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csg:

I've been compiling a list of MAME-related questions that I haven't been able to find answers to.  Answer one, answer them all, whatever you've got time for.  Thanks in advance for the help!

Chris

1. I've read that the DOS version of MAME performs better than Windows.  Assuming that's correct, is the performance gain worth the extra hassle of having that emulator in DOS and having to run other emulators (Daphne, etc) separately in Windows?  Or is there some nifty front-end that captures DOS and Windows based emulators nicely?

2. How does one know what the parent ROMs are for a given game?  I often get errors in audits and I have no idea what else I need.

3.  Also, if there are missing files for a given game (non-parent-related), how does one know where to find those?

4. Why do some games display a "Failed to load state" message at the beginning?  Is that related to the save/load state functionality that (if I understand what I've read correctly) replaced highscore.dat?

5.  I've read posts about games "appearing" in various versions of MAME.  What's the best way to discover the earliest MAME version that a "final"-version game exists in?  Read all the version files?

6.  I never played Golden Tee or Street Fighter in the arcade, but I understand they are very popular.  Any opinions on which versions of those games are best so I don't have to try all of them?   :-[

7.  Why are the Super Mario Brothers games not available in MAME?  I only see the Playerschoice versions which have some funky dual screen thing going (is there a way to get rid of that?)  I read somewhere about Nintendo having a problem with MAME - were these games removed to appease them?

shardian:

The Nintendo games that were played on "the red tent" machine all start with "Vs." in their titles. The machine was called a Vs. Nintendo arcade Machine. So, look for a game titled "Vs. super mario bros." and you will find them all.

I was always confused when I sat at the nintendo machine at my mom's Pizza Hut as to why the game title screen said "Vs. Excitebike" instead of "excitebike"...now I know thanks to MAME!  :laugh2:

AKA Kaytrim:

I'll give a stab at a few of these...


--- Quote from: csg on November 22, 2006, 02:42:49 pm ---
2. How does one know what the parent ROMs are for a given game?  I often get errors in audits and I have no idea what else I need.


--- End quote ---

Sometimes the errors you are getting are because the rom file you have has been re-dumped or changes have occurred that make the copy you have obsolete.  As far as the parent rom issue look at the All Games list in MAME32 and you will see what parent belongs to which clone.  I know that is somewhat difficult because this lists the game name and not the rom name.  There must be a master list containing the rom names and their parent / clone relationship. 


--- Quote from: csg on November 22, 2006, 02:42:49 pm ---
3.  Also, if there are missing files for a given game (non-parent-related), how does one know where to find those?


--- End quote ---

See answer above.  You also could be missing a general file for several games.  For example the NeoGeo games require the neogeo.zip file to be in the roms folder.  This file contains common code for those games.


--- Quote from: csg on November 22, 2006, 02:42:49 pm ---4. Why do some games display a "Failed to load state" message at the beginning?  Is that related to the save/load state functionality that (if I understand what I've read correctly) replaced highscore.dat?


--- End quote ---

The "Failed to Load State" message you are receiving is because this is the first time you have run the game in question since turning the save state flag.  MAME creates the load state file on quitting the game.  So when it opens a game that doesn't contain a load state file you get the message.


--- Quote from: csg on November 22, 2006, 02:42:49 pm ---7.  Why are the Super Mario Brothers games not available in MAME?  I only see the Playerschoice versions which have some funky dual screen thing going (is there a way to get rid of that?)  I read somewhere about Nintendo having a problem with MAME - were these games removed to appease them?

--- End quote ---

Nintendo is very possessive of their game code.  They actively search the net for hosts that contain the rom files for their various games and systems.  If they find one they send the host and the site operator a seis and desist order.  If the host or operator do not take down the offending content Nintendo starts legal processes to remove it.  They are just as bad as the recording industry.






subcriminal:

Answer to No.1 - I suppose it depends on the power of the PC you're using for MAME. I run a sempron 2500+ and an arcadeVGA in my cab and I've tried a DOS setup and see no difference in performance.
An XP setup boots quickly, can be completely hidden and you have GUI's for tools like the IPAC programmer, mame res tool, etc. It's easy to alt tab to Windows and edit stuff if you have a problem with a certain game.
DOS guru's will most likely disagree but I find the ease of use of Windows outguns the small performance  gains of DOS. Linux would be the ideal though ;D

AKA Kaytrim:


--- Quote from: subcriminal on November 24, 2006, 04:50:42 am ---
An XP setup boots quickly, can be completely hidden and you have GUI's for tools like the IPAC programmer, mame res tool, etc. It's easy to alt tab to Windows and edit stuff if you have a problem with a certain game.
DOS guru's will most likely disagree but I find the ease of use of Windows outguns the small performance  gains of DOS. Linux would be the ideal though ;D

--- End quote ---

Could you give me some more information on the XP setup tools?  I am running XP Pro and would like to hide the OS and go directly into GameEX the front end I have chosen.

Thanks, TTFN  :cheers:
Kaytrim

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