Looking around the Internet, I didn't really find any tutorials for running mame software with a front-end. After making my own cabinet, I'd thought I'd write up a noob-friendly tutorial using Lubuntu.
In this tutorial, we'll be:
- Installing Lubuntu
- Adding mame software with a popular front-end
- Removing boot screens and branding
What is Lubuntu?Lubuntu (pronounced /luːˈbuːntuː/ "loo-BOON-too") is a lightweight Linux operating system based on Ubuntu but using the LXDE desktop environment in place of Ubuntu's Unity shell and GNOME desktop. LXDE is touted as being "lighter, less resource hungry and more energy-efficient"
Download LegendInstalling Lubuntu to your PCOnce you burn the
ISO (Lubuntu download) to a CD or
flash drive, you will be able to install Lubuntu. You'll first have to change your boot order to boot from CD/USB first or just select it from your boot menu whilst your installation device is inserted. After about 30 seconds of loading, you'll arrive at a "splash" screen. Then, select "Install Lubuntu" and press enter. In about 30 seconds you'll arrive at the GUI installation.
Screen 1: Select "English" and then click forward.
Screen 2: Make sure you meet the basic criteria and click forward.
Screen 3: Select the "Erase disk and install Lubuntu" option and click forward.
Screen 4: Select the largest HDD from the drop-down list and then finally click "Install Now".
The next few screens during the installation are pretty self-explanatory and are more personal (time zones, username etc). Although please remember to select "Log in automatically" on the "Who are you?" portion.
Installing Mame & Wah!CadeOnce you've installed Lubuntu on your PC and restarted, you'll be greeted with a wallpaper and taskbar. You will need internet access (through ethernet most likely) to continue with the tutorial. Click the logo in the bottom-left, select "Accesories" then find "LXTerminal" and open it. We will be using this more throughout the tutorial. Type in:
sudo apt-get install mame
It will ask you for your password, enter it and press enter again. This is going to install mame, the emulator needed to play all of your roms. When it's finished installing, in the terminal box type:
To install
Wah!Cade, your emulator front-end, use Chromium (located on the taskbar) to access the Wah!Cade website in order to download it. Once downloaded, you can close chromium and open the LXTerminal back up. Once LXTerminal is open, type in:
sudo gdebi-gtk ~/Downloads/wahcade_0.99re8_all.deb
Once the window pops up, click "Install Package" and enter your password when prompted. When it's complete, you can close the package installer and return to LXTerminal.
Next is an important bug fix. In LXTerminal type:
sudo leafpad /usr/local/share/games/wahcade/filters.py
When the window comes up, search for:
'pedal': u'Pedal',
And under it add:
'keyboard': u'keyboard',
Then save (File > Save) and close it.
Next open up the setup for Wah!Cade in LXTerminal with:
wahcade-setup
Once it's open, go to the "Emulators" tab and in the "Application" box, replace whatever is in there with "/usr/games/mame". Then save it (File > Save).
Now go to the "Mame Only" tab and click the refresh icon next to the XML / Data File box. After it's complete, save the program once more and then close it.
Next you need to download catver.ini and place it in the correct folder. Click the file manager icon (on the taskbar) and create a new folder called "emulators". Next, create a folder named "mame". Enter that folder and copy your catver.ini inside of it.
Finally, we will change the path where mame reads the roms from. In LXTerminal type:
sudo leafpad /etc/mame/mame.ini
On about the 11th line, where it says "rompath", change the "$HOME/.mame/roms" to "$HOME/emulators/mame/roms"
Adding RomsCreate a folder in the "mame" folder that you created earlier named "roms". You can copy your roms from a flash drive or download them off of chromium.
Edit Power SettingsTo make it so when the power button is pressed, the computer turns off without a dialog, open LXTerminal and type:
sudo apt-get install gnome-power-manager
Once it's done installing type:
gnome-power-preferences
When the window opens, select the "General" tab and look for the "When the power button is pressed" drop-down. Select "Shutdown" as the option. The click "Make Default" and close it.
Remove brandingTo remove the splash screen (the "Lubuntu" logo that appears when you start the computer) open up your terminal (as you did previously) and type in:
sudo apt-get purge plymouth-theme-*
And enter your password as prompted. Once this is complete, you will no longer see a splash screen.
Next we'll remove the background. We can do this by right clicking the desktop and selecting "Desktop Preferences" from the drop-down menu. Then on the window that appears, look for the "Wallpaper mode:" drop down and select "Fille with background color only". We will only be seeing the background breifly upon startup.
And finally, we can make Wah!Cade launch on startup and remove all the other startup items. Open up your LXTerminal and type in:
sudo leafpad /etc/xdg/lxsession/Lubuntu/autostart
When the text editor opens, remove all of them items besides "gnome-power-manager". Then add "wahcade" to the very bottom. Your list should look like this:
@gnome-power-manager
wahcade
FAQQ: I've completed all of the steps. What if I want to configure or go back to my normal desktop?
A: Easy! Just press escape when Wah!Cade starts and then right click the desktop. Then on the dropdown menu, select Applications > LXTerminal. When the terminal opens, type in:
lxpanel
And your taskbar will be back for you to configure!
Q: I want to add <insert emulator here>. Is this possible?
A: Most likely. If you would like an emulator to be ran on your install, post a request and I'll write up instructions
Please note that this tutorial isn't perfect. I made it so people can get a good, solid start. Once you're started though you'll be able to configure it much more to your liking
.
If you have any questions, problems or requests, please post a comment and I'll try my best to accommodate everyone. Enjoy your mame cabinets