Emulator List

[BadMojo12]

Hey All,

Been visiting forum frequently as I build my two MAME cabs; have settled on Gameex for the frontend for both and am trying to finalize my "software" end of the builds.  I am interested in emulator recommendations from the group.  Basically, I want to make sure I am not missing out on any cool game emulators; I have all one can find for consoles and many arcade builds, but I was hoping someone can tell me about any additional ones I should have (e.g., "you should use Calice because....").  Here is my list

MameUI
Daphne
NullDCNaomi
Demul (Atomiswave; one game so far)
Model2
Zinc
FBAlpha for CPS-3

I'm told I should probably use AAE for my vectors (although I changed my settings for vectors and they look pretty good), Vivanonno for some additional driving games and an emu called "Dice" for pong?

I am "set" for console emus, but what other arcade emus am I missing?

[blind_dado]

I use misfit mame for pong.

[Beretta]

never used misfitmame, but i always wondered why pong was'nt in mame.. anyone know why?

[GaryMcT]

I don't think it'll be in there until it's actually being emulated at the circuit level.  It used to be in there, but it wasn't really an emulation of the actual hardware.  It isn't a CPU-based game.

[blind_dado]

From http://nonmame.retrogames.com/

Pong was once in MAME actually, but it was *dropped* because the driver represented a highly inaccurate simulation of the game. Here is a more detailed explanation, courtesy of "Who Wants to Know?":

The driver for "Pong" was pretty much an ad-hoc attempt at simulating the circuitry of the original machine, and it wasn't following any tracable path from the original circuitry to the driver (in other words, the writer "played it by ear," so to speak). The "pseudo-CPU" used for timing purposes was a kludge, also. Because MAME's mission is accuracy, and since the Pong driver wasn't sufficiently accurate, the driver was dropped. I've been informed that, should one actually attempt to properly simulate the circuitry (like using the video clock as a timebase), then it would be accurate enough for inclusion in MAME. However, simulation of discrete circuitry involves a jump of thinking over regular emulation programming (involving as it does the simulation of electric components normally overlooked in regular emulation--diodes, transistors, etc.--as well as the emulation of any ICs that may still be present.), and I don't know of anyone who has made such a faithful attempt yet.

[Beretta]

interesting who knew a simple game like pong would be a real brain bender in the 21'st century?

[GaryMcT]

Problem is that most games are emulated at the level that Pong would need to be emulated at.  Emulating Monaco GP is a similar problem.  Need to emulate capacitors, resistors, etc, not just the instructions of a CPU.