Updating Mame

[II_DeLo_II]

As an IT guy, I’m embarrassed to admit that I can’t wrap my head around this...

 

When a new version of MAME comes out, do the rom files change at all?

 

Subsequently, when a rom gets updated, how do you know where to find the most updated version? And how do you know that it is, in fact, the most updated version?

 

Basically, I’m starting to look for roms but I’m having a hard time understanding how they are maintained and updated. (and please let me know if I'm completely confused here)

[Bakasama]

Ah, that's a question that requires a lengthy answer. If I ever find way to explain this, I'll post again.

[DanBoris]

MAME always strives to support the most clean an accurate set of ROMS as possible. It's not uncommon for a new version of MAME to be looking for different ROMS then an older version. For example if it's discovered that a specific ROM was not dumped properly, and a correct dump is found, MAME will be updated to look for the checksum of the newer version of the ROM instead of the older one. Also also common that smaller ROMS, like the ones used to generate the color palette in a game were not used in older versions of MAME, but are now used in a newer version.

 

There are a couple ways to see if a ROM has been updated. First MAME can check for you. Start it from the command line like this:

 

mame -verifyroms

 

This will verify any rom sets you have to be sure they are up to date. You can also use a tool like RomCenter to verify your ROMS.

 

Dan

[+Nathan Strum]

MAWS tracks all MAME ROM changes. Probably more info than you could ever want.

[+remowilliams]

Using a manager like clrmamepro or Romcenter is the only sane way to verify your rom sets against MAME versions. When going from an older to a newer MAME version, you need to locate the changed rom files to use with your manager. They are routinely posted to Usenet groups, and are available on various torrent sites.

 

To go from a newer MAME version to an old version, you need what are called 'rollback' rom sets in combination with your rom management utility of choice.

[godslabrat]

For that matter, will there EVER be a new version of MacMAME, or has the project been orphaned? Seems I can't run Captain America and the Avengers on the current one.

[+stephena]

Using a manager like clrmamepro or Romcenter is the only sane way to verify your rom sets against MAME versions. When going from an older to a newer MAME version, you need to locate the changed rom files to use with your manager. They are routinely posted to Usenet groups, and are available on various torrent sites.

 

To go from a newer MAME version to an old version, you need what are called 'rollback' rom sets in combination with your rom management utility of choice.

Or find a torrent site that releases updated torrents for each major MAME release. That way, when a new release comes out, the torrent application itself takes care of changes, and the downloads are relatively small. Be prepared for an ~16GB download in the beginning, though.

[cosmosiss]

That's what I do. Once in a while I run clrmame to get rid of the ones not needed anymore. Looks like they remane or split/merge roms sometimes.

[Bakasama]

For that matter, will there EVER be a new version of MacMAME, or has the project been orphaned? Seems I can't run Captain America and the Avengers on the current one.

 

I got some bad news, MacMAME is been dead for while. You could try MAME OS X or the Mac version of SDLMAME.

[godslabrat]

I got some bad news, MacMAME is been dead for while. You could try MAME OS X or the Mac version of SDLMAME.

 

Well, dang. That's what I get for being late to the party. I'll check out those other two. Thanks.