Best way to sort, search, or query game list

[yourfatmama]

What is the (or is there a) best/convenient way of querying/sorting through the game list for Mame so you can figure out what game uses trackballs; or what games are 1p,2p, or 4p etc?

 
There may not be an easy way, would be a cool project for any stud database/php/mysql coders out there. Or perhaps i'll get off my lazy arse and do it someday.

[JoyMonkey]

Sounds like you're looking for SortInfo. There's an online version for quick searches, and an exe that you can use to build game lists, export data to Excel etc.

It's not very accurate where controls are concerned (it confuses some spinner, trackball and lightgun games, and thinks some 2-way games are 8-way), but works pretty good otherwise. It's only as accurate as the info in Mame itself, which is a little off in places.

[yourfatmama]

Ah, thx much, i think i may've read about that- and then promptly forgot. i'll see about that online version ( so i can check it at WORK!)
 

**edit**
oh i just also remembered, or was reminded, that MAWS has an online searchable/sortable database of the games too, have to set it to DELUXE SEARCH to search by controllers, and apparently "dial" also means some steering wheel games as MAWS doesnt have "wheel" listed (guess maybe its not in the dat file info either perhaps?)
but still helps to line out what games use what. (especially handy for researching your CP layout ).
**edit part Deux**   you will notice however that the info Maws uses is sometimes misleading such as when you try to search for games that use a flight stick or such, searching "stick" will also bring up other games if "stick" has been entered into its "controls" field instead of 4way or 8way etc. just words to the wise