Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator
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Specifications
- Product Name: MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator)
- Release Year: 1997
- Targeted Systems: Vintage arcade machines, computers, video
game consoles, calculators
Product Information
MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) is a versatile emulation
framework that allows users to emulate vintage hardware and
software. Originally designed for arcade machines, MAME has
expanded to support a wide range of vintage systems including
computers, consoles, and calculators. It prioritizes accuracy in
emulation, making it ideal for users who value authentic gameplay
experiences.
Usage Instructions
Accepted ROM Formats and Locations
- Accepted ROM Formats: .zip, .7z
- ROM Folder: /userdata/roms/mame
BIOS Requirements
The need for BIOS files depends on the romset type used:
- No BIOS required
- Individual BIOS files required for each game
- A single BIOS file needed for a group of games
Samples Management
For MAME2003plus (mame078plus), if your game requires samples,
place them in /userdata/bios/mame2003/samples folder. Samples can
be specific to one game or applicable to multiple versions.
ROMs Placement
Organize your MAME ROMs in the /userdata/roms/mame folder.
Subfolders can be created for different MAME versions, such as
/userdata/roms/mame/mame2003plus.
Emulators Overview
- libretro: imame4all: Old version of MAME suitable for low-end
hardware. - libretro: mame078plus: Supports specific ROMset version
0.78plus. - libretro: mame0139: Supports ROMset version 0.139.
- libretro: mame: Latest ROMset version at release.
FAQ
Q: Where should I place my MAME ROMs?
A: Store your MAME ROMs in the /userdata/roms/mame folder.
Subfolders can be used for different MAME versions if needed.
Q: Do I need BIOS files for MAME?
A: The need for BIOS files depends on the romset type used. No
BIOS is required for some, while others may need individual BIOS
files per game or a single BIOS file for a group of games.
Q: How can I manage samples for MAME2003plus?
A: Place the required samples in the
/userdata/bios/mame2003/samples folder. Samples can be specific to
one game or applicable to multiple versions.
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MAME
MAME, the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator, is a multi-purpose emulation framework which facilitates the emulation of vintage hardware and software. Originally targeting vintage arcade machines, MAME has since absorbed the sister-project MESS (Multi Emulator Super System) to support a wide variety of vintage computers, video game consoles and calculators as well.
It was first released in 1997. In Italy!
MAME focuses on accuracy, even if it’s at the cost of performance. If on low-end hardware, consider using older (more innaccurate) versions of MAME, or specialized emulators for such games instead.
MAME games scrapes metadata for the “arcade” group(s) and loads the mame set from the currently selected theme, if available.
MAME
MAME doesn’t use an individual “core” for each system like RetroArch does, instead the ROM itself usually contains the necessary information to accurately emulate it, thus making it specific to the version of MAME it was made for. It is highly recommended to read the generic arcade guide first to get familiar with arcade machine emulation.
Quick reference
Accepted ROM formats: .zip, .7z Folder: /userdata/roms/mame Emulators libretro: imame4all libretro: mame078plus libretro: mame0139 libretro: mame mame
BIOS
Based on the romset type used, either none is required, ones are required for each game you need to play, or a single BIOS file is needed for a group of games.
Samples
Batocera.linux – Wiki – https://wiki.batocera.org/
Last update: 2022/09/09 04:28
systems:mame https://wiki.batocera.org/systems:mame?rev=1662690511
Some arcade game machines featured additional storage that allowed for uncompressed audio to be utilized. These are referred to as “samples”. Some machines had a backup synthesized track if the samples weren’t present, others had none.
For MAME2003plus (mame078plus), if your game has the appropriate samples, place them in /userdata/bios/mame2003/samples folder. Samples can be for one specific game, or be applicable to multiple versions of the game.
ROMs
Place your MAME ROMs in /userdata/roms/mame. If you’d like to, you could put ROMs intended for different versions of MAME into subfolders in this folder. For instance, you could put MAME2003-plus ROMs into the /userdata/roms/mame/mame2003plus. The latest versions of which ROMset to use can be found on the arcade guide.
Each romset is specific to the version of MAME being used:
0.37b5 ROMset for the libretro: imame4all version 0.78plus ROMset for the libretro: mame078plus version 0.139 ROMset for the libretro: mame0139 version Latest ROMset at the release of stable for the libretro: mame/mame versions
For MESS supported systems, each system has its own folder to use. Putting games designed for the MESS system inside of the mame/ folder will not work.
Emulators
RetroArch
RetroArch has its own page.
libretro: imame4all
iMame4All is an old version of MAME that’s fairly easy to run, even on hardware as weak as the RPi Zero. Many games, especially newer ones, have known issues with this version. Supports the least number of games. The ROMset for this version may be referred to as “0.37b5”.
libretro: imame4all configuration
https://wiki.batocera.org/
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libretro: mame078plus
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MAME
Not to be confused with the regular MAME2003.
Internally using the name “mame078plus”, MAME2003plus is an old version of MAME that became the “golden standard” for a while. A mixture of being easy to run while supporting the most hardware. Many ROMs, especially newer systems, have known issues with this version.
The “plus” version has had recent developments that don’t break compatibility backported from newer versions of MAME. For this reason, regular MAME2003 ROMs may not work in this version.
The ROMset for this version may be referred to as “078plus”.
libretro: mame078plus configuration
ES setting name batocera.conf_key Settings that apply to all systems this core supports CONTROL MAPPING global.mame2003-plus_analog FRAMESKIP global.mame2003-plus_frameskip INPUT INTERFACE global.mame2003plus_input_interface TATE MODE global.mame2003-plus_tate_mode
NEOGEO MODE global.mame2003-plus_neogeo_bios
libretro: mame0139
Description ES option key_value
Choose from Analog or Digital controller Analog analog, Digital digital. Skip frames to improve performance (smoothness) Off 0, 1 1, 2 2, 3 3, 4 4, 5 5. Use input directly sends by keyboard to the core Retropad retropad, Keyboard keyboard, Simultaneous simultaneous. Rotating display to vertical mode rendering Off disabled, On enabled. Manually specify your choice of Neo Geo BIOS Console AES World asia-aes, Arcade MVS Europe euro, Arcade MVS USA us, Arcade MVS Japan japan, Arcade Universe BIOS 4.0 (Cheats) unibios40, Arcade Universe BIOS 3.3 (Cheats) unibios33.
Internally using the name “mame0139”, Mame2010 is an old version of MAME that’s a combination of fast and compatible.
The ROMset for this version may be referred to as “0.139”.
Batocera.linux – Wiki – https://wiki.batocera.org/
Last update: 2022/09/09 04:28
libretro: mame
systems:mame https://wiki.batocera.org/systems:mame?rev=1662690511
The latest version of MAME at the time of stable’s release. Check out the table on the arcade guide for the current version.
libretro: mame configuration
ES setting name batocera.conf_key
Description ES option key_value
Settings that apply to all systems this core supports
CPU OVERCLOCK global.mame_cpu_overclock
Minimize in-game slowdowns of some games default default, 30 30, 35 35, 40 40, 45 45, 50 50, 55 55, 60 60, 65 65, 70 70, 75 75, 80 80, 85 85, 90 90, 95 95, 100 100, 105 105, 110 110, 115 115, 120 120, 125 125, 130 130, 135 135, 140 140, 145 145, 150 150.
Increase the video resolution
640×480 640×480, 800×600 800×600, 960×720
VIDEO
RESOLUTION
global.mame_altres
960×720, 1024×768 1024×768, 1280×720 1280×720, 1600×800 1600×800, 1920×1080
1920×1080, 2560×1440 2560×1440, 3840×2160
3840×2160.
Further adjustments can be made to the /userdata/bios/mame.ini file.
MAME
As above!
If you’re having issues with a specific game, check the MAMEdev FAQ for that game here. For MESS systems specifically, you might find more information on MESS’s wiki.
Be sure to remember to update the ROMset when updating Batocera, as this version is bumped every stable version.
MAME configuration
Standardized features available to all MAME systems: mame.videomode, mame.decoration, mame.padtokeyboard
ES setting name batocera.conf_key Description ES option key_value
Settings that apply to all cores of this emulator
GRAPHICS BACKEND mame.video
Choose your graphics rendering BGFX bgfx, Accel accel, OpenGL opengl.
BGFX BACKEND mame.bgfxbackend
Choose your graphics API MAME Detect automatic, OpenGL opengl, OpenGL ES gles, Vulkan vulkan.
https://wiki.batocera.org/
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MAME
ES setting name batocera.conf_key Description ES option key_value
Apply a particular visual effect Off None, Bilinear default, CRT Geom crt-geom, BGFX VIDEO FILTER mame.bgfxshaders CRT Geom Deluxe crt-geom-deluxe, Super Eagle eagle, HLSL hlsl, HQ2X hq2x, HQ3X hq3x, HQ4X hq4x.
CRT SWITCHRES mame.switchres
CRT monitor SwitchRes support Off 0, On 1.
TATE MODE mame.rotation
Rotating display to vertical mode rendering Off None, Rotate 90 autoror, Rotate 270 autorol.
ALT DPAD MODE mame.altdpad
If the D-Pad does not work properly Off (Default) 0, DS3 Orientation 1, X360 Orientation 2.
MAME offers a Menu in-game (push in [L3] + [R3] or press [HOTKEY] + ). This can be used to manually adjust inputs or game settings. Alternatively, all of MAME’s options can be edited by opening the /userdata/system/configs/mame/mame.ini file (you may need to create this file if it’s not already present).
Sega Model 1
This infamous Model 1 arcade board was a dramatic step-up above the competition in regards to 3D polygonal graphics. Thousands of vector-shaded polygons being drawn on-screen at once, with extremely responsive 60 FPS arcade feel (for some games).
Emulation for the Model 1 is sadly not that mature yet (such as slowdown, graphical inaccuracies and random crashes), however if you have a powerful enough machine you should be able to power through it. Model 1’s ROMs are best played on MAME 2010 or newer.
There were only seven games (in reality, five with different variations) produced for this arcade board, most likely due to its prohibitive cost of development for each game:
Batocera.linux – Wiki – https://wiki.batocera.org/
Last update: 2022/09/09 04:28
Game
MAME 2010 Filename
Netmerc/Tecwar N/A
Star Wars Arcade swa.zip
Virtua Fighter
Virtua Formula vformula.zip
Virtua Racer
vr.zip
Wing War
wingwar.zip
Wing War R360
Controls
systems:mame https://wiki.batocera.org/systems:mame?rev=1662690511
Additional information
On-rails first-person virtual-reality shooter played with a HMD and mounted gun which was never released. Considered the “holy grail” of Sega Model 1. This game cannot be emulated yet by any emulator in Batocera. A tie-in game for the films of the era. Quite impressive for the time. Infamous 3D fighting game that would go on to get several ports onto home consoles. Renown for its weighty, realistic animations. An enhanced edition of Virtua Racer, featuring six player network play and formula one shaped rides. Circuit racer leaning more towards an arcade experience than the simulation of other 3D racer games of the era. Arcade dogfighting game where two players take turns attacking and defending each other. A special version with a 360 degree rotating cockpit. Extremely rare and expensive.
Here are the default MAME’s controls shown on a Batocera Retropad:
https://wiki.batocera.org/
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MAME
Troubleshooting
MAME is a very complicated project and issues can crop up easily.
None of my games are booting!
First check that the version of MAME you’re attempting to run it with is the same as the ROMset you got it from. Mismatched versions aren’t guaranteed to run, though sometimes if there were no differences made between MAME versions the game can run in both versions (though that’s generally an exception, not the rule).
I have an issue with a specific game
If you’re having issues with a specific game, check the MAMEdev FAQ for that game here. For MESS systems specifically, you might find more information on MESS’s wiki.
Batocera.linux – Wiki – https://wiki.batocera.org/
Last update: 2022/09/09 04:28
Poor game performance
systems:mame https://wiki.batocera.org/systems:mame?rev=1662690511
Arcade games tend to be more difficult to emulate than regular console games in general by their very nature.
With that said, newer versions of MAME emulate these arcade games more accurately than older versions. This generally means that real-world performance takes a dip as more accuracy to the emulation is added (although in some cases, it can dramatically improve performance, really it’s on a game-by-game basis).
If your machine is struggling with running a particular game, try using an older set with its respective version of MAME, it may perform better. Just remember to make that special per-game setting to actually utilize the correct MAME version if deciding to go down this route!
I can’t open the MAME menu!
Sometimes the key needed to be pressed to access the in-game MAME menu is different depending on which version of MAME you are using. Typically, these keys can be:
Pushing in [L3] or [R3] One of the shoulder buttons/triggers [Tab] on the keyboard
If you are specifically using a libretro: Mame core, you can manually activate the MAME menu by going to RetroArch’s Quick Menu ([HOTKEY] + ) Options System Display MAME Menu. Once this option is activated, exit out of the Quick Menu and you will be greeted by MAME’s menu. Repeat these actions to close the menu.
I open the MAME menu too often!
Aforementioned issue, you might have the MAME key set to an in-game key as well. Either set it to another key or remap the MAME menu key.
Further troubleshooting
Most questions are answered in the generic arcade guide. For further troubleshooting, refer to the generic support pages.
From: https://wiki.batocera.org/ – Batocera.linux – Wiki Permanent link: https://wiki.batocera.org/systems:mame?rev=1662690511 Last update: 2022/09/09 04:28
https://wiki.batocera.org/
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MAME
Batocera.linux – Wiki – https://wiki.batocera.org/
Documents / Resources
 |
MAME Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator [pdf] Owner's Manual MAME2003plus, mame078plus, mame0139, Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator, Arcade Machine Emulator, Machine Emulator, Emulator |