Mame Credits saving in games...

[TeutonicDarkness]

Hello,


 Does anyone out there know if there is a way to stop MAME from Saving
the number of Credits you last had?

 It has recently came to my attention; now I find it annoying to start
a game ( Especially when I have guests playing)
and already have a stockade of Credits.. 

It would be Nice if I could figure out a way to change this in the source
and build my own patch file for it.


perhaps : No_credits.diff


any ideas or help would be just Great! 

[Tafoid]

Hello,


 Does anyone out there know if there is a way to stop MAME from Saving
the number of Credits you last had?

 It has recently came to my attention; now I find it annoying to start
a game ( Especially when I have guests playing)
and already have a stockade of Credits.. 

It would be Nice if I could figure out a way to change this in the source
and build my own patch file for it.


perhaps : No_credits.diff


any ideas or help would be just Great! 

Well.. no.  Any game which automatically saves it's state, high scores, credits, settings or anything else are only doing it because the hardware and software written did these things explicitly.  To change, you'd need to reprogram the game.

Extra credits in a game.. is a problem?  Why should a number of credits in a game matter unless you are charging for games or something?  I'm curious.

[TeutonicDarkness]

Hello,


 Does anyone out there know if there is a way to stop MAME from Saving
the number of Credits you last had?

 It has recently came to my attention; now I find it annoying to start
a game ( Especially when I have guests playing)
and already have a stockade of Credits.. 

It would be Nice if I could figure out a way to change this in the source
and build my own patch file for it.


perhaps : No_credits.diff


any ideas or help would be just Great! 

Well.. no.  Any game which automatically saves it's state, high scores, credits, settings or anything else are only doing it because the hardware and software written did these things explicitly.  To change, you'd need to reprogram the game.

Extra credits in a game.. is a problem?  Why should a number of credits in a game matter unless you are charging for games or something?  I'm curious.

 No it just doesn't look authentic..
No I find it hard to Charge anyone when I don't even have a Cab..
Just a HotRod Controller and 2 Aimtrack lightguns.

 I have never played any Arcade where I did not have to insert coins to
play! Imagine going to play an Arcade and finding a whole hour or so is free.

Because you have over 30 Credits already.


Being able to play these games for free without paying does in
a since make them much easier. It was that Frantic Moment when
you got to that big boss and all of the sudden you have to insert coins!

 I want to re-create those intense moments!
It may not cost but it can take a little fumbling, nervousness to stop and
hit that coin button.

 All this is gone when you already have accumulated credits.
If your not going to use the Credits as they are supposed to be used
you mid as well be running in Free Play mode...


Just my thoughts.

[Tafoid]

The only way really to 'clear' out such settings is to make sure the saved battery backup (NVRAM) file is freshly created each time the game is powered.  Depending on the game, though, this might require that each time a game is powered on, you might be required to go through initialization steps or procedures to again get to where you can even enter credits.

[HaRuMaN]

My Mortal Kombat (real machine) saves credits between poweroffs. 

[TeutonicDarkness]

My Mortal Kombat (real machine) saves credits between poweroffs. 

 Hmm ok Maybe some real Arcades do save credits then..
Just I never seen one.
I have to admit I never played Mortal Kombat at the Arcade.


Well it would still be a nice added extra Feature

I mean if it can't be done it can't be done.

I'm not completely giving up on the Idea until Someone Knowledgeable on such
matter says: It is absolutely Impossible

[brian_hoffman]

Try removing the MK NVRAM from the NVRAM folder, make the folder READONLY, launch MK, add some credits, exit the game, then launch again and see if they are there.

[TeutonicDarkness]

Try removing the MK NVRAM from the NVRAM folder, make the folder READONLY, launch MK, add some credits, exit the game, then launch again and see if they are there.

 You have given me A good alternative.. I don't want to do the entire folder
as I would loose some NVRAM from Light gun games and such
and don't want to re-Calibrate them all ( Can be a pain sometimes)

What I did however try is this:

For Mortal Kombat I deleted the mk.nv file run the game again
just long enough to get Factory setting restored message.

Then I Right Clicked on the file selected the Security tab and clicked
the Deny Write acess.
I gave A quick test and It did not reset to Factory Settings and Coins
do not Save!

I'm going to have to remember this When I get one Set the Way I want
to "Lock it in"..


Its going to be a slow process for sure but I prefer to do them Individually.
I'll just do the most often played at first and go from there!



Thanks a bunch! 

[zorrobandito]

Being able to play these games for free without paying does in a since make them much easier. It was that Frantic Moment when
you got to that big boss and all of the sudden you have to insert coins!

 I want to re-create those intense moments!
It may not cost but it can take a little fumbling, nervousness to stop and hit that coin button.

 All this is gone when you already have accumulated credits.
If your not going to use the Credits as they are supposed to be used you mid as well be running in Free Play mode...


Just my thoughts.

A little off-topic but I know what you mean about the authenticity. I spent a lot of time going through my favourite games and limiting the number of continues for precisely that purpose - infinite continues does lose something. Part of the design of these games was the designer expectation that the player would replay the first few levels *a lot* in order to continue to the harder levels and I find that this adds enormously to the life and enjoyment of a game...

[HanoiBoi]

It was that Frantic Moment when you got to that big boss and all of the sudden you have to insert coin.
I want to re-create those intense moments!
It may not cost but it can take a little fumbling, nervousness to stop and
hit that coin button.


Just my thoughts.

I completely agree, and just discussed this with a buddy 2 days ago.  That's the main reason why I'd want a working coin door (or token).   I also suggested that players put on their tightest corduroys to make it that much harder to get the coins out.     Comb in back pocket would be optional.

Seriously though, I truly agree with the frantic scramble to get that credit it...9, 8, 7, 6, crap!, 5, 4, 3, 2....

[TeutonicDarkness]

I also suggested that players put on their tightest corduroys to make it that much harder to get the coins out.     Comb in back pocket would be optional.

Now that's funny..

[gambaman]

Hello,


 Does anyone out there know if there is a way to stop MAME from Saving
the number of Credits you last had?

 It has recently came to my attention; now I find it annoying to start
a game ( Especially when I have guests playing)
and already have a stockade of Credits.. 

It would be Nice if I could figure out a way to change this in the source
and build my own patch file for it.


perhaps : No_credits.diff


any ideas or help would be just Great! 

Well.. no.  Any game which automatically saves it's state, high scores, credits, settings or anything else are only doing it because the hardware and software written did these things explicitly.  To change, you'd need to reprogram the game.

Extra credits in a game.. is a problem?  Why should a number of credits in a game matter unless you are charging for games or something?  I'm curious.

 No it just doesn't look authentic..
No I find it hard to Charge anyone when I don't even have a Cab..
Just a HotRod Controller and 2 Aimtrack lightguns.

 I have never played any Arcade where I did not have to insert coins to
play! Imagine going to play an Arcade and finding a whole hour or so is free.

Because you have over 30 Credits already.


Being able to play these games for free without paying does in
a since make them much easier. It was that Frantic Moment when
you got to that big boss and all of the sudden you have to insert coins!

 I want to re-create those intense moments!
It may not cost but it can take a little fumbling, nervousness to stop and
hit that coin button.

 All this is gone when you already have accumulated credits.
If your not going to use the Credits as they are supposed to be used
you mid as well be running in Free Play mode...


Just my thoughts.

That is why I designed this.

[DaddyLongLegs]

I am very surprised by the OP and all the replies here. My MAME setup does NOT save credits ever, but it's not wiping any memory because every time I start the game up, all my high scores are saved. Do I have some magic setup?