[Better Old Default Cinematic]

I love your playlist ! 😉

[Forza Horizon Saga]

3 hours ago, BDeRbDaMaStA said:

Thanks for your response and actually acknowledging the feedback I provided. I’m looking forward to your experimentation with your next video. Just a little bit of a backstory, I have been utilizing your themes as well as Suhrvivors themes for different platforms, for many years. Both of you guys have your own unique spin, and I’m happy that you guys make themes for the Windows platform. Besides you two, I can only think of two other creators I have seen in the last two or three years that have made good quality videos.

 

Now I personally, typically, prefer the direct approach regarding a theme for a game, as, in my opinion, its a nice introduction into what you are about to play. I do, however, understand your premise and what you’re trying to accomplish and respect it.
 

I like your FH4 and need for speed unbound themes when you release them a few years ago, and still use it to this day. 
 

But, once again, looking forward to your next cinematic theme. I do think the themes combined with BigBox really brings out the Front End. I just wish I had the skills to do the same, or you guys would release more videos lol.

You guys…. Please releases move Themes lol

We’re not that many creating themes, but I’ve noticed a few new creators starting to appear. And honestly, that’s great. I really hope they stick around, because some of them are already very talented.

Of course, there are also people who have been here for a long time. For example, @CTRL-ALT-DEFEAT has an absolutely insane collection of themes. I think he may have even created more than I have. 

And when it comes to arcade, the specialist is Sucra. His style is more classic, but it works extremely well, and people love it.

Less regular, but just as talented, there is also Klopero. When he gets involved, he brings a lot to the table and creates things you can only really find here, especially Japanese versions of game themes. A lot of experience there too.

It’s impossible to mention everyone, of course. I had tried to centralize some of this here:

 

 

 Thank you so much for your encouragement. See you very soon!

[Forza Horizon Saga]

 

I also wanted to mention something else: I said on Reddit that I would share my Forza Nostalgic Bedroom Collection.

Just to be clear, this one is a little different from a classic gameplay theme pack. It was designed to be multi-front-end and multi-support, because it’s entirely based on cinematic themes rather than gameplay footage.

So yes, sorry guys, no gameplay here. These are the themes I created and integrated into Nostalgic Bedroom, with an audio-reactive approach to make the whole thing feel more immersive and alive.

The collection is complete, with custom icons and cinematic themes that can easily be adapted to Hyperspin or other frontends.

Tell me what you think. If people are interested, I’ll share it.

 

[Forza Horizon Saga]

Just to illustrate the difference between a classic gameplay-focused approach and a more cinematic one, I worked on a variation around Luigi’s Mansion 2 in 2024

Survivor’s version puts more emphasis on gameplay inside a window, which works very well for a direct presentation of the game. On my side, I wanted to push the atmosphere a bit further: Luigi is no longer just present on screen, he reacts, he talks, and almost becomes a little living character inside the theme thanks to lip sync and staging.

 

 

I had never shared this version here before because I didn’t want to offend or disrespect Survivor’s work in any way. I’m showing it now only as an example, to illustrate how different creative approaches can completely change the feeling of a theme.

This is not about saying one version is better or worse. It’s really about two different philosophies. One shows the game. The other tries to bring the player into the game’s universe.

And from now on, for my future shares, I’ll also try to include a more classic gameplay-focused version alongside my cinematic versions. That way, everyone can choose the approach they prefer: the more direct gameplay version, or the more immersive and staged version.

No jealousy here everyone gets their flashlight. 😄

[Forza Horizon Saga]

I really want to clarify one thing: my message is absolutely not a criticism of more traditional or gameplay-focused themes. There are creators who do that very well, with real skill in placement, readability, and integration within the interface.

It is simply a different approach.

On my side, I’m trying to create more of a cinematic atmosphere, with rhythm, impact moments, transitions, and staging. It is not necessarily better, and it is not necessarily for everyone, but it is part of my creative identity.And I actually think it is interesting that several styles can exist within the community. Some people prefer a more direct gameplay preview, while others prefer a more atmospheric experience. Both approaches have their place.

My goal is not to replace one approach with another, but simply to bring something different.

[Forza Horizon Saga]

 

Thanks guys for your feedback, I really appreciate it.

I understand what you mean about shorter videos and more direct gameplay. I agree that this kind of approach can be useful, especially if the goal is simply to show how the game plays.

But for me, a cinematic theme has a different purpose. It is not only there to demonstrate the gameplay. It is there to catch the viewer’s eye, create atmosphere, make the interface look more attractive, and make people want to enter the game’s world.

Gameplay videos already exist everywhere, and of course they have their place. I don’t want to diminish that approach at all. But personally, if I spend time creating a cinematic theme, building animations around it, designing an intro, working on rhythm, transitions and atmosphere, I don’t really see the point of ending up with something that only shows basic gameplay.

At that point, it almost makes more sense to simply use a short gameplay preview. It can be clean, efficient and direct. But if the goal is to create a cinematic theme, then I feel it should fully embrace that direction. It should bring staging, mood, identity and a stronger sense of presence inside the interface.

About the fullscreen moments, I also want to explain that they are not random.

When I use fullscreen sequences, it is usually at very specific moments. They are chosen to emphasize an action, an impact, a camera angle, or a key moment in the trailer. They are part of the rhythm of the theme.

If I remove all those moments, the video may feel more “interface-friendly”, but it also loses a lot of its energy, pacing and cinematic impact. These shots are selected because they create tension, movement and atmosphere. They help the theme breathe, accelerate, slow down, and highlight the game in a more dramatic way.

For me, the fullscreen moments are not there to break the interface. They are there to create impact. They are like close-ups in a movie: used at the right time, they make the scene stronger.

 

The Need for Speed Unbound theme I posted after that actually shows exactly what I mean.

 

Try to imagine that theme without the editing, without the visual effects, without the rhythm, without the fullscreen impact moments, and with only raw gameplay footage instead. It would completely lose a big part of its appeal.The game would still be there, of course, but the atmosphere would not be the same at all. The energy, the style, the visual identity, the sense of movement… all of that would disappear. It would become much more neutral, much flatter, and honestly a lot less exciting to watch.And that is really the point I am trying to explain. Removing all the cinematic work around the theme is not just “simplifying” it. It also removes a big part of the creative work itself. The editing, the effects, the timing, the selected shots, the transitions — that is where a lot of the atmosphere comes from.

Of course, I can make a more gameplay-focused version by removing those cinematic moments and using more direct gameplay instead. I have no problem testing that. But I honestly think the difference will be very obvious. It will probably feel cleaner and more classic, but also much flatter in terms of atmosphere.

So yes, I’ll do the test with Forza Horizon 6.

 

I’ll prepare a more neutral version, with the theme animation, the car, and then classic gameplay footage, without dynamic editing, without fullscreen moments, and without any particular cinematic staging.That way, you’ll be able to really compare both approaches.The idea is not to say that one approach is better than the other. Everyone has their own taste, their own use, and that’s also what makes it interesting. This way, people will be able to choose what they prefer.But I also think the comparison will show exactly why I made these cinematic choices in the first place. When you remove the rhythm, the selected shots, the transitions and the moments of impact, you also remove a big part of what gives the theme its soul.

That said, if this is really what some people prefer, I can do it. Technically, it is not difficult at all. In fact, it would probably take me one or two hours less work.

But in that case, we are not really in the same creative approach anymore. It becomes more like a gameplay video placed inside a theme, while my approach is to create a real cinematic atmosphere around the game.So yes, I hear your feedback, and I’ll keep it in mind. I may make two versions in the future: a simpler gameplay version, without dynamic editing or fullscreen moments, and a cinematic version in my usual style.

But I also don’t want to erase what makes my work feel like mine. If I remove all the staging, rhythm and atmosphere, then I simply end up doing the same thing as many others.

And my goal is precisely to bring something different to the interface.

I think the test will speak for itself.

 

[Invincible VS]

1 hour ago, Suhrvivor said:

Weird icons at the bottom right when is not fullscreen.

Yes, that’s the Nvidia recording icon that appears when you capture footage.I animate through Wallpaper Engine, then I record the animation and usually do the editing afterward.

Most of the time, I erase or clean up that annoying little icon in post-production… but this time, I forgot.That tiny Nvidia pictogram basically invited itself into the scene like an extra nobody asked for. The kind of detail you only notice after the export, of course otherwise it wouldn’t be funny.

I’ll make a correction!

Good catch, eyes of the tiger!

[Theme Videos and Video Snaps for Sony Playstation 4]

Still top quality as always. You’re really great with element placement. Everything feels super cohesive, and that consistency shows across all your themes. Great job, man  !

[Arcade playlist ( Oldies )]

8 hours ago, Retrogamer4423 said:

Thanks for your work, my friend. You're a beacon for all retro enthusiasts.

Thank you man, that’s really kind of you. But be careful not to compliment me too much, it wakes up the trolls, lol. Just kidding.

It’s the kind of sentence that reminds you of something simple but profound: on the internet, creations live much longer than we imagine. A theme posted ten years ago can still end up in someone’s hands today, spark an idea, a vocation, or simply the desire to tinker with a frontend.

In retro communities, it’s even more true. Projects circulate, get remixed, inspire other setups and other interfaces… and after a while you don’t even know who inspired who anymore. It’s a bit like an old cartridge being passed around between friends and ending up in ten different houses.So yeah, it’s just a comment, but it made me want to share a couple more.I’m posting two more themes. I’m a bit embarrassed because some of them haven’t aged very well . they’re about ten years old after all. But if a few of you enjoy them, then that’s great.

It also shows the very beginning of my work and creations. I started exactly like many of you I didn’t really know what I was doing back then. It was a lot of tinkering: editing, layering things together, green screens, basic compositing… nothing very professional at all.So it definitely doesn’t represent my current skills, but honestly I don’t mind sharing it. At least it shows where it all started. I’m not going to pretend my early work didn’t exist.

Launch themes are pretty rare anyway. There aren’t that many around. Back then I really enjoyed making them. It was pure imagination — I was just letting my creativity run wild.

[Teknoparrot Part 1 A-C]

On 11/8/2025 at 6:12 PM, sucramjd said:

Nobody wants you to give up mate, certainly not me. Like I said I really like your work just think they go on a little longer than they need to. So dont give up some people love your style I just prefer the old style Hyperspin look for arcade systems that's all 👍

Thanks for your support, man, but like I said earlier —I’ve lost the motivation and the desire to share here.
It’s a lot of work for very little feedback or encouragement, and I just can’t handle the “everyone for themselves” vibe anymore.
I’d rather focus on places where my work is genuinely appreciated and awaited.
It’s not like I haven’t tried!
That said, it doesn’t mean I won’t stay active on the forum, of course.

[Teknoparrot Part 1 A-C]

I just wanted to share something that really mattered to me:
over 300 themes, complete with intros, launch sequences, variants, and even French versions.

They’re all formatted in an arcade style and don’t exceed 1 minute and 15 seconds each.
The whole idea was simple: to put everything together so the community could enjoy and grow from it.

But honestly, I don’t understand some of the reactions anymore.
After ten years of creating and sharing without asking for anything in return, I suggested we should highlight the creators.
That was seen as ego and I got two years banned, (even though Retro Lust and I had a project to make a custom theme together.)
Still, I didn’t give up. They eventually let me back in and, without resentment, I started sharing again, slowly, step by step.

Then I recently reused some assets from a theme Farean had publicly shared for everyone,
and somehow that made me a thief, when artistically, I’ve got nothing left to prove.
After a while, it just wears you down.

So I’ll hand my themes over to Sucra. He can do whatever he wants with them.
At least he still understands what sharing really means.
Otherwise, they’ll just stay tucked away somewhere.

And I’m leaving with the satisfaction of having introduced animated marquees with my buddy Salt Trader across several communities,
and of having brought something different to this little world.

Right now, I just don’t have the energy anymore for share here.

and the community has spoken, giving way to the youth!
But no regrets. I gave it everything I had.

It’s a shame, really we could have built something beautiful together.
But it seems the community prefers to move on alone.

[Teknoparrot Part 1 A-C]

Hey guys, I won’t bother you any longer 😄
I think it’s a lost cause, lol.

@Faluki → You’re answering a question I never asked
I never said I wanted to make things uniform quite the opposite!
My idea is to bring people together, not to standardize anything.
That’s what I’ve been saying from the start.

It’s like if I said, “what if we formed an orchestra?”
And someone replied, “nah, I like playing violin alone.”

We’d all keep our own identity, but by working together, everyone’s work would shine even more.

@sucramjd → I totally get you, and I respect your style  it works, and people clearly love what you do.

My goal isn’t to make long videos the new standard, it’s just to combine our strengths.
Some users like short, clean intros, others prefer something a bit more cinematic.

(And “cinematic” is a big word, really  Bloody’s theme is 1:16 long, but you could easily cut it to 30 seconds and it wouldn’t change anything, since users can skip whenever they want.)

What I was suggesting was simply to put our skills and assets together.
If we do that, everyone wins: more variety, more visibility, and a much more lively community.

When you download arcade theme packs from EmuMovies, those themes aren’t the work of a single person  they’re team efforts, a mix of different creators.

Honestly, I’ve looked around, and I’ve never seen a true collaborative project here.
And that’s strange, because everywhere else, people build things together.

This seems to be the only community where everyone stays in their own corner  when we could be doing something huge if we just decided to work as a team. 💪

[Teknoparrot Part 1 A-C]

It’s crazy, really…
I’m here trying to build a real team project  something community-driven, made hand in hand between passionate creators.

I literally stepped out of my own Patreon bubble just to create something together, so we could move forward as a real community, not just everyone in their own little corner.

And yet… it feels like everyone’s locking themselves in their own zone.

It’s such a shame, because we’ve got everything we need talent, ideas, years of experience.
If we stopped playing solo for just two minutes, we could build something massive.

I’ve honestly tried everything with this community  breaking out of the same old patterns, bringing something new, different, more creative…
And still, no one seems open to it.

It’s wild, really.
We could make LaunchBox shine far beyond its walls  but to do that, we’d have to start thinking as a team.😶

[Teknoparrot Part 1 A-C]

42 minutes ago, Faluki said:

Honestly, I prefer the themes the way sucramjd's is making them. They're high quality, not overloaded, and last as long as they need to. I sincerely hope he continues with his own style, just like he's doing now.

Just to be clear : I’m not saying Sucra themes aren’t good.
On the contrary, I think they’re excellent: clean, consistent, and really well made.

My post wasn’t about comparing who does it “better” or “worse,” it was about raising a genuine question:
what if we combined all our styles and creative energy instead of working separately?

We all have our own touch  some go for a classic look, others for a more cinematic or reactive vibe — and that diversity is exactly what could make something truly great.

The idea isn’t competition, it’s amplification.
Let’s bring our strengths together and show what this community can really do when it moves in the same direction.

But yeah  as often happens, the moment someone says something a bit thoughtful, a few people instantly think it’s “criticism” or “comparison.”
I’m just opening a door here.
If you don’t have a culture of collaboration, you’ll miss the message  and that’s a shame.

I’m even happy to share all my arcade themes with him if he wants.
The goal isn’t to take over anything  it’s to centralize everything in one place and make it easier for everyone.

Imagine a single, organized thread that gathers all the best themes  arcade, console, cinematic from all creators.
It would save people time, highlight everyone’s work, and finally give LaunchBox a real “collective library” feel.

I honestly think it’s worth trying. We’ve all been creating for years  maybe it’s time to connect the dots. it's just a suggestion an idea!

[Teknoparrot Part 1 A-C]

Alright, I know I’m stirring the pot here ^^.Honestly, the pack is super complete and really well put together  no complaints there.
But I find the themes, while clean, a bit classic. We were already seeing this kind of presentation on Hyperspin 10–15 years ago,

so I’m a bit surprised to see so much excitement about it today.

I think it’s mainly the “complete pack” aspect that makes it so popular which is definitely a big plus  but visually, I’ve seen more original stuff.

Anyway, as always, it’s solid work from Sucra, no doubt! Still, I sometimes wonder why I spend so much time making complex animations and logos in After Effects, when simpler things seem to create that same “wow” effect.
Maybe I’m just overcomplicating things… technically speaking .

Gonna take my usual 10-mile-long precautions here as soon as we have a different opinion 😅 but seriously, no condescension, no jealousy, no ego thing going on.
Sucra’s doing awesome work, I’m just genuinely trying to understand

Edit : 

Honestly, it's really interesting to see that this kind of content is still so popular today.I think it clearly shows that many users are primarily looking for the comfort of familiarity

a  retro feel, a ready-made package, the "plug & play" aspect more than visual innovation.

What really resonates with people isn't always the most artistically striking thing, but what's reassuring or evokes a shared memory.Personally, I'd like to take this a step further.
Sucra, if you're interested, I could offer my themes to complement yours.We'd be demonstrating genuine collaboration between creators, not just an addition of content,

but a shared vision.but it would allow us to have a richer, more varied collection with different styles.I think we would all benefit, especially the community!

If you're interested, I'll send you everything in a private message and you can make your own little sauce. There's a way to level up together.

What I'm saying also applies to @Suhrvivor . Imagine if we shared everything! Can you imagine the database we'd have... it would be crazy, and it would be so much simpler for someone looking for a theme!

I think there are a few things we need to do... Doing things together rather than individually, that's what a community is all about

You know what would make things a lot easier?
If we gathered all our work — everyone’s, Ctrl+Alt+Def, Davemek, Sucra,( and sorry to anyone I forgot  into one organized post).

Just imagine: everything sorted by category — arcade, console, collections — instead of scattered across fifty different threads.

Have you ever tried searching for a specific theme here? If you found it on the first try, congrats  you’ve just unlocked an ultra rare achievement! 😄

Jokes aside, after all these years, we could really build something great together.
A single, collaborative post that highlights everyone’s themes and launch videos, old and new. It’d make life easier for users and finally give proper visibility to the people who’ve kept this scene alive all this time.

What do you think? Would be awesome to make this happen as a team.

You know why stuff like SteamGridDB works so well?
Because those guys actually work together. They share, organize, and put everything in one place.

I feel like we’re one train behind, honestly.
Maybe it’s time we brainstormed a bit and caught up 

we’ve got the talent, the passion, and years of content… it’s just scattered all over the place.

What do you guys think?

[MUGEN Ultimate Game Media Pack + Custom Bonus Content!]

Thanks for sharing, I'm working on a big Mugen pack with some rarities and even some exclusives from unknown authors!

But there are a lot of links that have disappeared or are dead, a real investigative job.

[Fatal Fury City of the Wolves intro by MrBurns]

Just a quick note about your themes! They're nice and dynamic!

A few comments that will help you make the whole thing better!

Fatal Fury: The theme is great, but your PNG title is in low resolution, which is a real shame.

In 4K, it's easy to find. Look ==

 

Db is pretty cool too, but it lacks a small frame/it looks too posed/stuck on! And your intro has a questionable rendering in terms of resolutions, and likewise, you can find the animated title almost everywhere on YouTube!

As for the rest, we'd definitely recommend Handbrake for your compression and for the weight, because it converts without losing quality I hope that helps you!!! At least a little

[Start UP Neon Arcade Remade]

1 hour ago, C-Beats said:

Not sure how hard it is to correct but you have a translation/spelling error in your video. During the bits where it's displaying the song's lyrics you have the word "through" spelled as "trought". Stands out even more so with that specific word being highlighted. You are consistent in the incorrect spelling I believe I saw the word and this spelling in both places it appears.

"It's the first time someone has pointed it out to me, but thanks for letting me know! This intro is easily five years old, and it has been used a lot here and on YouTube, yet this is the first time anyone has mentioned it! I don't think I'll fix it—I would have to find the template, and after so many years, I have no idea where I put it. And finding an old template after five years… it's like looking for a game cartridge buried at the bottom of a forgotten drawer. 😅 But now I know there's a little typo! I might redo a version someday, just for fun!"

[Kingdom Hearts Melon Mix Startup]

 

---

It's clean, simple, and you can feel the passion behind it! You must be a huge fan. 😄 I loved the saga, even though I think they got stuck in their own storyline (thanks, Tetsuya!).

Here’s my collection running on my custom setup: three game views and a prelaunch! I haven’t had much time to develop it further, but in the future, I think I’ll take it a bit further. If any of the elements interest you, feel free to let me know, and I’ll send them your way.

 

Cheers   

 

[More Colorful Collections]

On 1/19/2025 at 4:36 PM, salofan said:

Which is something I forgot to mention - I do have the PNG files for all the videos. I don't use Colorful as my main theme, but I will try to get all the images together to use (or if somebody else wants to put them together, I'm happy to provide).

Hello! Classy and simple, completely in the spirit!
Tell me, do you want a hand so I can animate them for you?

[Playstation Covers 3D PAL]

Très bon choix pour Wing commander 3 coeur de tigre ! ^^ j'ai fais de même 

m

Syncro  les frenchies !

[Windows Games 3D and 2D Boxes (510 Games)]

Love it ! Nice job !