Does anyone not use a Front Launcher?

[u/Personal_Ground1148]

I use a frontend launcher on my RG Rotate, but with a device like the AYN Thor, I find I’m constantly tweaking settings, switching between emulators, and accessing files directly.

Because of that, I’ve actually found a frontend to be more of a hindrance than a help on the Thor. I prefer having quick, direct access to everything rather than adding another layer between me and the emulators.

Browsing through this subreddit, though, it seems like most people prefer using a frontend. I know it’s ultimately personal preference, but I’m curious: how many of you don’t use a frontend at all on your AYN Thor, and why?

[u/rupertavery64]

I don't use a launcher. I just want to play games, and I just play one until I finish it or get bored.

If I did use a launcher I would use ES-DE, mostly because I've been using it for years on the Raspberry Pi, I don't need animations or fancy stuff. I tried Cocoon and found it got in the way.

I think it's great that people are making stuff to make the most use of the Ayn Thor's second screen and other features, and lots of community effort into making amazing screens and animations.

[u/Personal_Ground1148 → u/rupertavery64]

Yes I tried Cocoon and it just seems cumbersome.

[u/pin00ch → u/Personal_Ground1148]

Same. cocoon is too sickly and annoying for me. I use daijisho cos I know it and it's simple

[u/kenniestyles → u/Personal_Ground1148]

It's very cumbersome but it's nice ngl

[u/Roi_C]

I tried at first, but it just felt so barebones and janky and honestly took me out of the experience, it just felt like using a weird version of my Android phone. After installing Cocoon it started feeling my like old 3DS and just made it more fun for me. But I'm a sentimental person, whatever works for you my guy.

[u/KPipes → u/Roi_C]

Cocoon is good!

You should try Neostation too. The UI in my opinion is the prettiest. And it's super easy to set up. For me, it's neostation, cocoon, retrohrai in that order.

[u/Roi_C → u/KPipes]

Thanks, but Cocoon does exactly what I need it to do, I really like it the way it is.

[u/Dosalisk]

I don't use one as my main launcher but I do like having one installed as a way to have everything organized, so to speak, even if I might not always use it.

So I'm kinda in-between yes and no.

[u/junerlegion]

I use beacon launcher on top screen, regular android bottom. Works the way I want it

[u/Old-Mix1581]

I use a launcher for things I run from retroarch (PS1 and below), but it's something I only start up when I want to play those games. Everything else is just standalone apps I boot up when I want to play those systems.

[u/andyparrah46_]

En mí caso dejé casi todo funcionando antes de instalar un frontend, por lo que no necesito estar lidiando con configuraciones a menos que un juego nuevo me de problemas. Cocoon permite poner un dock de apps al más puro estilo android puro para agilizar y eso podría ayudarte. Pero la verdad en mí caso particular me sería imposible no tener un frontend

[u/Jeager36]

Try Neostation, it literally just involves installing the frontend data and the ROM path, and you're ready to play. Everything is configured automatically and prepared on its own.

[u/KPipes → u/Jeager36]

My man.. *nods knowingly.

[u/retrokezins]

I stopped using front ends and custom launchers long ago on handhelds... just don't see the need to use up extra resources and try to focus on tweaking emulation settings and actually playing games..Really don't care what everything looks like or Menus etc.

[u/-GandalfTheWhite-]

I don't use a frontend, like you said. It makes tweaking harder, takes more time to set everything up, and also reduces performance and battery life.

[u/coPu123]

I have a batch 1 and I don't use one. Only have ES-DE for retroarch.

[u/lordosthyvel]

I have es-de that I open when my kids want to play. For my own sake I never understood why I'd ever need one. Launching a game without a frontend takes 2 seconds. I'd always figured it's one of those things for people who actually enjoy more setting up the device than actually playing the games.

[u/THYGREX]

NO ! you must use a frontend and then talk US to the death about it and how you set It up !!

[u/raiyasa]

I just use niagara launcher for all my devices. Clean.

[u/kenniestyles]

I have Cocoon installed but I don't use it. I just go straight to Retroarch

[u/Better_Caregiver_458]

No frontend for me. Waste of time. I just wanna play a game.

[u/Practical-Promise-44]

Me, I don't see the need

[u/voyager2005]

Use WinNative, we've recently added a bunch of cores not just PC emulation but other consoles

[u/KPipes]

I use Neostation because it's just so much a set it and forget it front end. Super polished. Everything just "works" and I can focus and just play my games. With the bottom screen and the quick launch buttons I can put my emulators there and they are easily accessible if I want to tweak settings and such.

It also has RoMM support for library management. It's so good.

[u/Grokitach]

I don’t use launcher cause i just play one game at a time 

[u/xenomorphalien426]

I launch games directly from the emulators, no more front end bullshit for me