GameEx is a graphical DirectX based front-end for MAME , Zinc, Daphne, PC Games, and all command line based game emulators, along with being a good Home Theatre PC solution. Simply put, GameEx is likely the best emulation front-end ever devised, and makes emulation setup easier.

Easy GameEx setup for MAME :

  1. First download and install MAME™ as instructed.
  2. Download GameEx
  3. Install GameEx, and when you get to the MAME configuration, change the directories to the ones where MAME was installed in step 1 as shown in the image below.
  4. Under "Advanced MAME Settings" be sure to add "-ctrlr X-Arcade" as shown below.



GameEx Documentation and Help

GameEx GUI Button Layout:

   
Function: X-Arcade
Start Page Button 1+ Button 2 or Button 1 + Button 3
Up Up
Down Down
Left Left
Right Right
Page Up Button 1 + up
Page Down Button 1 + down
Alpha Page Up Button 1 + Left
Alpha Page Down Button 1 + Right
Select Game Player 1 Start Button
Exit GameEx Controller Escape key  equivalent
Exit Game Controller Escape key  equivalent / Player 2 and Right Flipper
Volume Up Button 2 + up
Volume Down Button 2 + down
Navigate Back Button 3
Next Song Player 2 Button 2
Previous Song Player 2 Button 1
Create Snaps Button 3 + Player 1 Start Button
Change Video Aspect Player 1 Start Button
Video/DVD Seek Back Left
Video/DVD Seek Forward Right
DVD Next Chapter Down
DVD Previous Chapter Up
DVD Menu Player 1 Start Button + Button 2
Video/DVD Pause/ Resume Button 1
Music Pause/ Resume Button 4
Restore/ Maximize Window N/A
Don't exit Attract mode Credit 1 or Credit 2
Show Game Information Player 1 Start Button + Button 2
View control panel while MAME is playing N/A
Rotate Display N/A

More Help: GameEx Community and Forum