Automating MAME settings like cabinet rotation? [solved, sort of]

[wrybreadsf]

I just finished building out an arcade cabinet (whoo hoo!), but didn't realize that apparently there's no way to set cabinet rotation globally in MAME (doh!). Or maybe there is?

So far I've been doing this by opening each game, then pressing TAB and setting cabinet rotation if the setting is available for that game, then reloading the game since I'm using save state (the -autosave option). The problem is I have about 3,000 games.... I don't imagine anyone knows a way to automate setting this? Or to set it globally? Apparently the files in MAME's cfg directory are binary, as are the savestate files, so I can't edit them directly.

Using Mame version 0.175 on Lubuntu Linux with the Attract Mode front end if that's a factor. Can recompile MAME if necessary.

Edited to add: I sort of solved this by setting the DIP switches manually and then zipping up my nvram folder, so at least the next person who comes this way can automatically set the DIP switches for their cocktail cabinet build. Note that mine is for MAME version 0.175, and I'm not sure if these are version specific. Please post with your experiences, and maybe add your nvram folder to the thread to make it more complete.

The message with the attachments is a few messages below, or click here:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,156973.msg1649985.html#msg1649985

[Howard_Casto]

Ugh.  Learn how to use mame properly please.  You don't set global settings within mame, you do so in the mame.ini.  "mame.exe -cc" will generate one.  There are also auto rotate settings within mame which you'd know if you ran "mame.exe -showusage" at a command prompt.  Long story short rtfm. 

[wrybreadsf]

> Ugh.  Learn how to use mame properly please.

Thanks, that's why I'm here.

> You don't set global settings within mame

How do you figure? If I hit TAB within MAME I can set plenty of global settings.

>  There are also auto rotate settings within mame which you'd know if you ran "mame.exe -showusage" at a command prompt.

Been there done that, but I don't think they help for my particular issue, which is why I'm posting here. As far as I can tell they're all to rotate a game on startup throughout the session, not to rotate player 2 when in cocktail cabinet mode. Or maybe later versions of MAME can auto rotate player 2?

In my version (v0.175), this is the section of -showusage that applies to rotation:

Code: [Select]

# CORE ROTATION OPTIONS
#
-rotate              rotate the game screen according to the game's orientation needs it
-ror                 rotate screen clockwise 90 degrees
-rol                 rotate screen counterclockwise 90 degrees
-autoror             automatically rotate screen clockwise 90 degrees if vertical
-autorol             automatically rotate screen counterclockwise 90 degrees if vertical
-flipx               flip screen left-right
-flipy               flip screen upside-down

Or maybe I'm missing something?

> long story short, RTFM

Are you having a bad day? And honestly I'm wondering if you've RTFQ. Sorry, couldn't resist.

But seriously, I've read the manual plenty of times but don't see a way to achieve what I need. Which, again, is to tell MAME I'm using a cocktail cabinet without having to specify it in the DIP switches of each game.

I just recompiled MAME so I can finally be done with the disclaimer screens, so if anyone knows any clever ways to set the cocktail cabinet default DIP switches in the source, I'm very interested in that too.

[Titchgamer]

I dont understand your problem?

You know how to rotate the screen for a vertical game whats the problem?

You mention P2, So does that mean you are running a dual screen set up and ypu want to mirror the screen on 2nd monitor??

If so that is done via windows display settings not mame.

[wrybreadsf]

As I said I'm using a cocktail cabinet, so only Player 2 needs to be rotated. Player 1 shouldn't be rotated.

So just specifying a rotation for the whole game session doesn't work.

Many games have dip switches that let me put the cabinet in cocktail mode, which is fine and all, but instead of going through 3000+ games individually I thought I'd see if anyone knows a way to either set this setting globally, as a default, or to automate it.

[Howard_Casto]

That's not rotation, that's cocktail mode.  Not all games have a cocktail mode and while mame supports a fake cocktail mode you'll have to set it for each game. 

[wrybreadsf]

> That's not rotation, that's cocktail mode.

Which is what I'm asking about. So back to the original question:

Does anyone know how to automate the cocktail cabinet setting?

If there's no way to set the setting globally, or to set the default of that dip switch to "cocktail", I guess a workaround is to take a list of ROMs that support cocktail mode, and set the dip switches on each to cocktail mode, and then zip up the nvram folder (if that's where it's stored)? Or maybe this has already been done? Does anyone reading this have a cocktail cabinet?

If not, I wonder what would go into producing one. This must come up for every single cocktail cabinet MAME build.

- Would we need a different zip for every MAME version? (I'm currently using v0.175).

- Am I correct in thinking that the dip switch settings are all stored in the nvram folder?

Honestly I'm really surprised this is so difficult. From googling I see that some versions of AdvanceMame have a mappable button to flip the screen, or of course we can have a button that triggers a script that flips the video driver. But that's a bit hacky, and would require creatifve mappings to get Player 2's joystick and buttons to work.

And from googling around here's a list of games (http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?30321-Cocktail-cabinet-games) that support cocktail mode (683 games, which is a lot of work to configure manually). Unfortunately it's by name and not ROM name. I see the info in the mame XML file too, so I can script that to get a list.

Code: [Select]

005
10-Yard Fight (World, set 1)
1942 (Revision B)
1943 Kai: Midway Kaisen (Japan)
1943: The Battle of Midway (Euro)
4 Fun in 1
4-D Warriors (315-5162)
'88 Games
A. D. 2083
Acrobatic Dog-Fight
Act-Fancer Cybernetick Hyper Weapon (World revision 2)
Action Fighter (FD1089A 317-0018)
Airwolf
Ajax
Alcon (US)
Ali Baba and 40 Thieves
Alien Sector
Alpine Ski (set 1)
Ambush
Amidar
Appoooh
Arabian
Argus
Armed Formation
Armored Car (set 1)
Ashura Blaster (World)
ASO - Armored Scrum Object
Astro Blaster (version 3)
Astro Fantasia (Cassette)
Astro Fighter (set 1)
Athena
Atomic Robo-kid
Aurail (set 3, US, unprotected)
Avenging Spirit
Azurian Attack
Bagman
Baluba-louk no Densetsu
BanBam
Bank Panic
Battlantis
Battle Chopper
Battle Cross
Battle Cruiser M-12
Battle Lane! Vol. 5 (set 1)
Battle of Atlantis (set 1)
Ben Bero Beh (Japan)
Berzerk (set 1)
Big Bucks
Bio Attack
Bionic Commando (Euro)
Birdiy
Black Hole
Black Panther
Black Tiger
Blue Print (Midway)
Bogey Manor
Boggy '84
Bomb Jack (set 1)
Bongo
Bonze Adventure (World, Newer)
Boomer Rang'r / Genesis (set 1)
Borderline
Bosconian (new version)
Botanic
Boulder Dash (Cassette)
Boulder Dash / Boulder Dash Part 2 (World)
Brain
Break Thru (US)
Buccaneers (set 1)
Bullfight (315-5065)
Burger Time (Cassette)
Burger Time (Data East set 1)
Burnin' Rubber
Burnin' Rubber (Cassette, set 1)
B-Wings (Japan new Ver.)
Bygone
Calorie Kun vs Moguranian
Cannon Ball (Pacman Hardware)
Canvas Croquis
Captain Silver (World)
Car Jamboree
Catacomb
Cavelon
Chack'n Pop
Challenger
Chameleon
Champion Base Ball
Champion Base Ball Part-2: Pair Play (set 1)
Changes
Check Man
Cheeky Mouse
Chelnov - Atomic Runner (World)
Choplifter (8751 315-5151)
Chopper I (US set 1)
Chuka Taisen (World)
Circus Charlie (level select, set 1)
City Connection (set 1)
Clash-Road
Cluster Buster / Graplop (Cassette, set 1)
Cobra-Command (World revision 5)
Columns II: The Voyage Through Time (World)
Combat Hawk
Combat School (joystick)
Commando (Sega)
Commando (World)
Competition Golf Final Round (revision 3)
Congo Bongo
Contra (US, set 1)
Cop 01 (set 1)
Cosmic Alien (version II)
Cosmic Avenger
Cosmic Cop (World)
Cosmic Guerilla
Cosmos
Crazy Balloon (set 1)
Crazy Kong
Crazy Kong Part II (set 1)
Crazy Rally (set 1)
Crush Roller (Kural Samno)
Cue Brick (World version D)
Dacholer
Daikaiju no Gyakushu
Dangar - Ufo Robo (12/1/1986)
Dark Warrior
Darwin 4078 (Japan)
Dazzler
Dead Angle
Dead Connection (World)
Defend the Terra Attack on the Red UFO
Devil Fish
Devil Zone
Dig Dug (rev 2)
Dig Dug II (New Ver.)
Digger (CVS)
Dingo
Disco No.1
Disco No.1 (Cassette)
Do! Run Run (set 1)
Dock Man
Dog Fight (Thunderbolt)
Domino Man
Dommy
Donkey Kong (US set 1)
Donkey Kong 3 (US)
Donkey Kong Junior (US)
Dorodon (set 1)
Double Dragon (Japan)
Double Dragon II - The Revenge (World)
Double Dribble
Dr. Micro
Dr. Toppel's Adventure (World)
Dragon Breed (M81 PCB version)
Dragon Buster
Drakton (DK conversion)
Dream Shopper
Dynablaster / Bomber Man
Dynamic Ski
Dynamite Duke (Japan)
Eggor
Eight Ball Action (DK conversion)
Elevator Action
Eliminator (2 Players, set 1)
Empire City: 1931 (bootleg?)
Enigma II
Equites
Espial (Europe)
Evil Stone
Exciting Soccer
Exciting Soccer II
Exerion
Express Raider (US set 1)
Extreme Downhill (v1.5)
Exzisus (Japan, dedicated)
Eyes (US set 1)
F-1 Dream
Fantasy (World)
Fantasy Zone (Rev A, unprotected)
Fast Lane
Faster, Harder, More Challenging Q*bert (prototype)
Field Combat
Field Day
Fighting Basketball
Fighting Golf (World?)
Fighting Hawk (World)
Fighting Ice Hockey (Cassette)
Fighting Roller
Finalizer - Super Transformation
Fire Battle
Fire Shark
Flashgal (set 1)
Flicky (128k Version, System 2, 315-5051)
Flower (US)
Fly-Boy
Flying Ball (Cassette)
Flying Shark (World)
Formation Z
Frenzy
Frog & Spiders (bootleg?)
Frogger
Funky Bee
Funky Fish
Galaga (Namco rev. B)
Galaxian (Namco set 1)
Galivan - Cosmo Police (12/26/1985)
Gaplus (rev. D)
Gardia (317-0006)
Genpei ToumaDen
Ghostmuncher Galaxian (bootleg)
Ghosts'n Goblins (World? set 1)
Ghouls'n Ghosts (World)
Ginga NinkyouDen (set 1)
Gladiator (US)
Gladiator 1984
Go Go Mr. Yamaguchi / Yuke Yuke Yamaguchi-kun
Gold Bug
Gold Medalist
Golden Par Golf (Joystick, V1.1)
Golden Tee Golf (Joystick, v3.1)
Gomoku Narabe Renju
Gradius III (Japan)
Great Swordsman (World?)
Green Beret
Grind Stormer
Grobda (New Ver.)
Guardian (US)
Gun Dealer
Gun Dealer '94
Gun.Smoke (World)
Guzzler
Gyrodine
Gyruss (Konami)
HAL21
Halley's Comet (US)
Hammerin' Harry (World)
Hard Head
Hard Head 2 (v2.0)
Haunted Castle (version M)
Heart Attack
Heavy Metal (315-5135)
Heavy Unit (World)
HeliFire (set 1)
Hero
High Impact Football (rev LA5 02/15/91)
High Voltage
High Way Race
Highway Chase (Cassette)
Himeshikibu (Japan)
Hoccer (set 1)
Hole Land
Hopper Robo
Hopping Mappy
Horizon
Hot Shocker
Hot Shots Tennis (V1.1)
Hunchback (set 1)
Hunchback Olympic
Hyper Sports
I'm Sorry (315-5110, US)
Image Fight (Japan, revision A)
Insector (prototype)
Insector X (World)
Intrepid (set 1)
Iron Horse
Itazura Tenshi (Japan)
Jack Rabbit (set 1)
Jack the Giantkiller (set 1)
Jackal (World)
Jail Break
Joinem
Jolly Jogger
Journey
Jr. Pac-Man
Jump Bug
Jump Coaster
Jumping Cross
Jumping Jack
Jungle King (Japan)
Jungler
Juno First
Kabuki-Z (World)
Kaitei Takara Sagashi
Kamikaze
Kamikaze Cabbie
Kangaroo
Kaos
Karnov (US)
Kick Boy
Kick Rider
Kicker
Kid Niki - Radical Ninja (World)
Kid no Hore Hore Daisakusen
KiKi KaiKai
King & Balloon (US)
King of Boxer (English)
Knuckle Joe (set 1)
Kung-Fu Master
Kuri Kinton (World)
Kusayakyuu
Kyros
Lady Bug
Lady Master of Kung Fu
Land Sea Air Squad / Riku Kai Kuu Saizensen
Lasso
Last Mission (US revision 6)
Legend
Legend of Makai (World)
Leprechaun
Liberation
Liquid Kids (World)
Lock'n'Chase
Lock'n'Chase (Cassette)
Loco-Motion
Lode Runner (set 1)
Lode Runner II - The Bungeling Strikes Back
Lode Runner III - The Golden Labyrinth
Logger
Looping
Lot Lot
Lover Boy
Lucky Poker (Cassette)
Lupin III (set 1)
Macho Mouse
Mad Alien
Mad Crasher
Mad Gear (US)
Mag Max
Magical Cat Adventure
Magical Spot
Magical Spot II
Major Title (World)
Major Title 2 (World)
Mania Challenge (set 1)
Many Block
Mappy (US)
Marine Boy
Mariner
Markham
Marvin's Maze
Master of Weapon (World)
Mat Mania
Maze of Flott (Japan)
Mega Blast (World)
Mega Zone (Konami set 1)
Megatack
Meikyu Jima (Japan)
Mermaid
Metro-Cross (set 1)
Mighty Guy
Mighty Monkey
Mikie
Minky Monkey
Mission 660 (US)
Mission-X (Cassette)
Mister Viking (315-5041)
Moguchan
Momoko 120%
Money Money
Monster Bash
Moon Cresta (Nichibutsu)
Moon Patrol
Moon Quasar
Moon Shuttle (US?)
Motos
Mouser
Mr. Do!
Mr. Do's Castle (set 1)
Mr. Do's Wild Ride
Mr. Goemon (Japan)
Mr. Jong (Japan)
Mr. Kougar
Mr. TNT
Ms. Pac-Man
MTV Rock-N-Roll Trivia (Part 2)
Mustache Boy
Mutant Night
MX5000
My Hero (US, not encrypted)
Mysterious Stones - Dr. John's Adventure
NATO Defense
Naughty Boy
Naughty Mouse (set 1)
Navarone
Nemesis (ROM version)
Net Wars
New Rally X
New Sinbad 7
New York! New York!
Nibbler (rev 9)
Night Star (Cassette, set 1)
Ninja Emaki (US)
Ninja Kazan (World)
Ninja Spirit
Ninja-Kid II / NinjaKun Ashura no Shou (set 1)
Ninjakun Majou no Bouken
Niyanpai (Japan)
No Man's Land
Noboranka (Japan)
Oli-Boo-Chu
Onna Sansirou - Typhoon Gal (set 1)
Orbitron
Othello (version 3.0)
Ozon I
Pac & Pal
Pac-Land (World)
Pac-Man Plus
Pandora's Palace
Parallel Turn
Parodius DA! (World, set 1)
Pengo (set 1 rev c)
Penguin-Kun Wars (US)
Perestroika Girls
Perfect Billiard
Performan (Japan)
Peter Pepper's Ice Cream Factory (Cassette, set 1)
Phoenix (Amstar)
Phozon (Japan)
Pickin'
Pig Newton (version C)
Pinbo (set 1)
Pioneer Balloon
Pirate Ship Higemaru
Pirate Treasure
Pisces
Pit & Run - F-1 Race (set 1)
Pitfall II (315-5093)
Pleiads (Tehkan)
Plus Alpha
Ponpoko
Pooyan
Pop Flamer (protected)
Popeye (revision D)
Popper
Porky
Power Surge
Pro Baseball Skill Tryout (Japan)
Pro Bowling (Cassette)
Pro Soccer (Cassette)
Pro Sports - Bowling, Tennis, and Golf
Pro Tennis (Cassette)
Professor Pac-Man
Psychic 5 (set 1)
Psycho-Nics Oscar (World revision 0)
PuckMan (Japan set 1)
Pushman (Korea, set 1)
Puzznic (World)
Q*bert (US set 1)
R2D Tank
Rack 'em Up
Radar Scope
Radar Zone
Rafflesia (315-5162)
Raiders
Raiders5
Raimais (World)
Rainbow Islands (new version)
Rally Bike / Dash Yarou
Rally X (32k Ver.?)
Rastan (World)
Red Alert
Red Clash (set 1)
Reikai Doushi (Japan)
Renegade (US)
Repulse
Return of the Invaders
Rezon
River Patrol (Orca)
Road Fighter (set 1)
Robby Roto
Robocop (World revision 4)
Rock Duck (prototype?)
Roc'n Rope
Roller Jammer
Rolling Thunder (new version)
Rootin' Tootin' / La-Pa-Pa (Cassette)
Rougien
Round-Up
Route 16 (set 1)
R-Type (World)
R-Type II
Rumba Lumber
Rygar (US set 1)
S.R.D. Mission
Sadari
Saint Dragon (set 1)
Salamander (version D)
Samurai Nihon-ichi (set 1)
Sasuke vs. Commander
Satan of Saturn (set 1)
Satan's Hollow (set 1)
Saturn
Sauro
Scion
Scorpion (set 1)
Scramble
Scrambled Egg
Scrum Try (Cassette, set 1)
Sea Fighter Poseidon
Section Z (set 1)
Sega Ninja (315-5102)
Seicross
Senjyo
SF-X
Shanghai Kid
Shinobi (set 6, System 16A, unprotected)
Shinobi / FZ-2006 (Korean System 16 bootleg) (ISG Selection Master Type 2006)
Shoot Out (US)
Shot Rider
Sindbad Mystery
Sky Army
Sky Base
Sky Bumper
Sky Fox
Sky Lancer
Sky Skipper
Sly Spy (US revision 3)
Snap Jack
Soldier Girl Amazon
Solomon's Key (US)
Sonic Boom (FD1094 317-0053)
SOS
Space Cruiser
Space Fighter Mark II (set 1)
Space Firebird (Nintendo, set 1)
Space Force (set 1)
Space Fortress (CVS)
Space Fury (revision C)
Space Intruder
Space Invaders II (Midway, cocktail)
Space King 2
Space Odyssey (version 2)
Space Panic (version E)
Space Raider
Space Seeker
Space Stranger
Space Zap
Spatter
Speak & Rescue
Special Forces
Special Forces II
Spelunker
Spelunker II
Spiders (set 1)
Splendor Blast
Springer
Star Force
Star Jacker (Sega)
Stinger
Streaking (set 1)
Strider (USA, B-Board 89624B-2)
Submarine
Success Joe (World)
Super Astro Fighter (Cassette)
Super Bagman
Super Basketball (version I, encrypted)
Super Casino
Super Cobra
Super Cross II (Japan, set 1)
Super Doubles Tennis
Super High Impact (rev LA1 09/30/91)
Super Locomotive
Super Mouse
Super Pac-Man
Super Qix (World, Rev 2)
Super Ranger (v2.0)
Super Real Darwin (World)
Super Rider
Super Space Invaders '91 (World, Rev 1)
Super Stingray (Japan)
Super Wing
Superbike
Surprise Attack (World ver. K)
Survival
SWAT (315-5048)
Swimmer (set 1)
Syusse Oozumou (Japan)
Tactician (set 1)
Talbot
Tank Battalion
Tapper (Budweiser, set 1)
Task Force Harrier
Taxi Driver
Tazz-Mania (set 1)
TeddyBoy Blues (315-5115, New Ver.)
Tennis (bootleg of Pro Tennis)
Terra Cresta (YM3526 set 1)
Terra Force
Terranean (Cassette)
Test Tape (Cassette)
Tetris (D.R. Korea)
The Battle-Road
The Big Pro Wrestling!
The Bounty
The End
The FairyLand Story
The Hand
The Legend of Kage
The Lost Castle In Darkmist
The NewZealand Story (World, new version) (newer PCB)
The Percussor
The Pit
The Speed Rumbler (set 1)
The Tower of Druaga (New Ver.)
Thief
Thunder & Lightning
Thunder Hoop (Ver. 1)
Thunder Strike (set 1)
Tiger Heli (US)
Tiger Road (US)
Timber
Time Pilot
Time Pilot '84 (set 1)
Time Tunnel
Toki (World, set 1)
Toki no Senshi - Chrono Soldier
Tomahawk 777 (rev 5)
Top Roller
Tornado (Cassette)
Tournament Pro Golf (Cassette)
Track & Field
Traverse USA / Zippy Race
Treasure Island (Cassette, set 1)
Trick Trap (World?)
Tricky Doc (set 1)
Trio The Punch - Never Forget Me... (World)
Triple Punch
Trog (rev LA5 03/29/91)
Trojan (US)
Truxton / Tatsujin
Turtles
Tutankham
Twin Eagle - Revenge Joe's Brother
Ufo Senshi Yohko Chan (MC-8123, 317-0064)
Ultra Balloon
Ultraman (Japan)
Uncle Poo
UniWar S
Up'n Down (315-5030)
Valtric
Vanguard II
Van-Van Car
Vastar (set 1)
Video Eight Ball
Video Hustler
Vigilante (World, set 1)
Volfied (World, revision 1)
VS Gong Fight
Vulcan Venture (New)
Vulgus (set 1)
Wall Street
Wanted
War of the Bugs or Monsterous Manouvers in a Mushroom Maze
Wardner (World)
Warp & Warp
Water Ski
Wiggie Waggie
Willow (USA)
Wily Tower
Wiping
Wit's (Japan)
Wiz
Wonder Boy (set 1, 315-5177)
Wonder Boy in Monster Land (Japan New Ver., MC-8123, 317-0043)
Wonder Momo
Wonder Planet (Japan)
Woodpecker (set 1)
World Tennis
X Multiply (World, M81)
Xain'd Sleena
Xevious (Namco)
XX Mission
Yam! Yam!?
Yamato (US)
Yie Ar Kung-Fu (set 1)
Youjyuden (Japan)
Zaviga
Zero Hour (set 1)
Zero Wing (1P set)
Zeroize (Cassette)
Zig Zag (Galaxian hardware, set 1)
Zoar
Zodiack
Zzyzzyxx (set 1)


[PL1]

Hmm . . . Asteroids and Asteroids Deluxe aren't on the list.



That could be because, unless they've changed it in the last few years, screen-flipping cocktail mode for Asteroids isn't available in MAME like it is on the original PCB.

The upright and cocktail cabs used the same PCB, but there was an additional ground wire on the cocktail harness that told the PCB to flip the screen 180 degrees during player two's turn.

Asteroids boards know if they are in a cocktail or upright cabinet because of a pin that is grounded on the cocktail harness but not on the upright.

Unfortunately this does not seem to be in Mame. 

MAME does not have an option to choose upright or cocktail harness, only non-flipping "Cocktail" and "Cocktail Artwork"options in the "Video Options" menu.   

The good news is that Asteroids plays well upside-down.   

You may also want to look into using and/or modding .LAY (layout) files like the ones here and here at Mr Do's.

Related thread about Asteroids cocktail layout and controls here.

I hope you have more luck with vector game cocktail layouts than Frostyarcade did here.


Scott

[wrybreadsf]

Great tips I'll check them out. But had to say: wow beautiful cocktail table!

[PL1]

wow beautiful cocktail table!

The pic is from opt2not's "Rock on!" restoration thread here.

He did an outstanding restoration -- check out the "before" pics, extensive info links, and monster to-do list.   


Scott

[wrybreadsf]

Thanks for the link to that Asteroids cabinet restoration, what an awesome read. Makes me feel a bit better about all the work going into my relatively simple conversion.

I came up with a decent solution for my cocktail table: I made a Python script that tagged each game in my Attract Mode romlist that supports cocktail mode, so when scrolling through my games I get a little cocktail icon at top right if it supports cocktail mode. That way people know if the game supports cocktail mode, and it also made it easier to modify the DIP settings for all the games that need it:



Still a bear of a job though, so for the next person that comes this way, attached is my nvram folder zipped up with cocktail mode enabled for each of the 400 or so games in my collection that support it. I think that's all that's required, let me know if I'm missing something.

It also has demo sounds turned off for each of those games. I'm using Mame v0.175, not sure if these nvram files are version specific. 

On my Ubuntu system, the nvram folder is ~/.mame/nvram, but I think on most platforms it's just a subfolder of the mame executable. 

If it's version specific, maybe other people with built out cocktail cabinets can attach their nvram folder?

And attached are my Attract Mode romlists with cocktail mode added in the "extras" column. There's one made of just games that support cocktail mode, if anyone needs that list for any reason. I should say though, this isn't necessarily every MAME ROM that supports cocktail mode, it's just the ones that support it from my ROM collection (which is something like 7200 roms).

And let me know if anyone wants my Attract Mode theme from the screenshot. It's meant to look like the old Game Launcher front-end, if anyone remembers that.

[wrybreadsf]

Ugh, I see that it's the cfg files I should have posted. That harddrive has since died, I'll try to post the cfg files once I finish setting every. single. game's. dip. switch. All 738 of them.

[wrybreadsf]

Hopefully this saves someone else from having to set all these dip switches manually... I just had to redo all 700+ cocktail roms on my cabinet one by one, was brutal.

Anyway here are the cfg files of what should be every Mame ROM that supports cocktail cabinets, excluding clones, all configured to use a cocktail cabinet in their dip switch settings. I turned off demo sounds on some of them too.

Dump these in your MAME cfg folder. If you're using "save state" in MAME remember to restart your ROMS, or just delete your /sta folder.

I made these in MAME v0.175, hopefully they aren't version specific.

[DaOld Man]

Good work!
I liked GameLauncher, it was my first frontend for arcade cabinet.
Just wish it wasnt so hard to set up and maintain. I think the author may have dumped it before all the bugs were worked out? (Probably due to all the more elegant front ends coming upon the scene.)
But it was simple, and that in itself was a beauty.
I wrote a program that allowed you to make a favorite game list from within the frontend itself. But it only runs on windows, and it looks like you are using Linux?