Create a Version of LaunchBox for MiSTer FPGA

Summary:

Develop a lightweight version of LaunchBox designed specifically for MiSTer FPGA, bringing LaunchBox’s polished interface, metadata handling, and box art support to the MiSTer platform 🎮🖼️.

Problem:

While MiSTer FPGA offers incredible accuracy for retro gaming, its user interface is minimalistic and lacks the visual presentation and organizational tools that many users appreciate from LaunchBox. There’s no built-in support for box art, game metadata, or customizable frontends—leaving the experience feeling bare compared to what LaunchBox provides on PC and Android.

For users who care about presentation and discoverability—especially those building showcase setups—this creates a gap in the MiSTer ecosystem.

Proposal:

Create a tailored version of LaunchBox optimized for MiSTer FPGA, possibly as a lightweight companion app or frontend layer. Key features could include:

• Game box art and logos

• Per-core game organization and tagging

• Favorite, recently played, and genre filtering

• Controller-friendly navigation for CRT and HDMI setups

• Integration with existing MiSTer file structure and core loaders

This wouldn’t need to be a full LaunchBox build—just a streamlined, performance-friendly version that enhances MiSTer’s usability without compromising its core simplicity.

Benefits:

• Greatly improves visual and organizational experience on MiSTer

• Appeals to retro fans who want both accuracy and presentation

• Differentiates MiSTer setups with a modern, polished interface

• Opens the door for deeper library management on MiSTer-based builds 🧠✨