu to choose a specific executable to configure.

(2) Click on the folder icon next to the "Executable" field. You will be prompted by an open dialog box requesting you to locate an executable. Select the appropriate emulator or executable. The path to the executable will then be placed into the "Executable" field.

(3-6) MA will also do relative folder scanning when selecting an executable. Folders labeled "roms", "images", "movies", and "marquees" are automatically filled into the fields if they exist.

The optional "Image" and "Movie" fields allow you to show screenshots (PNG/JPG/GIF/BMP/SWF) and movies (MPG/AVI/WMV/MNG) when selecting your media. For the screenshot or movie to display within the MA interface the screenshot or movie must have the same base name as the media:

Example: myrom.zip
--> myrom.png or myrom.jpg or myrom.swf
--> myrom.mpg or myrom.avi or myrom.wmv

(7) Options for launching each emulator.

(8) Options for media scanning for each emulator.

(9) Options for exiting each emulator.

(10) Command line switches allow in-depth control over some executables. Before editing this information make sure that the executable you have configured will support command line switches. When editing or adding a command line note that the variable "%file" represents the path to the file that will be opened. Some command line switches need to place the file location in different sequences. The variable "%file" is not always needed but when used it will override the default method that MA utilizes. The default format is structured in this sequence:

<executable path> <file path> <switches>

The reference to the executable is always supplied and there is no need to provide that in the command line information. The supplied command line entries are specific to the recommended emulators provided above. Don't alter the existing information unless you are certain of the outcome.

(11) Window state is the state in which the emulator is launched. Options available are: normal, minimized, maximized, and hidden. This option is automatically set for certain emulators.

(12) The "Path to Media" determines whether the media path sent to the emulator is either full or in shortened DOS format. This option is automatically set for certain emulators.

(13) A switch to enable a loading screen when launching an emulator.

(14) The loading screen display time in milliseconds before going to a black screen.

(15) Pressing the "Use Default" button will reset the launch tab information to the default setup for the emulator selected.

(1) File extensions scanned by Maximus Arcade for use with the selected emulator. Separate all items in the field with a comma.

(2) A switch to enable file scanning within subfolders.

(3) A switch to force a rescan of a cached media folder.

(4) A switch to always rescan media folders upon startup.

(5) A switch to remove any text with [] or () or <> from the media description name.

(6) The "Use Default" button will reset the contents of the "Media Extensions" field (1).

(1) Option to use either internal exiting routines or to use an "exit hook" when exiting an emulator.

(2) The exit hook field may contain multiple key commands. These key commands are sent to the emulator in an attempt to exit it and return to the game selection interface of the frontend.

(3) To enter key commands into this field, click on the field to highlight it. Next enter the key combination you wish to have sent to the emulator upon exiting. You may have multiple key commands in this field.

(4) This button will delete entries in the exit hook field (3) when the field is highlighted.

(5) A switch to close all additional processes that may have started during the launch of the emulator. Use this feature if you notice additional processes open after an emulator has been closed.

(1) Click on lines within this field to build a list of emulators to display. Once a line has been selected you may use one of the following buttons (3-8).

(2) This field contains the current emulator display order. To modify the entries, click on the desired line and press one of the following buttons (3-6, 9-10).

(3) When a line is selected (2) and this button is pressed, the line will be moved to the top of the list.

(4) When a line is selected (2) and this button is pressed, the line will be moved up one line within the list.

(5) When a line is selected (2) and this button is pressed, the line will be moved down one line within the list.

(6) When a line is selected (2) and this button is pressed, the line will be moved to the bottom of the list.

(7) When a line is selected (1) and this button is pressed, the line will be copied into the display order list (2).

(8) When this button is pressed, all entries (1) will be copied into the display order list (2).

(9) When a line is selected (2) and this button is pressed, the line will be deleted from the display order list (2).

(10) All entries will be deleted from the display order list (2).

(1) Use the pulldown menu to choose a specific emulator to configure.

(2) The list of available game lists.

(3) The "New" button will create a new game list in the game list field (2).

(4) The "Import" button will import a previously created game list into the game list field (2).

(5) The "Rename" button will rename the current game list selected in the game list field (2).

(6) The "Delete" button will delete the current game list selected in the game list field (2).

(7) The "Up" button will move the current game list selected in the game list field up one line.

(8) The "Down" button will move the current game list selected in the game list field down one line.

(9) The list of games in the current game list selected (2).

(10) When a line is selected (9) and this button is pressed, the line will be moved to the top of the list.

(11) When a line is selected (9) and this button is pressed, the line will be moved up one line within the list.

(12) When a line is selected (9) and this button is pressed, the line will be moved down one line within the list.

(13) When a line is selected (9) and this button is pressed, the line will be moved to the bottom of the list.

(14) When a line is selected (9) and this button is pressed, the line will be deleted from the display order list (9).

(15) The "Rename" button will open a window to edit the description of the current litem selected in the games list (9). In case of the MAME emulator you will also be able to modify the rom associated with the description.

(16) The "Save List" button will save any changes made to the games list.

(17) Enter a Perl Regular Expression match pattern. The match pattern will be replaced with the contents of (18) when the "Filter List" button is pressed (19).

Regular Expressions are useful and very powerful, and Perl helps you manipulate strings with relative ease. Below are a few examples of how some simple searches may be used to replace chunks of text in game descriptions as well as removal of entire sections of games from a list. For more information about Perl Regular Expressions and its syntax check out this website for a great tutorial.

The following example would remove all entries starting with "Mahjong" from the game list:
Perl Filter Pattern: ^Mahjong(.*?)$
Replace with: <leave empty>

If you wanted to filter out only tags from the description containing a space and the tag "(US)" you would do this:
Perl Filter Pattern: \s*\(US\)
Replace with: <leave empty>

So all game descriptions containing (US) such as "X-Men vs. Streetfighter (US)" would now be "X-Men vs. Streetfighter"

If you wanted to filter out only tags from the description containing a space and the tag "[version...blah, blah]" you would do this:
Perl Filter Pattern: \s*\[version(.*?)\]
Replace with: <leave empty>

So all game descriptions containing [version...]:
X-Men vs. Streetfighter [beta 090343]
X-Men vs. Streetfighter [beta 056766]
X-Men vs. Streetfighter [beta 076765]

Would now be minus the search pattern, like "X-Men vs. Streetfighter" for example.

^ = beginning of string
$ = end of string
(.*?) = blind character match
\s = single instance of space
\s* = any potential instance or potential multiple instance of space
\( = open parenthesis
\) = close parenthesis
\[ = open brace
\] = close brace

Special characters will require the forward slash character in front of it. All alphanumeric characters do not require a slash. Note that you don't need the forward slash character when entering a replacement string into the "Replace with" field. These characters are inserted into the pattern match.

(1) MA uses ClrMAME Pro database files as a cataloging system for some roms descriptions. Currently the list includes: WinKawaks, NeoGeo, Nebula, Raine, and ZINC. Be sure to load up the latest ClrMAME Pro database (.dat) into MA after each new audit of your roms. All other ROM descriptions for the other emulators and executables use the file name as a description. The Internet button will launch your web browser to the website www.logiqx.com which contains the most up-to-date ClrMAME Pro database files.

(2) After downloading the WinZIP archive of the ClrMAME Pro database (1), select the database file you wish to update from the pulldown menu and then click the folder button to locate the WinZIP archive. The correct file from the WinZIP archive will be extracted, renamed, and copied to the MA preference folder.

(3) Click this button to open a web browser to www.catver.com. This website contains MAME support files that MA utilizes. Most files located there are specific to a particular version of MAME so be sure to have the catver file match your version of MAME.

(4) The "catver.ini" file is used for generating genre based game lists for MAME. If an updated "catver.ini" file has been downloaded, click the folder button to locate and update the file.

(1) The master volume control. This controls the volume level of all audio.

(2) The ambience volume control. This controls the volume of the ambient audio only. The ambience audio is located in the folder "ambience" next to the frontend executable. MP3 files placed in here will be randomly played.

(3) A switch to disable all sound effects within the currently selected interface theme.

(1) Use this menu to select an available interface theme.

(2) Use this menu to select your computer's optimal resolution. NOTE: The higher the resolution the greater the chance for computer lag.

(3) Option to change the monitor to 8, 16, or 32-bit depth. NOTE: Some emulators do not support 8-bit resolution.

(4) Use this menu to adjust the quality of Adobe Flash files used with the interface.

(5) When this option is selected, all static Flash files (swf files containing only a single frame) will be converted to raster images for display within the interface. Use this option if lagging occurs on slower computers.

(6) The author information for the selected interface theme.

(1) Inputs tab

(2) Slide bar to increase or decrease the sensitivity of the keyboard input. The keyboard input is always captured.

(3) Select this to capture joystick and gamepad devices.

(4) Slide bar to increase or decrease the sensitivity of the joystick or gamepad device.

(5) Select this to capture trackball and mouse devices.

(6) Slide bar to increase or decrease the sensitivity of the trackball or mouse devices.

(7, 10) The intialy input delay in milliseconds. This is the initial delay in-between key presses.

(8, 11) The maximum number of lines that will be advanced when the scroll accelerator times out.

(9, 12) The interval in milliseconds before the acceleration rate increases.

(13) Select this to disable the X-axis when using a trackball within the game selection mode.

(14) Select this to disable the Y-axis when using a trackball within the game selection mode.

(15) A switch to exchange the X and Y axis on the trackball/mouse.

(16) A switch to reverse the X and Y axis on the trackball/mouse.

MA accepts keyboard strokes and most gamepads/joysticks supported through the "Game Controllers" control panel. To program the input device select a field with your mouse and press the keyboard/joystick/gamepad button to be associated. Multiple buttons can be entered for each field. Key combinations can also be entered. Multiple joystick/gamepad button support is also available.

(1) Setup 1 tab

(2) The menu of saved controller layouts.

(3) The "Import" button allows you to import MAME configuration files (.cfg).

(4) The "Save" button will save the current configuration to file which will be named through a popup window.

(5) The "Delete" button will delete the currently selected controller layout in the controller layout menu (2).

(6-18) Input fields. Hightlight the field with your mouse to add an entry.

(19) Press the delete button at the bottom of the window to remove settings from a selected field.

(20) Select this to allow multiple inputs to be assigned with the same key combination. NOTE: This can yield some unpredictable results. Do not use if unless you are sure of your actions.

The following gamepads have been tested successfully:

• PSX Dual Shock Controller with a Radio Shack PSX-to-USB adapter
• Gravis Gamepad Pro (USB)
• Logitech Rumble Pad 2
• Microsoft XBOX 360 USB Controller

NOTE: A powered USB hub was needed for my computer to recognize the PSX controller. Some USB ports may not meet the power requirements of the PSX controller and USB adapter.

(1) Setup 2 tab

(2) The menu of saved controller layouts.

(3) The "Import "button allows you to import MAME configuration files (.cfg).

(4) The "Save" button will save the current configuration to file which will be named through a popup window.

(5) The "Delete" button will delete the currently selected controller layout in the controller layout menu (2).

(6-11) Input fields. Hightlight the field with your mouse to add an entry.

(12) Press the delete button at the bottom of the window to remove settings from a selected field.

(13) Select this to allow multiple inputs to be assigned with the same key combination. NOTE: This can yield some unpredictable results. Do not use if unless you are sure of your actions.

(1) Delays tab

(2) A configurable delay before the "Quit Executable" button is accepted by MA.

(3) A configurable delay before the "Quit Maximus Arcade" button is accepted by MA.

(4) A configurable delay before the "Shutdown Computer" button is accepted by MA.

(1) Miscellaneous tab

(2) A switch for verifying command line switches sent to an emulator. An alert box will display with the command line before opening the emulator.

(3) A switch for hiding all error messages. This option will be overridden when all executables are not setup properly.

(4) A switch for disabling the windows taskbar. This is on by default.

(5) A switch to close the batch file after the quit executable command is input.

(6) A switch to extend the search for images and movies. This function uses a fuzzy search method to find potential matches.

(7) A switch to update screenshots and marquees in realtime while scrolling. This function does require a fast computer to work seamlessly.

(8) Text-to-speech is available if it is installed. Text-to-speech is a free download from Microsoft. When this option is active the media title will be read aloud.

(9) A switch for creating a shortcut within the windows startup folder.

(10) A switch to skip the splash screen.

(11) This button will create a link within Windows Media Center to the frontend executable allowing you to launch the frontend through Windows Media Center. If you then set the "Launch Application On Exit" to Windows Media Center you will return to media center after exitng the frontend.

(12-14) The "Batch File Generator" will create a batch file for an executable that you designate. Be sure to rescan the batch folder after creation of batch files.

(1) MAME tab

(2) A switch for having only working MAME roms displayed in the complete listing. The working rom list is gathered from a MAME generated XML game list.

(3) A switch to disable all clones. The playable rom list is gathered from a MAME generated XML game list.

(4) A switch to disable MAME "mature" roms.

(5) A switch for using the MAME "favorites.ini" file as a favorites list within MA.

(6) MAME Game List Generator. This utility will allow you to automatically build game lists based on the genre selected from the pulldown menu. The genre list is populated with information from the "catver.ini" file.

(7) If importing a new "catver.ini" file, use the "Refresh Menu" button to refresh the genre listing.

(8) Pressing the "Build List" button will generate a new MAME game list and save it for modifcation in the "Game Lists" tab.

(1) Transitions tab

(2) A switch to enable OpenGL transitions.

(3) A pulldown of OpenGL transitions.

NOTE: The transitions require an implementation of OpenGL 1.1 or higher to be installed. If transitions do not appear to be functioning incorrectly try updating your video drivers and update to the latest version of Microsoft DirectX.

(1) Screensaver tab

(2) A switch to enable the screensaver.

(3) Inactive amount of time before the screensaver activates.

(4) The amount of time for the game demo to run before switching to another randomly chosen game.

(5) The amount of time for a game launched to be considered inactive. The screensaver may either return to the selection menu or return to screensaver mode (6).

(7-8) Pull down menu to select which emulator will run a random game when the screensaver is active. When "All Available" is selected, a random emulator will be chosen from the list of emulators that are setup.

(9) A field to enter names of game titles which will not be enabled through the screensaver. Be sure to separate all game title descriptions with a comma.

(10-12) Using a game list as a screensaver requires the user to build a game list, then assign the game list for playback within the screensaver.

(1) Startup Movie tab

(2) A switch to enable the startup movie.

(3) Use the folder button to locate an AVI, MPG, or WMV. This movie will be played upon each startup of MA.

(4) A switch to continuosly loop the movie.

(5) A switch for allowing a random movie to be selected from the movie location.

(1) Background Task Priority tab

(2) This slider allows you to control the level of priority given to MA as it runs as a background task. Slower machines should have this setting to high.

(1) Startup tab

(2) A switch to enable the "Run Application On Startup".

(3) The path to the application to launch upon startup of the frontend.

(4) The command line to send to the application upon startup.

(5) The window state to open the application. The options here are: normal, mnimized, maximized, and hidden.

(1) Exit tab

(2) A switch to enable the "Run Application On Exit".

(3) The path to the application to launch upon exiting the frontend.

(4) The command line to send to the application upon exiting the frontend.

(5) The window state to open the application. The options here are: normal, mnimized, maximized, and hidden.

This preference window contains the "readme.txt" file that resides in the Maximus Arcade root directory.

Close the preferences window by clicking on the close button at the bottom of the window.

After setup has been completed the scanning process begins. All media is scanned and cached into files residing in the "preferences" directory next to the MA executable. This one time process takes about 5 minutes or less depending upon your computer processor speed and the number of files to be scanned.

Pressing LEFT will advance an entire page upward through the media list.

Pressing RIGHT will advance an entire page downward through the media list.

Pressing the PAGEUP BY LETTER button will advance to the previous alphabetical item based on what item is currently highlighted.

Pressing the PAGEDOWN BY LETTER button will advance to the next alphabetical item based on what item is currently highlighted.

Pressing the TOGGLE FAVORITES LIST key will switch between the games list and the favorites list. When viewing in the games list, you can press the ADD FAVORITE button to add the currently highlighted media to your favorites list. When viewing the favorites list, pressing the DELETE FAVORITES button will delete the highlighted media from your favorites list.

Pressing the VOLUME UP and VOLUME DOWN buttons will adjust the master volume of the computer.

Pressing the PREVIOUS/QUIT EXECUTABLE button on this screen will return you to the emulator/executable selection screen.

Make sure that you are exiting your emulator/executable by pressing the PREVIOUS/QUIT EXECUTABLE button that was mapped in the MA preferences panel, not the default emulator quit key. In some instances you may have to press the PREVIOUS/QUIT EXECUTABLE key twice. In the case of some emulators, you may have to hold the key down for up to 10 seconds.