MAME Questions

[sandmountainslim]

Ok,

After years of failure I managed to download Stella and began playing Atari games via emulator a few weeks back so my next question is what about this MAME you all speak of?

Is it as simple to use as Stella and if so is there a database somewhere of ROM's to run in the emulator much like the database here at AA?

Lemme know in general non computer literate terms please

Wp

[Mirage]

Yes, it's awesome, just as easy to use as Stella, and the ROMs aren't hard to get. You may not want to attempt to download them all though, unless there's just a few here and there you want to play. I mentioned above, I believe, about the "MAME burners" service (google it). For pretty much just the cost of the discs and the shipping, you can have all of the MAME ROMs all at once. The last time I ordered a set, I think it was about 10 DVD's... now, it's more no doubt. Well worth doing, I highly recommend it.

[BigO]

I haven't had any luck figuring out how to get MAME going. I can't make heads or tails out of what to download to make it run a specific system, e.g. Channel F. Is there a MAME For Complete and Total Imbeciles tutorial?

[Mirage]

I haven't had any luck figuring out how to get MAME going. I can't make heads or tails out of what to download to make it run a specific system, e.g. Channel F. Is there a MAME For Complete and Total Imbeciles tutorial?

 

 

I think you're thinking of MESS. MAME is for arcade games, MESS is a similar project for all the various computers etc. I don't use MESS at all, but for MAME, you just download the ROM set and put it in the ROMS folder. You can download artwork and such also, but it's not necessary.

 

For MESS (though I don't use it), you'll need the ROM for the system (google is your friend), and a game ROM. Anything else is unnecessary. I've looked at MESS and the directory structure is pretty straightforward and all should easily work IF you have the correct files.

Edited December 21, 2008 by Mirage1972

[+remowilliams]

I can't make heads or tails out of what to download to make it run a specific system, e.g. Channel F.

It's really straightforward with MESS. Just download the latest MESS package and extract, put the ChannelF bios roms (channelf.zip) into \MESS\roms. Run MESSUI click on ChannelF, in the right hand pane hit the selector for cartridge, browse to your cart file (zipped or not) and then double click ChannelF in the left hand pane and voila.

[stonestn]

Mame is great if your into coinops in their full glory from yesteryear make sure you get mame32 gui version for windows its easy and no need to unzip roms if you need any help feel free to pm me been using mame since 1999 versions to present

[Inky]

Mame is great if you're into coinops in their full glory from yesteryear. Make sure you get mame32 gui version for windows -- its easy and no need to unzip roms. If you need any help feel free to pm me been using mame since 1999 versions to present

 

Sorry. Had to parse that post to make it easy to read.

 

However, grammar aside, you're absolutely 100% correct. Mame32UI is the way to go for ease of use. It suffers a bit in performance, but not by much.

 

THen you need to download a torrent of roms. Usually about 16 GB for everything MAME emulates. YOu can shave about 1 gig off if you delete all the MahJongg games that MAME emulates.

[Mirage]

Mame is great if you're into coinops in their full glory from yesteryear. Make sure you get mame32 gui version for windows -- its easy and no need to unzip roms. If you need any help feel free to pm me been using mame since 1999 versions to present

 

Sorry. Had to parse that post to make it easy to read.

 

However, grammar aside, you're absolutely 100% correct. Mame32UI is the way to go for ease of use. It suffers a bit in performance, but not by much.

 

THen you need to download a torrent of roms. Usually about 16 GB for everything MAME emulates. YOu can shave about 1 gig off if you delete all the MahJongg games that MAME emulates.

 

If it's only 16gb, it's not everything MAME emulates. But yeah, there are torrents where you can get a really good chunk of them. And usually the last 3-4 DVD's are one or two of the newer games each, so if you don't want those anyway, just go for a torrent and it will get you a huge chunk of them.

[Inky]

Mame is great if you're into coinops in their full glory from yesteryear. Make sure you get mame32 gui version for windows -- its easy and no need to unzip roms. If you need any help feel free to pm me been using mame since 1999 versions to present

 

Sorry. Had to parse that post to make it easy to read.

 

However, grammar aside, you're absolutely 100% correct. Mame32UI is the way to go for ease of use. It suffers a bit in performance, but not by much.

 

THen you need to download a torrent of roms. Usually about 16 GB for everything MAME emulates. YOu can shave about 1 gig off if you delete all the MahJongg games that MAME emulates.

 

If it's only 16gb, it's not everything MAME emulates. But yeah, there are torrents where you can get a really good chunk of them. And usually the last 3-4 DVD's are one or two of the newer games each, so if you don't want those anyway, just go for a torrent and it will get you a huge chunk of them.

 

Im actually moving my MAME dir to another drive right now, and its clocking in at 17.7 GB.. THis is minus the MAh JOhng games, so you're probably right.

 

I remember it took me a day and a half to get the torrent.

[Mirage]

Mame is great if you're into coinops in their full glory from yesteryear. Make sure you get mame32 gui version for windows -- its easy and no need to unzip roms. If you need any help feel free to pm me been using mame since 1999 versions to present

 

Sorry. Had to parse that post to make it easy to read.

 

However, grammar aside, you're absolutely 100% correct. Mame32UI is the way to go for ease of use. It suffers a bit in performance, but not by much.

 

THen you need to download a torrent of roms. Usually about 16 GB for everything MAME emulates. YOu can shave about 1 gig off if you delete all the MahJongg games that MAME emulates.

 

If it's only 16gb, it's not everything MAME emulates. But yeah, there are torrents where you can get a really good chunk of them. And usually the last 3-4 DVD's are one or two of the newer games each, so if you don't want those anyway, just go for a torrent and it will get you a huge chunk of them.

 

Im actually moving my MAME dir to another drive right now, and its clocking in at 17.7 GB.. THis is minus the MAh JOhng games, so you're probably right.

 

I remember it took me a day and a half to get the torrent.

 

The current MAME set (.128 I think) fills 26 single-layer DVD's. So, let's just say 4gb per DVD, that's just over 100gb. But, remember, that's _everything_. All the huge newer games, all the MahJongg crap, all artwork, marquees, artist photos, sound sets, everything.

 

What you're talking about will give you a respectable set of the classics though, to be sure, and faster.

 

Here is the MAME burners site for anyone interested. I get mine from guys on this list. The domain is UK, but there are burners lists for other countries including the US.

 

http://lazarus.org.uk/index.php?burners

[Rik]

I got a MAME cd rom from this guy.It has like over 3000 + arcade games on it,all on the 1 cd.I love it,it has every arcade game on it you can think of,or everyone I can think of anyway,even those rare ones with Japanese characters in it.It has console games too,like NEO GEO,plus all the very early arcade vector games.It is absolutely awesome,best thing ive owned for a while concerning gaming.

[Inky]

Mame is great if you're into coinops in their full glory from yesteryear. Make sure you get mame32 gui version for windows -- its easy and no need to unzip roms. If you need any help feel free to pm me been using mame since 1999 versions to present

 

Sorry. Had to parse that post to make it easy to read.

 

However, grammar aside, you're absolutely 100% correct. Mame32UI is the way to go for ease of use. It suffers a bit in performance, but not by much.

 

THen you need to download a torrent of roms. Usually about 16 GB for everything MAME emulates. YOu can shave about 1 gig off if you delete all the MahJongg games that MAME emulates.

 

If it's only 16gb, it's not everything MAME emulates. But yeah, there are torrents where you can get a really good chunk of them. And usually the last 3-4 DVD's are one or two of the newer games each, so if you don't want those anyway, just go for a torrent and it will get you a huge chunk of them.

 

Im actually moving my MAME dir to another drive right now, and its clocking in at 17.7 GB.. THis is minus the MAh JOhng games, so you're probably right.

 

I remember it took me a day and a half to get the torrent.

 

The current MAME set (.128 I think) fills 26 single-layer DVD's. So, let's just say 4gb per DVD, that's just over 100gb. But, remember, that's _everything_. All the huge newer games, all the MahJongg crap, all artwork, marquees, artist photos, sound sets, everything.

 

What you're talking about will give you a respectable set of the classics though, to be sure, and faster.

 

Here is the MAME burners site for anyone interested. I get mine from guys on this list. The domain is UK, but there are burners lists for other countries including the US.

 

http://lazarus.org.uk/index.php?burners

 

Yeah, I didnt get the CHD files. Those buggers take up a LOT of room. I did get the samples and flyers / marquees.

[+remowilliams]

Yeah, I didnt get the CHD files. Those buggers take up a LOT of room.

Nothing quite like the new Laserdisc files. Two games - 24GB.

 

I love MAME. IMHO one of the best pieces of software ever written.

[Royalshin]

MAME basically has been around for many many years and is multiple arcade emulator.

Most arcade games is emulated perfectly on MAME while others are not.

About getting Mame files all you have to do ( whatever you search on ) is input the name of the game in most cases.

There is also a couple of Arcade cabinents that is made for MAME if you wanna play it like old school.

The best part about MAME is that it is often being used with Kalleria. Meaning you can play online all the time.

 

The only bad thing I dislike about Mame is there is somebody with Mame PSP out there. Personally Mame is great and most games will run on lesser hardware. However games like Killer Instict II that uses alot of 3d or even Mortal Kombat 4 needs alot more juice to run.

 

Buying the Mame files is kinda weird. Since it is just somebody out there who collected all the files.

Edited December 22, 2008 by Royalshin

[Mirage]

Buying the Mame files is kinda weird. Since it is just somebody out there who collected all the files.

 

You're not buying the MAME files, you're paying for shipping and the discs for someone to copy them for you from a known good and complete source. It's no different than downloading them from a torrent, which is also just somebody out there who collected all the files.

[Royalshin]

But that costs money and anybody else here could do the same thing

[Mirage]

But that costs money and anybody else here could do the same thing

 

Okay, but you'd still have to pay shipping and pay for the discs, right? So it would be the same. Unless you have someone in town you know that can do it, sure, then what you're saying would be easier. This shouldn't be a difficult concept to understand, really. You want the complete MAME set, and don't know anyone locally who has it, you use MAME burners. Really, very very simple, and as cheap as it can be. If you really only want some select roms or a partial set, then download it... which is what I have said from the start. It's like you come on here just to argue.

Edited December 22, 2008 by Mirage1972

[Artlover]

Me thinks alot of people are spoiled and tend to forget....

• Not everyone has high speed internet. (Heck, some people don't have internet at all and reply on public access points).
  
• Not everyone has a CD/DVD burner.
  

I inherently see nothing wrong with selling (for NO profit - cost only) free stuff for the sake of those who don't have reasonable access to those channels.

[Mirage]

Me thinks alot of people are spoiled and tend to forget....

• Not everyone has high speed internet. (Heck, some people don't have internet at all and reply on public access points).
  
• Not everyone has a CD/DVD burner.
  

I inherently see nothing wrong with selling (for NO profit - cost only) free stuff for the sake of those who don't have reasonable access to those channels.

 

Exactly. Thank you. The thing is that I do have a DVD burner and high speed internet. It's still well worth it to me to just get it through MAME burners. It's no-hassle, just as cheap as any other way (not-for-profit), and the peace-of-mind having the entire current set with no long downloading times and all the other hassles associated with that.

 

The thing is... my idea won't be for everyone, as I said, and that's fine! Take the idea or leave it, don't argue about it (royalshin)!

[NE146]

And on the other side of the coin, if you know how to do it, it's zero hassle. Spot your bi-annual flood on usenet, queue it up, and check back at your pc in a couple of hours. Done Total about 4-6 mouse clicks.

 

Torrents would be pretty much the same deal except it'd take much longer, and you'd have to share it out. I dont like doing that since uploading anything on my connection kills my speed on everything else... and to do that for days? Forget it.

Edited December 22, 2008 by NE146

[Mirage]

And on the other side of the coin, if you know how to do it, it's zero hassle. Spot your bi-annual flood on usenet, queue it up, and check back at your pc in a couple of hours. Done Total about 4-6 mouse clicks.

 

Torrents would be pretty much the same deal except it'd take much longer, and you'd have to share it out. I dont like doing that since uploading anything on my connection kills my speed on everything else... and to do that for days? Forget it.

 

Remember, the entire MAME set is around 104 gb. I totally agree though, and have from the beginning, if you want to dl it, it's one option. Getting the discs burned is equally an option, and neither is worth arguing about, but then certain people can figure out a way to argue about anything at all!

 

And thank you for adding another option/idea to the conversation, which is always better than detracting from it.

Edited December 22, 2008 by Mirage1972

[NE146]

Remember, the entire MAME set is around 104 gb.

 

True.. but one big aspect of that is the CHD images. I personally choose to leave those out since my computer can't play the majority of those games anyway.

 

To put it into perspective, at this current moment, the size is:

 

17.9 GB (19,252,423,200 bytes) without chd's

 

117 GB (126,328,946,688 bytes) with them

 

So it's a big difference 17.9GB is nearly just 2 dvd-9's.

[Mirage]

Remember, the entire MAME set is around 104 gb.

 

True.. but one big aspect of that is the CHD images. I personally choose to leave those out since my computer can't play the majority of those games anyway.

 

To put it into perspective, at this current moment, the size is:

 

17.9 GB (19,252,423,200 bytes) without chd's

 

117 GB (126,328,946,688 bytes) with them

 

So it's a big difference 17.9GB is nearly just 2 dvd-9's.

 

Agreed, which is what I said in my first post about this. It's whether one wants everything or just all the old classics.

[Mirage]

oops, accidental double post.

Edited December 23, 2008 by Mirage1972

[NE146]

Agreed, which is what I said in my first post about this. It's whether one wants everything or just all the old classics.

 

I'd say it's whether one wants everything, or everything minus the CHD's

 

A good percentage of games in a regular mame non-chd romset are pretty far from classic