DOWNLOAD FOR MICROSOFT WINDOWS BASED FRONT ENDS

The following Windows based Arcade Front Ends have been tested:

At the end of the Pixelcade software install, the Arcade front end setup wizard will run and you’ll choose your Arcade front end. You can run this wizard multiple times to integrate Pixelcade with multiple front ends.

Pixelcade LED 5.x – For Pixelcade LED

Known Issues for Pixelcade LED 5.x

  • The artwork updater from Pixelcade Companion does not work on some PCs. Use the “Pixelcade Artwork Updater” Pixelcade program files icon instead.
  • Pixelcade Companion does not yet support writing a default marquee. Use the “Write Default Marquee” Pixelcade program files icon instead.

Pixelcade LED 4.6.x Legacy (Use this if you have Pixelcade LED + Pixelcade LCD)

Pixelcade LED 4.6.x Legacy Setup Guide

How to Set Up High Score Scrolling

Pixelcade artwork is updated from time to time. You can check the online Pixelcade artwork repo to see what has been updated. Run the Pixelcade LED Artwork Updater to get the latest artwork from the Pixelcade artwork repo.

Optionally, you can also follow this guide that enables Pixelcade LED to function as a DMD while playing Visual Pinball and Pinball FX3 and FX2 (Steam versions only).

Pixelcade LCD 5.x – For Pixelcade LCD Only Installations

IMPORTANT: For Windows 11 users, turn off Windows Defender as it likely will block the Pixelcade LCD software installation. And then you may need to also add a Defender exclusion for the Pixelcade folder.

Firmware and Artwork Updates for Pixelcade LCD

LEDBlinky Free Version vs. Paid Version
 Marquee updates while front end scrolling for emulators & gamesScrolling text during game launch, startup, and shutdown Screen SaverSplash Screen RemovedHigh Score Scrolling on select MAME games
FreeYesNoNoNoNo
PaidYesYesYesYesYes

The Pixelcade installer will also install the free version of LEDBlinky if not already installed. 

Windows 7 users on Pixelcade LED will also need to install the driver for the Pixelcade board from Windows device manager. The driver is located in the \driver sub-directory and is for Windows 7 only. The board driver is automatically installed with Windows 10.

Manual Install Guide (only use if automated installer not working)

RELEASE NOTES & PREVIOUS RELEASES

Optional Command Line Parameters

The Pixelcade installer will add Pixelcade (pixelweb.exe) to your Windows start-up folder to run automatically when Windows starts. If you want to further customize Pixelcade, you can add the following command line parameters to the startup command.

Usage of ./pixelweb:

  -b string

   optional bind address (default “0.0.0.0”)

  -check-artwork

    check Pixelcade artwork for updates. Exits with code 0 if no update available, 1 if update is available, 2 if directory does not exist, 3 if unknown error.

  -d string

    path to pixelcade device. Set to auto to scan for device. On Windows use COM# (default “auto”)

  -debug

    debug log level

  -delay int

    time (in seconds) to delay device init

  -devicescan

    scan for device if not found or not specified with -d (default true)

  -font string

    default font for text (default “Arial Narrow 7”)

  -fontcolor string

    default font color for text (default “red”)

  -fontcolorrandom

    random default font color. Overrides -fontcolor

  -fontsize int

    default font size for text (default 28)

  -fuzzy

    enable fuzzy matching for images

  -image string

    optional image to display on startup (default “mame/pixelcade.png”)

  -install-artpack string

    install art pack with license code

  -install-artwork

    install Pixelcade artwork to pixelcade root. Exits with code 2 if artwork already installed.

  -logfile string

    optional log file

  -nointro

    skips playing the startup text and logo. Screen will be black on startup.

  -p string

    path to pixelcade root (default “/userdata/system/pixelcade”)

  -port int

    optional port to listen on (default 8080)

  -progress-stdout

    print progress output as stdout only

  -startup

    startup mode

  -swapbluegreen

    swap blue and green. Only needed for certain panels.

  -system-image string

    optional system image to display on startup. Overrides -image

  -text string

    optional text to display on startup (default “Welcome to Pixelweb”)

  -trace

    trace log level

  -update-artwork

    install Pixelcade artwork to pixelcade root

  -version

    display the version number