Differences with ROMS (Android, PC, XBOX, etc) ?

[mike boss]

Co-worker has turned me onto OUYA and was telling me about some troubles he has.
I have no question with respects to where to obtain ROM's, but I do have a question about the ROM files themselves.

Do ROM's differ from platform to platform ?? Is my "Bad Dudes" ROM that works on my MAME PC going to work in my XBOX and in my Android tablet. Or does the ROM itself change ?

I ask because I have some complete US ROM sets that I'd love to use in various projects on various platforms IF they (the ROMs) are the same.

Thank you for all the help

[Malenko]

ROMs can change based on the version of MAME, not whats running MAME

[mike boss]

ROMs can change based on the version of MAME, not whats running MAME

That I was aware of. I know you should pair your build of MAME to the ROM set.
But I was not clear on the software used to play the ROM.
So again if I have a complete set of US NES ROMs, I can use that same set in my XBOX, Android, PC.
Some games I realize might not work.
But is that correct ?

[Malenko]

ROMs can change based on the version of MAME, not whats running MAME

That I was aware of. I know you should pair your build of MAME to the ROM set.
But I was not clear on the software used to play the ROM.
So again if I have a complete set of US NES ROMs, I can use that same set in my XBOX, Android, PC.
Some games I realize might not work.
But is that correct ?

If they are all running the same version of MAME as you have the set for, then yes it will work. If the MAME version varies between your XBOX, Droid, PC, etc then the roms that are different wont work.

[mike boss]

I should have been more clear perhaps. (My bad!   )
I know MAME4Droid for examples requires ROM set 137 (off memory, dont quote me on that).
My reason for asking was more geared towards console emulation.
So Nintendo, Super Nintendo, N64, Sega Master System and Turbo GRFX.... all of which I have a complete ROM (USA) set. Now these ROM files I use on my PC with various emulators.

But what I'm trying to determine is if I can take these console ROMs that I use on my PC and use them on my Android tablet with the correct emulator.

[Malenko]

ahhhhhhhhhhhh

easier answer, the emulators should support those roms. I copied my SNES roms from my PC to my xbox and burnt a DC disc with them, and they played. Sorry for the confusion!

[mike boss]

@ Malenko

Thank you sir, and that was my fault.
I read back the thread. I was not clear.
Thank you

Glad they will work.
(or should work)

[Malenko]

you did clarify when you said NES roms, I just glazed over it. 

[mike boss]

It has been so long since I worked on my "altered" XBOX.
Off memory I thoght I used the same sets, but I was unsure.

Needless to say, regardless of platform, PC, Mac, XBOX, Android the ROM file itself would remain (for the most part) the same. It's the software the changes and makes the ROM playable.

Thank you again!

[mike boss]

My co-worker mentioned that he has read about "OUYA" friendly ROMs being the only ones that worked.
My knowledge is limited and I haven't yet picked up an OUYA so I honestly dont know.

[JDFan]

Not sure how up to date it is but there is a list of emulators known to work on the ouya HERE ( http://dayoftheouya.com/a-list-of-all-known-emulators-for-ouya/#mame ) for NES it shows the following :

Emulators
NESDroid (OUYA port announced)
iNES
EMUya (Ouya version in store)
NES.emu (OUYA version in store)
Nesoid
RetroArch OUYA-, PS3- and XBOX controllets are supported. Is able to load ROMs from USB stick. Works flawless for me.

And for MAME :

Emulators
MAME4droid (works on OUYA, use Romset 37b5 or 37b11)
MAME4droid Reloaded

[Alistair Keith]

The emulator should be designed to support those ROMs. Not all emulators are designed well enough, especially some of the newer ones for Android like the PSP one (runs a lot of games but doesn't run at full speed).