How do you use MAME?

[Akutabi Gamma]

I dled the MAME 0.9, and replaced my old MAME 0.78 files with it, but I don't know how to run it. It says something about Command Prompt, but I STILL don't understand how to run it.
Also I was wondering what version of MAME runs Rage of the Dragons & Matrimelee.
NOTE: If this is not to be asked in the forums PM me with the replay, thanks.

[NoAffinity]

Depending on what OS you are using, you get to the command prompt via:

Windows 98 - start->run->type "command" (without quotes)->press enter
Win2k/XP - start->run->type "cmd" (without quotes)->press enter

Depending on where your mame folder is located, you will need to navigate to it. If you're like me, and it's on your c: drive, then once you're at the command prompt, 1) type "cd.."->press enter, 2)type "cd.."->press enter, 3) type "cd mame"->press enter. To start a game (assuming you have ROMs in your roms folder; do not ask where to get them), type "mame gamename" (where gamename is the name of the rom). I.E. if you want to play Street Fighter 2, type "mame sf2". If you downloaded the Pentium Pro version of mame, then you would type "mamepp sf2".

[Emil]

Or you could avoid doing all that and just download mame32k 0.64 from anti3d.com. This is the version used for playing on most US servers, any doesn't require and command prompt stuff.

[Kyokuji]

What Emil said.
I don't know what the hell obscure version of MAME you're trying to use, but just get:
Mame32k 0.64 from www.darktemplarz.com/downloads.php or www.anti3d.com/downloads.php

These versions also allow netplay, and they will run Rage of the Dragons, but not Matrimelee. Very few people play RotD online though.

[NoAffinity]

This just in: Users of outdated, hacked MAME say official version obscure. More on this, and other stories, at 11.

[Akutabi Gamma]

OK thanks guys I'll try those & thanks NoAffinity!

[Kyokuji]

This just in: Users of outdated, hacked MAME say official version obscure. More on this, and other stories, at 11.

Yeah, I'm sick of using 0.64 too, but what can you do?
People won't switch.

[NoAffinity]

I've seen .90 floating around, but can't seem to find it anywhere for d/l. I'd be interested to test it out. BTW, I was just razzin' ya, but seriously, I'd be willing to bet that the majority of MAME users (which is to say, as online players, we are indeed a minority among the emu community) do use the official version. The mamedev team actually frowns on online-capable builds of their work.

[Akutabi Gamma]

OK they're running, but whenever I try to play a game it says that these files are missing:
sfix.sfx
sp-s2.sp1
sm1.sm1
000-lo.lo
If anyone can PM me or tell me what the heck's going on, plz do thanks in advance.

[Kyokuji]

You need a Neo Geo bios to play Neo Geo games.
You can probably google it pretty easily.

[NoAffinity]

Google "Neo Geo unibios" or "Neo Geo universal bios". Once you have it, place it in your MAME rom directory (just like with games, you can leave it in zipped format).

[Akutabi Gamma]

Cool, everything works now! I still got a few problems anyone know where I can ask for help other than here? (Don't want to annoy/bore you with more questions ^_^;;;)

[NoAffinity]

As long as they're not specifically asking where to find ROMs, then ask away. :karate:

[arstal]

What Emil said.
I don't know what the hell obscure version of MAME you're trying to use, but just get:
Mame32k 0.64 from www.darktemplarz.com/downloads.php or www.anti3d.com/downloads.php

These versions also allow netplay, and they will run Rage of the Dragons, but not Matrimelee. Very few people play RotD online though.


There is a version of Matrimelee ROM that will run on .64 MAME. I have it.

[Dreamer_NL]

Hey people, I have a question about MAME too.

I'm getting a HRAP2 soon, but how exactly can I set this up for use in MAME? It's easy in Kawaks, but so far I can't see how I could set up each button in MAME?

Also, what are the best video options? I always leave them default, but put triple buffering on...any more options which make it more fluent/better animation?

[NoAffinity]

Start a game, and press tab. Depending on the version, you'll either get a "by player" setup option, or a "diagnostic menu" type interface. If it's by player, then obviously set up 1 player controls. If it's the diagnostic style, then you can either do the universal control setup or just for that particular game.

[Kyokuji]

Yeah, just go to the tab menu in game and go to (Input this game).
Also make sure "Enable Joystick" is checked in the default options menu.

[Dreamer_NL]

Ah, yeah, it works. If I want to have the same input for every game, I just go to "general input" right?

[fatherbrain]

That's it. After I get home in a couple hours, I'mma go ahead and make my beginners guide to MAME that I've long promised.

[EX-Sucker Punch]

In my experience with MAME, it acts very gay when it comes to Neo Geo.

[Kyokuji]

Mame32k 0.67 acts gay with Neo Geo.
That's why everyone uses 0.64.

Kawaks is even worse, it desyncs with almost all Neo Geo games except Garou and a few others.
I play Last Blade 2 on 0.64 everyday with almost 0 problems, and KoF2k2 is one of the most played games on MAME.
Switch to 0.64 and you shouldn't see anymore problems.

[Dreamer_NL]

Mame32k 0.67 acts gay with Neo Geo.
That's why everyone uses 0.64.

Kawaks is even worse, it desyncs with almost all Neo Geo games except Garou and a few others.
I play Last Blade 2 on 0.64 everyday with almost 0 problems, and KoF2k2 is one of the most played games on MAME.
Switch to 0.64 and you shouldn't see anymore problems.

I use Mame32FX101 for non-neo/cps1/2. Winkawaks 1.45 for Neo and CPS1/2 stuff.

So I should switch to mame32k0.64 then?

[NoAffinity]

Yes. The only game that I know of (altho, I don't play much neo) that has problems in mame32k 0.64 is SSF2T. I don't think I've ever played more than 10 games of SSF2T online, without it erroring, disconnecting or hanging.

[Dreamer_NL]

Yes. The only game that I know of (altho, I don't play much neo) that has problems in mame32k 0.64 is SSF2T. I don't think I've ever played more than 10 games of SSF2T online, without it erroring, disconnecting or hanging.

Alright, thanks.

I do have another question though, what are the best video options to use for mame? I always use triple buffering, but do I need to enable some more options? Perhaps something in the vector menu?

[JedahsMinistry]

Vector only applies to games that use vector graphics. Check under the 'Type' column in Mame's game list window to see what uses what (majority is raster).
In fact, if you go to the left side panel in mame32k, there's a folder of games that used vector graphics. Not too many, and most of them are pre-1985.

[Akutabi Gamma]

*you should know better than to ask this -fb*

Also who can I set aspect ratio to 0.64? When it runs a game the size is 300x200 or something like that and when I re-scale it, it just makes it taller or wider.

[Kyokuji]

It's under default options.

Try 1024x768 non full screen
Stretch x3
2x Zoom
75% scanlines

[Akutabi Gamma]

Thanks bro will try 2day :cool:

[Gouki7]

That's it. After I get home in a couple hours, I'mma go ahead and make my beginners guide to MAME that I've long promised.
Please do, im lost :wow:

[ParryAll]

I have a question maybe someone can help...

Is there any way to play newer versions of Mame, IE, version .9 I believe (the newest one) without having to use a command prompt? I can give a shit about online play, but there is no way I'm typing commands into a gay prompt to play everytime. I'm computer illiterate and need a dumbed down GUI thank you very much.

Abridged question: Can I play the newest Mame from a GUI (graphics user interface IE point and click not type in commands).

Not sure which version I'm using now but I'd love an updated one. Games like Radiant Silvergun and Raiden II don't work and it's pissing me off.

[Buttermaker]

Get a build that has a GUI or use a frontend with the official version.

www.mameworld.net

[ParryAll]

Get a build that has a GUI or use a frontend with the official version.

www.mameworld.net

Ok so which version specifically should I download from that site it's all very confusing....

And what's a frontend?

[ParryAll]

Fuck it because the games I want to play (Various Model 2 and 3, Saturn S-TV, Raiden II, etc.) still aren't supported even by the newest versions. And I'm running the old and grey .64.

Also I found this while searching and found it interesting:
Red Earth / Warzard (Capcom [CPS3 system], 96)
Street Fighter III (Capcom [CPS3 system], 97)
Street Fighter III Second Impact (Capcom [CPS3 system], 98)
Street Fighter III Third Strike (Capcom [CPS3 system], 99)
The CPS3 system used a CD and a cartridge.
Why it's not emulated (Santeri Saarimaa)
Nobody has cracked the encryption, plus there is no certainty of what the main CPU is (but this would be rather simple to figure out if the encryption was broken).
From WHATSNEW.TXT:
This will never work (encryption etc.) MAME driver does NOTHING, for reference only.
"This will never work. For reference only."

Ouch. Capcom got hardcore with the encryption after SFII and CPSII so I guess we'll never see SFIII emulated :sad: