I'm having trouble starting the game as any player after inserting coins on a 4 player game on MAME for Windows (Gauntlet, for example). I'm wondering if I am missing something obvious. Some details:
- I downloaded MAME 0.185 from mamedev.org and installed it on a Windows 10 Pro computer
- The roms are 0.185 roms
- I have a 4 player pedestal system with an ipac
- I've checked all the buttons assigned to the ipac and they are the default for MAME (player1 start = 1, player2 start = 2, player3 start = 3, player4 start = 4)
- In MAME, I confirmed in the general config that player 1 start - player 4 start is 1 - 4. If I remap the inputs by pressing the start buttons, they map the same (1 - 4).
- The start buttons work in 2 player games
- The game specific config for 4 player games all seem to be missing the ability to set player1 start - player4 start. Coin1 - 4 are there, but not start1-4.
It seems as if the default MAME config is correct, but the 4 player games are missing the keymaps for the start buttons and then overriding the general config. Adding the start button keymaps manually for a game in the cfg file doesn't help, as it is wiped out when a game starts. I can duplicate this on multiple Windows machines (download 0.185 from mamedev.org and use 0.185 roms). Start Gauntlet, insert coins for all 4 players, try joining as any player by pressing 1, 2, 3 or 4.
I tried versions MAME 0.186 - 0.190 and have the same issue. 0.191 and later complain that the roms are not valid (I did not update them). Is this a known issue with MAME for Windows or am I just missing something obvious. Google has been unable to help me on this one. Perhaps I should try an older version?
Thank you for any advice you can offer.